With the top two picks in the NFL draft not in doubt, all eyes fall on the #3 pick. What will the Minnesota Vikings decide to do? Will they find that trade partner and trade back?
The Trades:
The Redskins traded up with the Rams to the #2 spot to get RGIII
The Cleveland Browns have traded up to the number 3 spot with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings also get 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks from the Browns.
The Jaguars have traded up from #7 top #5.
The Cowboys have traded up to #6
The Eagles have traded up to number 12 with the Seahawks.
The Patriots have traded up to #21 with the Bengals. They are going after a pass rusher, and those are going fast.
The Patriots trade up again, this time with the Broncos, for the 25th pick
The Vikings have traded up to the 29th pick with the Ravens
The Buccaneers have traded up to #31 with the Broncos
2012 NFL draft round one
|
Team
|
Pick
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
College
|
|
| #1 | Andrew Luck | QB | Stanford |
The Indianapolis Colts are locked in, there is no debate on who the better quarterback in this draft is. The pick is Luck, it just needs to be made official. It's now official. Luck has his work cut out for him, as the Colts are rebuilding.
|
|
#2
| Robert Griffin III | QB | Baylor |
The Washington Redskins gave up a lot to move up to this #2 overall pick, it's obvious the Redskins don't think Rex Grossman is the answer. In 13 starts last season, Grossman threw 16 TDs and 20 INTs, and at 31, he isn't getting younger. The Redskins traded up for Griffin, and he will be the #2 pick.
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|
#3
| Trent Richardson | RB | Alabama |
The Browns now add to the offense, giving them the best running back in the draft to help the running game take off in 2012.
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#4
| Matt Kalil | OT | USC |
This pick was not unexpected to me, because I had the Vikings taking the best OT in the draft, giving Ponder a better offensive line, and improving the running game at the same time.
|
|
#5
| Justin Blackmon | WR | Oklahoma State |
The Jaguars add possibly the best all around receiver in the draft here.
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#6
| Morris Claiborne | CB | LSU |
I thought the Cowboys might stay at #14 to see if Barron was still on the board, but by getting aggressive and trading up, they get the best CB in the draft.
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|
#7
| Mark Barron | SS | Alabama |
The Buccaneers look to improve the secondary with this pick. This is higher than I thought Barron would go, but I knew the Buccaneers were looking at him.
|
|
#8
| Ryan Tannehill | QB | Texas A&M |
The only real question was if Tannehill was good enough to take at #8 after going from WR to QB, and without a lot of starts. Looks like the Dolphins are sold on him as an NFL starting talent. Will they start him from game one?
|
|
#9
| Luke Kuechly | LB | Boston College |
The future of the linebackers in Carolina looks great with Kuechly in the middle. Kuechly can cover, make plays on the ball, and stop the run. He had over 500 tackles in college.
|
|
#10
| Stephon Gilmore | CB | South Carolina |
Gilmore shot up the draft boards after the combine, and possibly has the highest upside of any CB in this draft.
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#11
| Dontari Poe | NT | Memphis |
The Chiefs are looking for an answer up front, and Poe can help free up linebackers.
|
|
#12
| Fletcher Cox | DT | Mississippi State |
Cox gives the Eagles an inside presence on the defensive line.
|
|
#13
| Michael Floyd | WR | Notre Dame |
The Cardinals add a threat to compliment Fitzgerald on the other side of the field, and Floyd has the size to do just that.
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#14
| Michael Brockers | DT | LSU |
One would think the Rams would want to upgrade the offensive line that allowed 55 sacks last season. Brockers is more of a run stuffer.
|
|
#15
| Bruce Irvin | DE/OLB | West Virginia |
This is the first real surprise in the first round, and shows how valuable pure pass rushers are, because Irvin is a pure pass rusher.
|
|
#16
| Quinton Coples | DE | North Carolina |
|
|
#17
| Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | Alabama |
The Bengals took what they thought must be the best player left on the board, with lots of upside. They left some good players on the board.
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|
#18
| Melvin Ingram | DE/OLB | South Carolina |
Ingram adds to the versatility of the Chargers defense, and can do many things. He can line up with a hand in the dirt, or drop back as a LB.
|
|
#19
| Shea McClellin | DE | Boise State |
The Bears continue to ignore the offensive line needs, and go after a pass rusher.
|
|
#20
| Kendall Wright | WR | Baylor |
The Titans get a young receiver for Jake Locker to throw too.
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|
#21
| Chandler Jones | DE | Syracuse |
The Patriots desperately needed a pass rusher, so they traded up and got one.
|
|
#22
| Brandon Weedon | QB | Oklahoma State |
Look out McCoy, looks like your starting days are numbered.
|
|
#23
| Riley Reiff | OT | Iowa |
6'5" and 313 pound offensive tackle. He can play both tackle positions and guard, so he adds depth right away, and may challenge Cherilus or Peterman for the starting spot. Once Reiff fell this far, the Lions had to take him. I had him projected to go as high as #10 overall to the Bills.
|
|
#24
| David DeCastro | G | Stanford |
The Steelers get more help for a still porous offensive line, a solid pick.
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|
#25
| Dont'a Hightower | ILB | Alabama |
The Patriots are adding a solid core of young players to strengthen the secondary, and Hightower is good in pass coverage.
|
|
#26
| Whitney Mercilus | LB | Illinois |
This fills a huge void when the Texans lost Mario Williams in free agency.
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|
#27
| Kevin Zeitler | G | Wisconsin |
Dalton gets a better offensive line this year.
|
|
#28
| Nick Perry | OLB | USC |
The Packers need help in the secondary, and a pass rushing OLB. They got one.
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|
#29
| Harrison Smith | DB | Notre Dame |
The Vikings hope to help their pass defense with this pick, a good free safety, and the second best safety in this draft.
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|
#30
| A.J. Jenkins | WR | Illinois |
Moss, Manningham, and now Jenkins.
|
|
#31
| Doug Martin | RB | Boise State |
Blount has 9 fumbles in two years, and Martin is a better all around runner.
|
|
#32
| David Wilson | RB | Virginia Tech |
The Giants want to get that running game back in 2012, and this pick is the right one for them to do that. He can also return kicks.
|
The first five picks were all about the offense, and the next seven picks were all about the defense. This draft just turned defensive. Floyd was taken 13th by the Cardinals. Back to offense? Nope, still defense. Irvin at #15 was the first real surprise, and is considered a reach by some draft gurus.
Only one offensive lineman was taken in the top 17 picks, Matt Kalil. Teams around the league are looking to add to the pass rush and defend the pass.
The Lions got the second most NFL ready tackle in the draft when Reiff fell all the way to #23, and the Texans are hoping that Mercilus can fill some of the void left by the loss of Mario Williams in free agency.
The Super Bowl champion New York Giants closed out the active first round by selecting Martin to revive their running game.
The first round had 8 trades on draft day alone, 9 total, and I think we can expect a lot more as the draft continues.
Courtney Upshaw, Cordy Glenn, Coby Fleener, and Jonathan Martin are all still on the board.
Draft note: I will update rounds 2 and 3 tomorrow night.
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