The USS Guiness has landed back on planet earth for the second mock draft.
Rather than talk about what might happen, it seems prudent to talk about what will. This draft, then, is revised to indicate the latest intelligence and thinking. Said intelligence and thinking clearly point to a specific guy for the Browns at slot No. 4.
1 -- Indianapolis -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The easiest pick since John Elway left Stanford.
2 -- Washington -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Another easy pick.
3 -- Minnesota -- Matt Kalil, OT, USC
For some reason, it still seems like the Vikings ought to be able to peddle this pick. A team that wants a running back will have to trade up to three if it covets Trent Richardson. If that happens, the Browns draft Morris Claiborne. Assuming there is no trade up, then on to pick four …
4 -- Cleveland -- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Every single sign points to Richardson becoming a Brown. The team needs a premier back, and Richardson is considered the premier back in the draft. Richardson takes priority over a receiver because the Browns believe a guy who touches the ball 20 or 25 times a game has more impact than a receiver who might touch it 10 times. Finally, Richardson is the Browns choice because he showed a gigantic heart and immense class taking a high school cancer victim to her prom. Any star who does that has to be OK.
5 -- Tampa Bay -- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6 -- St. Louis -- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
7 -- Jacksonville -- Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
8 -- Miami -- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9 -- Carolina -- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
The possibility of a Browns trade down to take Floyd seems to be decreasing.
10 -- Buffalo -- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
11 -- Kansas City -- Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
12 -- Seattle -- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
13 -- Arizona -- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
This hurts the Bengals braintrust, which hoped against hope that DeCastro would somehow be on the board when they pick at 17. If Carolina goes defense, it’s possible Arizona takes Floyd here, which would make the Bengals braintrust smile.
14 -- Dallas -- Mark Barron, S, Alabama
15 -- Philadelphia -- Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
16 -- NY Jets -- Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
17 -- Cincinnati -- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Cincinnati takes a very underrated and talented player at a position of need. The Bengals offseason of prudence continues.
18 -- San Diego -- Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia
19 -- Chicago -- Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
20 -- Tennessee -- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
21 -- Cincinnati -- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Not exactly a position of need, but Cox would be a great “value pick” at this spot, and would fit nicely in the Bengals rotation of defensive linemen.
22 -- Cleveland -- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
No receiver is worthy of this pick, so the Browns go with the tackle they like best, either Martin or Bobby Massie of Ole Miss.
23 -- Detroit -- Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
24 -- Pittsburgh -- Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi
25 -- Denver -- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
26 -- Houston -- Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
27 -- New England -- Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
28 -- Green Bay -- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
29 -- Baltimore -- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
30 -- San Francisco -- Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
31 -- New England -- Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
32 -- NY Giants -- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
