Drayton Florence agrees to terms with Broncos
It didn’t take Drayton Florence very long to find a new team, as he’s switching out the Blue and Red from his Buffalo days to Orange and Blue, now with the Denver Broncos.
Florence has agreed to terms with the Broncos this afternoon, the two sides are finalizing a contract now. Florence is coming off a very good year with the Bills where he hauled in 3 interceptions and had over 50 tackles for the Bills.
In Denver he will join Champ Bailey and newcomer Tracy Porter, giving the Broncos a good veteran core of ball hawks and cover guys, a big part of the plan to get the ball back into Peyton Manning’s hands as much as possible.
Broncos: Meet the 2012 Draft Class
ROUND 2: Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Wolfe will provide an immediate upgrade to the Broncos’ interior pass rush as a 3 technique tackle. Their two starting tackles last year, Marcus Thomas and Brodrick Bunkley, combined for no sacks. Wolfe had 9.5 sacks and 15 pressure last year for the Bearcats and 19.5 and 32, respectively, for his career.
John Elway stated before the draft that he expects to find at least three players who will immediately be substantial contributors—if not starters. Wolfe will push to be an every-down tackle right away and will likely play in nickel and dime packages from Day 1.
Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
Executive vice president John Elway said last March that there “was no Plan B” behind Peyton Manning, but now there is. The 6-7 Osweiler is raw and could have used another year of seasoning at Arizona State, where he started only one full season, but had arguably the strongest arm in this draft class. Osweiler is the Broncos’ QB of the future; the only question is when that future arrives.
If Manning’s surgically repaired neck holds up, Osweiler could be set for a three-to-four-year hitch as the understudy. If it falters, Osweiler might be in the lineup as soon as this season. In that case, Osweiler insists that despite his lack of experience, “I’d be ready to roll.”
Round 3: Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State
The Broncos wanted a change-of-pace back who could ease the burden on 30-year-old starter Willis McGahee, and the 5-9, 200-pound Hillman should fill that role. With 4.45 speed, a decent array of moves in space and pass-catching ability, Hillman should be an outside, third-down complement who can occasionally run inside and keep McGahee from wearing down as he did late in 2011.
He’ll play right away if he can beat out Knowshon Moreno. Moreno struggled in his only start of 2011 before giving way to McGahee and tore his ACL just moments after relieving an injured McGahee in Week 9 at Kansas City. Moreno’s and Hillman’s skill sets are similar; the pick would appear to indicate that Moreno, the No. 12 overall pick in 2009, might not be in Denver’s long-term plans.
ROUND 4: OMAR BOLDEN, CB/KR, Arizona State
Bolden (5-10, 202) is likely the third quick-impact player in the Broncos’ draft class. He should be a dime back right away and will push nickel back Chris Harris for playing time. Bolden also returned kickoffs at Arizona State and will compete for that role after Eddie Royal’s departure for San Diego. Bolden fell to the fourth round because of concerns about his left knee. He had a sprained MCL in 2009 and a torn ACL last season. But he appeared to recover most of his speed by his pro day, posting a 4.45 time in the 40.
ROUND 4: PHILIP BLAKE, C/G, Baylor
Blake (6-3, 311) replaced current Broncos starting center J.D. Walton in 2010 after starting the entire 2009 season at right tackle. He will likely move to guard in Denver after working at left and right guard during Senior Bowl week. At 26, Blake is older than all but one of the Broncos’ first-team offensive linemen; the Toronto native spent three years in a Quebec college before transferring to Tyler (Texas) Junior College in 2008 and Baylor in 2009. He should begin his career as the Broncos’ primary backup at the three interior line slots.
ROUND 5: MALIK JACKSON, DE, Tennessee
Jackson (6-5, 284) played defensive tackle the last two seasons but is projected to move to end, which he last played at Southern Cal before transferring in 2010 after the Trojans were hit with NCAA sanctions. In some ways, his skill set is the opposite of second-rounder Derek Wolfe; he’s better against the run than in the pass rush and is an end who can occasionally move inside. Wolfe is a prolific pass-rushing tackle who has the flexibility to swing outside.
ROUND 6: DANNY TREVATHAN, LB, Kentucky
Trevathan’s scouting report sounds similar to that of Wesley Woodyard when he came out of Kentucky in 2008: undersized tackling machine who can sometimes get overrun by offensive linemen. Woodyard overcame the criticism to become Denver’s special-teams captain three years running and one of the linebackers in their nickel package. The Broncos hope Trevathan (6-0, 237) takes a similar trajectory; he’ll get a long look on kick and punt teams this summer, and his work there will likely determine whether he sticks on the roster.
NFL Draft: Winners & Losers
SkinnyPost TV sits down to take a look at who won in this years NFL Draft and who didn’t! From value picks to teams that reached and everything in between!!
Final Draft Grades!!
It’s very difficult to “grade” a draft just days after the selections however it isn’t difficult to see where we feel value was found and how teams did or didn’t manipulate the board to fit their needs. Certain players are sure to reach the dreaded “bust” status while others will ascend to “late round gem” status. Here is how we grade all 32 teams in the 2012 NFL Draft! Read more
Breakdown of All The Draft Day Trades
Draft Trade Breakdown
DAY 1 – Thursday Trades
Did the Broncos whiff on “Impact”?
The cry all offseason from Bronco fans, especially after the loss of Broderick Bunkley, was for the Denver Broncos to draft a Defensive Tackle. Many had Jerel Worthy & Devon Still, guys from big time programs high on their wish list. The Bronco brass decided to trade out of the 1st Round not once, but twice, going from 25 to 31 then to 2nd Round where they had two picks in what was widely known as a “weak” draft class. Some feel they didn’t receive enough compensation for their trades but under the gun I guess you get what you can get. Read more
Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades
Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades
First my notes:
This was a super quick draft that was over before you knew it. I never understood the reason for dragging it on and on. Teams have had months to figure this out, so unless something really unexpected happens and your guy is taken or if you’re exploring a last minute trade, there really isn’t any reason to take the entire clock.
Trades, trades, and more trades. There is nothing more exciting on draft day than trades. Given the new rookie wage scale, this will probably be a trend more than an anomaly. Teams that traded down in the draft received great value and teams who traded up knew exactly who they wanted and what it took to get him. It’s always a good sign to a fan when your team has a plan and does what it takes to execute.
The first 20 minutes were super boring. Why did the first 3 teams announce who they were taking ahead of time? What do they have to gain? Totally took the luster and excitement out of the top of the draft. I really don’t understand why the Colts have to announce they are taking Andrew Luck 1st until they need to submit their pick. This is competitive league, so why throw your cards on the table before the game even starts. Only good thing that came out of this was it gave RG3 the chance to wear those fantastic Redskin colored socks which he proudly showed everyone.
How does the NFL have the jersey for the rookies as soon as their drafted? The only explanation is they print up 1 for each player they think will be drafted. What happens to all of those other jerseys?? What if a team picks someone out of left field, does that guy get a blank jersey?
Looks like the NFL heard my complaint last year and stopped showing the player before they were drafted. I take full credit. The draft was so much more enjoyable with this improvement. I actually looked forward to hearing what Roger Goodell had to say for once.
Draft Grades:
1.Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – A+
Everything that can be said about Luck basically has been. Slam dunk of a number 1 pick and perhaps the best transition of quarterbacks ever with a #1 replacing a #1. Luck doesn’t have a ton of talent surrounding him yet, so hopefully expectations are tempered in year 1 in Indy. Let’s all remember Peyton came in and won only 3 games while throwing 28 picks his first year. Just because the recent crop of rookie quarterbacks have excelled year 1, doesn’t mean Luck has to. Side note on Luck, anyone else think he came off as kind of a dork? If I were him, I’d grow that ugly beard again he had before his senior year started. The dorky 15 year old look might not be too imposing to NFL defenses.
2. Washington Redskins – Roger Griffin III – A
Really liked what RG3 said after he was drafted. His focus remains on the team and showing the veterans he is there to work. A Cam Newton esque rookie campaign might be a little much to ask, but RG3 with Shanny coaching him up, can be a star from day 1 in Washington. The Skins gave up the house for him so I imagine they think this pick is pure gold. The massive haul is the only thing keeping this from being a top grade. Of course if he ends up being a franchise QB, all the picks will be more than worth it. Btw, could we be in for a Steve Smith like rejuvenation for Santana Moss this season?
3. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson – A
Brad Childress is the Phil Jackson of football (except for the 11 rings and ability to know what you’re doing). Phil went from Jordan to Kobe while Childress goes from Peterson to Richardson. Trent may go down as the best player to come out of this draft and the Browns made sure they nabbed him. While the entire league goes pass happy, the Browns will take a different approach and utilize the best RB prospect to come out since Peterson. I will say I’m not sure the Browns “had” to trade up and swap spots with the Vikings for this pick though. I realize other teams were interested in doing just that, Tampa perhaps, but my gut feeling tells me Vikings would have still just picked Kalil and Richardson would have been sitting there still at #4. Obviously I know a lot less than Cleveland did, or at least think they did, so perhaps this was necessary to get a much needed running back. After missing out on RG3, it’s tough to blame Cleveland for not taking any chances with the other player they loved in the draft. The city of Cleveland needed a star player, and they get one here.
4. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Kalil – A
Anyone else wonder why Ryan was kissing Valerie Bertanelli after he got drafted? Anyway, the Vikings trade down, get 2 more picks, and still get the guy they wanted at 3. I’d say that’s Minnesota highway robbery. No one is happier about this pick than Christian Ponder though. I realize the sentiment these days are left tackles aren’t as important as they were thought to be a few years ago, but getting a cornerstone guy there for the next 10 years will only help the Vikings. They didn’t seem to fall in love with any one player in this draft, so picking probably the safest bet while trading down for more picks is smart play by the Vikes. Big question remains for Minnesota fans, how many years will they get to enjoy Kalil before the team picks up and leaves??
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon – A
Didn’t’ really understand the backlash as of late for Blackmon. A lot of scouts and talking heads didn’t feel he was a true #1. Did they watch him in college? The guy was dominant the past two seasons at OK State. There is no team starved more for wide receiver talent than the Jags so this pick is a no brainer. Even if Blackmon never develops into Calvin Johnson (who f’n does???) he is the best receiver they have had their since Jimmy Smith who retired over 7 years ago! Probably had to trade up to leapfrog the Rams to take Blackmon, so I applaud the initiative.
6. Dallas Cowboys – Morris Clairborne – B+
This grade doesn’t reflect the player, but more what Dallas gave up to get him. If a Pro Bowl CB in Asante Samuel is worth only a 7th round pick, giving up a #2 and their #1 to move up to draft Morris is a huge price. Dallas does get the last of the ‘big 6’ though and do get the top cover man in the draft. As a Cowboy fan I had my heart set on Barron, but I guess I never thought they had a chance for Claiborne. Any Dallas fan will tell you how poor their secondary played last year so with Claiborne and the addition of Carr this offseason, along with the banishing of Terence Newman, suddenly cornerback is a position of strength for the Cowboys. I am just still a bit concerned about a playmaker at the safety position and a another pass rusher, which cannot be addressed now until the 3rd round.
7. Tampa Bay – Mark Barron – A
That awful Tampa defense just got a lot better on draft night. Barron is the real deal and seems like one of those rare playmakers in the secondary who seems to always be around the ball and make things happen. Bonus points for trading down and still getting one of the top 2 impact secondary rookies. Can we just start calling him “The Baron” now? Awesome nickname. I wish Dallas got him…
8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill – C
The first real boom or bust pick of the draft. The Dolphins were a mess this off-season so this pick needs to be a homerun or they will continue to fade into obscurity. We have seen so many quarterbacks enter the league with all of the tools Tannehill possesses, but flame out rather quickly. This pick is so tough to grade because you really don’t know what Tannehill will become. If Miami seriously thinks he is the answer as QB then this pick makes total sense. A part of me thinks they talked themselves into him though. He probably won’t play much at all in year 1 so the Fins might find themselves at the top of the draft next season where there are some stud signal callers available. Then what will they do? Ryan does win the award for hottest WAG in the draft room though, so that counts for something. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ryan-tannehill-wife-stole-show-thursday-nfl-draft-161434718.html)
9. Carolina Panthers – Luke Kuechly – A-
Carolina could have used help at receiver and picked the ND product Floyd, but elect to go defense here and it found a gem in linebacker Luke Kuechly. Luke is the poster child for productivity, and his ability to play the pass will allow him to be a three down linebacker. Cam can’t do anything while the defense is on the field, so upgrading that unit has Carolina back on the path to relevancy in the NFL. The only hesitation I have is the recent lack of success top 10 linebackers in the league has had. Kuechly seems as poised as anyone to break that mold though.
10. Buffalo Bills – Stephon Gilmore – A
The Bills needed a top flight corner to match up against #1 receivers and they grab one with Gamecock product Gilmore. The Bills have dedicated themselves to building a top defense and continue with a great secondary addition. While the offense might still need work, they are hoping Fitzpatrick gains some of his magic back while the defense becomes one of the best in the AFC.
11. KC Chiefs – Dontari Poe – B-
I hope KC fans like Vegas, because their team just took one of the bigger gambles in the draft. Poe is the typical workout wonder who everyone seems to become obsessed with right before the draft. His lack of productivity at Memphis is puzzling though and raises some major red flags. At the very least he should turn into a space eater. Chiefs fans are probably hoping Poe isn’t the second coming of Glen Dorsey though. Poe massive size should prevent that from happening hopefully.
12. Fletcher Cox – B+
The Eagles trade up to get a player they really liked and given Andy Reid’s draft history, we have to trust he knows what he is doing. While Cox wasn’t necessarily a position of need, he will certainly help sure up the between the gap defense that struggled mightily at times last season. The Eagles front four is pretty nasty but Cox gives them some nice depth, flexibility, and youth. Again, I trust Andy Reid here.
13. Arizona Cardinals -Michael Floyd – C
This pick seems like the Cards were nostalgic for the days of Fitz and Boldin catching passes together. Big difference between then and now though, those guys had Kurt Warner throwing to them. Fitz and Floyd will have the pu pu platter of Kolb and Skelton. Can’t help but think the Cards could have used some offensive line help here. Rief or DeCastro would have made sense. You can have Moss and Rice out there, but if Kolb or whoever else can’t get it to them due to lack of protection or “talent’ it won’t matter.
14. St. Louis Rams – Michael Brockers – A
Rams get a talented and much needed player in Brockers here while at the same time amassing multiple picks by trading down. They put themselves in the driver’s seat for round 2. If I’m a Rams fan, I’m somewhat distraught they didn’t come out with either Blackmon or Floyd, but looking back at draft histories, some of the best wide receiver talents have come in round 2, and I can’t imagine they don’t select at least one with all the picks they have. Besides lack of guys to throw the ball to, the Rams porous run defense was their achilles heel last year. Brockers immediately upgrades that unit. Great job of the Rams this draft to maximize their draft position and getting a ton of picks in return. RG3 might be fantastic, but they seem invested in Bradford and shouldn’t have let one poor season deter them from sticking with him. Bravo St. Louis.
15. Seattle Seahawks- Bruce Irvin – D+
Eek, this was a reach. Irvin goes from former high school drop out to #15 pick in the NFL draft. Not exactly the poster child for staying in school campaigns. While I don’t think Irvin can’t be a productive starter on the NFL level, with so many teams finding ways to trade down and accumulate more picks, it’s hard to figure out why the Hawks’ felt they had to reach at 15 for the WVU linebacker. Hard to imagine he wouldn’t have been there much later in the 1st round or even on day 2.
16. NY Jets – Quinton Coples – C+
Coples could have easily gone top 10 given his talent. His effort and motor remain a question mark though, as does his consistency. Rex Ryan sometimes brings out the best in defensive players so I’m sure that was the thought process here. The Jets defense was vastly over rated last year so if Coples plays like his raw talent suggests, this unit has received a huge upgrade. Given the locker room issues that plagued the Jets last year, you do have to wonder if this is the best environment for someone like Coples. I think they would have been better served to pick Ingram here but Rex and Co. swing for the fences with this pick.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick – B+
“Dr.” Dre Kirkpatrick is exactly what the Bengals needed to replace Jonathan Joseph, who was sorely missed last season when Leon Hall went down. With Hall and Kirkpatrick, Cinnci has a secondary duo who can match up with pretty much any receiving tandem in the league. Given Kirkpatrick’s unique size, he can match up against the bigger wideouts while Hall shuts down the quicker ones. Hard to imagine the Bengals nailing two drafts in a row, but it appears they are on their way.
18. San Diego Chargers – Melvin Ingram – A
Great job by the Chargers to get the guy many thought was the best pass rusher in the draft, all the way at 18. Ingram is the hybrid pass rusher that has become so popular these past few years, and gives the Charger defense some much needed flexibility. When a guy’s biggest knock is he has “short arms”, I’d say SD did well with this selection. Besides, it’s not like he has T-Rex arms. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/tyrannosaurus-rex/
19. Chicago Bears – Shea McClellin – C+
McClellin was a big riser coming into the draft and seems like another pass rushing specialist, which we are finding out teams cannot have too many of. Any pressure that gets taken off Julius Pepper is also a big positive. I’m just left feeling the Bears could have done more to protect Cutler and shore up a shaky offensive line. With Riley Reiff and DeCastro still sitting there, this pick is a bit puzzling to me.
20. Tennessee Titans – Kendall Wright – C
I’m not convinced about Wright. He’s fast but he’s not exceptionally fast. He isn’t tall. He was productive but he also had RG3 tossing him the ball. He is great after the catch and in space, but will he be able to get open against top corners in the NFL? If there is concern Kenny Britt cannot come back fully healthy this pick makes a lot more sense. Wright should be a nice slot receiver, but I want a little more with pick #20.
21. NE Patriots – Chandler Jones – A-
The Pats weren’t the best pass rush team last year and they might be without their top two sack men next season so this pick makes sense. Jones has as much upside as a pass rusher as anyone in this draft. Being a fellow Syracuse Alum, I am quite proud that our awful football team finally had a 1st round pick. Cuse grads tend to over achieve in the NFL (Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeny, Mike Williams, etc…) so this pick could be special. The Super Bowl runner ups finally traded up in a draft instead of trading down, and they come away with a premier pass rushing talent.
22. Cleveland Browns – Brandon Wheedon – D
This was interesting… It was reported earlier in the day that the Browns gave Colt McCoy a vote of confidence and assured him they wouldn’t be selecting a quarterback in round 1. Lesson learned, never trust your bosses… This pick signals the white flag for McCoy as the starter in Cleveland as I can’t imagine he is willing to stay and mentor Wheedon who is about twice his age. Cleveland obviously plans to address who their QB will be throwing to in the later rounds as there isnt much to work with. A little unfair if you ask me though as Wheedon gets to work with Richardson right off the bat while McCoy had a list of cast offs last season. This selection seems like a medium risk medium reward type of pick. Wheedon probably won’t be worse than McCoy, but how much better will he actually be? Thoughts of Chris Weinke comes to mind…
23. Detroit Lions – Riley Reiff – A-
What is going on Detroit these days… The Lions are not only relevant again, but they have drafted well in the last few years, and their star player is now on the Madden Cover. (I fear for Megatron with this win. The Madden Curse is alive and well (just ask Peyton Hillis) ). Detroit is not without their weaknesses though and they address one of them right here with the second best tackle prospect in the draft. Even if Reiff doesn’t turn into a starter at LT, he should hold down the RT fort for a decade. Anytime you give Matthew Stafford more time to throw to Calvin, you are doing something right. Keeping Stafford healthy should be the #1 concern for the Lions going forward.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – David DeCastro – B+
I was certain pre draft they would take one of the Alabama linebackers with Upshaw or Hightower. Both guys screamed steel curtain defense. But with DeCastro slipping, the Steelers make a great pick here as keeping Big Ben upright is the most important to the Steelers success. Roethlisberger ran around like a chicken with his head cut off last season. Pouncy and DeCastro equals great anterior anchors for Pitt, and should also help what was a less than spectacular running attack last season.
25. NE Patriots – Don’ta Hightower – B
The Saban Belichick connection continues. For the second time in the 1st round the Pats trade up to get their guy. Hightower is a winner and should instantly help with the Pats new pass rush attack pairing with Chandler Jones. Hate to say it, but the Pats just got a lot better already, which is terrible news for the rest of the AFC.
26. Houston Texans – Whitney Mercilus – B
I can’t imagine a guy named Whitney really making an impact in the league, but what’s in a name. Mercilus will have his work cut out for him to prove he is not a one year wonder. With the Ryans and Williams defections, this pick makes total sense as the Texans get a guy who had 16 sacks a year ago in the Big 10. You don’t get that many without having some unworldly natural ability. I bet the Texans were hoping DeCastro would fall to them here but Wade Phillips just got another toy to use for next year.
27. Cincinnati Bengals – Kevin Zeitler – B
Perhaps the most boring pick of the 1st round. Cincinnati needed a RB and another WR but resisted the urge of the sexier pick and probably makes the smart play here. The more time Dalton has to throw deep passes to AJ Green the better. Besides, there is always value in backs in the later rounds and Zeitler should help the running game whoever is back there in 2012, so they indirectly improve.
28. Green Bay Packers – Nick Perry – B+
Good news, we no longer have to hear how Clay Matthews has no pass rushing help in Green Bay. Perry is exactly what the Pack needed to add a second dimension to their pass rushing attack.
29. Minnesota Vikings – Harrison Smith – B-
The Vike’s needed help in the secondary and address some of that here with the #2 safety on the board in Smith. I watched the ND product play for 4 years, and while he never stood out, he always seemed to be around the ball and constantly making tackles and plays. Smith is never going to be a shutdown safety a la Ed Reed or Eric Berry, but he will help prevent the big plays that plagued Minnesota all of last season. Most importantly, Harrison seems like a great candidate to defend the ever dangerous Tight Ends in the league.
30. San Francisco 49’ers – A.J. Jenkins – C-
I got burned last year by questioning the Niner’s selection of Aldon Smith so I choose my words carefully with the evaluation of this year’s surprise selection. Forgetting the fact that SF essentially drafted a receiver who was much lower on most scouts boards than some other receivers still available (Hill, Randle), after an offseason that saw Manningham and Moss brought in, why did the Niners feel they had to reach for a WR in this spot? With Crabtree still there, Jenkins comes in essentially as the #4 on the depth chart. I’d want more out of my first round pick. San Fran didn’t have any pressing needs but probably could have used the pick to trade out of the 1st round of or at least sure up the offensive line and secondary. They are an elite team and should be in win now mode. Just not sure how this pick lines up with that.
31. Tampa Bay Bucs – Doug Martin – B-
Two Boise State guys in the 1st round??? The Potato state must be going nuts. LaGarret Blount was probably ecstatic they didn’t land Trent Richardson, but this can’t be too pleasing at the end of the round. Regardless, Blount and Martin should make a pretty interesting 1-2 punch for the Bucs. As much as a like Martin and think he can be productive, I can’t help but wonder if the Bucs should have continued to go defense here and hope to get a back in a later round. “The Baron” isn’t going to fix this awful defense by himself. I am also still confused who is playing cornerback for them next season. Ronde Barber will be looking at homes to retire at while Aquib Taliq will be looking at jail cells to serve in.
32. NY Giants – David Wilson – C
Ahmad Bradshaw is not an every down back in the NFL so teaming him with another back makes a lot of sense. What doesn’t make to me is why the Giants didn’t feel more inclined to pick the #1 rated Tight End on the board when their top 2 TE’s on last year’s depth chart are essentially out for the 2012 season. Do the Giants not remember they plucked Bradshaw out of the 7th round? First round TE’s have given teams a ton more value than RB’s over the last decade. The league seems to be moving to a more TE oriented offense to create mismatches and Fleener would have fit that mold. Wilson is a talented back and should provide some new energy into the Giants backfield, but I can’t help but wonder if the Giants let this pick go a bit by not shoring up the TE position or the offensive line. Fleener or Cody Glenn would have been better picks in this spot.
1st Round Draft Results!
The 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books and as we had speculated, there was a lot of trading going on. The new Rookie wage scale eliminated any contractual issues and made for trades to happen easier. The Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Vikings and many others all made some big trades that effected the board. Impossible to say who was a winner or loser after one round of Drafting, we will wait a while to see how the players actually pan out. Here is a list of the 1st Rounders selected and what we thought the of picks and the slot in which they were selected.
Here are the Draft Results from the 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft:
PICK TEAM PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE
1 – Colts Luck, Andrew QB 6’4″ 234 Stanford (No Brainer, great pick)
2 – Redskins (From Rams) Griffin III, Robert QB 6’2″ 223 Baylor (Same as Luck, great pick, big arm huge upside)
3 – Browns (From Vikings) Richardson, Trent RB 5’9″ 228 Alabama (Maybe a bit much to move up but great pick)
4 – Vikings (From Browns) Kalil, Matt OT 6’6″ 306 USC (Got extra picks and the guy the wanted, good job)
5 – Jaguars (From Buccaneers) Blackmon, Justin WR 6’1″ 207 Oklahoma St. (Need Weapons for Gabbert, solid pick)
6 – Cowboys (From Redskins through Rams) Claiborne, Morris CB 5’11″ 188 LSU (HUGE pick for Dallas, great move)
7 – Buccaneers (From Jaguars) Barron, Mark SS 6’1″ 213 Alabama (Great pick for the Bucs, hard hitter with range)
8 – Dolphins Tannehill, Ryan QB 6’4″ 221 Texas A&M (Least favorite Pick, could have traded down & still got him)
9 – Panthers Kuechly, Luke ILB 6’3″ 242 Boston College (Solid MLB, will help day one)
10 – Bills Gilmore, Stephon CB 6’0″ 190 South Carolina (My favorite Corner in the draft, knack for the ball)
11 – Chiefs Poe, Dontari DT 6’3″ 346 Memphis (A bit of a reach, combine numbers got him to 11 not game tape)
12 – Eagles (From Seahawks) Cox, Fletcher DT 6’4″ 298 Mississippi St. (Great pick, will help clog the Wide 9)
13 – Cardinals Floyd, Michael WR 6’3″ 220 Notre Dame (Should have went O-Line but Floyd too good to pass up)
14 – Rams (From Cowboys) Brockers, Michael DT 6’5″ 322 LSU (Rams need DT’s in a bad way, solid pick)
15 – Seahawks (From Eagles) Irvin, Bruce DE 6’3″ 245 West Virginia (Bit of a reach, bulk needed, great rusher though)
16 – Jets Coples, Quinton DE 6’6″ 284 North Carolina (Jets need rushers, Coples should be a good one)
17 – Bengals (From Raiders) Kirkpatrick, Dre CB 6’1″ 186 Alabama (Bengals got a good, hard hitting CB, solid pick)
18 – Chargers Ingram, Melvin DE 6’1″ 264 South Carolina (Good fit for the 3-4 at OLB, will bring needed pressure)
19 – Bears McClellin, Shea DE 6’3″ 260 Boise St. (Versatile, can play End or OLB good looking player)
20 – Titans Wright, Kendall WR 5’10″ 196 Baylor (Bit of a surprise but adds needed Deep Threat to pair with Britt)
21 – Patriots (From Bengals) Jones, Chandler DE 6’5″ 247 Syracuse (Great pick, huge upside and fills a big need)
22 – Browns (From Falcons) Weeden, Brandon QB 6’4″ 221 Oklahoma St. (Like Weeden better than Tannehill)
23 – Lions Reiff, Riley OT 6’6″ 313 Iowa (Great pick, protecting their top 2 investments, QB & WR)
24 – Steelers DeCastro, David G 6’5″ 316 Stanford (Steelers delighted this run masher fell to them, perfect fit)
25 – Patriots (From Broncos) Hightower, Dont’a ILB 6’2″ 265 Alabama (Another great pick, brings leadership & attitude)
26 – Texans Mercilus, Whitney DE 6’3″ 261 Illinois (Lost Mario Williams, found another long & lean DE to replace him)
27 – Bengals (From Saints through Patriots) Zeitler, Kevin G 6’4″ 314 Wisconsin (Need to protect Dalton, get RB later)
28 – Packers Perry, Nick DE 6’3″ 271 USC (Very good edge rusher opposite of Clay Matthews)
29 – Vikings (From Ravens) Smith, Harrison FS 6’2″ 213 Notre Dame (Very solid pick, Vikings need D’ help back there)
30 – 49ers Jenkins, A.J. WR 6’0″ 192 Illinois (A big of a head scratcher, Coby Fleener would have been better)
31 – Buccaneers (From Patriots through Broncos) Martin, Doug RB 5’9″ 223 Boise St. (Good pick)
32 – Giants Wilson, David RB 5’10″ 206 Virginia Tech (Speed back to pair with Bradshaw, GMen built off the run game)
The only thing that we hope fans keep in mind is that is absolutely impossible and honestly not smart to try and grade teams after one round or even one year for that matter. True Draft evaluation takes years. The Broncos stockpiled picks and are targeting players that they see will be available in Rd. 2 and the Ravens did the same. There is no reason to reach for a player that you don’t fall in love with. Let the draft come to you, however if you see a guy fall a little like Morris Claiborne and he fills a huge need than you take him, just like the Cowboys, Patriots and Vikings did.
After one day we will not proclaim Winners and Losers but will say we were impressed with the Browns, Vikings, Cowboys, & Patriots and were slightly confused with the Dolphins & 49ers.
If Tannehill turns out to be the second coming of Dan Marino than we’ll all be proven to be wrong, however they most certainly could have traded down and received the same player with more compensation. As far as the Niners, just think they have a glut at WR and believed that Coby Fleener would have helped the Passing Attack a bit more than their now 3rd WR acquired via Free Agency or the Draft.
Rounds 2 and 3 are on deck this evening, should be just as exciting as Round 1…as Bart Scott says, Can’t Wait!!
Brian Dawkins announces Retirement
One of the NFL’s greatest ambassadors to the game, a true gentleman, hard worker and leader both on and off the field is calling it a career. Brian Dawkins announced via twitter that he is retiring from the game of football after a 16 year NFL career. Drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1996 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Dawkins went on to have a Hall of Fame career playing for 2 teams, the Eagles and the Denver Broncos.
Dawkins statistics over 16 years are incredibly impressive, after 13 years in Philly and 3 in Denver, he racked up 911 tackles, 36 Forced Fumbles, 37 Interceptions and started in 221 games. One of the most intimidating forces in the Secondary, the Safety known as “Weapon X” was truly a consummate professional and team leader both on and off the field. His violent style of play eventually caught up with him as his neck injuries have hampered him over the last few seasons and eventually sidelined him for the remainder of last year during the Broncos playoff run. After sitting down with his family, they made the decision together that it was time for Brian to hang up the cleats for good.
His charity work in Philadelphia and across the country, combined with his leadership in the locker room and on the gridiron makes Dawkins one of the games great ambassadors. He is said to be open to signing a one day contract with the Eagles in order to retire an Eagle and finish his career where he started it.
We wish Brian Dawkins nothing but the best of luck in the new chapter of his life.
Draft Buzz!
As I’ve said all along, this is the season of deceit and smoke-screens when it comes to teams providing NFL Draft news. Most of the time, stories are planted as diversions in order to get a team to perhaps to stay away from the player that they really want. At times however we do get nuggets of insight about teams and perhaps some moves that they would like to make. This is the latest draft buzz.
Philadelphia Eagles : have reportedly shown interest in trading into the Top 5 perhaps interested in a Left Tackle to replace the injured Jason Peters. At 15 they have a realistic chance of moving into the Top 5 and with reports that the team is actively shopping Asante Samuel, he could perhaps be involved in a Draft Day deal.
New York Jets: have reportedly been rumored to be secretly targeting Alabama RB Trent Richardson to help bolster their sagging Run game. The Jets hold the 16th pick and would have to put a considerable package together in order to land Richardson who is expected to go either 4th to Cleveland or 5th or Tampa Bay. Some speculate that the Jets will target DE/LB Melvin Ingram from South Carolina if they are unable to land Richardson. Ingram is heralded as one of the best pure pass rushers in this years draft.
Denver Broncos : have recently been reported to have an interest in trading up, if necessary, for Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The Corner out of South Carolina has been a very hot prospect lately and many teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly shown interest in him. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi said that Jacksonville has a higher grade on Gilmore than the top rated CB Morris Claiborne. As for the Broncos, they have apparently reached out to teams to see what it would take in order to make a deal happen in the projected slot that Gilmore is expected to go.
Cleveland Browns: While the Browns hold two first round picks in this years draft, there is more and more “feeling” around NFL circles that the team will look to draft Oklahoma St. QB Brandon Weeden. The 29 year old draftee is a great talent but many teams are shying away from his age. In my opinion he is the 3rd best QB available and if you don’t mind him turning 30 soon, as a rookie, then you should grab him. The Browns certainly won’t take him at 4 but maybe interested in a trade down at 22 and try to get him later all while stocking up on picks.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have reportedly been weighing their options between Left Tackle Matt Khalil, Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon and Cornerback Morris Claiborne. If the Vikings leave Khalil on the board, I would expect the trade lines to heat up for the Browns at 4. Many teams, including the aforementioned Eagles, might be looking to move up and snag him.
PLAYER NEWS:
Ohio St. O-Lineman Mike Adams recently tested positive for Marijuana at the NFL Combine per reports. It’s unknown how these reports get out, as they are confidential in nature. It could be a leaked story or could be made up in an attempt for teams to pass on him so another team can take him.
Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard was arrested recently for allegedly assaulting a Police Officer during an altercation after leaving a night club. Not a huge deal and might or might not effect his draft stock but it certainly isn’t the best time to get into trouble.
Other Tidbits that could effect the draft:
The Patriots have been looking at Running Backs recently, hosting Ryan Grant, Joseph Addai and Tim Hightower on Friday. The team maybe looking to add a veteran RB to pair with up and comer Stevan Ridley. The Patriots have always liked veteran players and perhaps they are looking to fill the RB void via Free Agency and not through the draft.
The Eagles have reportedly dropped the asking price for CB Asante Samuel after they failed to move him and his big contract. Scheduled to make around $11 million this year and with a glut of CB talent the Eagles are looking to move Samuel but have been unable to find compensation they feel fair. Reports now say the team is looking for a 5th to 6th round pick. The Broncos have shown the most interest recently trying to work out a deal as recent as a week ago.
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