Dawg Pound Daily’s 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Complete With First-Round Trades
By Jordan Marks
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Cordy Glenn
Offensive tackle/guard, Georgia
I feel that Glenn lacks the agility necessary to become an excellent NFL offensive lineman, but many are projecting he will be selected in the top 25. Glenn’s skill set might be best served at guard in the NFL, and the Bengals’ 2011 starting right guard, Bobbie Williams, was not re-signed by the team this offseason. Glenn can help fill that void.
22. Tennessee Titans (from Cleveland, via Atlanta) **Projected Trade**
Stephon Gilmore
Cornerback, South Carolina
The Titans lost a great cornerback in Cortland Finnegan this offseason, leaving cornerback as the biggest need for the team in this draft. Gilmore is rumored to be a top-ten pick candidate, but I don’t think he’s quite worth that. I expect Gilmore to be on the board here, and he would be the ideal choice for Tennessee’s depleted secondary.
23. Detroit Lions
Janoris Jenkins
Cornerback, North Alabama
The Lions have needs in the secondary and offensive line. I would have left tackle Mike Adams from Ohio State with this pick, but his recent positive marijuana test will make him slip in the draft. The Lions will look past Jenkins’ problems at Florida and select him based on his talent alone. He would be the second cornerback off the board without his baggage, so this is a potential steal this late in the first round.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dontari Poe
Defensive tackle, Memphis
Poe flew up draft boards after he ran a sub-five-second 40-yard-dash after checking in at nearly 350 pounds at the NFL Combine. However, his stock has seemed to cool off a bit as of late, and he is a candidate to slip on Thursday. If Poe is on the board here, the Steelers have a chance to grab a nose tackle to become the next Casey Hampton. Pittsburgh’s drafts always seem to work out perfectly.
25. Denver Broncos
Jerel Worthy
Defensive tackle, Michigan State
Worthy has great playmaking ability for an interior lineman. He is an excellent pass rusher who was all over the place when I watched him play at Ohio State this season. Denver could try to add weapons for Peyton Manning to work with, but Peyton Manning could throw ten touchdown passes a year to a guy with no arms. The Broncos can take a receiver later.
26. Houston Texans
Dont’a Hightower
Inside linebacker, Alabama
Hightower would be an excellent addition to an already sterling Texans defense. The team could use another tackler after trading DeMeco Ryans to the Philadelphia Eagles. Hightower has great instincts and is going to be a great linebacker at the next level.
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)
Courtney Upshaw
Defensive end/outside linebacker, Alabama
Upshaw just doesn’t impress me in his tapes. He lacks the quick first step to be a defensive end and lacks the speed to be a true outside linebacker. Yet he has incredible instincts and a relentless motor. Upshaw strikes me as a player Bill Belichick would love to develop. How boring is Bill Belichick?
28. Green Bay Packers
Shea McClellin
Outside linebacker, Boise State
The Packers are reportedly in love with McClellin. That’s enough for me. Send him to Green Bay.
29. Indianapolis Colts (via Baltimore) **Projected Trade**
Coby Fleener
Tight end, Stanford
This trade is great for a few reasons. First and foremost, I no longer have the Ravens logo on this mock draft. Second, the Ravens are in a position where they are looking to add to the talent to provide depth as opposed to having the need to find starters. Trading down makes sense because they likely have a number of prospects that they still like. Lastly, the Colts still need weapons to surround Andrew Luck. I think going up and getting Luck’s college tight end – the best tight end in this year’s draft – is a move that seems believable.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Stephen Hill
Wide receiver, Georgia Tech
The 49ers need more playmakers and reportedly are keen on Hill. I personally believe Hill has classic wide receiver bust written all over him. He flew up boards after his impressive Combine, but he just doesn’t stick out on tapes as a stud. I like LSU’s Reuben Randle more, but I am not employed by an NFL team.
31. New England Patriots
Whitney Mercilus
Defensive end/outside linebacker, Illinois
Akron native Whitney Mercilus demonstrates a quick burst and the frame needed to be an impact pass rusher in the NFL. The Patriots struggled getting to the quarterback at times last season. I could see them taking another hybrid quarterback chaser and just hope one – Mercilus or Upshaw – pans out.
32. New York Giants
Nick Perry
Defensive end/outside linebacker, California
The Giants are notorious for having a plethora of pass rushers, and Perry’s value may be tough for them to pass up. I think he lacks elite explosiveness, but he is worth the risk at this point in the draft.
There you have it – my 2012 mock draft. I cannot wait for Thursday. Not only will I finally see who the Browns take, but I get to find out how moronic my mock draft ends up looking.