Get a national perspective on who the Browns may draft and which teams may be willing to trade up for the No. 1 pick. Story includes video.
For more Cinesport video, go here.
There’s no doubt who’s going to be the No. 1 pick of April’s NFL draft: Stanford QB Andrew Luck. After that first pick, however, things could get a little crazy. Many teams will try to trade up to get their hands on Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III (if he decides to turn pro). The Vikings or Rams, for instance, could acquire plenty in return from a team desperate for an elite quarterback.
Here’s a look at our latest mock draft, the order of which is based on records through Week 16.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck*, QB, Stanford. The real question if the Colts wind up with Luck: Will he get to learn under Peyton Manning for a season or two, or will he take over the team as a rookie because Manning is no longer there?
2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil*, OT, USC. The Rams will most likely trade this pick to a team that wants Griffin. If they keep the pick, they will grab Kalil to shore up their offensive line and give blindside protection to Sam Bradford.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin*, OT, Stanford. Martin is not an aggressive blocker, but he is a top athlete with the feet and technique to protect Christian Ponder’s blind side for the next decade.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick*, CB, Alabama. The team’s top corner, Rashean Mathis, is 31, missed the final seven games with a torn ACL and is about to become a free agent. Although it would be tempting for the Jags to try to add Griffin, cornerbacks with Kirkpatrick’s size (6-3), elite athleticism and ball skills are hard to find.
5. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III*, QB, Baylor. The Browns will likely have to trade up to get Griffin, but there is little doubt they want to find their quarterback of the future. Griffin will be the most athletically gifted quarterback to enter the NFL since Michael Vick—and he also has great touch on his deep throws.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Riley Reiff*, OT, Iowa. Josh Freeman struggled with inconsistency throughout 2011, and if he is going to improve, the Buccaneers’ offensive line needs to do a better job. Reiff flashes greatness, though he doesn’t play at a high level consistently.
7. Washington Redskins: Devon Still, DT, Penn State. The Redskins have many holes and would love to get a quarterback, but they’re not drafting high enough to have a shot at Luck or Griffin. Still can be productive playing end in the Redskins’ 3-4 scheme.
8. Miami Dolphins: Justin Blackmon*, WR, Oklahoma State. No matter who’s starting at quarterback for the Dolphins in 2012, the team needs more offensive weapons for him to throw to. Blackmon gives them an elite talent who can pull coverage away from Brandon Marshall.
9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Cam Newton was incredible as a rookie and made the Panthers’ offense dangerous. However, their defense was terrible. Coples could start opposite Charles Johnson and give the Panthers two high-end pass rushers.
10. Kansas City Chiefs: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina. Brown can get after the quarterback and would draw attention from Tamba Hali, the Chiefs’ only consistent pass rusher. Brown would fit ideally at outside linebacker opposite Hali in Kansas City’s 3-4 scheme.
11. Buffalo Bills: Donte Paige-Moss*, DE/OLB, North Carolina. The Bills would love to get an offensive tackle, but at this spot, the elite ones will be gone. Paige-Moss can play the rush linebacker position in the Bills’ 3-4 defense and would give them an explosive young edge pass rusher.
12. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. After Early Doucet’s struggles, it is becoming clear that Arizona needs to find another weapon opposite Larry Fitzgerald if Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is going to be a productive passer in 2012.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: David DeCastro*, G, Stanford. Even after taking a guard in the first round in 2011, the Eagles’ offensive line had significant issues. DeCastro has the ability to start at guard or center as a rookie and upgrade Philadelphia’s offensive line.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Morris Claiborne*, CB, LSU. The Seahawks have received solid corner play from rookie Richard Sherman and former CFL player Brandon Browner, but they can't pass up a player like Claiborne. He is a good athlete with playmaking ability who would be the final piece in Seattle’s excellent young secondary.
15. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry*, DE, USC. San Diego’s defense has not made impact plays and created turnovers consistently since Shawne Merriman’s decline. Perry can provide the edge pass rush that the Chargers’ defense so desperately needs.
16. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz*, C, Wisconsin. Jay Cutler took a beating behind the Bears’ line in 2011. Konz is smart and versatile and should be able to start at either center or guard as a rookie.
UNC's Quinton Coples would continue to play in the Tar Heel State if the Panthers draft him. (AP Photo)
17. Tennessee Titans: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. The Titans have a lot of young talent in their front seven, but they need to upgrade their secondary. Dennard is a sound, instinctive cornerback with excellent ball skills, which should enable him to quickly become a starter.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson. The Cowboys’ defense struggled with consistency throughout 2011. A big reason: the defensive line could not get off blocks and make plays. Thompson has the strength to anchor as well as the ability to free himself and make tackles, and he fits Dallas’ 3-4 scheme well.
19. New York Jets: Trent Richardson*, RB, Alabama. Shonn Greene has not proved he can carry the load, and the Jets need to establish a strong rushing attack if Mark Sanchez is ever going to develop. Richardson has a chance to slide to this spot because so many teams have more pressing needs than running back.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Mark Barron, S, Alabama. The Bengals have been trying to find an impact safety for the past few years, and Barron is the aggressive, hard hitter they have been searching for.
21. Denver Broncos: Lamar Miller*, RB, Miami. Tim Tebow is going to be Denver’s quarterback in 2012, so the Broncos need to make sure they have an elite rushing attack. Willis McGahee had a good 2011, but he will turn 31 during the 2012 season, and the team needs to find a long-term solution at running back.
22. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly*, MLB, Boston College. Since Antonio Pierce was let go, the Giants have been trying to find a middle linebacker who can be a force against the run and productive in coverage. Kuechly is both and would fit their defensive scheme.
23. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Alshon Jeffery*, WR, South Carolina. If the Browns select their quarterback of the future at the top of the first round, they’ll need to get him some weapons. Jeffery has the great size (6-4, 233), strength and hands to be an impact receiver as a rookie.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State. Cedric Benson is a free agent this offseason, and the Bengals likely will go the route of finding a younger replacement than spending big money to keep him.
25. Houston Texans: Dontari Poe*, NT, Memphis. The Texans’ defense played well in 2011 despite many injuries and not having a true nose tackle. Poe (6-5, 350) would provide the anchor necessary for their 3-4 defense to take the next step.
26. Detroit Lions: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia. Despite their success in 2011, the Lions’ secondary still has issues, and Minnifield is a tall (6-0) cornerback with good ball skills and the speed to stay with receivers on deep routes.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State. The Ravens need a left tackle—Michael Oher struggled there in 2010 and Bryant McKinnie was a stopgap player in 2011. Sanders has the combination of solid footwork, strength and toughness to fill this need.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina. The Steelers have downfield threats in Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, but they need to find a big receiver because Hines Ward is nearing the end of his career. Jones (6-4, 225) could fill that role in time.
29. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Jerel Worthy*, DT, Michigan State. Worthy’s combination of initial quickness, rare playing strength and ability to control blockers makes him an excellent fit in Bill Belichick’s defense. He would also bring youth to the Patriots’ aging line.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona. Coach Jim Harbaugh has done an amazing job of winning with Alex Smith in 2011. But for the 49ers’ offense to improve, it needs more playmakers. Criner is a tall (6-4) receiver with rare hands and good run-after-the-catch ability.
31. New England Patriots: Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia. Andre Carter was the Patriots’ best pass rusher in 2011, but he is 32 and his season ended recently because of a torn quadriceps. They have no other established players who can provide sacks. Irvin would be a bit of a gamble, but he is an electric pass rusher despite only weighing 245 pounds.
32. Green Bay Packers: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska. After struggling early in 2011 and then getting hurt, Crick has watched his stock fall. The hope is that he returns to his 2010 form, when he led Nebraska with 9½ sacks and played like a top-15 pick.
* Junior
Russ Lande, a former NFL scout, is a draft analyst for Sporting News.