My 1.0 NFL 2012 Mock Draft

[ManO'Steel]

ManO’Steel’s 1.0 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. COLTS- Andrew Luck QB, Stanford
2. RAMS- Justin Blackmon WR, Oklahoma State
3. VIKINGS- Matt Kalil OT, USC
4. BROWNS- Trent Richardson RB, Alabama
5. BUCCANEERS- Morris Claiborne CB, LSU
6. REDSKINS- Robert Griffin III QB, Baylor
7. JAGUARS- Dre Kirkpatrick CB, Alabama
8. PANTHERS- Alshon Jeffrey WR, South Carolina
9. DOLPHINS- Jonathan Martin OT, Stanford

10. BILLS- Cortney Upshaw OLB, Alabama
11. CHIEFS- David DeCastro OG, Stanford
12. SEAHAWKS- Nick Perry DE, USC
13. CARDNIALS- Riley Reiff OT, Iowa
14. COWBOYS- Stephen Gilmore CB, South Carolina
15. EAGLES- Michael Floyd WR, Notre Dame
16. NY JETS- Whitney Mercilus OLB, Illinois
17. BUNGALS- Lamar Miller RB, Miami [FL]
18. CHARGERS- Cordy Glenn OT, Georgia
19. BEARS- Mike Adams OT, Ohio State
20. TITANS- Melvin Ingram DE, South Carolina

[War Machine]

I suspect we'll be in a reasonable draft position (21/22) and would like to suggest Vontaze Burfict for us. It's a bit of a truism that Farrior isn't a spring chicken any more and adding a crazy-*** linebacker to the formula might be a thought.

It's going to take a little rumination to work out a positional requirement and preference order for the Steelers.

In the mean time, I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of the top six teams trade out of their slots come April.

[Kipper]

We should be able to get some quality. The goal is to hit in the 1st and 2nd rounds most importantly. The needs are a little bit everywhere. I think that the Steelers need to really take a look at NT, because Casey Hampton is old. Rookies dont start their first year in the Steelers defense and Casey Hampton will be much older by then. NT isn't exactly an easy position to find and fill but it's a need. You can feel when Hampton is out of the lineup more than Brett Kiesel who already has a replacement in Cam Heyward behind him.

Linebacker is another position that needs addressed. Jason Worilds was alright but never really truly impressed. The Inside Linebacker spot is going to need a replacement for Farrior. Again, everything on Defense is thinking 2 years down the road too.

There's no gigantic needs but the Steelers have a bunch of other needs due to age that need replaced

[War Machine]

Hampton is old and it's showing a bit now, plus the potential loss of Hoke. A backup QB should be in there somewhere, just not a bank-breaker. LB, LG, NT, DBs, QB backup (in no particular order).

[exNCite]

I think a lot of it depends on who's coaching next year. If DL retires, do we still play a 3-4 in which case we need another inside LB? Tomlin prefers the 4-3 so we need DL as Hoke most likely is done and even Hampton may not be back. If BA goes (Please God make it happen), what does the next OC bring and how does the makeup of this team fit in his model?

Lots of questions before we even think about the draft.

[Hambert5958]

would like to suggest Vontaze Burfict for us.

I dunno 'bout Burfict. He has proven to have a crap attitude which isnt going to work with the rest of the folks in the Steeler locker room. He'd have to have a major attitude adjustment.....I have my doubts that would happen. That plus he was nonexistent in the 2nd half of the season for the sundevils.

[ManO'Steel]

I would like to say Stephen Gilmore (highly doubtful), Alfonzo Dennard, or Dontaei Poe.

[Hambert5958]

NFL Mock Draft 2012: New Mock Has Steelers Taking Luke Kuechly

by Charlie Wilmoth

Read More: Devon Still (DT - Penn St.), Luke Kuechly (LB - Boston College), Trent Richardson (RB - Alabama), Pittsburgh Steelers

Revenge Of The Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog, has an unconventional take on a 2012 NFL Mock Draft. There are a number of things here I'm not sure I see happening, like Trent Richardson falling to No. 17 or Penn State's Devon Still falling to No. 27, but it's still fun to look at. At No. 24 overall, the Steelers take linebacker Luke Kuechly out of Boston College.

Kuechly is a standout athlete who is well decorated. The Steelers have an aging LB corps and will get a steal if Kuechly falls this far in the draft. Kuechly is the type of player that would fit well with the Steelers organization and would receive at least half a season behind the veterans to learn the complicated scheme of Dick LeBeau.

The Steelers do indeed need a linebacker; the question is whether Kuechly would fall that far -- he often goes earlier in mock drafts. Other needs for the Steelers include offensive guard and nose tackle.

http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pitts...nfl-draft-news

[DCBILL]

I just posted my choices for #1, either NT Dontario Poe or ILB Dont'a Hightower.

The first is very athletic at 6'5" and 350 and fits anywhere on our DL and the second is 6'4" 260 and a "football player!"

We still need a OG and maybe OT, K, QB, and ILB and OLB, plus a FS or SS.

We might get two and maybe three late comp picks for additional choices plus the inevitable UDFA's we sign (like John Clay and Wesley Saunders).

I keep wondering why we can pick decent UDFAs but not sixth and seventh rounders who make the team??

[DCBILL]

I just want to throw in an observation from CBS sports writer Rob Rang about the quality of this draft (rich) and the number of juniors, who add to that.

"As important a role as the Senior Bowl has traditionally played in identifying the elite prospects, the 2012 draft could be more influenced by underclassmen than any in league history. Nearly two-thirds of the players ranked among my top 32 prospects left college football with eligibility remaining. "

[DCBILL]

While I still like NT Poe or ILB Hightower at #1, I now think the Steelers should go OL in #2 and #3, and then address the position, again, in the 6th or 7th rounds.

Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7, should be used for ILB (if they go NT in #1 or the reverse), Safety, QB or TE and second NT.

Rumor is that we'll have two or three "comp" choices after the 7th round, to fill in our draft gaps.

Casey, Farrior, Colon, Kemo, Smith, Dixon, Hines, Allen, Suisham, Battle, Leftwich, Madison, McFadden, Jonathan Scott and Daniel Sepulveda are the vets I likely cut to make the cap number.

[DCBILL]

Battle and McFadden cut tonight; there go two of my "vets to let go" suggestion.

Now, get rid of about a dozen more.

Bleacher Report seems to think the Steelers can trade Kemo and Colon, which would be great by me, since I just would drop them.

If we can get a few extra late round picks for those two or any other vets (Hampton or Farrior?), I would be the happiest guy in town!