* Ye Official 2012 Mock Draft Thread!! *

manxman2601 said:

Just for fun

I'm in the process of doing a mock at the moment and have just reached pick #27. However, after a long nights work, it's time for my beauty sleep. So I'd like to pass pick #27 over to you guys. Here's the available players as things stand:


Dontari Poe DT Memphis
Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Zach Brown LB UNC
Peter Konz OL Wisconsin
Fletcher Cox DE/DT Mississippi St.
Alshon Jeffrey WR S Carolina
Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
Andre Branch DE/OLB Clemson
Lamar Miller RB Miami
Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Coby Fleener TE Stanford
Jayron Hosley CB Virginia Tech
Jared Crick DE/DT Nebraska
Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
Brandon Washington OL Miami
David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
Stephon Gilmore CB S Carolina
Bobby Wagner LB Utah St.
Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington

Or try for a trade back.

Over to you guys.

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Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Zach Brown LB UNC
Fletcher Cox DE/DT Mississippi St.
Alshon Jeffrey WR S Carolina

i'd be happy with ANY of the above five...

manxman2601 said:

Just for fun

I'm in the process of doing a mock at the moment and have just reached pick #27. However, after a long nights work, it's time for my beauty sleep. So I'd like to pass pick #27 over to you guys. Here's the available players as things stand:


Dontari Poe DT Memphis
Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Zach Brown LB UNC
Peter Konz OL Wisconsin
Fletcher Cox DE/DT Mississippi St.
Alshon Jeffrey WR S Carolina
Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
Andre Branch DE/OLB Clemson
Lamar Miller RB Miami
Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Coby Fleener TE Stanford
Jayron Hosley CB Virginia Tech
Jared Crick DE/DT Nebraska
Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
Brandon Washington OL Miami
David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
Stephon Gilmore CB S Carolina
Bobby Wagner LB Utah St.
Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington

Or try for a trade back.

Over to you guys.

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#27. Brandon Thompson DT
#32. Brandon Washington OL
That's two players ready to step in week 1.

I said:

#27. Brandon Thompson DT
#32. Brandon Washington OL
That's two players ready to step in week 1.

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Brandon Replenishment Syndrome??

I said:

#27. Brandon Thompson DT
#32. Brandon Washington OL
That's two players ready to step in week 1.

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The only problem is that the Pats don't need a guard like Washington. They have someone better in Cannon.

So to sum up then. That's:

Dontari Poe
Dont'a Hightower
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Wasgington
Alshon Jeffrey
Zach Brown
Fletcher Cox
Vinny Curry


Can you imagine the confusion if we were all in the Pats War Room together

manxman2601 said:

So to sum up then. That's:

Dontari Poe
Dont'a Hightower
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Wasgington
Alshon Jeffrey
Zach Brown
Fletcher Cox
Vinny Curry


Can you imagine the confusion if we were all in the Pats War Room together

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I really like Zach Brown. If we manage to get a big boy in the middle at #27 (e.g. if Brookers falls to us) i would take him as a speed rush and TE coverage man at #32.

Dobbo said:

I really like Zach Brown. If we manage to get a big boy in the middle at #27 (e.g. if Brookers falls to us) i would take him as a speed rush and TE coverage man at #32.

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I'm really starting to like the idea of Zach Brown at 32. I think he could add so much to this team, in so many ways. We know the NFL is a copy cat league, so for the next 2 or 3 years every team in the NFL is going to try to find two TE's and copy Gronknandez. So having either a big safety who is physical enough to match up with TE's, or an athletic LB who can do it will become very valuable. I think Brown would allow this team to better match up with two TE offences without having to bring the extra DB onto the field and sacrifice run defense. He can play WLB or SLB in a 4-3, or inside a 3-4, despite his lack of size because of his wrestling background and use of leverage. He could also be the big nickel Safety if Belichick wanted to run a 4-2-5 to combat TE's. Add in his special teams ability and I think he could contribute a huge amount to this team.

While he may not start over Mayo, Spikes or Ninko, I think this versatility would allow him to contribute enough in his first season to justify a 1st round pick. McCourty was never intended to start his first year, he was suppose to be a special teams ace and nickel CB. I think Brown could be similar. He could contribute a lot on special teams, and be a sub package ace. My biggest concern is I think he is going to be a riser going into the draft. While I don't care about 40 times, a lot of people do, and Brown is likely to run in the 4.4's, possibly even high 4.3's. If he can do this, and show off his lateral agility at the combine, then I think he could easily rise into the top 15.

Wilfork#75 said:

I'm really starting to like the idea of Zach Brown at 32. I think he could add so much to this team, in so many ways. We know the NFL is a copy cat league, so for the next 2 or 3 years every team in the NFL is going to try to find two TE's and copy Gronknandez. So having either a big safety who is physical enough to match up with TE's, or an athletic LB who can do it will become very valuable. I think Brown would allow this team to better match up with two TE offences without having to bring the extra DB onto the field and sacrifice run defense. He can play WLB or SLB in a 4-3, or inside a 3-4, despite his lack of size because of his wrestling background and use of leverage. He could also be the big nickel Safety if Belichick wanted to run a 4-2-5 to combat TE's. Add in his special teams ability and I think he could contribute a huge amount to this team.

While he may not start over Mayo, Spikes or Ninko, I think this versatility would allow him to contribute enough in his first season to justify a 1st round pick. McCourty was never intended to start his first year, he was suppose to be a special teams ace and nickel CB. I think Brown could be similar. He could contribute a lot on special teams, and be a sub package ace. My biggest concern is I think he is going to be a riser going into the draft. While I don't care about 40 times, a lot of people do, and Brown is likely to run in the 4.4's, possibly even high 4.3's. If he can do this, and show off his lateral agility at the combine, then I think he could easily rise into the top 15.

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My thoughts exactly! He is very good on the speed rush - but raw.

GBN has a 3-rounder out.

Great Blue North Draft Report

1a Alfonso Dennard - CB - Nebraska
1b Donta Hightower - olb - Alabama
2a Kevin Zeitler - G - Wisconsin
2b Billy Winn - DL - Boise St
3 Aaron Henry - S - Wisconsin

Don't like. Given his board how bout this instead?

1a Mark Barron - S - Alabama
1b Donta Hightower - olb - Alabama
2a Chase Minnifield - CB - Virginia
2B Juron Criner - WR - Arizona
3 Joe Adams - WR - Arkansas

They don't have a 4th round. But, would take Dominique Hamilton DE - Missouri if he's available.

patsfaninpa said:

GBN has a 3-rounder out.

Great Blue North Draft Report

1a Alfonso Dennard - CB - Nebraska
1b Donta Hightower - olb - Alabama
2a Kevin Zeitler - G - Wisconsin
2b Billy Winn - DL - Boise St
3 Aaron Henry - S - Wisconsin

Don't like. Given his board how bout this instead?

1a Mark Barron - S - Alabama
1b Donta Hightower - olb - Alabama
2a Chase Minnifield - CB - Virginia
2B Juron Criner - WR - Arizona
3 Joe Adams - WR - Arkansas

They don't have a 4th round. But, would take Dominique Hamilton DE - Missouri if he's available.

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I like that mock, if we got Barron, Hightower, and Minnifield that'd be awesome - just to do the same thing here are five other players that would be available for those picks:

1a. Mohammad Sanu - WR - Rutgers
1b. Stephon Gilmore - CB/S - South Carolina
2a. Cam Johnson - DE/OLB - Virginia
2b. Vontaze Burfict - ILB/OLB - ASU
3. Ryan Broyles - WR - Oklahoma

If available I would rank them:

1) D. Hightower LB Alabama I think that Hightower will start from day 1 and will be an exceptional pro. I would pair him with Spikes and move Mayo outside.

2) P. Konz C Wisconsin the only player I would go OL for. They need the replacement for Koppen and Konz is too good to pass on. With him their OL is set for years to come.

3) F. Cox DL Miss St. can play DE and DT and fits what Belichik wants in his DL perfectly.

4) M. Sanu WR Rutgers. Sanu would also be able to step right in and play and unlike so many WR divas has the work ethic and mindset Belichik looks for in players.

Ivan said:

If available I would rank them:

1) D. Hightower LB Alabama I think that Hightower will start from day 1 and will be an exceptional pro. I would pair him with Spikes and move Mayo outside.

2) P. Konz C Wisconsin the only player I would go OL for. They need the replacement for Koppen and Konz is too good to pass on. With him their OL is set for years to come.

3) F. Cox DL Miss St. can play DE and DT and fits what Belichik wants in his DL perfectly.

4) M. Sanu WR Rutgers. Sanu would also be able to step right in and play and unlike so many WR divas has the work ethic and mindset Belichik looks for in players.

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Mike from NEpatriots has a couple of your guys in his draft. He's got us taking.

Mike’s Mock Draft | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2012 NFL Draft

1a Mark Barron - S - Alabama
1b Dont'a Hightower - LB - Alabama
2a Mohammad Sanu - WR - Rutgers
2b Casey Hayward - CB - Vanderbilt
3 Mike Martin - DL - Michigan

patsfaninpa said:

Mike from NEpatriots has a couple of your guys in his draft. He's got us taking.

Mike’s Mock Draft | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2012 NFL Draft

1a Mark Barron - S - Alabama
1b Dont'a Hightower - LB - Alabama
2a Mohammad Sanu - WR - Rutgers
2b Casey Hayward - CB - Vanderbilt
3 Mike Martin - DL - Michigan

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I just checked it out and he's got tough choices at those picks. In his mock Ingram, Konz, and Cox were all on the board when he took Barron, and although I would be fine with Barron I would have to take Konz over him because I think it would give them the best OL in football for years to come. I really like Cox and ingram as well so it would be a great situation for the Patriots imo if all these choices really were there on draft day, although I think most will be gone.

Hightower has become my first choice among players that have a shot at being there at 27, although that could easily change and he may well be long gone, I think he's going to be a beast and would make that LB corps nasty and flexible, with Ninkovich, Fletcher and Anderson rounding it out as one of the best units in football.


The Patriots have needs but they also have the ability to meet them and make them strengths with the right choices, as much as I am looking forward to and focused on the SB I am also looking forward to this offseason and the moves they are going to make. This draft sets up well for them in that the depth appears to be there to give them good options at the end of the first round, the drop-off doesn't seem as steep as some other years from 15-32.

Dobbo said:

My thoughts exactly! He is very good on the speed rush - but raw.

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I personally can't see it at the moment, but i understand the train of thought.

How does he stack up athletically to other rush linebackers like Clay Mathews and other 3-4 OLB's who rely more on speed?

This mock from Draft Breakdown is very intriguing and becoming one of the most interesting mocks so far (so much so, that I saw it, lost it and had it nag at me so much I looked all through my bookmarks trying to find it again):

1A Fletcher Cox, DE/DT Miss. St.

Really starting to like this pick now. I just watched the Arkansas-Mississippi St game and for the first half, Cox was outstanding. If you are able, watch it. I think he's going to have a JJ Watt type rise unfortunately - much prefer the tape from Cox than I ever did from Watt.

1B Nick Perry, OLB, USC

This is my meh! pick from this mock. I don't see him as a Belichick type pick. But as a fast pass rusher, hard to knock too much.

2A Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

I'm probably higher than most on Randle. I see him as a sleeper genuine No1 receiver.

2B Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Is having a massive stock drop post senior bowl, and whilst I don't think he'll be there at #64, he could be at #48. And I'm intrigued by him for two reasons:

1) BB likes value and I just wonder whether Dennard in the mid-second might be value enough for BB to pull the trigger. I think it could for my second reason.

2) Dennard struggles with a receiver getting behind him. Is much much better when he keeps the play in front of him. He's now being projected as a cover-2 corner or...ta da...a safety. With the way this draft is (lack of safeties, Barron projected mid first round) and the potential for McCourty to play safety, drafting a tweener might be the way forward. Dennard might be that guy.

manxman2601 said:

This mock from Draft Breakdown is very intriguing and becoming one of the most interesting mocks so far (so much so, that I saw it, lost it and had it nag at me so much I looked all through my bookmarks trying to find it again):

1A Fletcher Cox, DE/DT Miss. St.

Really starting to like this pick now. I just watched the Arkansas-Mississippi St game and for the first half, Cox was outstanding. If you are able, watch it. I think he's going to have a JJ Watt type rise unfortunately - much prefer the tape from Cox than I ever did from Watt.

1B Nick Perry, OLB, USC

This is my meh! pick from this mock. I don't see him as a Belichick type pick. But as a fast pass rusher, hard to knock too much.

2A Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

I'm probably higher than most on Randle. I see him as a sleeper genuine No1 receiver.

2B Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Is having a massive stock drop post senior bowl, and whilst I don't think he'll be there at #64, he could be at #48. And I'm intrigued by him for two reasons:

1) BB likes value and I just wonder whether Dennard in the mid-second might be value enough for BB to pull the trigger. I think it could for my second reason.

2) Dennard struggles with a receiver getting behind him. Is much much better when he keeps the play in front of him. He's now being projected as a cover-2 corner or...ta da...a safety. With the way this draft is (lack of safeties, Barron projected mid first round) and the potential for McCourty to play safety, drafting a tweener might be the way forward. Dennard might be that guy.

Click to expand...

Yeah sorry but any mock that has us picking at 31 just isn't worth reading.

manxman2601 said:

This mock from Draft Breakdown is very intriguing and becoming one of the most interesting mocks so far (so much so, that I saw it, lost it and had it nag at me so much I looked all through my bookmarks trying to find it again):

1A Fletcher Cox, DE/DT Miss. St.

Really starting to like this pick now. I just watched the Arkansas-Mississippi St game and for the first half, Cox was outstanding. If you are able, watch it. I think he's going to have a JJ Watt type rise unfortunately - much prefer the tape from Cox than I ever did from Watt.

1B Nick Perry, OLB, USC

This is my meh! pick from this mock. I don't see him as a Belichick type pick. But as a fast pass rusher, hard to knock too much.

2A Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

I'm probably higher than most on Randle. I see him as a sleeper genuine No1 receiver.

2B Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Is having a massive stock drop post senior bowl, and whilst I don't think he'll be there at #64, he could be at #48. And I'm intrigued by him for two reasons:

1) BB likes value and I just wonder whether Dennard in the mid-second might be value enough for BB to pull the trigger. I think it could for my second reason.

2) Dennard struggles with a receiver getting behind him. Is much much better when he keeps the play in front of him. He's now being projected as a cover-2 corner or...ta da...a safety. With the way this draft is (lack of safeties, Barron projected mid first round) and the potential for McCourty to play safety, drafting a tweener might be the way forward. Dennard might be that guy.

Click to expand...

That's an interesting mock - if it fell out that way and BB wants a CB, he'd have his shot at any one of them at various points - Gilmore would be available for us to take at 1b instead of Nick Perry (the draft has him going #39 to the redskins).

Janoris Jenkins, George Iloka, Dennard, and Chase Minnifield would all still be available at #48, and at #63, the pats would still have their choice of Dennard and Minnifield.

Personally, i'd sub out either Gilmore for Perry at #31, or Sanu for Perry, and then take Jenkins or Minnifield at #48 instead of Randle.

Ivan said:

If available I would rank them:

1) D. Hightower LB Alabama I think that Hightower will start from day 1 and will be an exceptional pro. I would pair him with Spikes and move Mayo outside.

2) P. Konz C Wisconsin the only player I would go OL for. They need the replacement for Koppen and Konz is too good to pass on. With him their OL is set for years to come.

3) F. Cox DL Miss St. can play DE and DT and fits what Belichik wants in his DL perfectly.

4) M. Sanu WR Rutgers. Sanu would also be able to step right in and play and unlike so many WR divas has the work ethic and mindset Belichik looks for in players.

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I have a hard time believing that Cox and Sanu last that far into the 2nd round..

DaBruinz said:

I have a hard time believing that Cox and Sanu last that far into the 2nd round..

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He didn't say or imply they would.

Can somebody confirm that Michael Hayes, senior halfback out of Houston, is draft eligible?