Pro Football Draft Preview Supplement

Pro Football Draft Preview April 2012

QB Andrew Luck “the most NFL ready quarterback since John Elway”

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Presented by: CheeseheadTV

Contents 3-7 8-9 10

2012 Editor’s Mock Draft Hoping For A Chance The Top 100 Prospects Revisited

Publisher: Corey Behnke Editor: Brian Carriveau Design: Alex Tallitsch Writers: Paul Guillemette Zach Kruse Thanks to everyone who bought the second-annual edition of the Cheesehead TV NFL Draft Guide.

We would never be able to create this publication without all of the great readers, followers and supporters of Cheesehead TV. * All stats from 2011 unless indicated * All rankings are author’s opinion

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NFL Mock Draft 2012

Brian Carriveau

MOCK DRAFT 2012 #1 Colts

#2 Redskins

Mock Draft 2012 “It’s a foregone conclusion that Luck will become the No. 1 overall draft choice.”

BY BRIAN CARRIVEAU

Andrew Luck , QB - Stanford

Robert Griffin III, QB - Baylor

It’s a foregone conclusion that Luck will become the No. 1 overall draft choice, and it’s been that way ever since he declared for the NFL Draft and probably even before that.

The Redskins gave up a king’s ransom to move up to the No. 2 spot in the Draft, and there’s no way they don’t take Griffin, someone they hope will be the face of their franchise for years to come.

The Colts have cut ties with Peyton Manning, so they’ll put their hope in Luck that he’ll be able to lead the team for the next decadeplus.

Griffin is adept at both running and passing, not unlike Carolina quarterback Cam Newton but with more finesse, in a good way.

He’s a more fluid, elusive runner than the battering ram Newton can be.

Griffin is Randall Cunningham with an even higher upside.

Luck is the complete package. He has prototype size, smarts and mechanics. He’ll be a starter from Day 1 in Indianapolis, and it probably won’t be long until he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012

Brian Carriveau

#3 Vikings

#4 Browns

#5 Bucs

#6 Rams

Matt Kalil, OT

Trent Richardson, RB

Morris Claiborne, CB

Justin Blackmon, WR

Unless the Vikings trade down from their No. 3 slot in the draft, there’s a good chance they’ll select Kalil.

Running backs may be becoming devalued league-wide, but the Browns will make an exception for Richardson.

They have other needs, particularly in the secondary, that need to be addressed as well. But offensive line is a need, and Kalil is the best one in this year’s draft class.

A good combination of speed and power, Richardson is the complete package and is probably better than the back he shared time with in 2010, Mark Ingram.

Rumors are swirling that the Bucs want to trade troubled cornerback Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber will make a move to safety.

As long as the Rams are committed to quarterback Sam Bradford, they need to give him some help, namely receiving targets.

It’s time for some new blood in the secondary in Tampa Bay, and Claiborne fits the bill no matter what his Wonderlic score is.

Blackmon is the top receiver in this year’s draft class and the “B to B connection” (Bradford to Blackmon” should be an up-and-coming duo.

#7 Jaguars

#8 Dolphins

#9 Panthers

#10 bIlls

Michael Floyd, WR

Ryan Tannehill, QB

Fletcher Cox, DL

Riley Reiff, OT

The Dolphins couldn’t lure Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn in free agency and they pull off the trade the Redskins made to move up to No. 2 in the Draft.

The Panthers are in desperate need of help from the defensive tackle position, and by adding Cox, they get the best pass-rushing tackle in the Draft.

Reiff is just another in what’s become a long line of offensive line products from the University of Iowa.

So they look to reunite Tannehill with his former college coach Mike Sherman, now the offensive coordinator in Miami.

The offense is in good shape in Carolina with Cam Newton running the show, so they could be in for a major jump forward if Cox can help their defense.

Similar to giving Bradford a weapon in St. Louis, the Jaguars give Blaine Gabbert a big and fast target too.

Any concerns about Floyd’s speed were erased at the NFL Combine back in February.

His combination of size and speed is rare.

Reiff is similar to another former Hawkeye and current Packer Bryan Bulaga, but Reiff may be an even better prospect. He’ll be a cornerstone on the Bills offensive line for years to come.

MOCK DRAFT 2012 4 | Cheesehead TV 2012 Draft Preview Supplement

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NFL Mock Draft 2012

Brian Carriveau

#11 Chiefs

#12 Seahawks

#13 Cardinals

#14 Cowboys

Dontari Poe, DT

Luke Kuechly, LB

Melvin Ingram, OLB

Stephon Gilmore, CB

The Chiefs would probably like Riley Reiff to drop one more spot, but as it is, they’ll add to their defensive line with a new nose tackle.

John Schneider knows exactly what he’s getting with Kuechly, a tackling machine, and he shouldn’t come away disappointed.

They’ll like the athleticism Poe provides, now they just have to coax it out of him on a more consistent basis.

Kuechly is one of the safer picks in this year’s draft. His measurables are fantastic, he has a clean bill of health, and he’s always been productive.

If they can, Poe could be a stud.

Ingram would make a nice complement to Calais Campbell, providing a pass rush for the Cardinals.

That duo would make life tough on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers who face the Packers in Week 12 of the 2012 season.

Gilmore has everything you want in a corner: size, speed, toughness.

He could step in and be a starter from day one in Dallas where they need help in the secondary.

With the pass becoming a bigger and bigger weapon every day in the NFL, Gilmore is just what the Cowboys need to help stop opposing offenses.

#15 Eagles

#16 Jets

#17 Bengals

#18 Chargers

Dont’a Hightower, LB

Mark Barron, S

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB

David DeCastro, OG

The Eagles find a solution at inside linebacker by bringing Hightower into the fold. The Alabama linebacker is not a reach.

Barron gives the Jets defense a “nasty” factor, which will fit in perfectly in New York.

The Bengals will overlook any issues with Kirkpatrick regarding his arrest for possession of marijuana in order to get help at a position they’re in need of improving.

Offensive line and outside linebacker are almost equal needs in San Diego it could be a coin flip in which position they choose to address.

He’s produced at a high level for Alabama and was a big reason the Tide defense was so dominant in 2011. He’ll be effective behind a pretty good Eagles defensive line.

He’ll also help contain those pesky New England Patriots tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who have given the Jets fits as of late.

Kirkpatrick’s size and length will help him become a good cover corner. Now his body will just have to hold up to the rigors of the NFL.

The Chargers can’t go wrong with DeCastro, however. Comparisons to Steve Hutchinson are apt. DeCastro should be able to play up to that level.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012

Brian Carriveau

#19 Bears

#20 Titans

#21 Bengals

#22 Browns

Quinton Coples, DE

Nick Perry, DE

Cordy Glenn, OL

Kendall Wright, WR

The Bears get Julius Peppers Jr. by selecting Coples. The obvious is that they’re both products of North Carolina, but they’re similar in the way they play too.

The Titans weren’t able to generate much of a pass rush in 2011, so they’ll be very happy with Perry.

Glenn is big and agile, and as such, may be able to play tackle in the NFL. The Bengals can figure that out later.

Perry is also more comfortable with his hand in the dirt, so he’ll be happy to join Tennessee where he can get after the quarterback from a three-point stance and cause some havoc.

They take Glenn now and figure out his best fit once they see his skill set up front and personal. They could use a new guard, so maybe that’s where he fits in, at least in the short term.

Both can be elite pass rushers, and Coples will benefit from the tutelage of a Peppers to show him the ropes and beef up the Bears defensive front.

The Browns need assistance at all the skill positions, and Wright provides the best option of all the players left on the board.

Whoever the Browns decide is the quarterback of the future, whether it’s Colt McCoy or someone else, Wright will provide them with a good target.

#23 Lions

#24 Steelers

#25 Broncos

#26 Texans

Janoris Jenkins, CB

Kevin Zietler, G

Michael Brockers, DT

Shea McClellin, OLB

Having to face Aaron Rodgers and his receiving corps twice a year only exacerbates the need at help at cornerback for the Lions.

Zietler is a perfect fit for the rugged image of the Steelers.

Now that Peyton Manning has been added to the Broncos offense, they can find another piece for their defense.

With Mario Williams having moved onto Buffalo, the Texans will look to find a pass rusher from the outside linebacker position and will find one with McClellin.

With several players being arrested this offseason, they must be very careful about drafting another player with character concerns, however.

He’s a mauler that helped pave the way for a good ground game at Wisconsin but also got plenty of experience in pass protection with Scott Tolzien and Russell Wilson playing quarterback for the Badgers the past two seasons.

A defensive front that features both Von Miller and Brockers is intriguing. Brockers will help stuff the run and Miller will provide the pass rush in Denver.

Between him, J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed, the push the Texans get from the defensive front should be impressive.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012 #27 Patriots

#28 Green Bay Packers

Whitney Mercilus, DE The Patriots would seem to have some needs in the secondary, but by selecting Mercilus, they’ll hope the pass rush he provides will allow less time for their defensive backs to spend in coverage.

The Patriots defense is about adaptation, which will benefit a player like Mercilus who’s a 3-4/4-3 hybrid type.

Brian Carriveau

Kendall Reyes, DL – Connecticut

As the Packers look to replace the production they missed from Cullen Jenkins, they take a player who has roughly the same dimensions as Jenkins.

Reyes is a three-down player who can play the run as well as he can rush the passer, which makes him a safe pick. It’s likely he’ll be able to play fivetechnique in the base 3-4 defense and be able to slide inside on passing downs.

#29 Ravens

#30 Niners

#31 Patriots

#32 Giants

Jonathan Martin, OT

Stephen Hill, WR

Harrison Smith, S

Coby Fleener, TE

The Ravens need offensive line help and Martin gives it to them.

While learning to protect Andrew Luck’s backside at Stanford, Martin became an adept in his pass blocking.

He still has a ways to go in the run blocking department, but that will come in time.

The 49ers badly need help at the receiver position that will take attention away from Vernon Davis and vice versa.

With Hill, the 49ers are going with potential.

Coming from an offense that ran the triple option at Georgia Tech, Hill still has a ways to go to become a polished receiver, but he can be a deep threat.

The Patriots had to address the secondary sometime early in the Draft, especially if they didn’t do so with the first selection in the first round.

After injuries to both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum in the Super Bowl, the Giants could use some assistance in the tight end department.

Smith gives them a knowledgeable presence in the defensive backfield that isn’t going to be mistake prone. Whether he can make plays is another matter.

After the success the Patriots had with Gronkowski and Hernandez, it seems like NFL teams can’t have enough bit targets at the tight end position.

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NFL Draft 2012

Hoping for a Chance

Zach Kruse

“But every player just wants that chance, you know? A chance to perform.”

Troutman said he has been in contact with Green Bay during the pre-draft process.

“I’ve talked with the Packers. They are obviously a great organization, and I’d love to play there, whether they draft me or call me afterwards if I don’t get picked,” Troutman said.

Penn State guard Johnnie Troutman isn’t expecting to be a firstround pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

For all we know, the 24-yearold may not even get drafted.

By Zach Kruse

B

ut when the dust finally settles next week on the four-month long lead-up to the draft, all Troutman really wants is a chance to make an NFL roster. And the potential exists that an opportunity to do just that could come with the Green Bay Packers.

“The last four months have been a long waiting process. You don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Troutman said in a recent phone interview with Cheesehead TV.

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A three-year starter at guard for the Nittany Lions, Troutman received an invite to both the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine this offseason. After an admittedly up-and-down performance in Mobile, the 6-4, 325-pound Troutman displayed his strength at the combine by putting up 31 reps at 225 pounds. While he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.67 seconds—the second-slowest time recorded in Indianapolis—Troutman did manage to shave over three-tenths of a second off that time at Penn State’s pro day.

Would Green Bay represent a fit for Troutman either during the draft or after?

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NFL Draft 2012 The Packers may ultimately seek additional depth at guard—Troutman’s natural position—behind starters Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang. But Troutman did mention that he has been taking snaps at center to give him versatility along the offensive line. “(Playing center) is definitely an option,” Troutman said. “I’ve been practicing snapping the ball just to get comfortable with the position. I definitely think that if I focused on it more, I could play the position long term.”

The Packers need long-term depth at the center position despite signing veteran Jeff Saturday in free agency. Sampson Genus, an undrafted free agent who spent 2011 on the practice squad, is the only other player listed at center on the Packers’ roster.

Zach Kruse “Probably the toughest guy I went up against is one of my own teammates in Johnnie Troutman, just because we’ve been at Penn State for four years together,” said Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still, a likely firstround pick. “He knew all of my moves and all of my tendencies, so when I went up against him, it was just head-to-head, just who’s more physical.”

Troutman isn’t planning anything big for the draft, other than keeping a close watch on where his former teammates land. But if he has it his way, just one NFL team will give him all he wants.

A chance.

Even if Green Bay decides against using one its 12 picks on Troutman, the Packers could be one team he considers heavily if his name goes uncalled. Troutman added that Green Bay is “somewhere I can envision myself landing” as an undrafted free agent.

At this point, Troutman is considered a developmental, late-round prospect. The consensus among scouting reports is that Troutman is a strong contributor in the run game but struggles to hold up in pass protection.

According to Matt Miller, Bleacher Report’s lead NFL draft writer, Troutman may not be an ideal fit for what Green Bay wants to do offensively.

“Johnnie Troutman is a classic mauler in the run game, but the major concern I see in his game as it translates to a team like Green Bay is that he’s a natural waistbender who lacks great initial quickness,” Miller said.

“His overall play warrants no more than a late-round draft pick. His lack of quickness is a major concern for NFL teams.”

However, one former teammate singled out Troutman as his toughest collegiate matchup.

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NFL Draft 2011

“Pigskin” Paul Guillemette

THE TOP 100 Prospects

David Stluka – Wisconsin Athletic Communications

Paul Guillemette is one of the most accurate predictors of football talent in the draft analysis industry. Last year he finished tied for third in the Huddle Report’s scoring of the media’s Top 100 lists, topping such well-known draft analysts such as Mel Kiper and Mike Mayock.

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Andrew Luck - QB - Stanford Robert Griffin - QB - Baylor Matt Kalil - OT - USC Quinton Coples - DE - UNC Justin Balckmon - WR - Oklahoma State Morris Claiborne - CB - LSU Trent Richardson - RB - Alabama Michael Floyd - WR - Notre Dame Luke Kuechley - LB - BC David DeCastro - OG - Stanford Fletcher Cox - DT - Mississippi State Courtney Upshaw - LB/E - Alabama Dontari Poe - NT - Memphis Riley Reiff - OT - Iowa Michael Brockers - DT - LSU Jonathan Martin - OT-Stanford Melvin Ingram - DE/LB - South Carolina Cordy Glenn - OT - Georgia Ryan Tannehill - QB - Texas A&M Dont’a Hightower - ILB - Alabama Devon Still - DT - Penn State Mark Barron - S - Alabama Dre’ Kirkpatrick - CB - Alabama Stephon Gilmore - CB - South Carolina Alshon Jeffery - WR - South Carolina Peter Konz -C - Wisconsin Zach Brown - OLB - UNC Lamar Miller - RB - Miami (Fla.) Kendall Wright - WR - Baylor Janoris Jenkins - CB - North Alabama Nick Perry - DE/LB - USC Jerel Worthy - DT - Michigan State Alameda Ta’amu - NT - Washington Kendall Reyes - DT - UConn Whitney Mercilus - DE/OLB - Illinois Mike Adams -OT - Ohio State Alfonzo Dennard - CB - Nebraska Coby Fleener - TE - Stanford Keleche Osemele OG - Iowa State Brandon Thompson - DT - Clemson Reuben Randle - WR - LSU Mohamed Sanu - WR - Rutgers Dwayne Allen - TE - Clemson Doug Martin - RB - Boise State Chase Minnifield - CB - Virginia Vinny Curry - DE - Marshall David Wilson - RB/RS - Va Tech Joe Adams - WR/RS - Arkansas Brian Quick - WR - Appalachian State LaMIchael James - RB/RS - Oregon

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Stephen Hill - WR - Georgia Tech Kevin Zietler - OG - Wisconsin Ronnell Lewis - OLB - Oklahoma Brandon Boykin - CB/RS - Georgia Bobby Wagner - OLB - Utah State Jayron Hosley - CB/RS - Va Tech Jamell Fleming - CB - Oklahoma Zebrie Sanders - OT - Florida State Cam Johnson - DE - Virginia Brandon Washington - OG - Miami (F) Orson Charles - TE - Georgia Brock Osweiler - QB - Arizona State Josh Chapman - DT - Alabama Harrison Smith - S - Notre Dame Audie Cole - OLB - N.C. State Casey Hayward - CB - Vanderbilt Ryan Broyles - WR/RS - Oklahoma Jarius Wright - WR/RS - Arkansas Isaiah Pead - RB/RS - Cincinnati Kirk Cousins - QB - Michigan State Lavonte David - LB - Nebraska Antonio Allen - S - South Carolina Chandler Jones - DE - Syracuse Andre Branch - DE/LB - Clemson Jared Crick - DE - Nebraska James-Michael Johnson - ILB - Nevada Donte Paige-Moss - DE - UNC Jaye Howard - DT - Florida Marvin Jones - WR - Cal Michael Egnew - TE - Missouri Brandon Weeden - QB - Oklahoma State Devier Posey - WR - Ohio State Juron Criner - WR - Arizona Nick Toon - WR - Wisconsin Brandon Brooks - OG - Miami (O) Dwight Jones - WR - UNC Leonard Johnson - CB - Iowa State T.J. Graham - WR/RS - NC State Josh Robinson - CB - Central Florida Marvin McNutt - WR - Iowa Sean Spence - LB - MIami (F) Shea McClellin - OLB - Bise State Brandon Taylor - S - LSU Demario Davis - OLB - Arkansas State Mychal Kendricks - ILB - Cal A. J. Jenkins - WR - Illinois Keenan Robinson - LB - Texas Amini Silatolu - OG - Midwestern State (TX) James Brown - T/G - Troy Trumaine Johnson - DB - Montana

*indicates underclassman

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