2012 Mock Draft: AFC East edition
The 2011 NFL Season is officially over, and the 2012 NFL Season is under way. With Free Agency and the Draft coming up in the next couple months, it is going to be a very busy time for all teams as they look to keep their free agents, or sign away another player from another team. Now let’s skip Free Agency and head right into the Draft. The scouting combine is just weeks away and players will be doing their best to raise their stock and show teams they are worthy of being selected in the Draft.
So with that said, I’m going to do a Mock Draft for every team, by division. Once I get through all the divisions, I will reveal my first 32 team first round mock. For now, take a look at who I have the teams in the AFC East taking, and plenty will change between this and the 32 team mock. Stay tuned for the NFC East mock draft next week.
Round 1, Pick 8*: Michael Brockers DT LSU: The Dolphins are surprisingly moving to a 4-3 defense and will need players to fit that scheme. Jared Odrick can play one of the Defensive Tackle positions but they need someone else to play the other. Brockers is climbing up draft boards and may be a top 15 pick come April, so reaching for a great player here at 8 won’t be much for the Dolphins.
Round 2, Pick 42: Zebrie Sanders OT FSU: Marc Colombo can and should be upgraded, whether in Free Agency or in the draft. You know how bad he is, he gave up three of the nine sacks that the Eagles had in their game last season. Sanders, or well anyone can be an upgrade over Colombo and they should be focused on protecting Matt Flynn or whoever the Quarterback will be.
* = Pick Based on Coin Flip with Carolina Panthers
Round 1, Pick 10: Quinton Coples DE, UNC: The Bills are moving to the 4-3 and they need pass rushers. Coples could experience a draft night fall in April but some team will take him in the Top 10 and that will be the Bills. With Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams manning the middle, they will need edge rushers and Coples can be good as long as he puts fourth the effort, which was a big issue.
Round 2, Pick 41: Zach Brown OLB, UNC: The Bills need as many 4-3 players as possible to help make their transition smooth. They continue to improve their front seven, and Brown is a steal here at 41 and the Bills defense continues to get better.
Round 1, Pick 16: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama: The Jets pass rush needs to be upgraded. If the Jets want to ever stop playing second fiddle to the Patriots, then maybe getting to Tom Brady will help. Upshaw had an absolute wonderful season and was named MVP of the National Title game and will provide Rex Ryan his New York version of Terrell Suggs.
Round 2, Pick 47: Nick Toon WR Wisconsin: The Jets are imploding right now, if it wasn’t for Santonio Holmes’ contract, they would probably dump him so why not draft another receiver in the meantime.
Round 1, Pick 27(via NO): Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall: Patriots defense was horrible last season, at least until they got some players back who were injured. The way the defense played when they got healthy shows what kind of defense they truly have. The Patriots improve their pass rush with Curry and add more youth to their defense.
Round 1, Pick 31: Lamar Miller RB Miami: Make no mistake about it, one of these first round picks will be traded. Right now I don’t project trades even though my 32 team Mock will feature trades. Miller is too good to pass up here at 31, and gives them another weapon on offense to work with.
Round 2, Pick 48: Harrison Smith SS Notre Dame: Patriots once again go defense. Things didn’t work out with Meriweather so they will need another safety. When Mike Mayock praises a player, it’s always a bonus. Smith has nice size(6’2) and has played great for Notre Dame the past two seasons which warrants him as a second round pick.
Round 2, Pick 63: Jared Crick DE Nebraska: 4 picks within the first two rounds, did the Patriots win a lottery or what. They should be able to improve their team with the early picks they got and again they go defense as Crick adds more talent to what was a weak defense for the most of 2011.
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Mike Presley is a NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. He is a graduate of the Carolina School of Broadcasting and hosts a weekly NFL show on the schools radio station 89.3 The Storm entitled “The Front Seven.” Mike also writes for the racing website www.hardcoreracefans.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikepresley64.
