The Sports Headquarters

We are two days away from the 2012 NFL Draft and the time has flown by for many of us draftniks and all the hard work we put in watching film, breaking down players and coming up with who we thinks it’s best for every team.

While some may disagree, ok most disagree; people have to remember that we aren’t doing this to make people happy, hell fans of the Patriots, Bills, and Dolphins make up one of the better drafting sites on the net and they are ripped a lot by people because of how they project their team to pick.

As one of the few writers on the internet to talk in depth about the Cardinals draft, let’s be honest not a lot of people talk about the Cardinals on the internet anyways, it is always interesting to see the reactions of the fans.

Anyway with the draft rapidly approaching I think it is time to run through the 2012 NFC West 7 Round Mock Draft.

Every team, every pick, and a little analysis to tie it all together, and as always, agree or disagree, let me know in the comments, by email thesportsheadquarters@gmail.com or on Twitter @sethcoxtshq.

St. Louis Rams

Team Needs- WR, OL, DL, LB, DB, RB

6) Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi St

I honestly don’t understand the idea of taking Cox over a playmaker like Justin Blackmon, but if the rumors of Blackmon falling to the Cardinals are true, I am fine with that.

New head coach Jeff Fisher loves versatile, explosive, defensive linemen, and that is exactly what Cox is.  While I am not sure he warrants pick 6, he is dynamic player that can play against the run, and push the pocket on passing downs.  He could become a Warren Sapp/Darnell Dockett type of force in the middle of the defense that moves outside on pass downs.

Other Options:

Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma St
Matt Kalil, OT USC

33) Bobby Massie, OT Mississippi

It wouldn’t be a Jeff Fisher draft without loading up on linemen on both sides of the ball.  Massie is screaming up draft boards, and there is talk that he can go in rd 1 at this point.  Maybe it won’t be round 1, but being the first pick in round 2, and getting a chance to compete for a starting job on an offensive line that has to protect Sam Bradford is a must.

Other Options:

Devon Still, DT Penn St
Alshon Jeffery, WR South Carolina

39) Rueben Randle, WR LSU

Time to start loading up on weapons for Bradford as well in the draft.  While Randle is a raw prospect, he has shown enough to warrant a top 50 draft slot, and has the upside to be a top 15 player in this draft.  He and Bradford would make a beautiful pairing.

Other Options:

Zach Brown, OLB North Carolina
Lamar Miller, RB Miami

65) Chris Polk, RB Washington

Steven Jackson has had a very good career, but he has also been run into the ground.  With the devaluation of RB’s in the league, good backs like Polk fall into round 3, and teams like the Rams can afford to take a guy like Polk who can spell Jackson in years one and two then take over the load in year three.

Other Options:

Brandon Brooks, G Miami of Ohio
Dwight Bentley, CB Louisiana-Lafayette

96) Jamell Fleming, CB Oklahoma

While Cortland Finnegan was added in the off season, they need more help in the defensive backfield, especially if the Cardinals are adding a potential 1^st round pick at WR.

Other Options:

Senio Kelemete, OG Washington
Robert Turbin, RB Utah St

171) Asa Jackson, CB Cal Poly

209) Adrian Robinson, DE Temple

252) Brain Stahovich, P San Diego St

Seattle Seahawks

Team Needs- LB, DL, OL, WR, DB

12) Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College

A defensive leader that can replace the departed David Hawthorne, Kuechly is a robot in the middle and will be the man in this Pete Carroll defense.

If you don’t know about Kuechly, well I’m sorry.

Other Options:

Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina
Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina

43) Vinny Curry, DE Marshall

A pass rush specialist who can flat out get after the QB.  Curry can come in and immediately get playing time in specialty passing packages, and give Seattle someone who can be a destructive force on passing downs.

Other Options:

Trumaine Johnson, CB Montana
Mychal Kendricks, LB California

75) LaMichael James, RB Oregon

The Seahawks have a fantastic bruiser in Marshawn Lynch, and adding a slashing, Darren Sproles/Reggie Bush type back would just add to the scary offensive talent the Seahawks are putting together.

Other Options:

Chris Polk, RB Washington
Brandon Washington, G University of Miami

106) Tony Bergstrom, T Utah

Good utility lineman that can step in and play either guard spot, right tackle, and even left tackle in a pinch.  Depth along the offensive line is something missing in the Seahawks repertoire.

181) Rishaw Johnson, G California- PA

225) Jeremy Lane, CB Northwestern St

Arizona Cardinals

Team Needs- OL, WR, LB, DB,

13) Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

Maybe it is a pipe dream, but I think Floyd is the pick here, over Riley Reiff, over David DeCastro.  The addition of weapons can improve the offensive line play.

In the age of the pass happy NFL having multiple weapons throughout the offense is a necessity.  Why am I going Floyd over Reiff?  Simply because of the weapons philosophy, but that doesn’t mean Reiff would be a poor selection.

Other Options:

Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
David DeCastro, G Stanford

80) Cam Johnson, OLB Virginia

While the Cardinals need to address the offensive tackle position, I think they do that on day 3 with multiple picks.

Johnson is a raw pass rusher, who needs to learn a wider range of moves, get better reaction time off the snap of the ball,

Other Options:

Zebrie Sanders, OT Florida St
James Brown, OT Troy

112) Donald Stephenson, OT Oklahoma

Raw, athletic, inexperience offensive tackle, who has the size and speed teams covet to be the blindside anchor on the line.

151) Matt McCants, OT UAB

177) Ryan Davis, OLB Bethune-Cookman

185) Tavon Wilson, S Illinois

221) Jerry Franklin, ILB Arkansas

San Francisco 49ers

Team Needs- WR, OL, LB, DB, TE

30) Amini Silatolu, G Midwestern St

I don’t think Amini is as good as Kelechi Osemele, but he has drawn enough interest and first round speculation that he makes sense to the 49ers, which have a hole at guard.  If Fleener is there, he may be the pick; I just they want to get their new guard.

With Silatolu sliding into the RG spot, the 49ers are hoping he takes some of the pressure off of Anthony Davis, and solidify the line in a way Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal couldn’t.

Other Options:

Coby Fleener, TE Stanford
Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech

61) Brandon Boykin, CB Georgia

Have I mentioned that we are in the midst of the greatest passing expansion we have seen in the game before?  Well that means teams that are great on the defensive side of the ball are still going to be looking for more players on that side of the ball.

Boykin can be a great addition to a great defense, giving them a top shelf athlete at corner, and someone who can come in and be a nickel back to begin with.

Other Options:

Dwayne Allen, TE Clemson
Josh Robinson, CB Central Florida

92. AJ Jenkins, WR Illinois

The 49ers have added some more weapons to the Alex Smith lead offense, but they don’t have any young WR’s that can develop.  Enter AJ Jenkins, the young, raw athletic freak of a WR.  While Jenkins isn’t ready to come in and be a number one right away, he has the potential to turn into a number one type receiver.

Other Options:

Jared Crick, DT Nebraska
Mike Martin, DT Michigan

125. Hebron Fangupo, NT BYU

I am a fan of Fangupo, I think he projects well as a rotational player in a 34 defense.  He can give you time at all three spots if needed, and could turn into a solid starter at the nose at the next level.

Other Options:

Tommy Streeter, WR Miami
Leonard Johnson, CB Iowa St

165. Cliff Harris, CB Oregon

199. Miles Burris, OLB San Diego St

237. Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona St

I haven’t been commenting on late round prospects because you are really mocking positions more than players, but I have to say I LOVE/HATE this fit.  I love this fit because if anyone could get Vontaze to get his head on straight it would be Patrick Willis.  I hate it because as good as Navarro Bowman was last year, and he was great, Burfict could be that much better.

I would be devastated to see Burfict become the player he could potentially be on San Francisco, but it makes too much sense, so that means there is no chance it happens.

Agree, disagree, let me know NFC West fans.