NFL's Future

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. The safest top pick in a long time, Luck is an instant starter with the pedigree, athleticism, and intelligence to become a coveted franchise quarterback in little time. No question Luck is the #1 pick.

2. Washington Redskins (from STL): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor. They didn’t give up all those picks for just anyone. RG3 is the man and they are already active in building around him. Griffin had more touchdowns than incompletions in Baylor’s first four games last year.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, T, USC. The Vikings need help in a lot of areas, and offensive tackle is paramount amongst those needs. Contrary to popular opinion I do not believe that Kalil is a given here; the Vikings desperately need CB and WR help as well and could take Morris Claiborne or Justin Blackmon. They could also trade back and still wind up with one of those guys, and GM Rick Speilman has indicated he will listen to offers.

4. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. This pick holds the key for so much of the rest of the top 10. Cleveland has myriad needs and ample talent from which to select to fill those needs here. While Trent Richardson, Claiborne, Ryan Tannehill, Melvin Ingram, or even David Decastro all make sense here, the Browns opt to upgrade their anemic cast at wide receiver…just not with the player that most suspect. After Floyd’s outstanding pro day and given his superior size and speed over Justin Blackmon, the Browns throw the curveball here and take Floyd.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama. I know the Bucs have strong interest in Richardson, but there are two reasons why I would now carve this pick in granite if the dynamic Bama back is still on the board. First is that they signed Eric Wright and brought back Ronde Barber at corner, which makes that a less pressing need which can be addressed later in this very deep corner class. Second was how incumbent RB LeGarrette Blount reacted to the concept of Richardson threatening his gig, whining to the media about being disrespected. That immature crap might have flown with Raheem Morris, but new Head Coach Greg Schiano will not tolerate me-first knuckleheads. Richardson is an easy choice with Kalil gone. Read the rest of this entry » «Risdon’s 2012 NFL Mock Draft : Two Week Out Edition»

Ryan Tannehill

These two thinking of moving up to 3?

We are two weeks away from the 2012 NFL Draft and teams are working vigorously to lay their respective smoke screens.  With that in mind we are going to be attempting to clear some of the smoke so draft fans can get a clearer picture.

Yesterday brought about a flurry of rumors with the end all, be all being Ryan Tannehill taken with the 3^rd pick in the draft by the Cleveland Browns.  Let me go on record by saying that NFL’s Future will close its doors if the Browns trade up to No. 3 to take Ryan Tannehill.  As most of you know, I’m a fan of Tannehill’s so this is in no way a slap in the face of the Texas A&M signal caller rather a personal guarantee that the Browns are not taking Ryan Tannehill.  And definitely not trading up to No. 3 to do so.

The flurry began with an Adam Schefter report that Rick Spielman (Minnesota Vikings GM) was desperately attempting to trade down due to equal grades on Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne, and Matt Kalil.  It’s fair to say that every team, aside from Indianapolis and Washington, are looking at trade down possibilities on April 11^th.  So I have no doubts that Spielman is looking to do the same.

What also became clear on April 11^th was SI’s Don Banks is out of his gourd.  Banks offered his two cents on trading to No. 3 by suggesting the Browns could move up to Minnesota’s pick to take Ryan Tannehill.  Not happening.  Read the rest of this entry » «Clearing the Smoke»

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 14 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up at 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, Dontari Poe, Michael Brockers, Courtney Upshaw, and Stephon Gilmore are off the board and the San Diego Chargers are up.  So get voting:

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 15 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up at 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, Dontari Poe, Michael Brockers, and Courtney Upshaw are off the board and the Cincinnati Bengals are up.  So get voting:

Summer practice will look much different for Tyler Wilson than the spring tune-ups

In case you live under a rock; Bobby Petrino has been ousted as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks as of late last night.  Petrino’s motorcycle accident turned affair cover-up with a 25-year old female staffer is well documented.  What were interested in is how this affects the NFL prospects, most notably Tyler Wilson on this talented team.  Petrino leaves behind him an 11-2 team that returns a Heisman contending quarterback, a top running back talent returning from injury, and eight defensive starters.  For all intents and purposes this was to be Arkansas’ year to compete with the likes of LSU, Alabama, and Florida.

Tyler Wilson’s magical 2011 season had some pining for him to enter the 2012 NFL Draft and be selected in the top ten back in January.  Wilson spurned the NFL to return to Petrino’s pro-style offense for his senior season.  The 6’3”, 230-pound Heisman contender passed for 3,638 yards with 24 TD’s and just six INT’s in 2011 following in the footsteps of Ryan Mallett.

Wilson’s decision to stay at Arkansas appeared to be a good one despite his enormous talents and numbers.  With only one season as a full-time starter, Wilson could have used some more seasoning before taking his talents to the NFL playing field.  This assumption was before the possibility of playing in a new system under a new head coach reared its ugly head.  A possibility that sent Twitterverse on its collective head with the chance that Wilson could enter the NFL supplemental draft. Read the rest of this entry » «Will Petrino’s ousting affect Tyler Wilson’s future?»

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 16 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up at 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, Dontari Poe, and Michael Brockers are off the board and the New York Jets are up.  So get voting:

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Any hype of the Colts entertaining the notion of taking Robert Griffin III ahead of Andrew Luck will be squashed in a matter of weeks.  The Colts will open up negotiations with Luck very soon and this pick is probably done before the 26^th.  As much as I love RGIII, Luck has been and will be the draft’s top selection.  He’s as pro-ready as any QB in recent memory and I would argue ever.

2.  Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins traded the farm for Griffin and rightfully so.  He’s a special talent that is capable of beating teams in an assortment of ways.  Griffin’s game transitions to today’s NFL very well and due to that he has people buzzing about higher upside than Luck.  It really is splitting hairs…all I know is that both are going to be very good NFL QB’s.

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, Minnesota Vikings

I just can’t wrap my head around the Vikings passing on a franchise LT.  As good as Morris Claiborne is (and he’s real good) there’s not a chance Rick Spielman doesn’t come out of this draft with Kalil.  I say that with 90% confidence.

4.  Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

My head says Morris Claiborne but my heart says TR.  Come on, I’m a Browns fan; you know I’m going with my heart.  I really think this organization goes with an offensive playmaker with this pick and he won’t be named Justin Blackmon.  The only deal breaker will be if Heckert/Shurmur/Chilly fall in love with Ryan Tannehill.  This city doesn’t have the patience to wait on Tannehill’s development and the Heckert/Holmgren tandem know they won’t be around to see him develop.  Hence, the Richardson pick.

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

This pick gets interesting if Richardson and Claiborne are on the board.  With TR going one spot ahead of them the decision becomes very easy.  The Bucs signed Eric Wright to a deal but he’s not the answer especially if Aqib Talib is suspended.  Ronde Barber is minutes away from retirement and this may be his last rodeo.  Claiborne gives the Bucs a legit No. 1 corner to pair with Wright/Talib for the long haul. Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Mock Draft : Three Rounds of NFL Draft Bliss»

Harrison Smith

Notre Dame

Ht. 6-2 Wt. 213

Pass Coverage:  Harrison Smith is an underrated athlete that has the skills to play centerfield, line up over tight ends, and could play the slot.  He played in man coverage at times at ND which gave NFL personnel a chance to check out his man skills.  Smith is tight-hipped and plays high but makes up for it with excellent instincts in the pass game.

Tackling:  Smith is one of many big hitters in this draft class from the secondary.  Unfortunately, he struggles at times to wrap and ensure the tackle is made.  He drops his head too often. Read the rest of this entry » «Harrison Smith Scouting Report»

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 17 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up at 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, and Dontari Poe are off the board and the Philadelphia Eagles are up.  So get voting:

Mark Barron     

Alabama

Ht. 6-1 Wt. 213

Pass Coverage:  Mark Barron wasn’t used a lot in man coverage at Alabama.  Primarily a box safety he has the attributes to line up over the TE’s and cover man-to-man.  Barron is a linear athlete that excels with the play in front of him making him an ideal zone-heavy safety.  He was the leader of a very good Alabama defense and has the football IQ to be the QB of the secondary.  He will need to work on his change of direction skills to stay with more athletic TE’s and slot receivers in the NFL.

Tackling:  For all intents and purposes, Barron is a strong tackler.  He delivers big hits that are capable of changing possession.  That said, he has a tendency to be overaggressive which causes him to miss some tackles.  Barron will have to remain more disciplined in his tackling technique to be worthy of where he will be drafted. Read the rest of this entry » «Mark Barron Scouting Report»