1/7: Michael Floyd, WR/Notre Dame- Well, when I couldn’t find a single trade down, I just felt like I should go ahead and grab who I considered to be the best WR in the Draft. Also considered Kirkpatrick here, but felt it was too high.

2/38: Chandler Jones, DE/Syracuse- Nice big LDE full of potential for Cullen to mold and with most of our DEs finally coming back from injury, he won’t be asked to play a crazy amount of snaps while learning how to handle the pros.

3/70: Josh Norman, CB/Coastal Carolina- Debated going corner in the second, but felt the value for corners was much better in the 3rd. Norman’s a big, range-y physical corner with good ball skills that the Jags tend to love and I feel he could step in quickly against NFL-level receivers if needed(especially if the corners get snake-bitten like they did last year).

4/101: Greg Childs, WR/Arkansas- I know some will look at this and wonder why when we just recently signed Lee Evans and drafted Floyd. I fully expect a bit of house-cleaning of the WR corps and with that, the need for adding more talent is desperately needed. I love Childs’ value in the 4th because he’s shown signs of getting back to his old self after that awful injury and he could be a major weapon in the red zone along with Floyd on the edges while Robinson works the middle.

5/142: Micah Pellerin, CB/Hampton- Another tall, range-y corner prospect to help against big receivers. He’s a bit raw, but his closing speed, length, blossoming man coverage skills make him very attractive for a team like the Jags.

6/176: Ryan Miller, G-OT/Colorado- This pick wasn’t mine as I wasn’t there for the pick and screwed up in not naming who I was when sending Noles my revised BB. Still though, OL depth is sorely needed when Rackley’s having growing pains and Britton seemingly can’t stay healthy. Not sure if he could play on the outside, but if he could develop into a good road-grader at OG, then it’s worth it.

7/228: Justin Francis, DE/Rutgers- Developmental pass-rusher, baby! Always felt you should try and draft at least one in the late rounds just in case.

UDFAs:

Delano Johnson, DE-OLB/Bowie State- Another developmental pass-rusher. Has prototypical size, just needs to be coached up.

T.J. Graham, WR/North Carolina State- Another body to bolster the WR corps. Has potential as a return man, too.

Tony Jerod-Eddie, DT/Texas A&M- With Pot Roast’s eye injury possibly having him miss time during the season, NT needs some depth.

Jeff Adams, OT/Columbia- Intriguing small-school OT that hopefully beats out the ultra shitty Guy Whimper for a roster spot.

Tashaun Gipson, CB/Wyoming- Another developmental project. Put him on the PS and see if he can get coached up to be more physical and possibly convert to safety. Overall, I was disappointed that I couldn't swing a trade down, but I think I got good value for every pick except Miller. So what say you all?

So here we sit seven days before the draft, so i figure its high time for a Mock Contest. Rules will be fairly simple, because well, the KISS method tends to eliminate excess non required work.

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Lets take a look at who is moving around - and what we are hearing around the NFL. I posted a similar article a while ago - but now we have a much better idea of what teams are planning to do. Mind you - these are things I have heard, think, or read.

WHO WANTS TO MOVE UP?

• I have heard/read the Chiefs might be interested in moving up for Ryan Tannehill (QB) - Texas AM
• I have heard the Cowboys could move up for Mark Barron (S) - Alabama
• I have heard the Eagles are interested in moving up for a variety of players the most likely being Fletcher Cox (DT) - Mississippi St.......(Other names thrown around are Mark Barron, Stephen Gilmore, Ryan Tannehill)
• I have heard Jets are interested in moving up for Melvin Ingram (DE/OLB) - South Carolina being the favorite to fill the void at pass rusher
• Read today that Rams are interested in moving up to #4 to secure a player. Hearing a few separate names including Fletcher Cox

WHO WANTS TO MOVE DOWN?

• I suppose everyone always wants to move down to acquire more picks BUT
• Minnesota Vikings have said they want to move down and acquire more picks but more so want a blockbuster deal like the Rams got. Potential partners are a team that really wants Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, Justin Blackmon, or Ryan Tannehill.
• Cleveland Browns are not sure what they want to do, but have heard they are interested in moving down.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are apparently "desperate" to move out of the 7th pick. Potential partners are all the teams that are mentioned above.
• The Buffalo Bills would like to move down and acquire an additional pick - if they don't like anyone at 10. Potential partners are all the teams mentioned above. However at the 10th pick - some player that a team really likes drops - and wish to move up to acquire that player.
• The Patriots have stated they will keep their 27th pick but will trade away their 31st pick. The 31st pick could be any player that entices a team - but historically seams to be teams that move back into the bottom of the first to grab a QB. The Browns could be a trading partner to acquire Brandon Weeden, if they don't do so with their 2nd of 1st round picks.

WHO IS FOR SALE?

• The Eagles are shopping Asante Samuel. What is he worth? Who is interested? He is 31 and is still a starting caliber CB in the NFL
• The Tampa Bay Bucs are shopping Aqib Talib. What is he worth? Who is interested? He has off field issues, and that has significantly dropped the stock of Jenkins. Why would anyone be interested in Talib?
• Apparently no one has approached the Steelers concerning Mike Wallace - probably considering how much money he wants
• Was made aware that the Giants might be interested in shopping Osi Umenyiora (DE). Who do you think would be interested? What is he worth?

Thoughts? What else is the word around the NFL? Who else is for sale? What other teams are interested in moving?
T-Minus 7 days my fellow mockers -Moose

Our draft went a bit differently than I'd anticipated, but in the end I think that the Bucs achieved most of our goals. Two LBs? Check. Two safeties? Check. #1 CB? Check. Third down/complementary running back? Check. I brokered two trades: our second round pick, sixth round pick, and seventh round pick for Baltimore's first round pick, and our third round pick and fifth round pick for Arizona's third round pick, fourth round pick, and fifth round pick. More on my choices below.

5. Matt Kalil, OT, USC

I was hoping to trade down from this spot, but some confusion over my late entry as team GM meant that by the time I'd established who I was to the mods, the clock had been stopped too long for me to broker a trade. Claiborne was taken by the Browns at #4, so I went with BVA and acquired a franchise left tackle for the Bucs. My thinking is that Kali could start at RT in 2012 (so long Trueblood), and Penn would shift to RT in 2013 and beyond.

29. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Probably my most controversial pick. I traded our second, sixth, and seventh round picks to Baltimore to move up seven spots to grab Jenkins. I traded up due to my belief that San Francisco, New England, Indianapolis, or St. Louis might take him before the #36 pick. I know that there's a lot of risk associated with Jenkins and that back in reality the front office is very unlikely to take a gamble on a guy with so many character red flags. But a true #1 cornerback is a dire need for the Bucs, and Jenkins has more potential than any other CB in the draft aside from Claiborne.

80. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

I was initially hesitant to trade back from #68 with James still on the board, but 4QB (my backup GM) convinced me that the extra picks were worth the risk. As luck would have it, LMJ feel into our laps anyway. I thought this was too good a value to pass up- LMJ is the perfect choice to complement Blount's running style.

112. Brandon Taylor, S, LSU

Speaking of great bargains: I couldn't believe that Taylor was sitting on the board halfway through the fourth round. This was a no brainer- we need a safety badly, and Ron Cooper would be delighted to get one of his guys back on the pro level.

151. Emmanuel Acho, OLB, Texas

I couldn't believe that I waited this long to address linebacker either, but that was just the way the board developed. We missed Demario Davis by a few selections, so Acho became the pick.

UDFA: Moe Petrus, G/C, UConn
UDFA: Brad Smelley, FB, Alabama
UDFA: Tahir Whitehead, OLB, Temple
UDFA: Philip Thomas, S, Syracuse

I was very quick on the draw and managed to get my selections in first after the mods. Unfortunately, I hadn't realized that one of my choices (DC Jefferson, TE from Rutgers) was returning for his senior season. But we got our other four picks: a second linebacker and safety and quality backups for Zuttah and Lorig.

Over at Bucs Nation, the median grade I got was B-/C+. What do you think of this Bucs draft?

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

About as safe of a number one pick as you can get.

2. Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Washington gave up a lot for this pick, it better be worth it.

3. Cleveland Browns: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Trade Alert! Cleveland trades the 4th overall pick and the 22nd overall pick to the Vikings for the third overall pick and the 66th (third round) overall pick. Cleveland does this trade because they don't want the Miami to get Tannehill after the Browns missed out on RG3 and they don't trust Colt McCoy. Frankly I don't think Tannehill is going to be that good.

4. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil, USC

Minnesota takes advantage of a weak and desperate Cleveland Browns team and Minnesota still gets their left tackle for the future.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

Tampa just sits back and laughs while all the commotion goes on ahead of the and they just let Richardson fall to them as they get the best running back prospect since AP.

6. St. Louis Rams: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.

St. Louis gets a few future draft picks, and their future number one receiver.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

This defense was pathetic last year and the try to improve it with the best pass rusher in the draft in my opinion.

8. Miami Dolphins: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

Miami missed out on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, and now Tannehill, oh well, at least they can make their o-line better.

9. Carolina Panthers: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

Carolina Panthers are now extremely tough to throw on with Gamble and Claiborne, Ron Rivera is smiling and Cam Newton is now going, yes now I don't have to score 5 TD's a game to win.

10. Buffalo Bills: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Buffalo needs another receiver to pair with Steve Johnson, and Floyd is the second best receiver in this draft.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: NT Dontari Poe, Memphis

With Claiborne falling to the Panthers, Poe will fall to the Chiefs, and this is good for the chiefs since they don't have a decent nose tackle anymore.

12. Seattle Seahawks: DE Quinton Coples, UNC

Coples is a poor man's Julius Peppers, he has an average work ethic, but enough natural talent to sort of overcome that, and Pete Carol is not gonna stand for this lazyness.

13. Arizona Cardinals: ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Kuechly was the best linebacker in college last year, and this cardinal defense needs desperate help at the linebacker spot.

14. Denver Broncos: DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi St.

Trade Alert! Broncos trade 25th and 57th (second round) picks to trade up and take the cowboys pick. The Broncos don't have much on the front line of this defense, they draft Fletcher Cox to fix that.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Michael Brockers, LSU

Eagles get Brockers to take up the middle and try to make life easier for their terrible linebackers, even though Brockers has a high bust potential.

16. New York Jets: DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Yes Upshaw's draft stock has been falling, but the Jets need a guy who can get to the passer again, and Upshaw is about the best guy available.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

With Leon Hall tearing his achilles, the Bengals need to address the corner position, besides they need help there anyway.

18. San Diego Chargers: OG David DeCastro, Stanford

The Chargers need a drastic help on their o-line. Rivers failure last year can't be all blamed on him, after all, he was running for his life last year.

19. Chicago Bears: OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia

Glenn played guard most of his time at Georgia, but played left tackle by the end of his career there. Given a little time with the offensive coaches, Glenn can be Chicago's left tackle for the future.

20. New England Patriots: SS Mark Barron, Alabama

Trade Alert! The Tennessee Titans trade the 20th overall pick and the 82nd overall pick (third round) to the New England Patriots for the 27th and 31st picks. The Patriots defense was historically bad last year, and the Safety position was a huge problem, they trade up to take Barron, the best safety in a weak safety class.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor

The second Baylor player taken in this draft. Cincinnati got rid of Jerome Simpson, even if they didn't he is still going to jail. They can't just depend on AJ Green no matter how good he is.

22. Minnesota Vikings: CB Janoris Jenkins, Northern Alabama

The Vikings need help all along this team, and the corner position is no different. They only good corner they have thats not having legal issues is Winfield who is very old.

23. Detroit Lions: OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

Detroit has an okay offensive line at best, they need an upgrade bad, and especially if Martin is still here they need to take him.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Peter Konz, Wisconsin

The Steelers have been avoiding drafting offensive linemen in the first round for years, they can't do that this year. Konz is a big guy who can play right guard for the Steelers as Pouncey is the starter and Legursky is probably going to be playing left guard next year.

25. Dallas Cowboys: OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

Zietler played right next to Konz at Wisconsin, and he's going in the draft right after him. The cowboys have a terrible offensive line and Romo needs all the help he can get.

26. Houston Texans: WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

Houston has no #2 receiver, they have a number one and a slot. If they draft Hill here they have a complete offense finally.

27. Tennessee Titans: DT Devin Still, Penn St.

I know everyone is saying with losing Finnegan the Titans need a corner, no they don't they have two very good corners still that will fill in the starting spots with McCourty and Verner. The Titans run defense last year was pitiful. Devin Still was a monster at Penn St. the past two years and he will be welcomed to the Titans with open arms.

28. Green Bay Packers: DE/OLB Nick Perry, USC

The Packers defense was just as bad as the Patriots defense last year. They need another pass rusher to help take some of the pressure off of Matthews so he can see less double teams.

29. Baltimore Ravens: ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

The Ravens have found their replacement for Ray Lewis. Hightower will learn from Lewis for Lewis' final few years.

30. San Francisco 49ers: SS Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

Smith is one of the two safetys worth taking in this draft, the others are for later picks that would be ok to miss on. Smith is going to help this pass defense get much better than what it was last year.

31. Tennessee Titans: OLB Lavante David, Nebraska

The Titans have two really good young linebackers in McCarthy and Ayers. The guys that are battling for the final spot are Witherspoon, who is past his prime, and McRath, who just isn't good enough.

32. New York Giants: TE Coby Fleener, Stanford

The giants finally have a receiving tight end and this will really help the offense after losing Manningham.

Please give me your thoughts on my draft.

Okay, now this one went a bit differently as I managed a trade before the start of the draft. I traded the Texans 2nd round pick to the Dolphins for their 3rd & 5th round picks (picks #72 & #145) due to my gut feeling that none of the players I wanted in the 2nd would be there. Once it played out, my guess was dead on, as Shea McClellin, Alameda Ta'amu, & Bruce Irvin were all gone before #58. Also to my dismay, the Steelers traded up to the top of the 3rd to grab Josh Chapman, so that adjusted my draft strategy a bit. So now, here we go......

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Obviously, a lot will depend on which team a player goes to. The same player might be successful with one team, but not another, depending on scheme fit, coaching changes, etc. That being said, here's mine:

1st round busts:

Jonathan Harris, OT Stanford

Quinton Coples DE North Carolina

Micahael Floyd WR Notre Dame

Riley Reiff OT Iowa

Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina

Dontari Poe DT Memphis

Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin

Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama

Chandler Jones DE Syracuse

Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech

Matt Kallil OT USC

Michael Brockers DT LSU

1st round hits:

Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Robert Griffith QB Baylor

Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M

Morris Claiborne CB LSU

Trent Richardson RB Alabama

Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St

Fletcher Cox DT Miss St

Luke Kuechly LB Boston College

David DeCastro OG Stanford

Mark Barron S Alabama

Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama

Mike Adams OT Ohio St

Rueben Randle WR LSU

Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina

Jerel Worthy DT Michigan St

Doug Martin RB Boise St

Nick Perry DE/LB USC

Whitney Mercilus DE/LB Illinois

Harrison Smith S Notre Dame

2nd round busts:

Peter Konz C Wisconsin (Phillip Blake waaay better)

Kendall Wright WR Baylor

Brian Quick WR Appalachian St

Trumaine Johnson CB Montana

Andre Branch DE/LB Clemson

Brandon Thompson DT Clemson

Kirk Cousins QB Michigan ST

Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma ST

Alshon Jeffrey WR South Carolina

Zach Brown LB North Carolina

Jeff Allen OT Illinois

Devon Still DT Penn St

Cordy Glenn OL Georgia

Janoris Jenkins CB N Alabama

2nd round hits

Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern St

Colby Fleener TE Stanford

David Wilson RB VT

Kendall Reyes DL U conn

Lavonte David LB Nebreska

Ronnell Lewis LB/DE Oklahoma

Mychal Kendricks LB Cal

Bobby Wagner LB Utah St

AJ Jenkins WR Illinois

Josh Robinson CB UCF

Brandon Brooks OG Miami OH

Mohammed Sanu WR Rutgers

Vinny Curry DE/LB Marshall

Orson Charles TE Georgia

Lamar Miller RB Miami

Donta Hightower LB Alabama

This could be the ultimate for armchair GMs, build your own team over a five (or whatever) year time period.

That is, draft players in the 2012 draft, and keep adding every April. Finally, see what my team looks like in five years.

The question is how best to do it?

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Decided to do a couple of rounds, with trades. We'll see what happens. I think this is going to be my final mock unless there's a mock draft contest or something of the sort. Enjoy.

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So yeah, I tried to be a bit creative with trades and stuff and surprise you with some picks. But because it's really easy to just put a 3rd round prospect in the Top 15, I tried to "keep it real", you know? I'm really not sure how well I did, but don't try to beef or anything. Internet beefing has to be the stupidest thing on the face of the Earth.

Trades, once again keeping it real. And don't harp too much on trade values and stuff, I tried to use the chart but I didn't use it every time.

TB trades #5 pick to JAX for #7 pick, 4th rd and 5th rd picks, and 2013 5th rd.

MIA trades #8 and 6th rd pick to DAL for #14 pick and 2nd rd pick (46).

SD trades #18 pick to CIN for #21 pick and 3rd rd and 7th rd picks.

HOU trades #26 to GB for #28 and 4th rd pick.

NE trades #27 and 5th rd pick to STL for #33 and a 3rd rd pick (65).

Oh, and the " /DDT" means "Draft Day Trade".

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