Top 10 NFL Mock Draft

1. Colts - QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Redskins - QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
3. Vikings - OT Matt Kalil, USC
4. Browns - RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
5. Buccaneers - CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
6. Rams - WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.
7. Jaguars - DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
8. Dolphins - DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
9. Panthers - LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
10. Bills - OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

Ryan Tannehill Scouting Report

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a converted wide receiver that is drastically moving up draft boards as we approach the NFL Draft in less than a month. At 6’4, 221 pounds, Tannehill threw for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions and completed 61.6% of his passes.

Strengths:

·         Good passer on the run

·         Solid arm strength

·         Great accuracy on comeback routes

·         Mobile and can escape pass rush and excels in designed running plays

·         Great size for the position

·         Good accuracy and control in the short to intermediate passing game

Weaknesses:

·         Has a side-arm ¾ delivery comparable to the Chargers’ Philip Rivers that may need to be improved

·         Inconsistent decision making – threw 15 interceptions last season and can force passes into coverage

·         Lacks great accuracy throwing the deep ball

·         Raw athleticism and still learning the position

·         Questionable poise in clutch situations

Overall:

·         Tannehill has the talent to develop into a good signal caller at the next level, but it is best that he sits a year or two before becoming the starting quarterback. His mechanics may need to be tweaked and he will struggle to make all of the throws required at the NFL level. However, he developed a great understanding of the Aggies’ offense and was coached under former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike Sherman. Tannehill has been discussed being taken as high as number four overall by the Cleveland Browns and may very well be picked within the first 15 picks by a team such as the Dolphins, but I believe his real range falls in the late first round to early second round.

A Free Agent Craze in Green Bay?

It’s no secret that Ted Thompson builds his teams through the draft.  Until a week ago, his most notable free agent signings through seven years as General Manager of the Green Bay Packers have been defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, linebacker Brandon Chillar, and defensive backs Charles Woodson and Marquand Manuel. However, the man who seemingly despises spending money on veteran players outside of the organization has surprisingly become a busy player in the 2012 free agency period.

Rather than re-signing aging veteran center Scott Wells, who at age 31 was coming off of his first Pro Bowl season, Thompson elected to go the proven, safe route by signing former Indianapolis Colt Jeff Saturday.  Wells received a 4-year, $24 million contract with the St. Louis Rams, while the Packers locked up the five-time Pro Bowler Saturday for $7.75 million over two seasons.  Some may argue that Wells provided the Packers with an elite center, but Thompson is replacing him with another team-first player that joined Peyton Manning in creating one of the top offensive attacks in the history of the NFL – and he did it for a much smaller investment.  It’s a great move for Green Bay, as the signing of Saturday will not only immediately fill Green Bay’s hole on the interior of the offensive line, but give the team enough time to find and develop a long-term solution at center in the upcoming two drafts.

With the addition of Saturday, Thompson turned his attention to the defensive line.  A defense that ranked last in total yards and passing yards allowed per game and forced only 29.0 sacks in 2011 – tied for 27^th in the league – definitely needed to be upgraded to provide a better pass rush. Former second-round pick Mike Neal has had difficulty staying on the field and now faces a four-game ban for performance enhancing drugs.  Meanwhile, Howard Green will not be re-signed.

Enter Anthony Hargrove, who at 6’3, 285 pounds has the size and tools of a prototypical 3-4 end.  A seven-year NFL veteran, Hargrove has recorded 19.5 sacks in 102 career games with the Rams, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks; he posted three sacks for Seattle last season. The concern surrounding the signing of Hargrove is his tie to the recent Saints bounty case, but he is expected to significantly contribute to the Packers defense this season.

Thompson also brought back Daniel Muir, a 28-year old veteran who was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers in 2007 and spent one season with the team. Muir spent the past four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, starting 26 games and totaling 108 tackles. He will be expected to compete at both nose tackle and end in the Packers 3-4 scheme and comes at a relatively low cost of one year and $700,000. 

The Packers have hosted several other free agents as of late.  Former Packers draft pick Dave Tollefson arrived in Green Bay Thursday night.  The New York Giants’ defensive end would most likely translate to linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 and recorded 5.0 sacks last season for the defending Super Bowl Champions.  Green Bay is also scheduled to meet with Buffalo Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell and met with Cincinnati outside linebacker Manny Lawson, who recently re-signed with the Bengals.

Free agent periods have come and gone the past few seasons without a major splash by the Green Bay Packers. But Ted Thompson seems to realize that changes, especially on the defensive side of the ball must be made to get the Pack back to the Super Bowl this upcoming season. With free agency continuing on and the NFL Draft only one month away, it’s time to let Ted work his magic once again. In Ted we trust.  

Early Top 10 Mock Draft

1. Colts - QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Rams - WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.
3. Vikings - OT Matt Kalil, USC
4. Browns - QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
5. Buccaneers - CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
6. Redskins - OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
7. Jaguars - DE Quinton Coples, N. Carolina
8. Panthers - CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
9. Dolphins - OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
10. Bills - OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Lamar Miller Scouting Report

Running Back Lamar Miller is one of five Miami Hurricane players to declare early for the 2012 NFL Draft. At 5-11, 212 pounds, Miller ran 227 times for 1,272 yards (5.6 yard average) with nine touchdowns this past season.

Strengths:

• Has nice vision in finding the hole and makes one big cut to get out into space - used on a lot of toss plays 
• Great burst and top-notch acceleration when he finds the hole, often resulting in five to ten yard runs, and occasionally longer
• Has breakaway speed once he's in the open field - former track star who may run in the 4.3 range
• Size and experience in being an every-down back this past year
• Agile in making cuts and can stop on the dime 
• Shakes off arm tackles really well and is above average overall in breaking tackles
• Falls forward and always keeps his legs churning - high effort and good balance

Weaknesses:

• Can get happy feet at times and needs to show more patience in making cuts
• Has good hands, but is not overly elusive after the catch like he is on running plays
• Needs to show more consistency as a pass blocker
• Coming out after his redshirt sophomore season at Miami and may be a bit unproven over a long period of time

Overall:

Miller should be a second round pick and will be in the conversation of the second best running back in the draft behind Alabama's Trent Richardson. Could have proven himself a bit more with one more year in college to become a first round pick, but it is understandable for his leaving Miami after the school's allegations this year. Fits a zone-blocking scheme, has a lot of upside, and reminds a bit of a bigger Steve Slaton during his rookie season with Houston.

Vikings Can Go Multiple Ways In 1st Round

As we approach the final two games of the 2011 NFL regular season, the Minnesota Vikings are in prime position to secure a top four pick in the 2012 draft.  Minnesota can really go many different ways with their first pick due to many positions of need.

The Vikings still have a chance at the first overall pick and in that case, Minnesota should easily decide on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who figures to be an elite future NFL quarterback.  Though this year's eighth overall pick Christian Ponder has shown flashes of becoming a solid passer, I do not feel his ceiling is as high as Luck and it is difficult to pass up a once-every-ten-years type of prospect at the most crucial position in football. Luck's size, accuracy, and ability to read coverages at the line of scrimmage and pick apart a defense will make him an excellent NFL quarterback.

Even if Minnesota receives the second, third, or fourth overall pick, there should be a slew of elite talent available.  Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon is a tall, physical receiver with an uncanny ability to go up and catch the long ball. The Vikings have lacked a true home run threat since the departure of Randy Moss several years ago and Blackmon would complement Percy Harvin very well as both a possession receiver and one that can work the entire field with his soft hands.

The Vikings signed left tackle Charlie Johnson as a free agent this past offseason, but he disappointed in his first year with the club.  USC's Matt Kalil, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil, would fill a big need on the offensive line and allow Johnson to move inside to guard where Stephen Herrera and Steve Hutchinson have been beat up and Hutchinson's age is catching up to him. Kalil is the reason Tyron Smith, the Cowboys' ninth overall pick in last year's draft, played right tackle at USC and has the ability to refine his skills at the next level to become an elite tackle.

The defensive backfield has many questions to answer next season, as well. Cornerback Antoine Winfield is nearing the end of his marvelous career, while Cedric Griffin has been highly inconsistent all season long. Asher Allen is only an average cover corner and is limited by his size, while former second round pick Chris Cook has been involved in several legal issues within the past two years. Therefore, LSU's Morris Claiborne would fit nicely in the Vikings' secondary. Claiborne has great size (6-1) and speed and his production has increased every year with the Tigers, posting six interceptions this season. Along the lines of former teammate and Arizona Cardinal Patrick Peterson, Claiborne might even be a better pure cover corner and would provide a big boost in defensive turnovers.

The Minnesota Vikings can really go in any direction they choose in the 2012 Draft, but I believe they would be incredibly "lucky" to land a quarterback of Andrew Luck's caliber. They would also benefit greatly from Justin Blackmon, who would provide Christian Ponder with a big, reliable target. The final two games will surely be a big step in determining the future success of the Vikes.

USC QB Matt Barkley Passes on 2012 Draft

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley has decided not to enter the 2012 NFL Draft, choosing instead to lead the Trojans offense again next season on a quest for a National Championship.

While Barkley believes he is NFL-ready and would have probably been a top 10 pick in this upcoming draft, he also wants to help his team attend to "unfinished business." USC is bowl eligible again next season for the first time since the Reggie Bush scandal.

A 6-2, 220-pound true junior, Barkley threw for 3,528 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2011. The former top recruit in the nation led the Trojans to a 10-2 record and a #5 ranking at the conclusion of the season. There is a very realistic chance Barkley could become, not only a Heisman Trophy winner, but the top pick in the 2013 draft with another season like this past year in which he played at a higher level towards the end of the season and moved from being a "solid" to a "great" college quarterback.  Barkley led an underdog team in games against Stanford, Oregon, and Notre Dame and threw 10 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions in those games - wins against Notre Dame and #4 Oregon and a triple overtime loss to #6 Stanford.

The question is if Barkley can duplicate the success he had this season under more intense scrutiny and a Senior Bowl performance added on at the end of the year. The pieces are place to do so with a top receiving corps in the nation, led by Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, but he will miss his left tackle Matt Kalil who declared for the draft earlier this week. However, should he not, Barkley does not have the great size or arm strength that other college quarterbacks do, which would surely impact his draft status.

Do you think Barkley should have entered the draft? Let us know by voting in the poll at the top right half of your screen.