Thursday, April 26, 2012

Feeling the Draft Again

My predictions for the NFL Draft 2012 starting tomorrow:

- The top two picks have been set in stones for ages, with Andrew Luck going to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III going to the Washington Redskins. So like many pundits say, the Draft really begins at pick number three. At number three, the Minnesota Vikings have been trying to entice teams to trade up for the chance to draft Alabama RB Trent Richardson. But their effort has been hamstrung partly by the fact that the team will definitely not draft Richardson as they already have an All-Pro RB in Adrian Peterson. So the Vikings will reluctantly keep the pick and select LT Matt Kalil, the best offensive lineman on board.

- At number four, the Cleveland Browns will have to take Richardson. They badly need him to be the focal point of their offense and the new face of the franchise. Failure to draft him would be an inexcusable mistake of epic proportions. Enough said.

- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, picking fifth, will gladly select CB Morris Claiborne as the eventual replacement of veteran Ronde Barber.

- At sixth, the St. Louis Rams will select WR Justin Blackmon to give much-maligned QB Sam Bradford a much-needed downfield threat.

- P.S. Stay away from QB Ryan Tannehill. He will be a bust.

So to recap,

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
3. Matt Kalil, OT, Minnesota Vikings
4. Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns
5. Morris Claiborne, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Justin Blackmon, WR, St. Louis Rams