Tom Brady has watched his Patriots fight their way to a 5-3 record through the first half of the season, and in actuality, he's pretty darn happy with where he currently stands.
While everyone focuses on the marquee players that will be drafted on day one this Saturday, the key to building a winning team is by acquiring 5-7 impact makers. It was Marques Colston last year, who will it be this year?
RealGM Search
By Jeff Risdon
It's not even two months past the 2011 NFL Draft, and there very well might not even be a 2012 Draft. But that doesn't stop the demand for an early look at what it might look like.
I included several prominent underclassmen with no regard for whether they might declare early or not. The draft order is based on my pre-free agency power poll. As a side note, any power poll that does not have Green Bay at #1 is concocted by ignoramuses. Note that this draft order is technically impossible due to playoff seeding, but it's a mock draft for an event 10 months away, just go with it.
Something to think about:
Seven of the teams I have slotted in the top 10 have used a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a QB in the last three drafts. Both Miami and Carolina have used two. That makes selecting another QB so high a very difficult sell to GMs, owners, and fans. Now consider that at this point in their collegiate careers, I rate Andrew Luck, Landry Jones, Matt Barkley, Ryan Lindley, and Kirk Cousins all as better NFL prospects than Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, or Blaine Gabbert before last season began, and they all went in the top 12. Either a lot of teams are going to double-dip or the QBs are going to fall in the 2012 draft. Expect the former, though this mock doesn't necessarily reflect that.
1. Denver Broncos: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. Even though this is Team Tebow, they cannot pass on the best QB prospect since Peyton Manning.
2. Tennessee Titans: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Strongly resembles a young Demarcus Ware, though he needs some polish.
3. Washington Redskins: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma. The falloff from Sam Bradford has not been much, and Jones can make all the throws.
4. Carolina Panthers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. More accomplished than Julio Jones at the same point and plays a similar game.
5. Buffalo Bills: Matt Barkley, QB, USC. Consummate field general with a great arm and the charisma to lead a team.
6. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Potter, T, Boise State. A little light, but very smart and strong in the D'Brickashaw Ferguson mold.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. Less heralded than former CB mate Prince Amukamara, but Dennard is a better playmaker.
8. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State. I see a monster 2011 season vaulting his stock as an elite pass rushing prospect.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State. Has all the physical tools but the mental maturity must catch up.
10. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego State. Strong-armed big boy reminds me of Joe Flacco.
11. Seattle Seahawks: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
12. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford
13. Dallas Cowboys: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
14. Houston Texans: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
15. Oakland Raiders: Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
16. St. Louis Rams: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
19. Detroit Lions: Manti Teo, LB, Notre Dame
20. Kansas City Chiefs: Montori Hughes, DT, Tennessee
21. New York Giants: Andrew Datko, T, Florida State
22. Chicago Bears: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
23. Baltimore Ravens: Vinny Curry, DE/LB, Marshall
24. New England Patriots (from NO): Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
25. Cleveland Browns (from ATL): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
26. New York Jets: Kheeston Randall, DT, Texas
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
28. San Diego Chargers: Matt Kalil, T, USC
29. Indianapolis Colts: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
30. New England Patriots: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Tate, S/LB, Maryland
32. Green Bay Packers: Matt Reynolds, T, BYU
