2012 NFL Mock Draft: Bills Select Offensive Tackle
By Brad Andrews
It’s certainly still very early in the draft season but it’s never too early for a mock draft!
Each BuffaLowDown mock draft is featured in the DC Pro Sports Report, WalterFootball.com, Sports Jabber, hailredskins.com and fftoolbox.com mock draft databases. Each site keeps track of a huge number mock drafts all over the web.
Definitely be sure to check out NFL Mocks (a huge friend of BLD) and With the First Pick for comprehensive NFL draft and college scouting coverage year-round.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford
Don’t let anyone kid you: this is going to be the pick. Period.
2. St. Louis Rams
Robert Griffin III – QB, Baylor
I don’t think the Rams end up picking here. Someone (Cleveland? Washington?) is trading up to nab RG3.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil – OT, USC
The Vikings could go a lot of directions, but it’s hard to turn down a franchise tackle.
4. Cleveland Browns
Justin Blackmon – WR, Oklahoma State
I was sort of hoping Blackmon would fall to Buffalo at #10, but I think Blackmon’s great Fiesta Bowl performance locked up a earlier selection for him.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent Richardson – RB, Alabama
I wouldn’t go RB in the top five, but if you’re going to do it you might as well get someone as talented as Richardson.
6. Washington Redskins
Morris Claiborne – CB, LSU
Don’t rule out Redskins-style craziness here, but if Claiborne’s still here they should nab him.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Quinton Coples – DE, North Carolina
This would just break the heart of BLD’s own Ron Bullard.
8. Carolina Panthers
Riley Reiff – OT, Iowa
The Panthers need help nearly everywhere, but Reiff’s a pretty good value at #8. Don’t be surprised if they go defense instead, though.
9. Miami Dolphins
Courtney Upshaw – OLB, Alabama
The Dolphins would love Reiff here, but would settle for Upshaw, a great pass rusher who would likely sack Ryan Fitzpatrick 40 times over the next few years.
10. Buffalo Bills
Jonathan Martin – OT, Stanford
After passing on so many tackles over the years, the Bills finally grab one with absurdly talented Martin.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
Luke Kuechly – LB, Boston College
This tackling machine would be a nice upgrade to the KC defense.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Devon Still – DT, Penn State
Quietly, the Seahawks have put together a pretty talented young defense. Still would be another great piece.
13. Arizona Cardinals
David DeCastro – OG, Stanford
The Arizona O-line is a mess and they would love Martin or Reiff to fall to them somehow. If not, they’ll still be happy with the intelligent, rugged DeCastro.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Dre Kirkpatrick – CB, Alabama
Kirkpatrick’s recent arrest won’t help his case, but I can’t see the Cowboys caring too much. They need help in the secondary in the worst way.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Vontaze Burfict – LB, Arizona State
The “Dream Team” somehow forgot to include “get some talent at linebacker” to last season’s to-do list. Burfict will help remedy the situation.
16. New York Jets
Melvin Ingram – DE, South Carolina
The Jets need help on both lines, but will go defense here.
