This article is the work of Tyler Dickson, who is an avid follower of college football and a Raiders fan. You can follow him on Twitter @raiderdraftnik for his thoughts on players as we lead up to the draft.
UPDATED 4/4/2012: Some player movements as draft workouts and further film review move the field.
ROUND ONE
Pick Team Player Reasoning
| 1st overall | Indianapolis Colts |
Andrew Luck, QB Stanford | Best Pro QB prospect in ten years and has it all: arm, intangibles and accuracy. |
| 2nd overall (From STL) |
Washington Redskins |
Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor |
Redskins traded into the position and moved up to get a franchise QB. they do, with an athletic freak at the QB position |
| 3rd overall | Minnesota Vikings |
Matt Kalil, OT USC |
Vikings got their franchise QB last year in Christian Ponder. This year they get his blind side protector. |
| 4th overall | protector. Cleveland Browns |
Trent Richardson RB Alabama |
Browns lost Hillis in free agency. With Richardson, they get someone better. |
| 5th overall | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Morris Claiborne CB LSU |
With Talib’s legal problems and Barber’s age the Bucs make an easy pick here. |
| 6th overall (From WAS) |
St. Louis Rams |
Malcolm Floyd WR ND |
The Rams surprise everyone and take Floyd here instead of Blackmon. I would. |
| 7th overall | Jacksonville Jaguars |
Melvin Ingram DE S.Car |
The Jags need some pass rush but could go Justin Blackmon here, instead. |
| 8th overall | Miami Dolphins |
Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M |
Miami needs help on offense. They get a franchise QB, here, and sit him behind Matt Moore for a season. |
| 9th overall | Carolina Panthers |
Michael Brockers DT LSU |
Carolina needs to stop the run. They start by picking Brockers from LSU’s potent D. |
| 10th overall | Buffalo Bills |
Luke Kuechly LB BC |
Buffalo got their pass rush in free agency, now they get a QB for their D with Kuechly. |
| 11th overall | Kansas City Chiefs |
Dontari Poe DT Memphis |
KC has made solid moves in FA, taking Poe would continue their solid offseason. |
| 12th overall | Seattle Seahawks |
Quinton Coples DE UNC |
Seattle would have liked a QB here, but none remain worth the pick so they go for a pass rusher. |
| 13th overall | Arizona Cardinals | Riley Reiff OT Iowa |
Even with Levi Brown re-signing the Cards need some O-Line help. |
| 14th overall | Dallas Cowboys |
David Decastro OG Stanford |
Dallas looks to solidify their O-line, take a ten year starter that can plug in immediately. |
| 15th overall | Philadelphia Eagles |
Fletcher Cox DT Mis.State |
Philly needs some help in the middle of their ‘wide 9’. Cox will do that and more. |
| 16th overall | New York Jets |
Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama |
Rex loves his defense and needs a pass rusher. His D will wreak havoc with Upshaw. |
| 17th overall (From OAK) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Cordy Glenn OG Georgia |
Lewis loves SEC players. Here, he gets O-Line help with Glenn, who can play OT or OG. |
| 18th overall | San Diego Chargers |
Jonathan Martin OT Stanford |
SD needs some serious help on the O-line. They address one of their biggest needs with this pick. |
| 19th overall | Chicago Bears |
Justin Blackmon WR Ok.State |
Chicago laughs as they have Blackmon fall to them. With the trade for Brandon Marshall they now have one of the best WR tandems in league. |
| 20th overall | Tennessee Titans |
Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama |
The Titans lost CB Finnegan in free agency, so they look to replace him with Kirkpatrick |
| 21st overall | Cincinnati Bengals |
Stephon Gilmore CB S.Car |
Like I said, Lewis likes the SEC. With this pick, he gets a CB to team with Leon Hall. |
| 22nd overall (From ATL) |
Cleveland Browns |
Stephen Hill WR G.Tech |
The Browns continue to add weapons to their offense with a potential no. 1 WR in Hill. |
| 23rd overall | Detroit Lions |
Janoris Jenkins CB N.Alabama |
Detroit need help in the secondary. Here, they roll the dice, choosing Jenkins’ talent over his character concerns. |
| 24th overall | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Mike Adams OT OSU |
Steelers need to protect Big-Ben. They try to with this pick, Tomlins’ second in a row 1st round pick out of OSU. |
| 25th overall | Denver Broncos |
Jerel Worthy DT Mich State |
After losing Bunkley to NO the Broncos draft his replacement in DT Jerel Worthy. |
| 26th overall | Houston Texans |
Kendall Wright WR Baylor |
Houston wants a WR to team up with A.Johnson. In steps Wright to fill that spot. |
| 27th overall (From NO) |
New England Patriots |
Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois |
NE’s offense is fine, now, so Belichick can start building a D. 1st thing he needs is a pass rush. |
| 28th overall | Green Bay Packers |
Nick Perry, DE USC |
GB needs a Push rusher across from Clay Mathews. With this pick, two former USC boys unite. |
| 29th overall | Baltimore Ravens |
Shea McClellin DE Boise state |
The Ravens get a Hybrid Pass-rusher to go beside Terrell Suggs – scary stuff! |
| 30th overall | San Francisco 49ers |
Coby Fleener TE Stanford |
SF has Veron Davis but Harbaugh knows what he’s doing. Fleener is flying up draft boards and Harbaugh was his coach at Stanford. |
| 31st overall | New England Patriots |
Devon Still DT Penn State |
Belichick keeps building his D: 2nd thing NE needs: a DT to clog the middle |
| 32nd overall | New York Giants |
Lamar Miller RB Miami |
With Jacobs moving on, the Giants select a RB to pair with A. Bradshaw. |
ROUND TWO
Pick Team Player Reasoning
|
33rd overall |
St. Louis Rams |
Kendall Reyes DT UConn |
Rams need some help up the middle so they go with Reyes. |
| 34th overall |
Indianapolis Colts |
Mark Barron S Alabama |
Colts are rebuilding they get a Defensive stepping-stone. |
| 35th overall |
Minnesota Vikings |
Alfonso Dennard CB Nebraska |
Vikings need serious help in the secondary thats why they go CB here. |
| 36th overall |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Peter Konz C Wisconsin |
The bucs let go of Jeff Faine in the off season here is a replacement. |
| 37th overall |
Cleveland Browns |
Brandon Weeden QB Ok.State |
Browns get a steal here with Weeden being a top player if younger. |
| 38th overall |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Alshon Jeffery WR S.Car |
The Jags look to give their QB of the future more weapons. |
| 39th overall (F/ WAS) |
St.Louis Rams |
Bobbie Massie OT Ole Miss |
If Fisher wants to keep his QB safe he’ll make this pick. |
| 40th overall |
Carolina Panthers |
Jayron Hosley CB VA. tech |
The Panthers were last in pass D last year,they need help bad. |
| 41st overall |
Buffalo Bills |
Josh Robinson CB UCF |
Great combine plus the Bills secondary is aging. |
| 42nd overall |
Miami Dolphins |
Harrison Smith SS ND |
After the fins released Y.Bell they fill the void with Smith. |
| 43rd overall |
Seattle Seahawks |
David Wilson RB VA.tech |
They just signed M.Lynch to a big deal but he can’t take all the workload. |
| 44th overall |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Donta Hightower LB Alabama |
KC gets LB to put along side Johnson. |
|
45th |
Dallas Cowboys |
Ronnell Lewis DE Oklahoma |
Jones loves Big 12 and gets a Spencer replacement for next year. |
| 46th overall |
Philideplhia Eagles |
Zach Brown LB UNC |
Eagles need some linebackers fast Reid gets one in Brown.Brown is a Athletic freak as a LB. |
| 47th overall |
New York Jets |
Doug Martin RB Boise State |
The Jets run game has to get up and running(pun intended) and Martin is their man to do it. |
| 48th overall (F/OAK) |
New England Patriots |
James Brown OT Troy |
Belichick takes a break from Defense and gets a versatile Lineman. |
| 49th overall |
San Diego Chargers |
Kevin Zeilter OG Wisconsin |
SD continues to bulk up their line with the losses of Dielman and McNeill |
| 50th overall |
Chicago Bears |
Vinny Curry DE Marshall |
Bears get a pass rusher to put out there with Julius peppers |
| 51st overall |
Philidelphia Eagles |
Rueben Randle WR LSU |
Andy Reid loves his offense and gets a possession receiver to go with his speed merchants. |
| 52nd overall |
Tennessee Titans |
Lavonte David LB Nebraska |
Tennessee go D again and get a starting potential MLB or SAM in David. |
| 53rd overall |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Brandon Thompson DT Clemson |
The Bengals get a great pick-up, to team up with Beast DT Geno Atkins |
| 54th overall |
Detroit Lions |
Chris Polk RB Washington |
After Mikel Leshores arrest the Lions need some RBs. |
| 55th overall |
Atlanta Falcons |
Orson Charles TE Georgia |
Falcons draft a replacement for future HOF Tony Gonzalez. |
| 56th overall |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Alameda Ta’amu NT Washington |
Steelers do the same and draft replacement for Casey Hampton. |
| 57th overall |
Denver Broncos |
Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa.St |
Broncos need to strengthen their line in the middle so they go with a guard here to protect Manning. |
| 58th overall |
Houston Texans |
Jared Crick DE Nebraska |
Coming off and injury but still can be top player the texans take a DE for Run downs. |
| N/A | New Orleans Saints | Forfeited Pick | Saints lost this pick because of ‘BountyGate’ |
| 59th overall |
Green Bay Packers |
Trumaine Johnson CB Montana |
Packers Secondary is getting old so they get a DB here. C.Woodsons a good teacher, too. |
| 60th overall |
Baltimore Ravens |
Jameel Fleming CB Oklahoma |
The Ravens only have three CBs on their roster they need bodies quickly. |
| 61st overall |
San Francisco 49ers |
Mitchell Schwartz OT Cal |
Schwartz will be moved inside to replace Dan Snyder. |
| 62nd overall |
New England Patriots |
Casey Howard CB Vanderbilt |
Belichick needs to shore up that secondary and fast. |
| 63rd overall |
New York Giants |
Dwayne Allen TE Clemson |
The Giants have two TEs coming off knee injuries and pick up good player to play next to M.Bennett. |
Third Round
Pick Team Player Reasoning
| 64th overall |
Indianapolis Colts |
Brian Quick WR App.State |
Colts look to give Andrew Luck some weapons alongside Reggie Wayne. |
| 65th overall |
St.Louis Rams |
Mychal Kendricks LB California |
Blew up the combine, Rams need a LB, he’ll start day 1. |
| 66th overall |
Minnesota Vikings |
Chris Givens WR Wake Forest |
Vikings need to give Ponder some weapons Givens should be one. |
| 67th overall |
Cleveland Browns |
Mike Martin DT Michigan |
After all the offense in first few round browns go defense to clog up run lanes. |
| 68th overall |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Bobby Wagner LB Utah State |
The Bucs have only one decent LB so they’d need help now. |
| 69th overall |
Washington Redskins |
Brandon Boykin CB Georgia |
After all there moves to fix offense the skins look to fix the defense. |
| 70th overall |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Markelle Martin S Ok.State |
Jags go for a safety to move Dwight Lowery back to CB. |
| 71st overall |
Buffalo Bills |
Marvin Jones WR California |
They have there D sorted so the Bills go for WR to help Steve Johnson out of Double-Teams. |
| 72nd overall |
Miami Dolphins |
Chandler Jones DE Syracuse |
Dolphins are changing to a 4-3 so the need to get some 4-3 ends. |
| 73rd overall (from CAR) |
Miami Dolphins |
Dwight Jones WR UNC |
Dolphins traded away Brandon Marshall they need serious help at WR. |
| 74th overall |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Kirk Cousins QB MSU |
KC goes QB now to give Cassel Competition, I think Cousins will win. |
| 75th overall |
Seattle Seahawks |
Brandon Washington OG Miami(FL) |
The Seahawks just went a got Flynn now they have to protect him. |
| 76th overall |
Houston Texans |
Josh Chapman NT Alabama |
The Texans don’t have a true NT so they get Chapman. (The Raiders miss out.) |
| 77th overall |
New York Jets |
Nick Toon WR Wisconsin |
With Plaxico gone and Holmes insane the jets need a WR |
| N/A | Oakland Raiders | Forfeited Pick | Used to select Terrelle Pryor, QB,Ohio state. |
| 78th overall |
San Diego Chargers |
Jonathan Massaquoi DE Troy |
SD got J. Johnson to stop the run they get J.Massa to rush the passer. |
| 79th overall |
Chicago Bears |
Sean Spence LB Miami(FL) |
The Bears Solidfy the WLB spot with Spence. |
| 80th overall |
Arizona Cardinals |
Lamichael James LB Oregon |
Arizona gets a change of pace back to play behind Beanie Wells |
| 81st overall |
Dallas Cowboys |
George Iloka S Boise State |
Cowboys gave B.Pool one year deal they can’t believe he’s the answer. |
| 82nd overall |
Tennessee Titans |
Ben Jones OC Georgia |
Tennesse needs help at C and they didn’t get J.Saturday so they grab one here. |
| 83rd overall |
Cincinnati Bengals |
Juron Criner WR Arizona |
Bengals look to add a WR to Help out Andy Dalton and A.J Green. |
| 84th overall | Atlanta Falcons |
Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati |
M.Turners getting old and they don’t have starting quality backups falcons go RB. |
| 85th overall |
Detroit Lions |
Dwight Bentley CB LA-Lafayette |
The Lions need to fill CB with a roster bare of talent at the position. |
| 86th overall | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Bernard Piecre RB Temple |
Mendenhall won’t be ready for the season so they Steelers prepare for it with this pick. |
| 87th overall | Denver Broncos |
Greg Childs WR Arkansas |
Manning makes a draft pick of his own. |
| 88th overall | Philidelphia Eagles |
Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin |
VY is FA so the Eagles get a back-up in Wilson. |
| 89th overall | New Orleans Saints |
Bruce Irvin LB W.Virginia |
The saints need speed at the position and get it with a pass-rushing situation gem. |
| 90th overall | Green Bay Packers |
Tyrone Crawford DE Boise State |
Packers need to replace Cullen Jenkins so they go with Crawford,Their offense is fine their defense isn’t. |
| 91st overall | Baltimore Ravens |
Andrew Datko OT FSU |
After going D with there first picks ravens needs to bulk up there o-line and replace Ben Grubbs. |
| 92nd overall | San Francisco 49ers |
Joe Adams WR Arkansas |
The 49ers get a WR to take the top off of defenses so they take Adams here.(because R.Moss won’t) |
| 93rd overall | New England Patriots |
Antonio Allen S S.Car |
Belichick does it again and goes D to help build his young secondary. |
| 94th overall | New York Giants |
Michael James Johnson LB Neveda |
The Giants look to bulk up at LB with MJM and get a starter in the process. |
| 95th overall | Oakland Raiders |
Josh Kaddu LB Oregon |
The Raiders are so weak at the position they need a SLB here,I tossed a coin between Demario Davis and Kaddu won. |
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