Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

[flippy]

1. Peter Konz - C - Wisconsin - 6'5" - 315lbs
Might be the best interior line prospect in the draft. We can move him or Pouncey to G.

2. Josh Chapman - NT - Alabama - 6'1" - 310lbs
Perfect build for 3-4 NT coming out and a major reason Alabama was so dominant. Probably needs a year to add a little size/strength.

3. Derek Wolfe - DE - Cincy - 6'5" - 302lbs
Need to develop some depth on the DLine behind Ziggy and Heyward. Need to develop a rotation to keep guys fresh and going after the QB. Might be one of the best 3-4 DEs in the draft.

4. Trumaine Johnson - FS - Montana - 6'2" - 204lbs
A small school prospect with size/speed. Great athlete. Roll the dice.

5. Ryan Broyles, WR/PR, Oklahoma - 5'11" - 185lbs
A great potential WR that might drop big time due to an ACL tear and not being able to work out.

6. Rhett Ellison - TE - USC - 6'5" - 245lbs
Just a TE to replace DJ. Nothing more, nothing less.

7. Jeff Demps - RB - Florida - 5'8" - 190lbs
Might be a little small and need to bulk up a bit for the NFL, but this guy's FWP fast and can take any carry to the house. If we get some big uglies in front of a guy like this, he could make some huge splash plays for our offense.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I like your first two but what are you planning for our next ILB?

[BigRob]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

1. Peter Konz - C - Wisconsin - 6'5" - 315lbs
Might be the best interior line prospect in the draft. We can move him or Pouncey to G.

2. Josh Chapman - NT - Alabama - 6'1" - 310lbs
Perfect build for 3-4 NT coming out and a major reason Alabama was so dominant. Probably needs a year to add a little size/strength.

3. Derek Wolfe - DE - Cincy - 6'5" - 302lbs
Need to develop some depth on the DLine behind Ziggy and Heyward. Need to develop a rotation to keep guys fresh and going after the QB. Might be one of the best 3-4 DEs in the draft.

4. Trumaine Johnson - FS - Montana - 6'2" - 204lbs
A small school prospect with size/speed. Great athlete. Roll the dice.

5. Ryan Broyles, WR/PR, Oklahoma - 5'11" - 185lbs
A great potential WR that might drop big time due to an ACL tear and not being able to work out.

6. Rhett Ellison - TE - USC - 6'5" - 245lbs
Just a TE to replace DJ. Nothing more, nothing less.

7. Jeff Demps - RB - Florida - 5'8" - 190lbs
Might be a little small and need to bulk up a bit for the NFL, but this guy's FWP fast and can take any carry to the house. If we get some big uglies in front of a guy like this, he could make some huge splash plays for our offense.

I would be very happy with this draft. Awesome job.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I agree. Nice job. My early mock is similar early.

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

Dude! EPIC Mock Draft! That is BEAST!!

[Shoe]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I like your first two but what are you planning for our next ILB?

Has the ship sailed on Stevenson Sylvester?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I like your first two but what are you planning for our next ILB?

Has the ship sailed on Stevenson Sylvester?

Mortty Ivy.

[flippy]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I like your first two but what are you planning for our next ILB?

Sly can hold it down for now. Plus we've got Farrior and Foote. We can get by for another season or grab an FA if needed.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I like your first two but what are you planning for our next ILB?

Sly can hold it down for now. Plus we've got Farrior and Foote. We can get by for another season or grab an FA if needed.

I would have a hard time passing on Hightower but if Konz is there it would be easier...

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

NFL mock draft: With Barkley, Jones staying put, A&M's Tannehill moves into top 10

by Russ Lande
Sporting News


Now that Black Monday has passed, several teams in the top 10 of the draft are going to be run by new general managers or at least have new coaches who will have a major voice in the selection process.

These teams—in particular, the Colts and Rams—need a lot of talent and the new men in charge will have little allegiance to the current players on the team. So don’t be shocked to see a number of well-known veterans cut or traded by these bad teams.

No matter what happens with Colts coach Jim Caldwell, whose status is still up in the air, look for Indy to take Andrew Luck with the first pick. There was more evidence on Saturday, as ESPN reported that the Colts plan to select Luck.

Meanwhile, with Oklahoma’s Landry Jones and USC’s Matt Barkley staying in school, you can bet Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s stock is rising and will continue to climb right up until draft day.

There are still a number of underclassmen who have yet to make their intentions known, but based on the information we have now, here’s how our newest mock draft shakes out:

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford. Regardless of the fact that Bill and Chris Polian are no longer running the team, the Colts must make the smart choice by drafting Andrew Luck because no one knows whether Peyton Manning will be able to play at his pre-injury level.

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon*, WR, Oklahoma State. With a new head coach (expected to be Jeff Fisher) on board, the Rams will likely trade this pick to a team that wants Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. If they keep the pick, they will have a hard time passing on Blackmon, who showed he is an elite talent in Oklahoma State’s Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil*, OT, USC. The Vikings know that if Christian Ponder is going to develop, they have to find a left tackle to upgrade their pass protection. Kalil is the best offensive tackle in the draft and should be able to start as a rookie.

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III*, QB, Baylor. The Browns will likely have to trade up if they want to secure Griffin. They know they need to find a long-term solution at quarterback because Colt McCoy has not shown the goods in his two seasons.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonathan Martin*, OT, Stanford. The Bucs need to think long and hard about taking Trent Richardson to upgrade their rushing attack. But without quality pass protection, Josh Freeman will never become a top-level quarterback. So Martin is the logical choice.



6. Washington Redskins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. Tannehill is still developing after switching from wideout to quarterback in 2010. With his elite athleticism, size (6-4, 225) and strong arm, he fits the mold of a Mike Shanahan quarterback.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Aaron Kampman hasn’t played much in two seasons with the Jaguars because of injuries, and that has hindered the Jaguars’ ability to pressure the quarterback. Coples is a strong, physical end who could upgrade their pass rush quickly.

8. (tie) Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State. Throughout much of the 2011 season, the Panthers started two rookie defensive tackles—and the inside pass rush was weak. Still is a powerful man who can control blockers, shoot gaps and disrupt running plays in the backfield.

8. (tie) Miami Dolphins: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina. Considering Cameron Wake is the Dolphins' only established pass rusher, Brown brings the skills this team needs. He has the explosiveness and edge pass-rush ability to be an ideal fit rushing from outside linebacker in the Dolphins’ 3-4 scheme.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff*, OT, Iowa. Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled greatly over the second half of 2011, and if the Bills can’t provide better pass protection in 2012, their passing attack will not improve.

11. (tie) Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro*, G, Stanford. The Chiefs had offensive line issues for much of 2011, and though they would prefer to get a young offensive tackle, they grab DeCastro here to shore up their interior line.

11. (tie) Seattle Seahawks: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. Sidney Rice had injury problems in his first season in Seattle, and the Seahawks’ offense needs a high-level receiver to open things up and help Tarvaris Jackson make the next step as a starting quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Alshon Jeffery*, WR, South Carolina. Without Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals' passing attack struggled with consistency the past two seasons as defenses were able to focus on Larry Fitzgerald. Grabbing Jeffery who has rare size (6-4, 233), makes perfect sense because he would be a nice complement to Fitzgerald.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Morris Claiborne*, CB, LSU. Dallas' secondary was exposed over and over again in 2011, and veteran corner Terence Newman really struggled. That leads Dallas to select the most physically gifted cornerback in the draft.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly*, LB, Boston College. The Eagles don’t have many glaring needs, but linebacker is definitely one. So they take Kuechly, who would provide needed playmaking ability at the second level.

16. New York Jets: Trent Richardson*, RB, Alabama. Shonn Greene has not developed into a top back, so they grab Richardson—an elite prospect who slid down to them because the value of running backs has fallen in this pass-first league.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland), Mark Barron, S, Alabama. The Bengals have not received consistent play from their safeties, and Barron would fill that need. He is a smart, instinctive defender who consistently makes good decisions and is in the right spot to make impact plays.

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry*, OLB, USC. San Diego's defense didn’t make enough impact plays, and too often could not get off the field. So they grab Perry, who should fit in well in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme.

19. Chicago Bears: Dre Kirkpatrick*, CB, Alabama. Though the Bears want to upgrade their offensive line, there aren’t any top-level linemen left on the board. They select the 6-3 Kirkpatrick, who excels in tight man coverage and has the long arms and ball skills to break up and intercept passes.

20. Tennessee Titans: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona. Kenny Britt had major knee surgery in September, and the Titans want to shore up the position. They choose the underrated Criner, who can make an immediate impact as a big-play wideout.

21. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. The Broncos may consider drafting a quarterback in the first round. But in the end, they add a cornerback because Champ Bailey is not getting any younger.

22. Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State. Cedric Benson will be a free agent this offseason, and the Bengals will likely draft a potential starting back rather than pay Benson big bucks.

23. New York Giants: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State. With Kareem McKenzie nearing the end of a long career, the Giants jump at the chance to grab Zanders as their future right tackle.

24. Houston Texans: Dontari Poe*, NT, Memphis. The Texans’ 3-4 defense was very good in 2011 even though it didn’t have a big nose tackle. Houston gambles that Poe (6-5, 350) will fulfill his considerable potential after not being a dominant producer at Memphis.

25. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor. After grabbing their quarterback of the future early in the draft, they take the man he threw the ball to at Baylor to be a big-play receiver.

26. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama. The Lions have struggled to find high-quality starting cornerbacks and are willing to take a gamble on Jenkins. If he can take care of his business off the field, he has tools to be a playmaking cornerback.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Vontaze Burfict*, ILB, Arizona State. Burfict decided to come out early despite not having a great junior season. If he gets back on track, he would be an ideal replacement for Ray Lewis down the road.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brandon Thompson, NT, Clemson. Longtime nose tackle Casey Hampton is 34 and had injury problems this season, so Pittsburgh continues its D-line youth movement by grabbing Thompson. He can learn under Hampton for a season or two before taking over as the starter.

29. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Fletcher Cox*, DT, Mississippi State. The Patriots’ defense struggled big-time this season, and Cox would be an excellent addition in an under-tackle role next to nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina. The 49ers need receiving help to work with top wideout Michael Crabtree. They jump at the chance to grab Jones, who has the size (6-4), strength and run-after-catch ability that the 49ers desperately need.

31. New England Patriots: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina. Andre Carter, the Patriots’ best pass rusher in 2011, is 32 and had season-ending quadriceps surgery last month. The Pats have to find other pass rushers, and Ingram has the tools to be effective off the edge.

32. Green Bay Packers: Jerel Worthy*, DT, Michigan State. Worthy did not play like a first-rounder in 2011. But he has top-10 talent and the Packers are willing to gamble here because they need to upgrade their defensive line.

*Denotes a college junior

Russ Lande, a former NFL scout, is a draft analyst for Sporting News.

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[StarSpangledSteeler]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

Flippy-

I often disagree with a lot of your posts but let me just say well done on this mock.

The Konz pick is gaining more and more momentum amongst true draft nicks. I'm warming up to the idea.

The Chapman pick would be a bit lucky but still possible. I read an interview in which Chapman said he patterned his game after Casey Hampton specifically.

I disagree with the need/priority for Wolfe. But I do not disagree with his talent and measurements if the lasts this long into the 3rd round.

I seriously doubt Johnson falls into the late 4th, but I doubted Curtis Brown would fall into the late 3rd round last year, so we'll see.

Again, I disagree with the Broyles pick from a need basis, but not from a talent/value basis.

The 6th and 7th rounders usually don't amount to much anyhow.

[SteelBucks]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

Great mock Flip!

[steelblood]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

Flippy, Nice work!

1. If Konz is available, I'm on board.
2. Ditto for Chapman
3. I live in Cincinnati and have seen Wolfe play many times. This season there were many games where he was undoubtedly the best player on the field. He is a good run defender and regularly pressures the QB even if he doesn't get the sack. I think he will be a Brett Keisel type player.
4. Johnson as I recall once resisted arrest and had to be tased. I'm not sure he is a Steeler type, but he has great talent.
5. Broyles is a great slot guy.
6. Ellison-I'm not sure he could function as a FB like we ask our third TE to do.
7. Demps-this is a player whom Sean Payton could use to exploit mismatches, Arians???

[steeler_george]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

I am not that big of a college football fan, in other words don't watch that much, but I love reading about the players being drafted.

Our biggest weakness needs to be addressed this year, and not only was it substandard but injuries also has taken its toll on the depth. Time to clean house on the OL.

AS far as Konz goes, I am starting to like this pick more and more, especially with Pouncey having his 2nd surgery on his left ankle. It brings a little more

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Flippy's Earliest Mock Draft 1.0 Ever

This isn't on you hawaiiansteel....Did this guy who works for a major publication just post a mock draft on the 13th when spots 1-24 are set and have the Steelers picking 28th behind the Ravens? Wow. Anyway...I like his 24th pick...If it was the Steelers in Poe. I might be 100% sold on him as the best NT prospect in this draft after the process unfolds. As you could see from my Top 5 wish list by round 1-3...He is on my radar. He is on to something though. There is no way Burfict gets by the Ravens and they might trade up for him. Lewis & Burfict are connected and he needs to be surrounded by vets to put him on the right line. This will drive me nuts through all of this because when the mind games start the Steelers may show lots of interest in Burfict just to get the Ravens to jump and have the guy they really want fall in their laps.

Nothing personal Flip...At #24, I'm not taking Kontz. I'm not a fan on Kontz and I don't think G would be a good position for him. I don't like him on the second level, he struggles to hit targets in space, and he doesn't hold his ground well at the point of attack. He is on the ground alot in the wash. He could be coached up on some of that but that doesn't always work. I don't think he is the best Badger coming out...I would rather have Kevin Zeitler in the second. That dislocated ankle is a concern to me and I thought Travis Frederick played better than him when he was out. He wasn't missed when they played Penn State and Frederick wasn't a down grade. Kontz didn't look good against OSU. He is the best C coming out but a team looking for a C will overdraft him. There really is only 1 OG prospect I'm interested in @ 24 & that's Decastro.