2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock

This is a 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock, just in case you missed the big blue letters up top. I'm going back to 2012 and re-distributing all of the 2012 NFL Draft prospects to all of the teams in the 2012 NFL Draft order. This 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock is based on how these players have performed in their careers, as well as the needs each team had back in 2012.

Posted Feb. 19, 2017. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Andrew Luck, QB
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Andrew Luck, QB
   
   The 2011 NFL Draft class was amazing - go here for my 2011 NFL Draft Re-Mock - and the 2013 class was horrific, so that'll be fun next year. But what about 2012? I recalled some of the great players in this draft, but I had forgotten how talented this class was. It's not 2011, as many of the early picks were flops (Robert Griffin, Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil), but there were some real gems chosen later in the first round, as well as Days 2-3. Perhaps the best example of this was Russell Wilson being chosen in the third frame. Jacksonville could've had him, by the way, but opted for a punter instead. Oh, the Jags.
   
   Anyway, the 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock will be interesting. This pick will remain the same, however, as the Colts won the lottery with Andrew Luck. Russell Wilson could be argued here, but Indianapolis is happy with Luck. Now, if only they could find a general manager who is capable of surrounding Luck with lots of talent. Follow @walterfootball for news and updates.
   
   
   
2. Washington Redskins: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Robert Griffin, QB
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Robert Griffin, QB
   
   It's funny how things work out sometimes. The Redskins gave up a fortune to pick Robert Griffin in the 2012 NFL Draft, and yet they used one of their few remaining selections to take another quarterback, Kirk Cousins. They were criticized heavily for this, but it turns out everyone was right. They should've chosen only one quarterback - and it should've been Cousins at No. 2.
   
   Of course, no one knew how great Russell Wilson would be. Some liked Wilson, and I gave Seattle a solid "B" grade for the selection. Everyone was way off, as Wilson has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He needs to be a top-two pick in the 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock.
   
   
3. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Matt Kalil, OT
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Matt Kalil, OT
   
   The Vikings selected Matt Kalil to protect Christian Ponder's blind side. Yeah, that didn't work out too well. Ponder is barely hanging on to a third-string job, while Kalil hasn't been able to stay healthy.
   
   Cordy Glenn is the best tackle in this class, but there are better players than him. Josh Norman qualifies. There was some speculation that Minnesota would choose Morris Claiborne to fill a big need at cornerback, so it would make sense for them to take Norman.
   
   
4. Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Trent Richardson, RB
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Trent Richardson, RB
   
   The Browns screwed up big time by moving up one spot to pick a fat running back. They redeemed themselves a year later by trading Trent Richardson to the Colts, but then they messed up again by botching the selection acquired by shipping off Richardson. That pick was used on Johnny Manziel.
   
   As you can tell, the Browns haven't been run very well over the years. They can sort of make amends for that in this fake reality by selecting Kirk Cousins. I know some people are still on the fence about Cousins, but he plays on a very high level at times, and because quarterbacks get pushed up, Cousins has to be the pick at this juncture. Besides, taking Cousins at No. 4 would be much better than what the Browns ended up doing with the quarterback position, which was using a draft choice on the horrible Brandon Weeden.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Mark Barron, S
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Morris Claiborne, CB
   
   The Buccaneers made a great pick in the second round of this draft when they selected Lavonte David. The Nebraska product has been terrific for Tampa, but he's still not nearly as good as Luke Kuechly, who is arguably the best linebacker in the NFL. He seems to be the most obvious pick at this spot.
   
   
6. St. Louis Rams: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Michael Brockers, DT
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Justin Blackmon, WR
   
   The Rams ultimately moved down to No. 14, swapping picks with the Cowboys. They selected Michael Brockers at that spot. In this scenario, they'd take an even better defensive tackle in Fletcher Cox.
   
   I actually listed Cox as a possibility for the Rams, citing, "I've seen some mocks with Cox here. He's a great scheme fit for the Rams. I'm also hearing that he's moving up draft boards. It wouldn't surprise me if St. Louis selected him." However, I then suggested that picking a defensive tackle would ruin Sam Bradford's career because he wouldn't get adequate pass protection. Well, he hasn't gotten that yet, and I think we can characterize his career as ruined.
   
   
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Justin Blackmon, WR
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Fletcher Cox, DT
   
   I mocked Fletcher Cox to the Jaguars, but also noted that defensive end was a big need for them. You don't say? Well, as it so happens, there are a trio of talented pass-rushers who make sense at this juncture in Chandler Jones, Olivier Vernon and Whitney Mercilus. Of the three, I'd say Jones has been the best and most consistent throughout his five years in the NFL.
   
   
8. Miami Dolphins: Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Ryan Tannehill, QB
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Ryan Tannehill, QB
   
   The Dolphins spent a third-round pick on Olivier Vernon in the 2012 NFL Draft, but they wouldn't have the same sort of luxury in the re-draft. Thus, Vernon makes sense with the eighth-overall selection.
   
   But what about Ryan Tannehill? What about him? Tannehill has been way too inconsistent throughout his career to warrant a first-round selection in a rehash of the 2012 NFL Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Carolina Panthers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
   Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Luke Kuechly, LB
   My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Quinton Coples, DE
   
   The poor Panthers lost out on both Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman in this re-draft, which is unfortunate for their 2015 Super Bowl aspirations. They can, however, get another stud corner to replace Norman in Janoris Jenkins. Hopefully the Panthers wouldn't cut him following their Super Bowl appearance in this alternate timeline!
   
   
10. Buffalo Bills: Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Stephon Gilmore, CB
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Luke Kuechly, LB
    
    In my 2012 NFL Mock Draft, I wrote that I believed this pick would come down to either Luke Kuechly and Mark Barron. Both were off the board, however, so the Bills settled for Stephon Gilmore, who has been fine for them. They can do better though, and they could obtain their stud safety by selecting Harrison Smith, who has been a stud for the Vikings.
    
    
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelechi Osemele, G, Iowa State
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Dontari Poe, NT
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: David DeCastro, G
    
    Dontari Poe wasn't a horrible pick at No. 11, but he hasn't been very consistent. The Chiefs can do better, perhaps with Kelechi Osemele, one of the top guards in the NFL. Guard was definitely a need, as I mocked David DeCastro to them. DeCastro has been great for the Steelers, but Osemele is an even better blocker.
    
    
12. Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Michael Floyd, WR
    
    The Seahawks made a controversial pick when they took Bruce Irvin in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Irvin was seen as a second-round prospect, thanks to his character concerns, but he panned out and is now a strong player for the Raiders.
    
    Bobby Wagner, meanwhile, was the second-round pick. Wagner has been a better player for the Seahawks, and he's still on the roster, so I imagine the front office would want to hold on to him.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Michael Floyd, WR
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Riley Reiff, OT
    
    Arizona's offensive line was atrocious entering the 2012 season, which is why I mocked Riley Reiff to the team. The Cardinals took Michael Floyd. Neither prospect would've worked out, but Cordy Glenn definitely would have. Glenn has become the top left tackle to come out of the 2012 NFL Draft.
    
    
14. Dallas Cowboys: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Morris Claiborne, CB
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Mark Barron, S
    
    The Cowboys moved up to No. 6 to take Morris Claiborne. The LSU product was exceptional in 2016 prior to his injury, but he had struggled beforehand. Dallas would be better served by taking a cornerback who has played on a high level throughout his entire career.
    
    
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Fletcher Cox, DT
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Stephon Gilmore, CB
    
    The Eagles make a downgrade here, as losing out on Fletcher Cox would be very painful. That said, it's not much of a loss. Whitney Mercilus has been a terrific edge rusher for the Texans, and Philadelphia needed one entering the 2012 season. The front office spent a second-round pick on defensive end Vinny Curry.
    
    
16. New York Jets: Mike Daniels, DE/DT, Iowa
    Actual 2012 NFL Draft Pick: Quinton Coples, DE
    My 2012 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB
    
    Here's one of the aforementioned late-round gems I referenced earlier. Mike Daniels was chosen at the end of the fourth frame, yet he has become of the better five-technique defensive linemen in the NFL. The Jets would end up taking Sheldon Richardson in the first round in 2013, so they could definitely use someone like Daniels.
    
    
    
    Go to 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock: Picks 17-32
    
    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I've received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
    
    
    

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