2012 NFL Mock Draft Weekly Update #9

Andrew Luck has been the top pick since my first 2012 NFL mock back in May.  Luck is still the top pick in my 2012 NFL Mock Draft heading into week 10.  Right now the Indianapolis Colts are the only winless team in the NFL at 0-9.  The Miami Dolphins hold the NFL’s next worst record at 1-7.  Right now the Colts look like the favorite to land Andrew Luck.  The Colts drafted 2 other once in a Generation quarterbacks with Stanford’s John Elway and Tennessee’s Peyton Manning.  Will the Colts draft Luck too?

To interact with me on draft picks or to post your take on a pick you like or dislike in the comments page. You can also reach me at [email protected].

Round 1

1. Indianapolis Colts 0-9 Andrew Luck Quarterback Stanford Junior Redshirt Due to the Miami Dolphins win Sunday the Miami Dolphins are now 1-7 with the Colts falling to 0-9 as the NFL’s only winless.  There are 2 scenarios that I think will occur assuming things hold up with the Colts getting the top pick.

A) The Colts will draft Stanford’s Andrew Luck and release Manning on good mutual terms with Manning knowing that Luck should play right away and that Peyton Manning should go elsewhere.  The Colts could also trade the pick to the highest bidder.

Washington will try to sign or trade for Peyton Manning knowing Dan Snyder’s habit of pursuing big name free agents.  This will be similar to Brett Favre going to the Jets assuming the Colts and Manning part ways.

Peyton only plays Eli once every 4 years.  I love the idea of Manning on the Redskins because we’d get to see Peyton face Eli twice a year rather than once every 4 years.  I hate the Redskins as a fan, but I love Peyton playing for the Redskins from a business standpoint because it will generate such huge ratings for the league.

B) If the Colts deal this pick and keep Peyton Manning then the Cleveland Browns will be the frontrunner to land Andrew Luck.  Andrew Luck’s dad Oliver Luck played high school football in Cleveland.

The Browns have the King’s Ransom of picks that the Colts would demand for Luck.  Cleveland could offer both of their 2012 first rounders, a 2013 first rounder, a 2012 2nd rounder, and a 2013 2nd rounder or Colt McCoy as a successor to Peyton Manning down the road.

Adam Schefter stated on Sunday NFL Countdown that the team trading for Luck would have to offer 3 1st round picks and 2 2nd round picks for Luck.  The only teams with the luxury of executing this trade are the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the New England Patriots.  These 3 teams have 2 2012 first round picks and a 3rd 2013 first round pick that they could use if they wanted to deal the pick to move up.

Cincinnati has Andy Dalton and New England probably would not give up on Ryan Mallett after one year or draft a quarterback of Luck’s caliber to sit behind Brady for 3 years.  Luck will have some leverage if a team deals the pick and multiple teams want him.  By process of elimination this means that the Cleveland Browns would be the only team who would have the ammunition trade up for Andrew Luck.

I realize the Denver Broncos may be another team that tries to trade up for Luck.  I don’t think Polian will deal Andrew Luck to Denver though because the Broncos screwed the Colts over 30 years ago when the Baltimore Colts traded the #1 pick to Denver when they selected Stanford quarterback John Elway.  Plus the Broncos do not have the ammunition that Cleveland has draft pick wise to trade for Andrew Luck.  The only remote way Denver would get Luck is if they dealt their entire crapshoot of 2012 draft picks to Indianapolis.  Kind of like how Mike Ditka threw his draft for Ricky Williams by giving Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins a highway robbery of draft picks.

There were 2 once in a generation quarterback prospects prior to Andrew Luck. Those signal callers were John Elway and Peyton Manning.

The Colts traded Elway hoping for a King’s Ransom in return because Elway did not want to play for the Colts. That didn’t work out and the Baltimore Colts ended up relocating to Indianapolis. This may have influenced the original Cleveland Browns to relocate becoming the Baltimore Ravens.

Peyton Manning went #1 overall 15 years later in 1998. Manning has been the face of the Colts franchise ever since.

The Colts will draft Luck #1 overall if they get the top pick. There are 2 questions if the Colts take Luck #1 overall. Not questions about Luck, but rather questions about whether the Colts keep him.

A) Will the Colts keep Luck as a successor to Manning?

B) Will the Colts trade Luck like they did with another Stanford quarterback 30 years ago when the Indianapolis Colts were the Baltimore Colts?

Colts fans ask yourself those questions. Reflect on those thoughts and then generate your conclusion on what the Colts will do if they get the chance to draft Luck with the top pick.

Rumor has it that Colts owner Jim Isray has hinted that he likes Luck and would consider taking him with the top pick. Their are teams who send smokescreens and teams who reveal their draft plans to the general public.

The Colts wanted a left tackle in 2011 and revealed their draft plan to the public so I am opted to believe that the Colts are going to take Luck if they get the top pick in 2012.

The Colts want to have a quarterback in place for when Manning leaves. I could see Manning staying or going, but right now I’m inclined to believe that the latter occurs if the Colts land the top pick because Andrew Luck is such a coveted quarterback prospect.

Since I already told you I see Luck on the Browns if the Colts get the top pick or Manning on the Redskins, I’ve already addressed Washington’s need at quarterback by giving them Peyton Manning via free agency because I really do not see the Colts trading Andrew Luck.

Luck has already stated that he is leaving Stanford after this season.  Its not a matter of who the #1 pick is.  Its only a matter of who selects the Stanford signal caller Andrew Luck at the end of the day.

2. Miami Dolphins 1-7 Matt Barkley Quarterback USC Junior After Andrew Luck the best quarterback with the most experience in a pro style offense is USC’s Matt Barkley.

I’ve had Matt Barkley as my #2 graded quarterback all year dating back to June even though some critics were on the Landry Jones bandwagon for a while.  Matt Barkley played well against Stanford in the triple overtime shootout between Stanford VS USC at the Trojan Coliseum.  Barkley even topped that performance with his 6 passing touchdowns against Colorado in Boulder, CO the following week.  There should not be anymore doubt that Matt Barkley is the consolation prize if you cannot land Andrew Luck in 2012 assuming Barkley declares.

Its become even more evident in recent weeks that Matt Barkley is the consolation prize in the 2012 NFL Draft if your team cannot land Andrew Luck.

3. St. Louis Rams 1-7 Matt Kalil Left Tackle USC Junior Redshirt St. Louis took 19 sacks in his first 4 games. Roger Saffold only surrendered 1 sack all year as a rookie. Saffold is n a sophomore slump at left tackle. Jason Smith has been a waste of a top 5 pick for the St. Louis Rams and he needs to be replaced at offensive tackle.

Bradford’s protection has been so horrific this season. I literally wonder if right tackle Jason Smith has been inviting the rest of the Rams offensive line to underground eating competitions so the offensive line is out of shape in terms of conditioning.

Sam Bradford would have so much more time in the pocket if the St. Louis Rams made Matt Kalil Bradford’s blue chip blindside. This would allow Saffold to move to right tackle allowing Jason Smith to move inside to left guard assuming the Rams decide not to release Smith buying out his contract.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 Quinton Coples Right End North Carolina Senior The Jaguars will have to choose to draft around Gabbert or draft a can’t miss prospect.

The Detroit Lions were in this situation a few years ago when people said they should take left tackle Russell Okung over Ndamukong Suh.

Quinton Coples is very versatile and he reminds me a lot of Julius Peppers.  At the same time there will be a strong temptation for the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire Oklahoma State Justin Blackmon because he won the Biletnikoff Award in 2010 as the nations best receiver.  Blackmon has played like a top 5 pick in 2011.

A pass rusher with the talent that Julius Peppers displays does not grow on trees so you have to take Coples here.  Plus there will be other receivers at the top of round 2.

5. Arizona Cardinals 2-6 Jonathan Martin Left Tackle Stanford Junior Redshirt The Cardinals have to get a left tackle for Kevin Kolb.  Jonathan Martin is the best player available left tackle so he has to be the pick.  Adding Martin would be the first step to making the Cardinals offensive line better in pass protection.

People are saying Jonathan Martin is overrated to a certain extent moving him down draft boards.  That could not be further from the truth.  Martin is the best offensive tackle I’ve seen since Jonathan Odgen and it really would not surprise me if he had the better NFL career than USC’s Matt Kalil at the end of the day.

Worst case scenario Martin turns out to be as good as Bob Whitfield the former Stanford left tackle who had a pretty productive NFL career at left tackle for the Falcons.  Whitfield excelled pass protecting for Chris Chandler and opened up running lanes for Jamal Anderson which led to the Falcons one and only Super Bowl 33 appearance.

6. Carolina Panthers 2-6 Justin Blackmon Wide Receiver Oklahoma State Junior Redshirt Justin Blackmon is a slot receiver with the ability to develop into a secondary receiver.  Blackmon’s limited physical tools could keep him from becoming an elite flanker.  Then again, he is bigger than Steve Smith and Smith has had a tremendous impact with Carolina.

I still think that Locker and Ponder will have better careers than Newton down the road like I stated right after the 2011 NFL Draft.  I’d be lying though if I said Newton’s recent play the last 2 weeks wasn’t making me rethink my decision to a certain degree.  Newton has yet to face a battle tested secondary so I’m not as impressed as most media members are.  Still, Newton has exceeded expectations of a rookie quarterback to a certain degree.  I said Cam Newton would be a David Garrard quarterback at best coming out of Auburn.  Right now he’s playing better than Garrard did despite the lack of supporting cast on offense.

Newton is getting better at throwing slants which is a promising sign in Carolina.  This team believes in Cam Newton which gives him a chance to be Carolina’s quarterback of the future considering what he has accomplished as a rookie.

Carolina has Steve Smith and Justin Blackmon in place for next season.  If Smith gets released then Blackmon comes in right away as a rookie hoping to be the long term answer as a flanker wide receiver.

Carolina will switch to a 3-4 down the road.  I think that 2012 will be used to build around Newton by adding offensive players.  I believe 2013 will be used to build the Panthers 3-4 defense and the secondary.

7. Minnesota Vikings 2-6 Riley Reiff Left Tackle Iowa Junior Redshirt Riley Reiff will likely be the pick here assuming the Vikings decide to draft a left tackle here. The Vikings draft board for top 5 best players available probably looks something like this.

1. Matt Kalil LT USC

2. Jonathan Martin LT Stanford

3. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State

4. Riley Reiff LT Iowa

5. Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina

8. Seattle Seahawks 2-6 Robert Griffin III Quarterback Baylor Junior Redshirt I think Pete Carroll will get a hall pass because of the Seahawks playoff win over the Saints.  Regardless of whether Pete Carroll keeps his job or not, I believe the Seahawks get a quarterback here. Robert Griffin III seems like Pete Carroll’s kind of quarterback.

If Robert Griffin III returns to school then Seattle may opt for Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.

9. Washington Redskins 3-5 Luke Kuechly 3-4 Middle Linebacker Boston College Junior I believe Dan Snyder will throw a boatload of money at Peyton Manning assuming the Colts draft Andrew Luck and release Peyton Manning assuming Manning doesn’t retire on his own terms in Indianapolis after this season.  This situation would be very similar to Brett Favre going to the New York Jets.

Kuechly had 20 tackles against Florida State last week.  Its about time Luke Kuechly gets an invite to the top 10 of our mock draft with his consistent performance for Boston College this season.  Kuechly has recorded 100 plus tackles in 3 consecutive seasons.

Kuechly would be the best player available for Washington if the Redskins do opt to sign Peyton Manning in free agency assuming the Colts draft Andrew Luck #1 overall and part ways with Manning.

London Fletcher will not be around forever and after quarterback, 3-4 middle linebacker is the Redskins biggest need.  Luke Kuechly had 20 tackles against Florida State last week.  That gives Kuechly 150 tackles as a junior in 2011.

The other benefit of seeing Manning in Redskins uniform is that we see Peyton Manning play his brother Eli Manning twice a year.

10. Denver Broncos 3-5 Morris Claiborne Cornerback LSU Junior Tim Tebow played well enough against the Oakland Raiders to warrant a hall pass in the first round of this weeks mock draft.  Too many people have Trent Richardson or Landry Jones going to Denver.  Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman are in their 30′s so I have no problem with Denver pursuing a cornerback for the future with this pick.

Morris Claiborne showed why he deserves to be a top 5 talent on draft boards and a top 10 pick in LSU’s signature win over Alabama on Saturday.  Richardson is a top 10 talent and a top 10 pick.  I am not buying him as a top 5 talent though.  I could see Denver taking Claiborne here because they put a lot of money into McGahee and Moreno at running back.

11. Cleveland Browns 3-5 Landry Jones Quarterback Oklahoma Junior Redshirt If you read my previous mock draft entries you know my impression on Jones as a prospect.  Matt Millen said something like Landry Jones was the most polarizing prospect since Tim Tebow.

When a former GM like Matt Millen is observing what you believe on a player then there is a good chance you may be doing something wrong.  Because Millen made his comments about Landry Jones, I’m going to reserve my judgments on Jones as an NFL prospect for the time being in my mock drafts because some people are getting tired of me bashing Jones as a prospect on a repetitive basis.

Colt McCoy looked awful against Houston.  If Landry Jones falls out of the top 10 then the Browns would be wise to use one of their first round picks on a him at quarterback.

The Browns need some upgrade over Colt McCoy.  He went 6 for 12 in the first half with 54 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception in the first half.  McCoy went 8 for 10 in the second half with 1 touchdown and no picks.  Still, this is no excuse for Cleveland’s abysmal first half performance against the Houston Texans.

Landry Jones may bust, but the Browns quarterback situation is so dire in Cleveland that they have to be open to the possibility of drafting Landry Jones if he drops out of the top 10.  Mike Holmgren considered trading up with the St. Louis Rams for Landry Jones’s predecessor Sam Bradford so maybe he would be open to drafting Landry Jones.

Pat Shurmer developed an Oklahoma quarterback as the Rams offensive coordinator with Sam Bradford.  He didn’t draft a quarterback as instructed by Mike Holmgren for the new regime because Holmgren thought Colt McCoy would make huge strides in 2011.  If anything McCoy has regressed significantly.  I realize McCoy has a weak supporting cast, but the Browns only invested a 3rd round pick in Colt McCoy.

Its not like it will cost the Browns much cap room to give up on Colt to add a new quarterback.  Colt McCoy makes $405,000 dollars in 2011.  He will make $490,000 in 2012. At the way McCoy is playing maybe the Browns should invest in a first round quarterback with one of their 2 first round draft picks.

I realize the Browns need more offensive players around McCoy.  I still feel like the Browns have to take Landry Jones here because Jerry Jones really likes Landry Jones from what I hear.  Cleveland cannot take the chance to pass on Jones if they want to bring in a quarterback.  If Shurmur wants to draft his guy at quarterback then the Browns got to go with Landry Jones here.

If an underclassmen returns at quarterback it creates a chain reaction of allowing Colt McCoy to keep his job for another year thus giving the Browns Alabama running back Trent Richardson.  Richardson is another popular pick to Cleveland in mock drafts with the Peyton Hillis situation heating up.

 12. Philadelphia Eagles 3-5 Vontaze Burfict Middle Linebacker Arizona State Junior The Eagles need a middle linebacker for their 4-3 defense.  Vontaze Burfict is the best 4-3 middle linebacker at this point.  Burfict can be a sack artist, a pass rusher, a run stuffer, a cover 2 zone coverage linebacker.  Burfict can be a complete 4-3 middle linebacker if you channel his aggressive nature.  Burfict also has a habit of taking too many penalties.  I think the Eagles would like Burfict if he slides this far. The Eagles will probably select Vontaze Burfict if they end up picking 12th.

If Burfict goes to a team who can channel his off the field issues like Cincinnati, New York, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh then he could be a pro bowler for years to come.  At the same time he could just as easily bust without the proper coaching staff around him.  If a team like Philadelphia or Washington does not find a defensive coordinator who can channel Bufrict’s history of committing penalties he could end up being a bust.  I get the feeling that Andy Reid will take a liking to Burfict assuming he keeps his job.

Still, I feel like the Eagles would draft Burfict with this selection because there would be that temptation to draft Burfict with no offensive tackles worth taking here.  Plus there are plays where Burfict plays like a complete middle linebacker even though his production has regressed significantly in 2011.

 13. Cincinnati Bengals from Oakland Raiders 4-4 Trent Richardson Running Back Alabama Junior The Cincinnati Bengals could use another running back.  Trent Richardson is a steal if he falls to #13 overall.

14. Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 Chris Polk Running Back Washington Junior Redshirt I think Todd Haley will get a back to rotate carries with Jamaal Charles.  Haley had Charles as the #2 back on his depth chart heading into the year and Thomas Jones is getting up there in age.  Chris Polk has played like a top 10 talent against a top 10 ranked Stanford run defense even though he will not be a top 10 pick or the first running back taken in 2012.  Some fans will love pairing Charles up with Washington’s Chris Polk who is on the brink of having 3 straight seasons of 1,100 rushing yards.  Others find the pick very controversial labeling Chris Polk a major reach into the cookie jar with the 14th overall selection.

15. Tennessee Titans 4-4 Alshon Jeffery Wide Receiver South Carolina Junior Pairing up a receiver with Alshon Jeffery’s size next to an emerging flanker like Kenny Britt would make Jake Locker’s job at quarterback a lot easier as soon as he gets the chance to start.

16. Dallas Cowboys 4-4 David DeCastro Right Guard Stanford Junior Redshirt Dallas needs to add interior offensive lineman.  David DeCastro is the top interior lineman available making an excellent pick at #16 overall.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 Dre Kirkpatrick Cornerback Alabama Junior On my Madden 12 Franchise Mode Dre Kirkpatrick ends up on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Now we get to see that scenario play out in real life.  Tampa Bay wants a cornerback and Kirkpatrick is a slam dunk steal if he slides to the 17th overall pick like Prince Amukamara did last year.

18. Buffalo Bills 5-3 Monte Teo 3-4 Middle Linebacker Notre Dame Junior Monte Teo can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.  Teo would make a great 3-4 middle linebacker for the Buffalo Bills defense.  Teo is the best 3-4 player available so this would be an ideal pick for the Buffalo Bills.

19. New York Jets 5-3 Brandon Jenkins 3-4 Right Outside Linebacker Florida State Junior The Jets add a 3-4 outside linebacker who can become a sack artist.  Jenkins is my top ranked pass rusher on my draft board.  Burress has shown up the past few games and Kerely could be a promising receiver down the road.  I will give the Jets a pass rusher here.

20. Cleveland Browns from Atlanta Falcons 5-3 Michael Floyd Wide Receiver Notre Dame Senior The Browns will get Landry Jones his own #1 receiver to throw to if they give up on the Colt McCoy experiment in Cleveland.  Michael Floyd is the best receiver available and he provides great value at #20 overall.

21. Chicago Bears 4-3 Michael Brewster Center Ohio State Senior The Chicago Bears take the best available player here.  Even though the interior offensive line and the secondary have made significant improvements the last few weeks, I would be lying if I said upgrades were not necessary.  Roberto Garza needs to move back to right guard.  Michael Brewster is the top center available so I believe he would be the pick here.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3 Cordy Glenn Right Guard Georgia Senior I get the feeling that if the playoffs start today with the Steelers getting the 6 seed and the Patriots getting the 3 seed, I’d be leaning towards New England.  If New England gets a wild card due to their brutal regular season schedule, they just might run the table because people will doubt them.  All the critics are writing off New England right now, and the truth is that the Patriots can be a very dangerous NFL team when everyone dismisses them.

I realize New England laid an egg the last two weeks.  At the same time the Patriots are one of the leagues best teams when it comes to responding to adversity.  Plus, Tom Brady doesn’t lose to Pittsburgh twice a year.  Its not in his genetic bloodlines as a football player.

Cordy Glenn is a 6 foot 5 348 pound left tackle.  He will move inside to guard because he lacks the footwork of a left tackle.  The Steelers have an effective Chris Kemoatu at left guard when healthy.  The problem is no one can step in at left guard when Kemoatu gets injured.  The Steelers need a right guard on the interior offensive line who can step in at left guard when Kemoatu gets injured like Cordy Glenn.  Without this guard center Maurkice Pouncey gets double teamed when Kemoatu gets injured.  This results in the entire interior offensive line collapsing or Max Starks taking double teams to help the interior out.

Cordy Glenn is an ideal fit for Pittsburgh’s blocking scheme.  Glenn could even move to left tackle in a few years once his footwork improves assuming Marcus Gilbert struggles at left tackle and needs to play his natural role at right tackle.  Even if Glenn struggles at tackle you have a future starter at guard.

23. Detroit Lions 6-2 Stephon Gilmore Cornerback South Carolina Junior The Lions need a cornerback.  GIlmore would be considered the best player available at this point if you exclude Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson.  I cannot see the Lions beating the New Orleans Saints in a wild card playoff game.

24. San Diego Chargers 4-4 Courtney Upshaw 3-4 Right Outside Linebacker Alabama Senior The San Diego Chargers need a 3-4 right outside linebacker who can play next to 3-4 left outside linebacker Shaun Phillips.  Upshaw has been one of the better 3-4 right outside linebackers in College Football.

25. Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 Brandon Thompson Defensive Tackle Clemson Senior Thompson is ranked 19th overall on my draft board.  Were going to see a 4-3 defensive tackle taken at some point in the top 25.

26. New England Patriots from New Orleans Saints 6-3 Andre Branch Right End Clemson Senior Redshirt It really would not be fair to have the Saints and Packers meet in a divisional round rematch prior to the NFC Championship because the winner would be a heavy favorite against the 49ers or the New York Giants in the NFC Title Game.  The Saints traded this pick in the 2011 NFL Draft for Mark Ingram.

Andre Branch commanded double teams at the 4-3 right end spot last season which enabled DaQuan Bowers breakout year.  With Bowers gone, Branch has 8.5 sacks.  The 6 foot 5 270 pound 4-3 defensive end can lose 10 pounds if necessary adjusting to a 3-4 outside linebacker role

Branch has the sack artist ability and versatility that Belicheck looks for in a pass rusher.  I have to believe Andre Branch will be the pick here.

27. New York Giants 6-2 Devon Still Defensive Tackle Penn State Senior Redshirt The Giants rank 29th in rushing yards so getting one of those interior offensive lineman DeCastro, Glenn, or Brewster would be Plan A for Jerry Reese come draft season.  Plan B would be to address run defense. None of the FBS 4-3 defensive tackles besides Clemson’s Brandon Thompson have played like they want to be first round picks.  One guy beginning to play like he wants to be a first rounder is Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still.  I realize the Giants defensive line has tons of injuries at defensive tackle.  At the same time you cannot discount what a player like Devon Still could do to boost the Giants run defense.

Another popular trendy option is 4-3 right outside linebacker Zach Brown who some consider a steal at #27 overall.

28. Houston Texans 6-3 Robert Lester Free Safety Alabama Junior Redshirt I think the Patriots knock off the Texans without Mario Williams.  Houston lacks the playoff experience to advance to the AFC Title in 2011 so Lester would be an ideal fit for the Houston Texans at this spot.

29. New England Patriots 5-3 Alfonzo Dennard Cornerback Nebraska Senior I feel like Tom Brady could win 2 games and guide the Patriots to an AFC Championship with the right playoff schedule in front of him.  I don’t see the Patriots getting past the AFC Championship if they play a team like the Baltimore Ravens because the Ravens have the ability to be a complete team if Joe Flacco plays well and avoids turnovers.  That is a big if though because Flacco has not been that complete quarterback that he is capable of being in the postseason.

30. San Francisco 49ers 7-1 Chase Minnifield Cornerback Virginia Senior Redshirt The 49ers add a cornerback to their depth chart by addressing a critical need.  Chase Minnifield is the son of Frank Minnifield the 4 time pro bowl corner for the Cleveland Browns back in the 80′s.

31. Baltimore Ravens 6-2 Donta Hightower 3-4 Middle Linebacker Alabama Junior Redshirt Ozzie Newsome has hinted that he wants a 3-4 middle linebacker.  I believe that the Ravens would use this pick on Hightower to draft a successor to Ray Lewis.

32. Green Bay Packers 8-0 Melvin Ingram 3-4 Right End South Carolina Senior Redshirt Melvin Ingram may be a pure athlete and a bit of a tweener.

Ingram is versatile.  He can play 4-3 right end, 4-3 left end, 4-3 defensive tackle, 3-4 right end, 3-4 left end, 3-4 right outside linebacker, and 3-4 left outside linebacker.  A player with Melvin Ingram’s versatility will intrigue Ted Thompson because the Packers have 2 glaring needs at 3-4 defensive end looking for Cullen Jenkins replacement as well as a need at 3-4 right outside linebacker hoping to find that 2nd pass rusher to pair up with Clay Matthews.

If Ingram can translate his skill set to either of these 3-4 roles on defense.  Ted Thompson has given Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers another toy to work with on the defensive side of the football.

Round 2

33. Indianapolis Colts 0-9 Barrett Jones Right Guard Alabama Junior Barrett Jones is the current left tackle for Alabama.  He started at right guard last season before moving to left tackle in 2011.

Jones could probably make the adjustment to left guard since he has right guard and left tackle experience.  Undrafted Western Michigan left guard Joe Reitz has played well at left guard despite the Colts massive injuries on the offensive line with both their first 2 2011 draft selections injured.

Anthony Costanzo the left tackle of the future and Ben Ijalana a right tackle who can move inside to guard worst case scenario will both be fully recovered in 2012 making an impact.

Joe Reitz has done well at left guard, but I could see Barrett Jones beating out Reitz for the left guard spot even though Reitz has been the Colts best lineman outside of Jeff Saturday.  Reitz is injured and will not suit up Sunday.

Ryan Diem regressed significantly as he went from an quality pass blocking right tackle to a mediocre right guard.  Diem has been so bad that the Colts he got benched after the first 2 games.  Mike Pollack has been playing right guard and Pollack could move to left guard this week causing Diem to start again.

Pollack will not be a guard forever though since he was drafted in 2008 to be the heir apparent to Jeff Saturday at center.  Adding Barrett Jones at right guard would make the Colts offensive line much more effective moving forward because he could provide the versatility and depth that the Colts offensive line needs if they opt to build around Andrew Luck moving forward.

The Colts could use an offensive lineman to build around Andrew Luck.  Teams have a tendency to draft offensive players to build around their quarterback with a 2nd round pick.

34. Miami Dolphins 1-7 DJ Fluker Right Tackle Alabama Sophomore Redshirt DJ Fluker has been the starting right tackle at Alabama the last two seasons.  Fluker would make a nice bookend to Jake Long if he comes out and declares as a sophomore redshirt.

If Fluker opts to return to Alabama like most expect him to, look for a tight end like Tyler Eifert or Dwayne Allen to be the selection here.

35. St. Louis Rams 1-7 Zach Brown Right Outside Linebacker North Carolina Senior Zach Brown should go 10 spots higher than 35th overall and may even go 20 spots higher than this.  If Brown falls to round 2 the Rams simply have to take him.

36. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 Audie Cole Left Outside Linebacker North Carolina State Senior Redshirt Audie Cole can play 4-3 left outside linebacker or 4-3 middle linebacker.  The Jaguars have their MIKE linebacker with Paul Posluszney.  This team could use a SAM linebacker for depth and Audie Cole looked like a late first round talent that could be an early second round pick in North Carolina State’s 13 to 0 shutout over North Carolina on Saturday.

37. Philadelphia Eagles from Arizona Cardinals 2-6 Mike Adams Right Tackle Ohio State Senior Mike Adams would be more equipped to play right tackle rather than left tackle.  Adams has dominated as a run blocker, but struggled as a pass blocker.  Adams has the size and run blocking ability that Andy Reid looks for in an offensive tackle.

38. Carolina Panthers 2-6 Tyler Eifert Tight End Notre Dame Junior I realize that Carolina has Shockey and Greg Olsen.  I feel like both could be doing more though.  Newton is mainly throwing to Steve Smith this year.  Plus the Panthers would have another receiving target to build around Cam Newton.  The Panthers would have luxury of waiting to develop Eifert or inserting him into the lineup right away if he stands out as a rookie in training camp.

An offense consisting of playmakers like Steve Smith, Justin Blackmon, Tyler Eifert, Jeremy Shockey, and Greg Olsen as your playmaker receivers can make someone with David Garrard potential at best like Cam Newton look like a Super Bowl caliber quarterback.

If Newton gets Blackmon and Eifert along with Steve Smith, Greg Olsen, and Jeremy Shockey all returning then I could see this team challenging Atlanta and Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South next season.  I never pick Super Bowl hosts to make the playoffs and next years Super Bowl is in New Orleans.

With all these offensive players Carolina would finish 3rd in the division and may even challenge Tampa Bay for 2nd place if Freeman’s struggles continue to translate in 2012.

Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen do not have the right mental mindset to start for this team.  Some media outlets close to Carolina believe that star receiver Steve Smith and blue chip left tackle Jordan Gross played worse on purpose in 2010 because they hated Clausen’s attitude.  While you want to criticize those media outlets its hard to go against their word because Smith and Gross have both played much better with Cam Newton at quarterback in 2011.

39. Minnesota Vikings 2-6 Mohammed Sanu Wide Receiver Rutgers Junior Sanu has 81 receptions for 844 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns in 2011.  That’s pretty impressive for a 6 foot 2 215 pound wide receiver.  Sanu would be a great secondary receiver to pair next to Percy Harvin.  Sanu could step into a flanker receiver role too if Harvin continues to get injured.

40. Seattle Seahawks 2-6 Montee Ball Running Back Wisconsin Junior Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett are both free agents in 2012.  Seattle will draft Robert Griffin III in round 1 and give him a power back like Wisconsin’s Montee Ball in the 2nd round.  The reason Seattle’s offensive line has not reached their potential yet is because they lack the experience.  Next year the Seahawks offensive line will maximize their potential with 2 new faces for the offense with Robert Griffin III at quarterback and Montee Ball at running back.

41. Washington Redskins 3-5 Peter Konz Center Wisconsin Junior Redshirt Washington could afford to add a center for depth.  Peter Konz provides good value for Washington here.  I think Konz returns to school.  If he declares he may be snapping the ball to a future hall of famer assuming the Colts draft Luck, release Manning to free agency, and then the Redskins sign Peyton.

42. Denver Broncos 3-5 Dontari Poe Defensive Tackle Memphis Junior The 6 foot 5 350 pound defensive tackle struggled in the Memphis matchup against Central Florida where Memphis got shutout.  I believe Denver does need an upgrade at defensive tackle and would add Dontari Poe to boost the defense here.

I realize Denver has a ton of offensive needs.  At the same time Denver needs some defensive tackles and a corner for the future as well.  Poe’s versatility as a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 nose tackle equates to upgrading 2 defensive tackles for now considering Denver’s dire amount of offensive needs.

43. Cleveland Browns 3-5 Lamar Miller Running Back Miami FL Sophomore Redshirt I get the feeling that the Browns will draft a running back at some point in the 2012 NFL Draft.  If Lamar Miller declares then I expect him to be the pick here.

44. Philadelphia Eagles 3-4 Nigel Bradham Right Outside Linebacker Florida State Senior Bradham can play a WILL, MIKE, or SAM role in a 4-3 scheme.  Bradham may be a project player, but he displays incredible versatility and upside.  The Eagles run defense has been so bad prior to excluding the game against the Cowboys that you could not really blame them for spending all 3 picks in the first two rounds on linebackers.  At the same time, the Eagles have to get a right tackle at some point so if the Eagles only get 2 linebackers that’s good enough too.

45. New England Patriots from Oakland Raiders 4-4 Mark Barron Strong Safety Alabama Senior New England gets a strong safety because Josh Barrett is incapable of starting at strong safety.  Patrick Chung is a two way safety who can play strong or free safety.  Barron is a strong safety who would boost the Patriots secondary.

46. Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 Nico Johnson 3-4 Middle Linebacker Alabama Junior Nico Johnson can play anywhere at linebacker in a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme.  Johnson could start out at 3-4 middle linebacker for the Chiefs and move to an outside role down the road if Justin Houston flops.

47. Tennessee Titans 4-4 Kevin Zeitler Right Guard Wisconsin Senior Sure, Leroy Harris and Eugene Amano do well in pass protection.  These 2 are absolutely horrific when it comes to run blocking though as both Chris Johnson and Javon Ringer have struggled all year.  Words cannot describe how woeful the run blocking is on the Titans interior offensive line.  The Titans need another run blocker for depth.  Jake Scott can play left guard or right guard.

The Titans should move Scott to left guard and insert Zeitler at right guard with Amano used as a backup guard for depth.  This would make the Titans pass blocking and run blocking much more effective moving forward.

48. Dallas Cowboys 4-4 Chase Thomas 3-4 Left Outside Linebacker Stanford Junior Redshirt Since Shayne Skov’s injury, Thomas has led the Stanford defense on his very shoulder.  Stanford is a top 10 defense in generating sacks and run defense.  Dallas has to take Chase Thomas if he slides this far.  This would bring in some much needed competition for Anthony Spencer.  Thomas could be the new starter if Dallas opts to part ways with Spencer.

49. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 TJ McDonald Free Safety USC Junior TJ McDonald could play either safety role for Tampa Bay he would be a great addition to the Buccaneers.

50. Buffalo Bills 5-3 Jerry Franklin 3-4 Right Outside Linebacker Arkansas Senior Redshirt The Bills need a 2 3-4 outside linebackers and a 3-4 middle linebacker.  Franklin can play a 3-4 right outside role or be used in the middle.  Franklin is the final player on my top 50 draft board so I have him going to Buffalo here.

 51. New York Jets 5-3 Nick Toon Wide Receiver Wisconsin Senior Redshirt Nick Toon would be a great receiver for the Jets to groom for the future.  Plaxico Burress will not be around forever so this is a great value pick here.  The Jets drafted Nick’s dad Al Toon 10th overall in 1985.

52. Atlanta Falcons 5-3 Dwayne Allen Tight End Clemson Junior Redshirt The Falcons need to groom a successor behind Tony Gonzalez.  Dwayne Allen is the best tight end available at this point.

53. Chicago Bears 5-3 Ronnell Lewis Left Outside Linebacker Oklahoma Junior Ronnell Lewis would provide good value as a 4-3 strong side linebacker at this point.  The Chicago Bears would be open to adding another linebacker to their roster if Ronnell Lewis managed to slide this far.

54. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3 Desmond Trufant Cornerback Washington Junior With no front 7 starters worth taking here that fit Pittsburgh’s scheme, they add another cornerback for depth on their roster.

55. Detroit Lions 6-2 Travis Lewis Right Outside Linebacker Oklahoma Senior Redshirt The Lions need a 4-3 right outside linebacker and decide to gamble on Travis Lewis in the 2nd round.  Lewis is considered the best available player at this point so this would be a suitable pick.

56. San Diego Chargers 4-4 Ray Ray Armstrong Strong Safety Miami FL Junior The Chargers need a strong safety for the future with Bob Sanders injury history.  Ray Ray Armstrong is a good pick up at this point.

57. Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 Ricky Wagner Right Tackle Wisconsin Junior Redshirt The Bengals could bring in some competition at right tackle behind Andre Smith.  Ricky Wagner provides amazing value here so he has to be the pick considering the fact that no other cornerbacks are available.

58. New Orleans Saints 6-3 Elvis Fisher Right Tackle Missouri Senior Redshirt Its pretty obvious that the Saints need a right tackle.  Drew Brees may lead the NFL in passing yards, but he has thrown double digit picks in 2011.

59. New York Giants 6-2 Nate Potter Left Guard Boise State Senior Redshirt Nate Potter is a perfect fit for the New York Giants.  He can sit behind David Diehl for a year or two before replacing him at left guard.

60. Houston Texans 6-3 Marvin McNutt Wide Receiver Iowa Senior Redshirt Marvin McNutt could start out as a #4 receiver and over time jump Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter becoming the Houston Texans secondary receiver on the depth chart.  The only receiver ahead of McNutt on the depth chart would be primary flanker receiving target Andre Johnson who is one of the NFL’s premier pass catching threats.

61. New England Patriots 5-3 Devin Taylor Left End South Carolina Junior Redshirt The 4-3 defensive end position is so dire in New England that the Patriots should consider drafting 2 defensive ends.  Jermaine Cunningham got bumped down to 2nd team and only had 1 sack as a rookie so clearly he’s not the Patriots long term answer.

Devin Taylor can be used as a 4-3 left end or a 3-4 left outside linebacker so clearly he’s the solution to New England’s left end issues if he slides this far.

62. San Francisco 49ers 7-1 Eddie Whitley Free Safety Virginia Tech Senior The 49ers could use a free safety.  Eddie Whitley is my top free safety available at this point.

63. Baltimore Ravens 6-2 Vinny Curry 3-4 Left Outside Linebacker Marshall Senior Vinny Curry would provide good value here.  Curry could come in and try to take the job that Sergio Kindle tried to land before his injury with the Ravens.

64. Green Bay Packers 8-0 Michael Egnew Tight End Missouri Senior Michael Egnew could be a serviceable tight end for depth.  The Packers already have Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, and rookie DJ Williams.  The Packers are a team with the luxury of taking the best available player though and at this point Egnew would be that player.

Round 3

65. Indianapolis Colts 0-9 Jerel Worthy Defensive Tackle Michigan State Junior Redshirt Jerel Worthy would provide good value here.  Worthy is my only 2nd round talent player left heading into the 3rd round.  The Colts could use more defensive tackle depth so they have to take Jerel Worthy as a value pick here.

66. Miami Dolphins 1-7 Coby Fleener Tight End Stanford Senior Redshirt Miami gets a new tight end.  Anthony Fasano was a part of the Tony Sparano regime.  I doubt Fasano is part of Miami’s new regime.  Fleener is the best tight end available at this point.

67. St. Louis Rams 1-7 Alameda Ta’amu Defensive Tackle Washington Senior Ta’amu can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme.  Ta’amu can play a 0 technique, a 1 technique, a 2 technique, or a 3 technique.  Ta’mmu’s recent play in run support against Stanford and Oregon drops Ta’amu to this spot.

A lot of people have Ta’amu listed as a first round prospect so they will consider Ta’amu a steal here.

68. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-6 Janoris Jenkins Cornerback Northern Alabama Senior Jacksonville seems like a team that ignores character issues.  Jenkins got ejected in Northern Alabama’s only loss for punching someone in the face which is why he drops to round 3.  He is a top 10 talent, but he cannot stay out of trouble which is why I grade him as a 3rd round prospect.

69. Arizona Cardinals 2-6 Ryan Steed Cornerback Furman Senior Ryan Steed provides good value here.  Steed would be a good pickup for Arizona with the 69th selection.  The Cardinals desperately need a corner to play next to Patrick Peterson.

70. Chicago Bears from Carolina Panthers 2-6 Trumaine Johnson Cornerback Montana Senior Johnson has the size that you look for in a cornerback at 6 foot 2 210 pounds.  Bucky Brooks believes Johnson is this years Dominique Rodgers Cromartie.  Johnson got tasered and arrested for an off the field incident, but can play cornerback or free safety.  Johnson’s draft stock stays the same considering Brook’s high praise of Johnson which could propel him up draft boards and Johnson’s off the field issues downgrading Johnson’s draft stock to a certain degree.

Chicago needs a cornerback and a free safety.  Trumaine Johnson provides amazing value here.

71. Minnesota Vikings 2-6 Sean Spence Right Outside Linebacker Miami FL Senior The Vikings need a right outside linebacker for their 4-3 scheme.  Sean Spence is the best player available.

72. Seattle Seahawks 2-6 Omar Bolden Cornerback Arizona State Senior Omar Bolden has durability issues.  He can be an effective #2 boundary corner when healthy.  Bolden provides good value at this point plus he seems like the kind of cornerback that Seattle would reach for.

73. Washington Redskins 3-5 Brock Osweiler Quarterback Arizona State Junior I believe the Redskins will sign Peyton Manning assuming the Colts draft Andrew Luck.  Even then, the Redskins have to bring in a quarterback to groom for the future.  Why not the 6 foot 9 250 pound underclassmen Brock Osweiler from Arizona State?

74. Denver Broncos 3-5 Nick Foles Quarterback Arizona Senior Redshirt Foles is a pocket passer who can move outside of the pocket.  Elway will draft Foles as his quarterback of the future in round 3 after focusing on defense in the first two rounds.  I believe Elway wants to bring in his own guy even if Tebow develops into a pro bowler down the road.

75. Cleveland Browns 3-5 Whitney Mercilus Right End Illinois Junior Redshirt Mercilus has the size of a 3-4 outside linebacker.  He can play either the right or the left side.  Mercilus was mainly used as a run stuffer in 2010.  In 2011 Mercilus has switched to right end emerging as a sack artist with 11.5 sacks.  Mercilus may not have the most potential among the 3rd round defensive ends.  Despite this, Mercilus has the most complete game among the current prospects remaining which is what will get Mercilus drafted here.

76. Philadelphia Eagles 3-5 Jared Crick Defensive Tackle Nebraska Senior Redshirt The Eagles need a defensive tackle.  Jared Crick is the best available player at this point.

77. Kansas City Chiefs 4-4 Matt Reynolds Left Tackle BYU Senior Redshirt Even though Matt Reynolds is aging he is still a major upgrade over Branden Albert at left tackle.

78. Tennessee Titans 4-4 Bruce Irvin Right End West Virginia Senior Irvin can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme on either side at defensive end.  Irvin will be a draft day steal and will drop on draft boards due to his lack of production this year.  Imagine what Tennessee could do with Bruce Irvin and Derrick Morgan on the defensive line.

79. Dallas Cowboys 4-4 Ryan Tannehill Quarterback Texas A&M Senior Redshirt Tannehill is a steal at this point.  The reason Tannehill slides to #79 overall is because A&M offense had an awful game against Oklahoma defense.  Tannehill was really off with his passes if you watch the tape.  There are some people who say Tannehill is a first round talent and have mocked Tannehill in the late first round of their mocks.  If Jerry Jones drafts Tannehill in the 3rd round, the city of Dallas may throw him a parade because Ryan Tannehill would be such a steal at this point.  Tannehill is not an elite quarterback, but he is a safe pick who has a very good chance to develop into a starter down the road.  A late first round prospect in the eyes of some falling to 79th overall is a steal to a certain degree.

Tony Romo is a good starter, but their needs to be a quarterback of the future in place for Dallas because Romo can have his hot streaks and cold streaks as a starting quarterback.  Why not give Dallas that quarterback here?

Teams always look for premium value when drafting a quarterback in the 3rd round and beyond.  Getting Ryan Tannehill at 79 overall would be considered premium value to some.

80. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-4 Daniel “Boom” Herron Running Back Ohio State Senior Redshirt Herron missed the first half of the season with a suspension.  Herron has 415 rushing yards on 70 carries in his first 3 games back with the Buckeyes after his 6 game suspension.  Despite the suspension Herron has eclipsed the 100 rushing yard mark in every game he’s played.  Herron played Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.  People will say those are weak run defenses.  I disagree Illinois has Mercilus a run stopper at defensive end, and people underestimate Wisconsin’s run defense.  Lets see how Herron fares down the road against the rest of the Big 10.

Tampa Bay needs a 2nd back to split carries with Blount.  The Buccaneers seem to ignore players with character concerns.  Ohio State has produced some of the NFL’s best bruiser power backs over the years so the Buccaneers may want to take a flyer on Herron in round 3.

Another option could be North Carolina wide receiver Dwight Jones.  Tampa Bay needs to get a Josh Freeman a playmaker to throw to with Mike Williams performing like a secondary receiver and Arrellious Benn playing like a slot receiver in 2011.

81. Buffalo Bills 5-3 Dwight Jones Wide Receiver North Carolina Senior Dwight Jones has the size and potential to be a secondary receiving target next to Stevie Johnson.

82. New York Jets 5-3 Bobbie Massie Right Tackle Ole Miss Junior The Jets need a right tackle to play next to Debrickishaw Ferguson.  Ole Miss right tackle Bobbie Massie is the best right tackle available at this point.

83. Atlanta Falcons 5-3 Brandon Lindsey Right End Pittsburgh Senior Redshirt The Falcons need a successor behind Jonathan Abraham to groom for the future.  Brandon Lindsey could be that player.

84. Chicago Bears 5-3 Levi Adcock Right Guard Oklahoma State Senior Redshirt The Bears could use a right guard for depth.  Levi Adcock provides solid value here.

85. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-3 Juron Criner Wide Receiver Arizona Senior No 3-4 linebackers worth taking here and I doubt Pittsburgh takes an undersized nose tackle who weighs less than 300 pounds like Josh Chapman.  I am not completely sold on Evander Hood, but they probably are going to give him another year as the teams starter at left end.  With cornerback and right guard addressed this leaves wide receiver and free safety.  I think the Steelers will give Ryan Mundy a shot down the road by having him sit behind Ryan Clark.  This means Pittsburgh turns to wide receiver in this situation by process of elimination.

Hines Ward is aging and there seems to be a secondary receiver job up for grabs.  Antonio Brown is a slot receiver with the potential to be the secondary guy.  Emmanuel Sanders is a #4 receiver on most NFL depth charts from what I have seen.

The 6 foot 4 215 pound Juron Criner may be a red zone target that Pittsburgh takes a liking to.  Pittsburgh ranks 22nd out of 32 NFL teams in the red zone because most of their receivers except for Hines Ward are mainly used to stretch the field vertically.  Adding a red zone target is more crucial than people realize because it takes the double teams that Heath Miller receives in the red zone.

Pittsburgh has a tendency of drafting receivers in the 3rd round.  Hines Ward 3rd round pick and Mike Wallace were both 3rd round picks.

86. Detroit Lions 6-2 Vince Browne Right End Northwestern Senior Redshirt Vince Browne would make a good successor at right end to Kyle Vaden Bosch who turns 33 next Thursday.

87. San Diego Chargers 4-4 David Wilson Running Back Virginia Tech Junior I like David Wilson better than former Hokie’s Darren Evans and Ryan Williams.  Wilson ranks 2nd in rushing yards and got to sit behind both of those backs.  San Diego cut Jordan Todman. Mike Tolbert is more of a goal line back and Ryan Matthews is injury prone.  San Diego needs to obtain a running back for depth.

David Wilson has 1,185 rushing yards which is 2nd in the NCAA.  Wilson trails Ronnie Hillman by 13 rushing yards.  Unless something really extreme happens to David Wilson you know he will eclipse 13 rushing yards.

88. Cincinnati Bengals 6-2 Cliff Harris Cornerback Oregon Junior Harris’s draft stock could take a hit due to character issues.  Cincinnati ignores character issues so Cliff Harris could be a Bengal if the Bengals wait until this point in round 3 to get a corner.

Harris could start out as a nickel behind Nate Clements and Leon Hall.  Once Clements contract is up the Bengals can try out Harris as a starter.

89. New Orleans Saints 6-3 Jayron Hosley Cornerback Virginia Tech Junior Jayron Hosley provides good value here.  The Saints front office usually capitalizes on value when it comes to draft prospects.

90. New York Giants 6-2 Delano Howell Free Safety Stanford Senior The Giants need an upgrade over Antrel Rolle at free safety.  Delano Howell is a two way safety who could blend in nicely in New York.

91. Houston Texans 6-3 Josh Chapman Nose Tackle Alabama Senior Redshirt I get this really strange feeling that Houston will take Josh Chapman if he slides to round 3.  They have a habit of obtaining undersized 3-4 nose tackles.

92. New England Patriots 5-3 Baker Steinkuhler Defensive Tackle Nebraska Junior Redshirt Steinkuhler seems like a 4-3 defensive tackle who can move to a 3-4 defensive end role.  That’s what New England needs here in round 3.

93. San Francisco 49ers 7-1 Kerry Murphy Nose Tackle Alabama Junior Redshirt I think the 49ers will add a nose tackle for depth Kerry Murphy could be an option in round 3.

94. Baltimore Ravens 5-3 Aaron Henry Free Safety Wisconsin Senior Redshirt Aaron Henry provides a backup free safety for depth when Ed Reed retires.  It would not hurt to add this safety for depth in Baltimore.  I gave the Ravens Ryan Tannehill in the 2nd round of my mock last week.  Flacco played well against Pittsburgh escaping his 4 game funk for 4 consecutive games with a pick so the Ravens go without a quarterback in this weeks mock.

95. Green Bay Packers 8-0 Chandler Harnish Quarterback Northern Illinois Senior Redshirt Someone will try to acquire Packers backup Matt Flynn if Green Bay repeats.  The Packers have quarterback coach Tom Clement the best quarterback coach in the NFL period.

Clement turned average joe quarterbacks like Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox into legit starters in Pittsburgh.  He turned Aaron Rodgers into the NFL’s best quarterback and developed a backup in Matt Flynn into a borderline starter.

When you have a quarterback coach like Clement you can take a quarterback in the mid rounds and develop them for a few years behind Aaron Rodgers before trading that backup quarterback for a really high draft pick.  This is what I expect Green Bay to do with Flynn this offseason if a team is willing to give up enough.

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