Mock drafts are stupid.
Don't get me wrong. They're fun to do and, with this being my 10th year doing them(third for this website), I clearly get a certain enjoyment out of spending so much of my spring researching who's going where, but mock drafts get rendered moot almost immediately. For one, very few mock drafts factor in trades, which is as much a part of the NFL draft process as Chris Berman's cheesy one-liners and Mel Kiper Jr.'s well-coiffed 'do. If you choose to be the one who includes trades into your mock, it's almost impossible to not be biased and make the draft-day deals that YOU would make as opposed to ones that may actually happen. For instance, I'm a Packers fan. What's stopping me from saying that Green Bay is going to offer up three first round picks to swap spots with Minnesota and take Trent Richardson with the 3rd overall pick? Nothing, but it completely negates the whole purpose of doing a mock if it simply becomes a frenzy of fictitious pick-swapping. Nevertheless, trades are going to happen. The Vikings desperately want out of the 3rd spot and, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, talks are heating up to the point where the Vikes think they have a good shot at moving down. That means everything you are about to read will be rendered useless within the first half hour of Thursday's events.
So why do it, you ask? Because the NFL Draft is the only event where every team in the league, in theory, gets to improve their roster and builds up false hope with the addition of college standouts who haven't proven squat in the NFL yet. It's like a striptease for football fans. Some get to land the dancer when the club closes. Some leave with blue balls. Without further ado, here's my take on Thursday's extravaganza.
1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
We've known about this for months, so I really don't need to go into detail. All I will say is that, while Indy is landing the best player in this draft, it will be meaningless if they don't hit home runs or at least stand-up doubles with the rest of this draft. This team needs EVERYTHING and landing a once-in-a-generation prospect like Luck only matters if you can build around him.
2. Washington Redskins - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
We can debate for hours whether the 'Skins gave up too much to get here. The fact is, they are here now and about to land one of the four elite prospects in this draft, which they wouldn't have the luxury of doing had they stood at 6. Like with Luck, this pick needs to set the table for other big things. The Redskins haven't had a legit QB in decades and even a man with the amount of hype that RG3 is receiving can't do it all on his own. They've addressed some needs in free agency, but they still need to walk away with some help on the offensive line and at least another RB to give Roy Helu some competition.
3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Leave it to the Vikings, who need protection for their young QB Christian Ponder in the worst way, to stare down a potential Pro Bowl left tackle in Kalil and say "Nah, we're not interested." I'm not sure if all the talk of Minnesota wanting to move down is a smokescreen or just complete lunacy on the part of GM Rick Spielman.Yes, they could use a WR like Justin Blackmon. Yes, Morris Claiborne would be a nice fit in the defensive backfield for a team that faces the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Jay Cutler twice a year. However, neither of those prospects are as good as Kalil and drafting either Blackmon or Claiborne means nothing if opposing defenses can lay a beating on Ponder. Kalil makes the most sense, but it wouldn't surprise me if we're looking at someone else in this spot.
4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Browns should have been more aggressive in moving up to get RG3, but they dropped the ball. Now, there's a chance someone moves ahead of them for another potential franchise changer in Trent Richardson. Assuming the Vikes can't move down, Richardson would be an excellent consolation prize for a Browns team that lost Peyton Hillis in free agency and needs a punch on offense. T-Rich is big, fast, catches the ball well and is far superior to former teammate Mark Ingram, a Heisman Trophy winner who was considered the draft's best back last year. The hope here is Richardson is still there when Cleveland goes on the clock so that the tortured masses in Ohio can keep from jumping off the ledge.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Bucs addressed most of their needs in free agency, nabbing a sure-fire #1 receiver in Vincent Jackson and shoring up the offensive line by signing Carl Nicks away from New Orleans. New head coach Greg Schiano is being called upon to shepperd this young defense that is chock-full of talent and turn them into something special just like he did at Rutgers. Claiborne would be another piece to a unit that already has used so many high picks on defense with the likes of DT Gerald McCoy and DE Adrian Clayborn. Claiborne will be the successor to long-time Pro Bowl CB Ronde Barber and, perhaps, even the replacement for troubled defensive back Aqib Talib. At the very least, he helps a pass defense that has to deal with Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and now the emerging Cam Newton twice a year.
6. St. Louis Rams - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon seemed like a slam dunk pick for the St. Louis Rams for such a long time....which is probably why there's a decent chance it won't happen. Blackmon makes the most sense because nobody needs a #1 receiver more than the Rams and Blackmon has the potential to be explosive. However, some things to consider here:
*During his tenure as Capo di Tutti Cappi in Tennessee, Fisher used a first-round pick on a WR twice in 16 seasons(Kevin Dyson and Kenny Britt). Neither of which were taken in the Top 15.
*In the week leading up to tomorrow's Draft, the Rams held private workouts. Yes, Blackmon was one of them. However, so were Notre Dame's Micheal Floyd, Baylor's Kendall Wright and Illinois' A.J. Jenkins. The latter three are expected to be picked later in the draft, with Floyd going somewhere in the Top 15, Wright in the top 25 and Jenkins somewhere in round 3 or 4.If St. Louis is locked on Blackmon, why are they looking elsewhere? The Rams have the ammo to move back into the first round and snatch someone like Wright or Floyd is they fall. If you're Detroit and you're sitting at 23 and there's nobody you like on the board, you're telling me you'd say no to a future first rounder and, say, RB Steven Jackson? Of course not.
*The Rams had two shots at Blackmon: At their original spot at #2 and now at #6. They also could have taken Cleveland's deal to move to #4 and still get Blackmon, theoretically. Yet, who are the names that have been emerging as candidates for St. Louis lately? Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne and, now, Fletcher Cox. I still think there's a good chance Blackmon is catching passes from Sam Bradford, but it's hardly the lock it once seemed to be.
As for Cox, he's a disruptive pass rusher on an defensive line that already has guys like DE's Chris Long, James Hall and Robert Quinn. Fisher loves defensive linemen. It's the position he's drafted the most in Round 1 in his entire career as a head coach. Cox is a high-riser and, if they really aren't enamored with Blackmon as their actions suggest, don't be surprised if they throw the curveball here and take Cox.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
If things shake out the way this mock projects, nobody will be more ecstatic than Blaine Gabbert and the Jags. Jacksonville hasn't had a legit wide receiver since the days of Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell(Yes, I'm aware of the one good Mike Sims-Walker season. I'm not impressed.). Like so many others, Jacksonville wants to move down but that's probably because they don't believe someone like Blackmon will be available(and he might not). If Blackmon's gone, I expect Jacksonville to move down and someone who either wants Fletcher Cox or, more likely, QB Ryan Tannehill to be picking here. If the Jags do move down, look for them to take a Gamecock: either DE Melvin Ingram or CB Stephen Gilmore.
8. Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
I tried my damnedest to talk myself out of the Dolphins taking Tannehill. I've mocked Michael Floyd here, Quentin Coples out of UNC, even Fletcher Cox. At the end of the day, Tannehill makes the most sense. The Dolphins struck out big time to get a real QB(Sorry, I'm not big on David Garrard coming off back surgery) and they appear to be more desperate than Kanye West deciding to date Kim Kardashian. Tannehill would be reunited with former college coach-now Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, which gives Tannehill an advantage. That being said, I still hate the pick. Tannehill needs a couple years before being ready for prime time and the guys in front of him is a washed up veteran who hasn't played in 14 months and a young journeyman in Matt Moore who hardly set the world on fire last year. Even if Moore is better in his second year in South Beach and emerges as Miami's answer to their QB problems, that makes this selection look even worse. I'm not high on Tannehill as a Top 10 pick, probably not even a Top 15 choice. However, need and hype have raised his draft stock and he'll be coming off the board early. Have fun with that, Dolphin fans.
9. Carolina Panthers - Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
The Panthers hope that Fletcher Cox falls to them so they can solve their issues at the interior of the defensive line, but Cox's stock rise might prevent that from happening. Instead, they shore up the pass defense with Gilmore, a physical, bump-and-run corner who will pair nicely with Chris Gamble. Like Cox, Gilmore went from mid-first consideration to Top 10 pick thanks to some good workouts and questions about guys once ranked above them. The team still needs to find a defensive tackle as well as some help at wide receiver but, lucky for them, the draft is deep in both areas.
10. Buffalo Bills - Mark Barron, S, Alabama
I try not to believe everything I hear in the days leading up to the Draft but reports are surfacing that the Bills' choice comes down to Stephen Gilmore or Mark Barron. Notre Dame wideout Micheal Floyd was getting consideration here, too, but he's yet to make a visit to Buffalo. Gilmore's off the board so Barron gets the call here. Barron's a physical, hard-hitting, in-the-box safety in the mold of former Cowboys Pro Bowler Roy Williams(which is probably why Dallas was so in love with him). His presence bolsters a defensive unit that already made some big moves in bringing in pass-rushing dynamos Mario Williams and Mark Anderson on the ends of the defensive line. Barron will pair with former ROTY runner-up Jairus Byrd and gives this Buffalo defense a ton of sleeper potential. That is, of course, if you buy all the late Barron love that is emanating from Buffalo.
11. Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
The biggest additions Kansas City will make will not come in the Draft, but in the return of guys like S Eric Berry, RB Jamaal Charles and TE Tony Moeaki. That doesn't mean that KC won't help themselves big time by landing a tackling machine like Kuechly. Kuechly is drawing comparisons to Brian Urlacher and he'll be tag-teaming with Derrick Johnson to form one of the best interior linebacking duos in the game. Still, the Chiefs can go a number of different ways here. They could continue to solidify their offensive line by taking Stanford guard David DeCastro. They could roll the dice on boom-or-bust DT Dontari Poe to be their new nose tackle or, with Peyton Manning coming to the division, they could opt for a pass-rusher like South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. GM Scott Pioli is a Boston guy so my money is on Kuechly here.
12. Seattle Seahawks - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
DE Chris Clemons can't be expected to be the sole member of the Seahawks pass rush. The team signed Jason Jones away from Tennessee and re-signed DT Red Bryant but it still needs help on the defensive line. Ingram looked like a sure-bet to be taken by Jacksonville but the ridiculous amount of free time between the Combine and the Draft has dropped his stock a little. Ingram was a terror at South Carolina, although he surprisingly never forced a fumble last season despite all the time spent in the opposing backfield. Another option here is BC's Luke Kuechly, if he falls, because Seattle had to bid adieu to MLB Dave Hawthrone, who signed with New Orleans. UNC's Quentin Coples, another guy who was believed to be a Top 10 pick, could also get the nod here.
13. Arizona Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Reiff seemed like a mortal lock for Buffalo, who needs offensive line help in the worst way. However, much like they did with Reiff's former Hawkeye teammate Bryan Bulaga, the Bills soured on Reiff because of concerns over his short arms. That mistake is just fine with Arizona, who gave up a ton of sacks last year and need help up front as well. Another possibility is David DeCastro from Stanford, who has drawn comparisons to Pro Bowl G Steve Hutchinson. WR Micheal Floyd also has been mentioned, as a complement to Larry Fitzgerald.
14. Dallas Cowboys - David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Well, that public love affair with Alabama safety Mark Barron really came back to bite Dallas in the ass. If Barron is still on the board when Dallas is up, it will take less time for the Cowboys to turn in their card than it did for me to type this sentence. With things going the way they are in this mock, Barron is gone and Big D has to settle for DeCastro. That isn't exactly a bad thing. The Cowboys have been plagued by offensive line woes since saying bye-bye to lynchpins like OT Flozell Adams and Hall of Fame G Larry Allen. They made a steal last year in OT Tyron Smith and now get lucky again by pairing him with DeCastro. It isn't the sexy pick that makes Jerry Jones' plastic face grin from ear-to-ear, but it will end up benefiting Dallas in the long run.
15. Philadelphia Eagles - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
This is one of those picks where you say "Well, this is what I would do if I was drafting for the Eagles.". Poe makes a ton of sense for Philly. They need a defensive tackle with Cullen Jenkins oft-injured and Mike Patterson a health risk following last year's seizure debacles and Poe is the kind of athletic freak that could be tempting here. He's 6'5, 350 pounds and runs a 4.9 40. He has the potential to be a disruptive force on a defensive line that already has Trent Cole and Jason Babin on the ends. Still, this is Andy Reid, a man infamous for his "best player available" motto. We could see Quentin Coples here. They could make a move for an offensive lineman. A replacement for soon-to-be-departed CB Asante Samuel might happen in the form of a guy like Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick or the team could move up and make a play for safety Mark Barron. It's the hardest pick to project because Reid almost seems to go out of his way to ignore what everyone thinks he should do. Poe makes sense, but so did Earl Thomas a couple years ago....and Reid took Brandon Graham instead.
16. New York Jets - Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois
Here's the guy I like the most in this entire draft(Note: I LIKE the most. Not saying he's the best guy in this draft. I want to make that clear.). A pass-rushing machine whose name sounds like "merciless"? Sign. me. up. Mercilus lead the nation in sacks last year at Illinois with 16. The Jets have a number of needs, from wide receiver to offensive line to safety but Rex Ryan knows he needs to revamp the pass rush if he wants to get ahead of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots(not to mention, an emerging Bills team and a Dolphins team lead by a guy who helped the Packers notch the league's best offense last year). Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas aren't getting it done. It's time for some new blood. This may be a little high for Mercilus but I think he has the most potential of the pass rushers remaining.
17. Cincinnati Bengals(from Oakland) - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The Bengals have needs at corner, defensive end and on the interior of the offensive line so they could decide those needs warrant passing on Floyd, as so many other teams have decided. That would be a mistake. With knucklehead Jerome Simpson gone, the Bengals have nothing opposite last year's rookie standout A.J. Green. Floyd is the 2nd best receiver in this draft and a guy who was once projected as high as 7th overall. The temptation is there to snag a corner like Dre Kirkpatrick or a DE like Courtney Upshaw(whom the team loves) but Floyd's too good to pass up. A.J. Green isn't going to sneak up on people this year. He's going to need someone to take coverage away from him. Floyd's that guy.
18. San Diego Chargers - Chandler Jones, DE/LB, Syracuse
Chandler Jones went from mid-2nd rounder to sneaking into the first thanks to some good workouts and an overwhelming need for pass rushers with his kind of freakish athletic ability. Now, there are a number of names still on the board who could be the guy here. Nick Perry is a local kid, having played his college ball at USC. Courtney Upshaw was once a hot prospect before questions about his height and whether that will be an issue translating from college to the pros started to surface. Boise State DE Shea McClellin has also risen up the boards too. Any of those guys can get called here. The Chargers have also mentioned they would like to move up to grab Alabama safety Mark Barron. If they can't, Jones(the brother of UFC pound-for-pound champ Jon "Bones" Jones) would fill the pass-rushing void left by Shawne Merriman.
19. Chicago Bears - Quentin Coples, DE, North Carolina
Questions about Coples' effort(an issue he even addressed as a problem in interviews) and a poor senior season dropped his stock from potential Top 5 pick to anywhere from 12 to the end of round 1. With the right teacher, Coples can go back to being the dominant force he was as a junior for the Tarheels. At 6'6, 284 pounds with 4.8 speed, Coples is an absolute freak and he'll have the benefit of learning under another former Tarheel who had work ethic questions throughout his career in DE Julius Peppers. The Bears still need help on the offensive line and could use another wideout even after acquiring Brandon Marshall, but they have no pass rush beyond Peppers. If Coples falls to them, they'd be foolish to pass on him.
20. Tennessee Titans - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Kirkpatrick could go anywhere from 10 to 15 to 17, but he'll go no further than 20. The Titans need cornerback help after losing Cortland Finnegan in free agency. Kirkpatrick took a few hits to his draft stock thanks to some marijuana charges that were later dropped but he has the size and speed to be a dominant corner. At 6'2, 186 pounds with 4.4 speed, Kirkpatrick has the measurables to keep up with the likes of Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson, whom he'd be seeing a lot of if he lands with the Titans. Tennessee could also use some bodies on the defensive line, having lost DT Jason Jones in free agency and also needs to shore up the interior of the offensive line to open up more holes for Chris Johnson.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Janoris Jenkins, CB, Northern Alabama
Like Kirkpatrick, a checkered past has hurt Jenkins' stock. Drug issues got him kicked off the Florida Gators and he resurfaced at little known Northern Alabama. The pot problem could keep Jenkins out of the first round but Cincy's need for a corner makes it too much of a risk to pass on him here. In Jenkins and Floyd, the Bengals would be taking their chances with two guys with extensive rap sheets but, then again, when's that ever stopped the Bengals in the Marvin Lewis era? If they feel Jenkins' past is too much of a red flag, a defensive end like Courtney Upshaw or versatile offensive lineman Cordy Glenn out of Georgia could get the call.
22. Cleveland Browns(from Atlanta) - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
The Browns had a rumored interest in Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden and allegedly think high enough of him that taking him here has been a rumored possibility but I don't think the team should give up on Colt McCoy before giving him some weapons to play with. Kendall Wright is a little on the small side at 5'11 but he has speed to burn and is the kind of vertical threat Cleveland lacks in its wideouts. Greg Little, Mohammad Massoquoi are possession types and Josh Cribbs is best served as a return man. With Wright and the previous pick of Trent Richardson, the Browns' offense is completely revamped and gives McCoy no excuses for being unable to produce. Other options here are Stanford OT Jonathan Martin or Georgia's Cordy Glenn to fix the right side of the offensive line or they could pull the trigger on Weeden if they feel he won't be there in Round 2.
23. Detroit Lions - Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia
The Lions would like a cornerback badly after watching their secondary get torched by the Saints in the Wild Card round this past January. None of the top corners are left here so they'll have to address another need up front on the offensive line. LT Jeff Backus isn't getting any younger and RT Gosder Cherilus is hardly a rock on the right side. In between those two is a lot of uncertainty. Enter Glenn, who could start out at guard and move to tackle, much like Backus did later in his career. QB Matt Stafford has a reputation for being frail and the team can ill-afford any more injuries to their franchise quarterback. The versatility of Glenn gives them options on a patchwork offensive line.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Don'ta Hightower, LB, Alabama
You would think a team that has been decimated by poor offensive line play would be rumored to be heavy in the offensive line market, yet the name that keeps popping up for the Steel Curtian is Alabama linebacker Don'ta Hightower. That might be a sign that Hightower won't be the pick since, as we've seen with the Rams and Justin Blackmon, there are no slam dunks beyond the top two. While he doesn't make as much sense as a tackle like Jonathan Martin or Ohio State's Mike Adams or even Cordy Glenn, Hightower does fit a need. With Jame Farrior cut, Pittsburgh is in need of a new interior linebacker. Other needs include a new nose tackle and perhaps a receiver, since the team is foolishly playing hardball with #1 wideout Mike Wallace.
25. Denver Broncos - Micheal Brockers, DT, LSU
Micheal Brockers had enough early buzz that he looked like the sexy pick for the Panthers at #9, The emergence of guys like Fletcher Cox and Dontari Poe have knocked Brockers down a few pegs and, even now, he's in danger of being usurped by the rising Jerel Worthy of Michigan State and UConn's Kendell Reyes. Either way, the Broncos need help on the interior of the defensive line and a big guy like Brockers(6'6, 308lbs) could take pressure off Def. ROTY Von Miller and Comeback Player of the Year Elvis Dumervil and improve a run defense that has to deal with Ryan Mathews, Jamaal Charles, and Darren McFadden within the division.
26. Houston Texans - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
A bit of a surprise here, I know, since many mocks have the Texans taking a wide receiver to complement Andre Johnson or a pass rusher to replace the departed Mario Williams. However, keep in mind that Houston lost the entire right side of its offensive line in the offseason. Right guard Mike Briesel skipped town to Oakland and released RT Eric Winston went to the AFC West as well when he signed with the Chiefs. As great as a new target for Matt Schaub would be, it means nothing if Schaub is on his back. Martin protected the blind side for Andrew Luck at Stanford and he knows about opening holes in a power offense that likes to sling the football as well. The Texans can find #2 wideouts and pass rushers in the draft, but offensive tackle is thin beyond the first round this year. They'd be smart to pick one up here.
27. New England Patriots(from New Orleans) - Nick Perry, DE/LB, USC
New England needed pass rush help even before Mark Anderson bolted for Buffalo. Andre Carter, the team's other pass rush specialist, is a question mark after an injury-marred 2011. With two first round picks and a draft deep in pass rushers, it's time for Belichick and company to stock up. Nick Perry is one of several defensive ends who could anywhere in the draft depending on how teams ranks this crop of pass rushers. Maybe he ends with Jets? Maybe the Bears or the Titans or the Chargers? Who knows? The names are interchangeable but the need is still prevalent. Perry could rush the passer as a 3-4 linebacker or stick his mitt in the dirt and come at offenses as a 4-3 end. In a division that's expected to get more pass heavy, the Pats need to go away from the usual trading away of picks and start building for now.
28. Green Bay Packers - Shea McClellin, DE/LB, Boise State
For as great as the Packers' offense was last year, the team missed out on what looked like a gimme repeat bid after their 15-1 regular season because the defense fell apart. Part of that could be blamed on Cullen Jenkins' departure as well as the lack of a bonafide pass rush threat beyond Clay Matthews. Given his reputation for addressing a glaring weakness hard, expect Ted Thompson to aggressively rebuild the front seven. He signed Anthony Hargrove to fill in on the defensive line and now it's time to find Matthews a tag team partner. McClellin was off the radar before workouts and some re-watchings of his tape at Boise State moved him up draft boards. McClellin had 26 tackles for loss including 16.5 sacks in his final two seasons at Boise St. He's a little light at 6'3, 248 lbs but they said the same thing about Matthews when he came out. McClellin is just one piece of the puzzle. The team needs as many pass rushers as possible and then focus on the offensive line and secondary after an uncharacteristic mundane draft last season.
29. Baltimore Ravens - Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
Wisconsin center Peter Konz has been the name associated with Baltimore since pretty much Day 1. With Matt Birk up in years and the Ravens' offensive line far from solid, Konz makes a ton of sense as Baltimore's center of the future and he could still get the nod here. Another area of need for Baltimore is wide receiver. With the failed Lee Evans experiment over with and now being conducted in Jacksonville, the Ravens could use another weapon to join the aging Anquan Boldin and the speedy Torrey Smith. Stephen Hill dominated the NFL Combine, showing off blazing speed with a 4.3 40 at 6'4, 214 lbs. Because he played in a run-oriented offense at Georgia Tech, Hill's college numbers aren't as note-worthy as, say, Rutgers' Mo Sanu but he made the most of his opportunities for the Yellow Jackets. Baltimore could go a number of ways here, including RB if Ray Rice can't be compelled to sign an extension but I think a trio of Hill, Smith and Boldin is too good to pass up.
30. San Francisco 49ers - Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama
Wait a second. Hear me out here. What were the Niners' needs coming into this offseason? Cornerback? They re-signed Carlos Rogers and brought in former Bronco Perrish Cox. Wide receiver? They signed Mario Manningham and brought Randy Moss out of retirement. Quarterback? Alex Smith is back in the fold(I know...I know). What's left? Some help on the interior of the offensive line? Sure, and the team could opt for Amini Silatolu out of Midwestern State. Safety? Notre Dame's Harrison Smith could be the pick. However, do either of those have better value than Courtney Upshaw, a 'tweener who could go as high as 16th? Of course not. The team drafted Aldon Smith last year and he lived up to his billing by nabbing 13.5 sacks. Why not get him a partner? If you're San Francisco and you already have the best defense in the game and you're now adding a guy like Courtney Upshaw, that makes your defense significantly more devastating. Smith, Pat Willis, Navarro Bowman and Upshaw as your four linebackers? Yikes.
31. New England Patriots - Devon Still, DT, Penn State
On top of finding a pass rushing linebacker, the Pats also needed some help on the defensive line. Now, history suggests one of these picks will be dealt to someone else in exchange for a pick next year(and this is where my Rams moving back into the first round theory comes into play). If they stay, however, Devon Still would be a nice piece on the defensive line. He's been considered as a dark horse for Philly at 15 and he could go somewhere in between there and here. At 6'5, 312 lbs, Still is a mountain of a man who will benefit from the still-reliable Vince Wilfork's presence on the line and give the Pats a quality 3-4 DE they haven't had since trading away Richard Seymour.
32. New York Giants - David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
Like the Niners, the defending Super Bowl champs don't have many needs. They could use some help on the offensive line, which is why Ohio State's Mike Adams should be kept in mind. They're always in the market for a linebacker, so UNC's Zach Brown is an option. They lost every TE of significance to injury during the Super Bowl, so Stanford's Coby Fleener would appear to be the favorite. However, remember that the team got rid of Brandon Jacobs in the offseason and Ahmad Bradshaw isn't exactly durable. Wilson isn't the inside runner that Jacobs was but he's a home run threat who only needs a hole to hit and he's gone. Oddly enough, the guy Wilson draws the most comparisons to is Bradshaw, so while he isn't a change-of-pace like Jacobs was, he still represents some new blood for the league's worst rushing offense.
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