2012 Early NFL Draft Thread - Speculation, Draft Order, Andrew Luck, Mock Drafts Etc.

The Jags have a decent reason to tank - their GM was making noise about how he regretted not taking Roethlisberger a year after Garrard. He thought it would be worth it, but you just can’t draft QBs high back to back like that. He made it sound like he’s changed his mind on that.

So the Jags might have reason to lose, to stay ahead of the Browns to be able to grab RG3.

So both the Colts and the Jags might be tanking their last game. I want to see a play with 19 fumbles.

I watched some of the Champs Bowl tonight and started getting a little bit riled up over the prospects of the Bears grabbing Michael Floyd. There’s a high bust potential and he disappears for stretches, ala Vincent Jackson, but that could be mostly the QB issue. I’m having an internal debate between Floyd in the 1st round or Toon in the 2nd. I’d support drafting both frankly, but if I had to pick I’d take the risk on Floyd and shoot for a OG in the 2nd or a LB.

I’d love for the Bengals to make a move with their two first rounders and move up to take Richardson. That would be awesome and would hopefully dispel the Kijana Carter Curse.

Floyd’s only issue is his speed. No one works harder than Floyd on the field. See if you can dig up some video of him blocking - he’s a friggin’ beserker out there on a run play, and there are few who can go one-on-one against him on a jump ball.

I haven’t watched him all that much, but from the games I have seen him play he also has a lot more drops that I’d want from a stud receiver.

I love WRs who run block. And his TD catch in this game showed that leaping ability to go get the ball. We really need a guy like that to solve some of our redzone issues. Will have to watch what he runs at the combine, but I’m willing to give up speed in exchange for elite size. I seem to recall Hakeem Nicks having a red flag for speed too.

Haven’t seen enough film to know one way or another, but when we have Roy Williams I find it hard to think anyone could be worse than him on that count.

Sorry.

I’ve spent the last few years focusing my first-round efforts on top-ten prospects. Now that my 49ers are going to be picking late in rounds, I have to start scouting differently.

My thinking:
We need a big-body receiver, and I could see trading up to grab one, like Atlanta did.

A top-flight corner might also be worth trading for, if anyone is willing.

Standing pat, we could look for an offensive lineman, maybe even David DeCastro, the guard from Stanford. Or trade back with somebody wanting sneak in a QB, you get an extra 2nd rounder plus a late-round special teamer pick; maybe even something high next year.

Worst case is best-player-available, depth is always good, sometimes it even keeps talent away from your rivals.

RG3 declared mofos!

I like Floyd cause he plays in south bend… so he’s not like some puscator wide out who can’t play in the cold… The ND thing certainly plays REAL big in Chicago…

No way St Louis takes a tackle… even one as good as Kalil… They have to sell tickets… Tackles don’t sell tickets… and if you look at the one they took… and old boy in MIami… no guarantees… like they think…
Likewise… Claiborne is the truth as a corner. but the Vikes need outside help… I can’t see then going with a corner… they need soo much more.
THe Skins… i predict Shanny and the Nerd won’t want to start all over again… they’ll cut a deal with Indy and get Manning… I predict Peyton Manning taking snaps in Washington in 2012…

Matt Flynn and Justin Blackmon to the Browns?

Not sure if I’m really sold on Flynn. Probably rather have RG3. But since he wouldn’t cost a draft pick, it becomes more appealing.

Tell me about it :slight_smile:

Dude, I fucking nailed this. Only one I missed was the Bears-Vikes and that was more a heart over head pick.

Copied from a ESPN Chicago artilce, a list of key FAs who the Bears need to make some decisions on.

I suspect Izzy will be brought back along with Okoye, Bowman is probably gone. Graham will be back unless a team decides to pay him starters money, Jennings could be back as a #3 CB but they’ll replace him as a starter. They should have signed Carlos Rogers this offseason like I wanted, but here we are. Steltz will probably be a back with a modest pay bump. Bell will be a wild card, the Bears will keep him unless someone else overpays him. He might get signed before Forte as leverage. Davis could go either way, might hinge on if Martz is back or not. Hanie…duh.

Probably the bigger question is if Martz will be back. Everyone in the local media seems to think Angelo, Lovie, Marinelli and Tice are all sure things to return. Martz is a 50-50 proposition and Tice got a nice contract extension last offseason which could prime him for a promotion to OC if Martz goes elsewhere/gets fired.

The Rams are going to fire Spagnuolo and GM Devaney. No surprise, really, but they are just the first of many more announcements to come in the next couple days.

Here’s the draft order that’s been established thus far.

  1. Indianapolis
  2. St. Louis
  3. Minnesota
  4. Cleveland
  5. Tampa Bay
  6. Washington
  7. Jacksonville
    8/9. Panthers/Dolphins (Coin flip)
  8. Buffalo
    11/12. Kansas City/Seattle (Coin flip)
  9. Arizona
  10. Dallas
  11. Philadelphia
  12. New York Jets
  13. Oakland
  14. San Diego
  15. Chicago
  16. Tennessee

Man, that Bears victory really stings.

My early prediction for the top 6 picks.

Colts - Luck
Rams - Claiborne
Vikings - Kalil
Browns - RGIII
Bucs - Richardson
Skins - Blackmon

I was always under the impression that you weren’t a huge fan of draft picks, that they were too much of a crap shoot. Losing a few spots in the middle of the round shouldn’t be that painful.

Seems like every year there is some guy who comes out of nowhere to go in the top 10 or so. Locker, Spiller, Alualu, Sanchez. It will be interesting to see who that guy or guys are this year.

They are a crap shoot, and proven commodities are undervalued relative to them, but why would anyone not prefer a 13th pick over a 19th pick? That’s pretty close to what the Jags swapped with the Redskins for in the 2011 draft to grab Gabbert, it cost them a mid 2nd round pick which frankly might have been an undervalued trade.

I think RG3 is going to become a combine sensation and rise up in hype and there’s a good chance Washington or someone else trades up with St. Louis or Minnesota to steal him from the Browns. Which the Browns could beat, with their greater position and more draft picks, but I’m far more enthusiastic about letting him fall to us than having to trade up.

RGIII is going to go one way or the other at the Combine. He’ll interview exceptionally well, that I have no doubt about, and he’ll measure great. However his throwing mechanics could get ripped to shreds ala Tebow and if he works out, accuracy issues could kill him. It’s a pretty deep QB class this year, not sure people will pay a ton to move up for him when they can get Jones, Tannehill or Weeden in the second.

If I’m the Rams or Vikings and I’m sticking with Bradford or Ponder respectively over anyone but Luck, I’m trading with the Browns. If I can move back a spot, get a 2nd rounder and still get the top guy on my board it’s a no brainer.