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Regulars will know the score by now. The idea of these weekly mocks is not to make a firm prediction as to what will happen on April 26th, rather it’s an opportunity to look at possibilities and talk about several different options. A lot of people are going to scratch their head at this week’s pick for Seattle, but I’ll try to explain.

Firstly, I suspect the Seahawks will draft for defense in round one. It appears the only situation I can see where they deviate from this plan is if someone makes a surprising fall or having studied Brock Osweiler since his shock decision to declare, they believe he’s worthy of a top-15 grade. If neither of those situations materialise, then even with a mediocre defensive class I think that’s the direction they’ll go. Pete Carroll has been fairly open about where he needs improvement and the way he highlighted greater speed among the front seven, I think that was a big hint as to what the Seahawks might do in round one.

He also mentioned other areas, such as wanting greater depth at cornerback and a ‘touchdown maker’ on offense if one was available. Even so, adding to the front seven makes a lot of sense given the team’s glaring lack of pass rush during the last two years and the seemingly total reliance on Chris Clemons to create pressure. They need more edge speed at linebacker and players that can cause greater issues on the blitz. They need a dynamic three-technique among the interior. They need at least one more complimentary edge rusher to replace Raheem Brock on third downs and obvious passing situations.

When compiling this latest mock, I considered a number of prospects – some more obvious than others. Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) has the kind of size this front office has looked for at corner and he grades very highly in run support. However, his technique in press coverage is poor and I’ll never forget the way he was abused by Ryan Mallett (understandable) and John Brantley (more concerning) where his weaknesses as a cover corner were exploited. He’s too stiff, he often plays the man rather than the ball and generally I think he’s pretty overrated.

I understand why people want to avoid the cornerback position this early, because the Seahawks uncovered two new starters this year in Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. It’s worth noting, however, the injuries Seattle sustained at the position last year and the likely departure of Marcus Trufant. Browner will be 28-years-old when the 2012 season begins and we saw with Mike Williams how a player can regress slightly after appearing from nowhere. Let’s not forget that according to PFP, Browner gave up the 7th most passing yards in the NFL. Carroll wants competition and the attitude among the secondary is having a huge impact on the defense. Adding another young prospect who can further add to the team’s identity might be high on the agenda, especially if they value Kirkpatrick as high as a lot of other people do.

I also looked at Devon Still (DT, Penn State), Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina), Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) and Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina). Still showed flashes of excellence last year, but I’m not convinced he’s a consistent interior penetrater who can provide the missing piece at three-technique. It may be that he’s valued more by teams looking to move him to the five-tech, although I paired him with Philadelphia (a 4-3 team) in this mock. Brown is definitely an option for the Seahawks, offering pure athleticism at linebacker and an ability to move from sideline-to-sideline making plays. Mercilus remains a bit of a mystery having had the chance to study his UCLA tape this week and I don’t expect the team to draft a LEO specialist in round one this year. Ingram causes a lot of heated debate on this blog, I stil maintain that finding a home for him in this scheme is a dilemma I cannot solve.

So this brought me to a new direction, a player I’ve always been fond of but didn’t expect to get first round consideration due to a lack of size. A significant lack of size.

Sean Spence is 5-11 and 228lbs according to the Senior Bowl numbers posted by Tony Pauline. In truth, he probably played most of his career at Miami closer to 220lbs. He’s basically a strong safety playing at linebacker, but it’s what Spence achieved in spite of his size that intrigues me for Seattle – even in round one. The Seahawks are looking for speed at linebacker, but not the kind of speed that Aaron Curry brings to the table. They want a guy who’s capable of blitzing sharply into the backfield and making a splash play, but they also want someone with the recognition skills, coverage ability and discipline to be more than a reckless heat-seeking missile who makes costly decisions.

There are obvious limitations due to the lack of size and although Spence is generally a sharp tackler in the open field, he’s also had a few missed opportunities because he has such a modest frame. If he was asked to play the SAM I think he’d struggle taking on bigger tight ends in coverage, but the WILL places most emphasis on speed and being able to react to different situations. The way the Seahawks stack up their front line with size (Bryant, Mebane and Branch) may afford for a slightly smaller yet faster linebacker. A further way to compensate could be to build up the size at the MIKE, potentially by signing someone in the mould of Dont’a Hightower to provide that real menacing brutality and run support. He does get engulfed sometimes by bigger lineman, but his speed will be a big factor when blitzing and he’s tougher than the 5-11 frame suggests. He’s one of the best coverage linebackers I’ve scouted.

Russ Lande at the Sporting News gave me the confidence to make this projection when he made Spence a first round pick in his latest mock. He also named him, “The best linebacker to come out of Miami since Ray Lewis.” Here are some of the post-Lewis linebackers to leave Miami and join the NFL: Dan Morgan, Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams, Rocky McIntosh, Jon Beason and Tavares Gooden. Indeed Vilma has comparable size (two inches taller, but the same weight) and ran a 4.54 at the combine. Spence should top that. I asked Lande for further information given the high praise and he told me he believed Spence was an “elite” linebacker prospect with the ability to play the WILL or even the MIKE in the 4-3.

There’s absolutely no doubt that this would be an unorthodox pick and one that would probably come with widespread criticism from the rest of the league. Yet Seattle’s front office has been anything but conventional so far and to a large extent it’s worked. If they were just looking for big, fast players – Aaron Curry would still be on the roster. Very few people expected James Carpenter to be a first round pick, while the likes of Kris Durham and KJ Wright where considered suprising selections at the time. They’re looking for difference makers, impact players, guys who will buy into the system and lead by example. Quite aside from Spence’s athletic qualities, he’s also been the heartbeat of Miami’s defense for a few years. Reports say he’s a coaches dream off the field – dedicated to his craft, a film room junkie and a student of the game.

As with last week’s projection, there could be an opportunity here to move down the board and add some other picks before making a choice like this. I don’t deal with trades, but it’s worth baring that in mind before you send that venomous email and ask why Quinton ‘I’ll take the next play off’ Coples isn’t the pick instead. If the Seahawks really are looking for speed in the front seven this is a player to keep in mind and don’t underestimate how high he could be taken. At the top of this article, you will find 2010 tape of Spence’s performance vs Clemson. Onto this week’s mock…

Updated first round mock draft

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) The Colts are cleaning house to make room for the Andrew Luck era. They might as well start talking about a contract now.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Rams have to take Kalil, he’s too good to pass up. There’s enough depth at receiver to wait until round two.

	#3 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) Minnesota need to protect their investment in Christian Ponder. They’d love to have Kalil, but Reiff is a decent compromise.

	#4 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) I’m still not completely convinced by this, but Cleveland does need a dynamic playmaker on offense.

	#5 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) Sure, they have big needs at linebacker and corner. However, Richardson is an elite prospect who will transform an offense.

	#6 Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) This would be a foolish reach but Shanahan wants his guy. If Tannehill really is going to go in the top-15 as speculated, Washington is the obvious choice.

	#7 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) Corner’s traditionally don’t go in the top-five and Patrick Peterson was the exception last year. Claiborne would be a nice get for the Jags.

	#8 Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama) Miami needs an outside linebacker and Upshaw is doing enough at the Senior Bowl to warrant this kind of projection.

	#9 Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) A complete lack of defensive line talent could push a raw youngster like Brockers into this range.

	#10 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) The Bills need to boost both lines and could consider Justin Blackmon too. However, taking Martin would be a smart move.

	#11 Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State) I’m not a huge fan based on the tape, but he’s doing as much as anyone to promote his stock in Mobile.

	#12 Sean Spence (OLB, Miami) A titanic reach? Or just what the Seahawks are looking for? More speed in the front seven is the aim and Spence could be the ideal WILL.

	#13 Brock Osweiler (QB, Arizona State) Someone is going to fall in love with this guy’s skill set. Arizona should dump Kevin Kolb and draft Osweiler.

	#14 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite coverage skills, the concern comes with the off-field issues. He needs to prove to team’s he’s matured in the last 12 months.

	#15 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) The Eagles need a linebacker, but Andy Reid hates spending early picks on the position. Still could be an option here.

	#16 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) Incredible production in college but has much changed in 12 months when he would’ve likely been a mid-to-late first rounder?

	#17 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) Slightly over rated, a technician who looks great on the move but lacks elite power at the point of attack.

	#18 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) The best receiver in this class as far as I’m concerned. He could end up being the complete package and a sound replacement for Vincent Jackson.

	#19 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) Electric receiver who would quickly become Jay Cutler’s BFF. Capable of having a big impact quickly.

	#20 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) They need to improve their edge rush and Mercilus led the nation in 2011 for sacks. A hard player to work out.

	#21 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) Over rated corner who’s great in run support but struggles with press coverage. Not as good as advertised.

	#22 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Cleveland needs to keep adding playmakers. Floyd has his issues, but put him on that offense with RGIII and it’ll be much improved.

	#23 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) Athletic linebacker who moves well and could go higher than this. As with all the UNC seniors, his play dropped off towards the end the year.

	#24 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) His 2011 performance warrants a higher pick, but positional value could lead to a slight fall.

	#25 Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) He’s under sized but what a tackler – he’ll get close to 100 tackles in year one. Has several limitations.

	#26 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) The Texans might struggle to re-sign Mario Williams, so could look elsewhere for further additions to their growing defense.

	#27 Peter Konz (C, Wisconsin) Top end interior lineman who could be the best in this class. Stuck out on a talented Badgers line and no surprise he turned pro.

	#28 Melvin Ingram (OLB, South Carolina) He’s a tweaner who best suits playing off the edge in the 3-4. This would be a good fit.

	#29 Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) Sanu can line up anywhere and make plays. San Francisco use a lot of gimmicks and need a sure-handed catcher.

	#30 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) In recent years Baltimore have capitalised on players falling into this range to get value. Coples could drop into the late first.

	#31 Dont’a Hightower (LB, Alabama) Big, brutal linebacker who eats up run plays. Would be a great addition to New York’s defense.

	#32 Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State) He plays like a runaway train – unbalanced, a bit out of control, yet with plenty of power and speed.

I want to try and make these mock drafts different, not just a weekly repetition with one or two minor tweaks. These things are never that accurate and a good mock draft should never be the benchmark for validation. This is all about the journey from September to April – watching the tape, making the judgements and coming to conclusions. I expect a lot of people to disagree with this week’s projection, but that’s OK. We’re over three months away from the draft and now is the time for debate.

There is one significant tweak today because although I don’t project trades, I’ve laid things out to look at what will happen if a certain deals occur early in round one. If a team like Miami does move up to draft Robert Griffin III, how does it impact other picks? It seems likely Minnesota won’t draft Griffin, but I’ve put RGIII at #3 to see how the cards fall in that situation.

With Seattle’s pick I’ve gone in a direction I’ve hinted at for the last seven days. I know the Seahawks won’t reach for a quarterback, but John Schneider and Pete Carrol have a different way of doing things. A lot of people in the media hadn’t even considered James Carpenter in round one last April – yet Seattle made him the #25 pick. It was obvious why they liked Carpenter – he stood out on tape for Alabama and even jumped off the screen a few times blocking for Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. We talked about him often on this blog because the guy clearly had talent. Maybe he was a little raw, but the physical potential and room for development was extremely high.

The Seahawks made similar picks throughout, raising a few eye brows when they took John Moffitt in round three and Kris Durham and KJ Wright in round four. There were bigger, more established names on the board – but Seattle’s front office knew exactly what they wanted. This continued all the way into day three of the draft – unique picks, most of which had an instant impact. I’m not here to say Brock Osweiler definitely falls into that same category – particularly as a quarterback – but he’s another player with incredible potential even if he is a little unrefined. Look at the players this team has signed at the position so far and they all have similar physical attributes. Osweiler may be a more talented version of what they already have.

He’s starting to get a bit of national attention too, which isn’t unexpected but certainly it’s helpful. Today I noticed a tweet from ESPN’s Todd McShay stating, “Momentum building for Osweiler as a late-first round grade after three tapes studied. Maybe 3rd QB after Luck, RGIII?” This was closely followed by a reply from McShay’s Scouts Inc colleague Kevin Wiedl (whose opinion is worth noting, he’s one of the best around) who added, “Extremely impressed with Osweiler’s tape. A lot of tools to work with and a competitor. Stock could rise moving further into the process.” Interesting.

We’ve already looked at tape against USC, Utah, Oregon and Boise State. In the video above you’ll see Osweiler’s performance against Illinois (thanks to TTN2810 for supplying the tape). Expect further thoughts tomorrow, but for now let’s get into this week’s mock.

Updated first round mock draft

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) The Colts are cleaning house to make room for the Andrew Luck era. At this stage, I don’t think there’s any deal Indianapolis would accept to trade this pick.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Rams have to take Kalil, he’s too good to pass up. There’s enough depth at receiver to wait until round two.

	#3 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) Minnesota won’t draft Griffin, but I don’t project ‘trades’. I want to look at a mock where RG3 leaves the board here in the event of a deal.

	#4 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) I could see Richardson being Cleveland’s choice even if Griffin is still on the board. He’s that good.

	#5 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) He’s had a great year and put his stock firmly in this range. Tampa Bay can’t lose if they take Claiborne or Trent Richardson.

	#6 Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) This would be a foolish reach but Shanahan wants hisguy. If Tannehill really is going to go in the top-15 as speculated, Washington is the obvious choice.

	#7 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) Jacksonville are known for doing things differently. It’s speculated that a lot of teams see Wright as the #1 receiver in this class.

	#8 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) Depending on the appointment of their new coach, I still think Miami are the favorites to trade up for Griffin. Minnesota would then draft a lineman like Reiff.

	#9 Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) A complete lack of defensive line talent could push a raw youngster like Brockers into this range.

	#10 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) If the Bills don’t re-sign Stevie Johnson, receiver becomes a desperate need. They also need to improve the offensive line and pass rush.

	#11 Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) Undersized but a tackling machine. The kind of player Scott Pioli likes to draft for his team.

	#12 Brock Osweiler (QB, Arizona State) The tape doesn’t lie and there’s a lot to like about Osweiler. If Christian Ponder is good enough to go here, so is this guy.

	#13 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) This is the kind of range where Martin becomes a bargain and well worth the risk to improve Arizona’s offensive line.

	#14 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) He’s big and good in run support, but struggles in coverage at times. Jerry Jones will like this guy, so will Eli Manning.

	#15 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) The Eagles will look closely at the linebacker position and Brown is a good fit for Philly’s scheme.

	#16 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) Few players have enjoyed the level of progress shown by Barron in 2011. He’s firmly in the round one equation.

	#17 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) Slightly over rated, a technician who looks great on the move but lacks elite power at the point of attack.

	#18 Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama) The kind of player San Diego is lacking on defense and will instantly improve their attitude and pass rush at outside linebacker.

	#19 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) The best receiver in this class as far as I’m concerned. He has enough talent to become the complete package.

	#20 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) They need to improve their edge rush and Mercilus led the nation in 2011 for sacks. A hard player to work out.

	#21 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite cornerback talent but troubled by off-field problems. The Bengals needs to draft a corner and Jenkins is good enough to start quickly.

	#22 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Cleveland needs to keep adding playmakers. Floyd has his issues, but put him on that offense with Trent Richardson and it’ll be much improved. They’d still need a quarterback.

	#23 Brandon Boykin (CB, Georgia) He doesn’t have elite size but he’ll light up the combine and push his stock into this range.

	#24 Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State) I’m not a fan personally, but reports suggest it’s likely Adams will go in this range. The Steelers could look again at the offensive line.

	#25 Lamar Miller (RB, Miami) The Broncos run the ball well and could look to add another back to their stable. Carolina had two first round runners under John Fox.

	#26 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) The Texans might struggle to re-sign Mario Williams, so could look elsewhere for further additions to their growing defense.

	#27 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) I’m still trying to get an angle on Still. It often looks like his best fit may be at the five-technique.

	#28 Fletcher Cox (DE, Mississippi State) He plays a bit like a runaway train. He’s unbalanced but moves well for a big guy. He looks ideal for the 5-technique position.

	#29 Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) Sanu can line up anywhere and make plays. New York aren’t desperate at receiver, but they could be creative here.

	#30 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) In recent years Baltimore have capitalised on players falling into this range to get value. Coples could drop into the late first.

	#31 Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina) Jeffery divides opinion. He is capable of making big plays, but he runs sloppy routes and looks ‘too big’.

	#32 Peter Konz (OC, Wisconsin) Stood out last year in a big-name Badgers offensive line. Could return for another year, but ready to have an impact as a pro.

I’ve gone against my convictions this week. Tony Pauline at Draft Insider.net and SI.com is one of the best in the business at getting the inside edge on what teams are thinking in the draft. Last year he quoted sources claiming Tyron Smith would be a top-ten pick long before people were even including him in their mock drafts. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Smith ninth overall. When Pauline reports on what the teams are thinking, it’s worth taking notice.

Ryan Tannehill isn’t someone I can grade as a first round pick. He was bitterly disappointing during the 2011 season and justifications like a lack of experience were off-set by an ideal environment including high quality pass protection and a cluster of NFL weapons. I’ve not included him in a single projection so far because I didn’t expect him to be drafted in round one. However – despite breaking his foot and pulling out of the Senior Bowl this week – Pauline is today reporting that Tannehill will very likely go in the top-15:

“Why is Tannehill making such a bounce up draft boards in recent weeks?  One trusted source told me teams are eating up the quarterbacks upside potential and described it as “the love affair factor”- teams see what Tannehillcan develop into at the next level and can’t stay away.  His athleticism, mobility, toughness and decision making all has scouts giddy. With Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder coming off the board so early in the 2011 NFL Draft, teams now feel they have the green light to select someone such as Tannehill earlier than most anticipate.  Sources are saying don’t be shocked if the Texas A&M product ends up as a top 15 choice, depending on the injury.” – Tony Pauline

It’d be ignorant to brush aside such a report and for those reasons I have to put him in this week’s mock. The question is, how high does he go? I had a strong suspicion last year that Washington were hoping to draft Jake Locker with the 10th overall pick – so much so, I never budged from that predicition throughout the process. Locker fit like a glove in Mike Shanahan’s offense and it wasn’t surprising that the Redskins traded down – rejecting Blaine Gabbert in the process – after Tennessee chose Locker at #8. Tannehill doesn’t have the same upside as the former Washington quarterback, but he has a very similar skill set. Having come so close to getting their man last year, perhaps Shanahan won’t take any chances in 2012? After all, the relative cost of picking in the top-10 is much less these days so he can afford to roll the dice (at least financially). It wouldn’t necessarily prevent the Redskins from signing a prospective free agent like Peyton Manning. After all, Tennessee quickly signed Matt Hasselbeck to a three-year contract after drafting Locker.

The Cleveland Browns still provide healthy debate at #4. I think there’s a good chance they will look at other options at quarterback rather than draft Robert Griffin III and I have to believe  Trent Richardson will be on their radar. We’ll know more depending on what the Browns do in free agency, with Matt Flynn a possible target and maybe even Kevin Kolb if the Cardinals trigger their ‘get-out’ clause after a series of mediocre performances last season. If the Browns do pass on Griffin III, I don’t think it’s a shoe-in that he’d automatically go to Washington. Let’s not forget, many people expected Blaine Gabbert to be the second quarterback drafted last April but he was chosen after Jake Locker. Although the hype for Rg3 is much greater, I still think there’s a very good chance he could fall to Miami at #8 or #9. If the Seahawks want a shot at Griffin, they’re going to have to move up.

For Seattle’s pick this week I’ve returned to Courtney Upshaw. He’s not going to provide that burst of speed in the front seven that Pete Carroll is looking for, but he’ll improve the team’s pass rush. Despite his lack of height, he’s a warrior at the LOS and holds up incredibly well against the run. Seattle could use a lot of different looks, using Upshaw as a power end at times in a front four and in space off the edge on certain calls with the three big bodies in the middle and Clemons at the LEO. They could even try him as a WILL linebacker and certainly he flashed decent mobility against LSU, although coverage skills aren’t a strength. What he could provide is a more balanced attack while helping to build the teams physical style that refuses to concede the run. He’ll be a tone setter, a ring leader and his attitude coincides with the other players already on the team. He might not be the lean, elite edge rusher that usually goes in the top-15 – but there’s every chance he’ll have an impact in the NFL. At the top of this blog post, you’ll find game tape from Upshaw’s performance against LSU in the BCS Championship courtesy of JMPasq.

Note: Yesterday I conducted an interview with Danny Kelly at Field Gulls talking about several quarterback prospects. To see the piece in full, click here.

Updated first round mock draft

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) Despite a lot of talk about keeping Manning and drafting Luck, it remains an unlikely proposition. Long term thinking will win out.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Rams have to take Kalil, he’s too good to pass up. There’s enough depth at receiver to wait until round two.

	#3 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) Minnesota would love a shot at Kalil. Claiborne is a decent consolation prize to improve their struggling secondary.

	#4 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) Richardson has to be a consideration here, but the hype surrounding RG3 is intense and it’ll be tough for Cleveland to justify passing.

	#5 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) Elite talent who will be a star in year one. Tampa Bay get a steal with this pick if Richardson is still on the board.

	#6 Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) A foolish reach but Shanahan wants his guy. If Tannehill really is going to go in the top-15, Washington is the obvious choice.

	#7 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) This is too high for Blackmon in my opinion, but his production will interest teams. The Jaguars need to help Blaine Gabbert.

	#8 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) Miami will pick 8th if they win a coin toss with Carolina. With RG3 off the board, expect Miami to beef up their run game.

	#9 Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) A complete lack of defensive line talent could encourage one or two unexpected players to declare. Brockers is one to watch.

	#10 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) The Bills go into the off-season needing to improve their pass rush and pass protection. Martin would be a wise pick here.

	#11 Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) Undersized but a tackling machine. The kind of player Scott Pioli likes to draft for his team.

	#12 Courtney Upshaw (DE, Alabama) If the Seahawks want to improve their pass rush and continue to build a defensive identity, Upshaw could be the pick here.

	#13 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) With the tackles leaving the board early, Arizona will be forced to address their second most important need – an outside rush.

	#14 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) He’s big and good in run support, but struggles in coverage at times. Jerry Jones will like this guy, so will Eli Manning.

	#15 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) The Eagles will look closely at the linebacker position and Brown is a good fit for Philly’s scheme.

	#16 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) Few players have enjoyed the level of progress shown by Barron in 2011. He’s firmly in the round one equation.

	#17 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) Slightly over rated, a technician who looks great on the move but lacks elite power at the point of attack.

	#18 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) They won’t franchise Vincent Jackson again and need a weapon for Philip Rivers. Jones could be the complete package. Underrated.

	#19 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) The ultimate deep threat. Jay Cutler will get the most out of Wright, who should be able to have a Mike Wallace-type impact.

	#20 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) They need to improve their edge rush and Mercilus led the nation in 2011 for sacks. A hard player to work out.

	#21 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite cornerback talent but troubled by off-field problems. The Bengals needs to draft a corner and Jenkins is good enough to start quickly.

	#22 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Cleveland needs to keep adding playmakers. Floyd has his issues, but put him on that offense with Trent Richardson and it’ll be much improved. They’d still need a quarterback.

	#23 Brandon Boykin (CB, Georgia) He doesn’t have elite size but he’ll light up the combine and push his stock into this range.

	#24 Vontaze Burfict (LB, Arizona State) Although his stock is falling, someone could take a shot on Burfict. My guess is he’ll end up playing in the AFC North.

	#25 Michael Egnew (TE, Missouri) He’s very much the modern tight end – a pure pass catcher who will make spectacular plays downfield.

	#26 Lamar Miller (RB, Miami) The Broncos run the ball well and could look to add another back to their stable. Carolina had two first round runners under John Fox.

	#27 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) I’m still trying to get an angle on Still. It often looks like his best fit may be at the five-technique.

	#28 Peter Konz (OC, Wisconsin) Stood out last year in a big-name Badgers offensive line. Could return for another year, but ready to have an impact as a pro

	#29 Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) Sanu can line up anywhere and Jim Harbaugh will find different ways to get him involved. Another powerful weapon for San Fran.

	#30 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) In recent years Baltimore have capitalised on players falling into this range to get value. Coples could drop into the late first.

	#31 Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina) Jeffery divides opinion. He is capable of making big plays, but he runs sloppy routes and looks ‘too big’.

	#32 Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State) He plays a bit like a runaway train. He’s unbalanced but moves well for a big guy. He looks ideal for the 5-technique position.

Sam Montgomery tape vs Alabama & Georgia provided to Seahawks Draft Blog by JMPasq

One thing struck me during Pete Carroll’s end-of-season press conference yesterday – his belief in the need for speed. He talked openly about wanting more pace among his front seven, with the pass rush considered a prime target-area for improvement. The Seahawks generated modest pressure during the 2011 season, often relying on Chris Clemons at the LEO specialist position for sacks. The ‘big three’ in the middle – Alan Branch, Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant – combined for four total sacks. If it wasn’t for a seemingly never-ending question mark at the quarterback position, there’s no doubt what Seattle’s most pressing concern would be.

Speaking of quarterbacks, Carroll spent most of his near 50-minute session answering questions about Tarvaris Jackson. It’s hard to get a read on Seattle’s plans solely based on what we discovered here, but it seemed to me that Carroll appreciates what we all know – that Jackson isn’t a long term option, but right now he’s the best quarterback on the roster. The Seahawks need more than 14 passing touchdowns in the regular season. In fact, Matt Hasselbeck and Jackson combined for just 26 passing scores in the last two years. To put that into context, ten quarterbacks scored 26 or more touchdown throws this season alone – including the much maligned Mark Sanchez. Jackson’s scoring totals matched Colt McCoy, were comparable to Blaine Gabbert and Matt Moore had better numbers in 12 starts for Miami. Sure, he battled a torn pectoral muscle. Yet we didn’t see enough from the healthy Jackson to believe he’d taken any giant leaps from his time in Minnesota.

Carroll has actually been fairly open and honest with his press conferences in the past. Last year he spoke of getting bigger up front and making the offensive line a priority. The end product? Seattle spent its first two picks on big bodied lineman. I believe Carroll was 100% telling the truth when he said re-signing Hasselbeck was the #1 priority, but I also believe the lockout and Tennesee’s offer of a three-year deal changed the situation completely. This year, Carroll spoke about the draft depth at quarterback and the amount of work already conducted by John Schneider to get an angle on this QB-class. Perhaps this is just a presumption made far too early to carry any weight, but I felt like the Seahawks weren’t expecting to make any aggressive moves up the board to target Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III. I do believe the Seahawks will be prepared to ‘make their move’ one day to get their guy at quarterback, I just feel like that quarterback is probably playing in SoCal in 2012. 

So this brings us back to the front seven. Carroll says he wants more speed and that he’s looking for improved inside and outside pressure. This isn’t a great class for interior defensive lineman, so Seattle may be forced to look at outside rushers and athletic linebackers who can bring it from the WILL position. Jarvis Jones (DE, Georgia) would’ve been a perfect fit for the WILL but he’s staying in college. However, a lack of top-end depth could persuade several other players to declare. Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) is among the best interior line prospects in the nation. He’s only a redshirt sophomore and still has a lot of developing to do, but could winning the BCS Championship and seeing a chance to be the #1 player drafted at his position tempt him to turn pro?

Seattle’s pick comes in the form of a different LSU Tiger – outside rusher Sam Montgomery. He’s got a near identical build to Clay Matthews III when he turned pro and a similar intensity on the field. He has nine sacks this season, including a deuce in the 9-6 win over Alabama during the regular season. If the Seahawks are looking for speed and a better pass rush, they could easily line Montgomery opposite Clemons and use a more orthodox 3-4 look with the three big bodies in the middle, while keeping the front four on passing downs. It’s hard to imagine how the Seahawks will significantly improve their pass rush by just improving the outside speed at the WILL linebacker position currently occupied by Leroy Hill. Carroll is quite openly prepared to use a slightly unbalanced line that enhances Red Bryant’s effectiveness as a run stuffer, but also flashes his weakness to provide any kind of edge threat. The only issue is run defense and the lack of size the Seahawks would have at the edge. That’s why they may have to ultimately consider switching to a 3-4 to use players like Clemons and potentially Montgomery, unless they’re going to rely on the linebackers to force runs wide. They have the size at cornerback to manage run support, but ideally you want to remain big up front.

Note: Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) returns for this week’s mock after choosing to declare. Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) has been removed after reports suggested he was leaning towards returning to Boston College.

Updated first round mock draft

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) Despite a lot of talk about keeping Manning and drafting Luck, it remains an unlikely proposition. Long term thinking will win out.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Rams have to take Kalil, he’s too good to pass up. There’s enough depth at receiver to wait until round two.

	#3 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) Minnesota would love a shot at Kalil. It might be a bit of a reach, but protecting Christian Ponder must be a priority.

	#4 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) Last year Cincinnati used this pick to draft a supreme playmaker in AJ Green, before taking a quarterback in round two. Cleveland might do the same.

	#5 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) He’s had a fantastic season with six interceptions. This seems like an obvious match for the Buccs.

	#6 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) I still predict Peyton Manning will be a Redskin, and that Mike Shanahan will target Ryan Tannehill in round two for the future.

	#7 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) This is too high for Blackmon in my opinion, but his production will interest teams. The Jaguars need to help Blaine Gabbert.

	#8 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) Miami will pick 8th if they win a coin toss with Carolina. If Cleveland and Washington pass, RG3 will take his talents to South Beach.

	#9 Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) A complete lack of defensive line talent could encourage one or two unexpected players to declare. Brockers is one to watch against Alabama.

	#10 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) If Stevie Johnson doesn’t return, the Bills will be paper-thin at receiver. Jones is the complete package.

	#11 Sam Montgomery (DE, LSU) Built like Clay Matthews and with a similar intensity. Montgomery could play opposite Chris Clemons to improve Seattle’s pass rush.

	#12 Barrett Jones (OT, Alabama) Another underclassmen few expect to declare, but a need at tackle and a weak top-15 group could push him into the NFL.

	#13 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) With the tackles leaving the board early, Arizona will be forced to address their second most important need – an outside rush.

	#14 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) He’s big and good in run support, but struggles in coverage at times. Jerry Jones will like this guy, so will Eli Manning.

	#15 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) The Eagles will look closely at the linebacker position and Brown is a good fit for Philly’s scheme.

	#16 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) Few players have enjoyed the level of progress shown by Barron in 2011. He’s firmly in the round one equation.

	#17 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) Slightly over rated, a technician who looks great on the move but lacks elite power at the point of attack.

	#18 Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama) The kind of pass rusher San Diego have drafted in the past. They need to find some outside pressure.

	#19 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) The ultimate deep threat. Jay Cutler will get the most out of Wright, who should be able to have a Mike Wallace-type impact.

	#20 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) Coples is a complete enigma. He has the physical talents to be great, but we don’t see enough of it on tape.

	#21 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite cornerback talent but troubled by off-field problems. The Bengals needs to draft a corner and Jenkins is good enough to start quickly.

	#22 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Cleveland needs to keep adding playmakers. Floyd has his issues, but put him on that offense with Trent Richardson and it’ll be much improved. They’d still need a quarterback.

	#23 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) With 14.5 sacks this year, someone will give him a chance early in the draft. Detroit has bigger needs but could show interest here.

	#24 Lamar Miller (RB, Miami) The Broncos run the ball well and could look to add another back to their stable. Carolina had two first round runners under John Fox.

	#25 Michael Egnew (TE, Missouri) He’s very much the modern tight end – a pure pass catcher who will make spectacular plays downfield.

	#26 Vontaze Burfict (LB, Arizona State) Although I think his stock is falling, someone could take a shot on Burfict. My guess is he’ll end up playing AFC North..

	#27 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) I’m still trying to get an angle on Still. It often looks like his best fit may be at the five-technique.

	#28 Peter Konz (OC, Wisconsin) Stood out last year in a big-name Badgers offensive line. Could return for another year, but ready to have an impact as a pro

	#29 Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) Sanu can line up anywhere and Jim Harbaugh will find different ways to get him involved. Another powerful weapon for San Fran.

	#30 Jonathan Cooper (OG, North Carolina) A player not a lot of people are talking about, but has stood out every time I’ve watched the Tar Heels this season.

	#31 Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina) Jeffery divides opinion. He is capable of making big plays, but he runs sloppy routes and looks ‘too big’. Could go much earlier than this, or much later.

	#32 Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State) He plays a bit like a runaway train. He’s a bit unbalanced, but moves well for a big guy. He looks ideal for a move to the 5-technique position.

After a 23-20 defeat to Arizona today, the Seahawks will pick 11th or 12th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. They will hold a coin toss with Kansas City, who beat Denver 7-3.

Had Indianapolis, Tampa Bay or Minnesota won today, Seattle would’ve avoided a coin toss. They had been picking at #14 before the final weekend of regular season play, but wins for Philadelphia and Arizona moved the Seahawks up two spots. Their ability to get lucky on a 50/50 chance will determine whether they move up even further. Seattle’s opponents for the season ended 131-125 (0.512), the exact same number as Kansas City. Recent history suggests the coin toss will take place at the combine in Feburary – that is when Jacksonville & Chicago (2010) and Atlanta and Tampa Bay (2006) held there’s.

Here are the players taken in the last three years at #11 and #12:

2009
#11 Aaron Maybin (LB, Penn State), #12 Knowshon Moreno (RB, Georgia)

2010
#11 Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers), #12 Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State)

2011
#11 JJ Watt (DE, Wisconsin), #12 Christian Ponder (QB, Florida State)

2012 Draft order so far:
1. Colts
2. Rams
3. Vikings
4. Browns
5. Buccaneers
6. Redskins
7. Jaguars
8. Panthers
9. Dolphins
10. Bills
*11-12. Seahawks/Chiefs (coin toss)

This was one of the most challenging mock drafts I’ve ever had to compile, and the Seahawks are 100% to blame. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to project a pick for Seattle. The defense has taken a giant leap forward this year with several players snatching opportunities to become legitimate starters. The offense is coping despite losing several players to injury. The team overall keeps winning and suddenly the playoffs look mildly possible. In fact, had the Seahawks not blown a 17-7 second half lead at home to Washington, they’d be in a very strong position to claim a wildcard berth.

Due to the slow start (including a 2-6 run through the first half of the season) Seattle is only creeping down the draft board rather than catapulting away from the top ten. At the moment they own the #15 pick, still well out of range for the top three quarterbacks barring a minor miracle. This recent run of wins has only confirmed the need to make a move up the board to get their long term quarterback. There is enough talent on this roster to afford spending a few picks on getting that crucial piece of the puzzle. The fans should have faith in Pete Carroll and John Schneider to keep finding gems with the picks they’re left with after such a deal. We all know the QB position involves so much more development and planning when you go beyond the elite few. Heck – even Robert Griffin III should be viewed as a developmental type of player that’s given time to learn before being thrust into the NFL spotlight. This probably isn’t going to be a problem solved by the kind of quality scouting that uncovered Richard Sherman or KJ Wright.

The Seahawks need that one player that can bring this all together and continue the growth of this franchise under Carroll and Schneider’s guidance. Tarvaris Jackson is doing a good job and deserves a lot of credit. People have stopped talking about Matt Hasselbeck for a start and Jackson himself has developed a rapport with the fans and more importantly, his teammates. As well as he’s played at times this season, it’s still a major stretch to think he can lead this team to the promise land.

Projecting trades is even more convoluted than predicting picks, it’s something I’ll never do in the mocks. There’s going to be this underlying theme every week where I feel the need to place a giant asterisk alongside Seattle’s pick. “This week the Seahawks are taking X, but let’s not forget they could trade up for a quarterback.” The madness must end next April, the Seahawks cannot let a talented roster go to waste as many have in the NFL because they lack that one guy who when needed, can duke it out with the best. If Matt Barkley declares for the NFL draft, the Seahawks have to pull up their pants and go get him.

As Adam Caplan tweeted following the win over Chicago, “Say what you want about the Seahawks, but they are going to be good if they can get the right QB. Love the speed on defense.”

So with that out of the way, let’s talk about this week’s pick.

One player I get asked about a lot is Courtney Upshaw (DE/OLB, Alabama). People want to know why he hasn’t been in the mocks before and the main reason is I have a hard time fitting him into a specific position. He’s in the 6-1/6-2 region, so he’s not got the kind of length you traditionally see at defensive end. His physical style and brilliant sense of leverage works best at the LOS though, so will he be as effective moved into space as a 3-4 OLB? He’s a bit of a tweener in that regard.

It put me off giving him the kind of high grade that everyone else appears willing to offer. However, this week I went back and revisited a handful of Alabama games I’ve saved over the season. One thing stuck out to me, and that was a slight similarity between Upshaw and former Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Both have a brawling style, they love to take on blockers and while neither is an elite edge rusher – they maximise leverage and had a lot of success in college. Clayborn is enjoying his rookie year in Tampa Bay so far with 7.5 sacks on a team missing it’s best defensive tackle (Gerald McCoy). I had a look at the physical numbers and Clayborn is only 3cm’s taller than Upshaw, but he’s heavier (281lbs compared to 263lbs) and ran a 4.78 forty yard dash with the extra bulk.

According to the sources we use, the Seahawks liked Clayborn but didn’t anticipate drafting him last April. He wasn’t a LEO pass rusher and didn’t have an obvious role in the the Seahawks front line. Yet there was something they liked about the guy – his style of play, his combative nature perhaps? If only he was a better scheme fit, would he have been a real option? Considering Upshaw plays the game in a similar way, perhaps he’ll get some interest in round one after all? The Seahawks may feel his lighter frame works well off the edge, even if he doesn’t have the kind of break-neck speed or taller frame to be a natural LEO.

The Seahawks use a lot of size in their three man fronts with Chris Clemons playing in space, perhaps they could use some different looks by using Upshaw in more orthodox 4-3 sets? They’ve relied on Clemons for pressure all year (he has 11-sacks, matching his career high from 2010) but they haven’t had the same level or production from Raheem Brock. Could Upshaw provide a fresh dynamic, working with Clemons to enable the defense to get more consistent pressure? It’s really the only thing that’s missing at the moment. Cornerback – a position many considered a big need several weeks ago – now contains two of the most exciting defensive players in the NFC over the last few weeks in Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. At the safety position, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor have grown into the best young tandem in the entire league (no hyperbole, it’s true). KJ Wright is fast becoming an integral player at linebacker. A more consistent pass rush created by a productive three-technique or a further outside threat could turn this defense from blossoming to dominating.

We’ll never be able to escape Seattle’s need at quarterback, but if there really is no chance of moving up to fill that hole then this is another alternative option for the Seahawks next April.

Note: Jarvis Jones (LB, Georgia) has been removed this week because he didn’t even file his papers to the draft committee for evaluation. He’s staying at Georgia in 2012. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) and Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame) were removed last week after making it clear they wouldn’t be entering the draft.

Updated first round mock draft

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) The Colts are facing a difficult situation where they’ll have to either cut Peyton Manning or trade this pick. Interesting times ahead.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Rams could end up with the #1 pick at this rate. Whether it’s St. Louis or Minnesota that picks here, they should take Kalil.

	#3 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) He keeps making plays – eleven interceptions in two seasons. Minnesota’s defense is a mess and needs some help in the secondary.

	#4 Matt Barkley (QB, USC) The Browns have a chance to get good quickly by using their two first rounders wisely. They should run to the podium for Barkley.

	#5 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) The complete package at receiver – size, speed, good hands, competitive, adjusts to the ball. Ideal fodder for Blaine Gabbert.

	#6 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) Richardson will take some pressure off Josh Freeman and add star quality to the Buccs. This would be an exciting pick for Tampa Bay.

	#7 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) Griffin will help sell tickets in Miami. There’s every chance he’ll go even earlier than this with the hype train rattling down the tracks.

	#8 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) If they’re slated to pick after Miami and Cleveland, they could be even more aggressive about landing Peyton Manning.

	#9 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) Buffalo would love to find a top-end pass rusher, but they also have a need at tackle. This would be a smart move.

	#10 Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) A tackling machine who will help solidify Tampa Bay’s defense. Blue collar defender with leadership qualities.

	#11 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) Philly should use this high pick to try and find an impact player. Brown has the talent to be a playmaker in year one.

	#12 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) A man of few words and a tackle’s attitude. Scott Pioli has ties to Kirk Ferentz and loves players from Iowa – he’s drafted a few for KC already.

	#13 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) They need an OT, but the top three are off the board. The next biggest need is a pass rusher and Branch will start to rise up boards.

	#14 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) Electrifying receiver capable of having an immediate impact in the NFL. Could be the making of Jake Locker in Tennessee.

	#15 Courtney Upshaw (DE, Alabama) The Seahawks rely a lot on Chris Clemons to create pressure, so would they consider adding some help with the aggressive Upshaw?

	#16 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) Would they take first-round five techniques in back-to-back years? Coples’ best fit in the NFL will come at 3-4 DE.

	#17 Kevin Reddick (LB, North Carolina) Under rated linebacker who flies around the field and makes plays. He won’t be much of a pass rush threat, but he’ll solidify the strong side.

	#18 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) A lot of the Bears’ needs come on offense, but adding another big piece to that dangerous front line could appeal too.

	#19 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) He’s a little over rated, but should find a home in round one. Cincy could use a boost among their interior line.

	#20 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite cornerback talent but troubled by off-field problems. The Bengals needs to draft a corner and Jenkins is good enough to start quickly.

	#21 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) With 14.5 sacks this year, someone will give him a chance early in the draft. New York needs to improve it’s outside pass rush.

	#22 Kelechi Osemele (OG, Iowa State) He could be better than DeCastro, but doesn’t get anywhere near as much hype. This would be a smart move by Detroit.

	#23 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Having drafted a new quarterback earlier, Cleveland now needs to add a playmaker. Floyd has the kind of size Mike Holmgren likes in a #1 receiver.

	#24 Lamar Miller (RB, Miami) The Broncos run the ball well and could look to add another back to their stable. Carolina had two first round runners under John Fox.

	#25 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) He’s big and good in run support, but has struggled in coverage at times. Jerry Jones will like this guy, so will Eli Manning.

	#26 Vontaze Burfict (LB, Arizona State) Although I think his stock is falling, someone could take a shot on Burfict. My guess is he’ll end up playing AFC North..

	#27 Alameda Ta’amu (DT, Washington) His potential to play nose tackle could keep him in round one, even if his play has been inconsistent for the Huskies.

	#28 Peter Konz (OC, Wisconsin) Stood out last year in a big-name Badgers offensive line. Could return for another year, but ready to have an impact as a pro

	#29 Nicolas Jean-Baptiste (DT, Baylor) He’s no Phil Taylor, but every time I’ve watched Baylor this year he’s been the one defensive player who looks to have some pro-potential.

	#30 Oday Aboushi (OT, Virginia) I’ve seen Virginia twice this season and Aboushi looks like a NFL tackle. Baltimore needs to bolster that offensive line.

	#31 Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State) He plays a bit like a runaway train. His running style looks off balance, but he moves for a big guy. A 3-4 fit looks ideal.

	#32 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) He’s having a good year but his stock is limited due to the position he plays. This would be a nice get for the Packers.

There are several changes in this week’s projection. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) and Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame) will return for their senior years and enter the 2013 draft. Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) makes a big jump into the top-15. He’s had a good season (10.5 sacks) and has the kind of relentless approach, burst, length and busy hands that could make him a productive player at the next level. A lack of pass rushers in this year’s draft could easily promote a player like Branch into the top-15.

Washington fans will probably argue strongly against any projection that has them passing on the quarterbacks at #4. However, it almost makes too much sense for Peyton Manning to find his way to the Redskins, offering Dan Snyder a big-name who can instantly make his team a contender in the NFC East. If Indianapolis does intend to keep the #1 pick, they’ll surely have to release Manning. That would allow Washington to solve their biggest problem before the draft and possibly add a dynamic playmaker like Trent Richardson. Mike Shanahan could bang the table for Ryan Tannehill as his long term QB project and eventual successor to Manning. It’s not such a ridiculous proposition, even if Washington passing on Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin III seems like a stretch at this stage.

Of course, such a scenario would push the two quarterbacks down the board, with Griffin III going to Miami at #7 and Barkley to Cleveland at #8. In this situation the Seahawks could realistically see Carolina (#5) and Jacksonville (#6) as possible trade partners. There’s no getting away from the fact Seattle needs to draft a quarterback and sitting around waiting for that player to arrive over the next few years isn’t going to cut it. There is a lot of talent on this team, but the 6-7 record doesn’t lie. If the Seahawks are going to become a regular playoff contender, they need to know who their quarterback is for the long haul.

I don’t include trades in my mock drafts, so we’ll have to keep looking at alternatives even if I’d like to believe trading up is a strong possibility. This week the Seahawks draft Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still.

He’s not the kind of dominating interior lineman we’ve seen available in previous drafts (Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Nick Fairley, Corey Luiget, Phil Taylor) but he’s the best available in this class. The Seahawks don’t run an orthodox scheme, and the current rotation of lineman do a good job against the run. There’s still room for a productive three technique, especially one that can double up as a five-tech on certain downs. Still’s best position may actually be at the five, but he’s also an intriguing developmental option as a penetrative inside rusher. He tends to be inconsistent and his hand use needs to get a lot better – he’s quick rather than powerful or technical. He’ll slip a gap with agility, but when he has to brawl he sometimes struggles. It’s a technique issue more than anything, which is why he might be better taking on one blocker rather than working the middle. His versatility, however, makes him an option for the Seahawks and he’s got the foot speed and mobility to offer something different to this defense.

Updated mock draft – 14th December

	#1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) The Colts are facing a difficult situation where they’ll have to either cut Peyton Manning or trade this pick. Interesting times ahead.

	#2 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) The Vikings have many needs, but the biggest is probably at left tackle. Kalil will be one of the best OT’s in the NFL as a rookie.

	#3 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) He keeps making plays – eleven interceptions in two seasons. St. Louis’ secondary is plagued by injury and lacks quality.

	#4 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) I keep coming back to Peyton Manning and Washington. It’s an ideal fit, allowing the ‘Skins to draft Richardson here and perhaps add Ryan Tannehill later.

	#5 Jarvis Jones (LB, Georgia) He says he won’t declare, but after a prolific 13.5 sack season, a top-ten grade could change his mind.

	#6 Dwight Jones (WR, North Carolina) The complete package at receiver – size, speed, good hands, competitive, adjusts to the ball. Ideal fodder for Blaine Gabbert.

	#7 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) Some teams are going to fall for Griffin, who’s ended the year on a crest of a wave. He’ll help sell tickets in Miami.

	#8 Matt Barkley (QB, USC) This would be an absolute steal for Cleveland. Barkley is an elite talent who can start as a rookie.

	#9 Luke Kuelchy (LB, Boston College) A tackling machine who will help solidify Tampa Bay’s defense. Blue collar defender with leadership qualities.

	#10 Zach Brown (LB, North Carolina) Philly should use this high pick to try and find an impact player. Brown has the talent to be a playmaker in year one.

	#11 Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) Buffalo would love to find a top-end pass rusher, but they also have a need at tackle. This would be a smart move.

	#12 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) A man of few words and a tackle’s attitude. If they appoint Kirk Ferentz as Head Coach, this could be a logical projection.

	#13 Andre Branch (DE, Clemson) They need an OT, but the top three are off the board. The next biggest need is a pass rusher and Branch will start to rise up boards.

	#14 Devon Still (DT, Penn State) The opportunity to move up will surely tempt the Seahawks to be aggressive for a quarterback. If not, Still adds an interior pass rush to go with Seattle’s stable of DT’s.

	#15 Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) San Diego could take a chance on Coples, who is best suited to the 3-4 defense. Can they pick first-round five-techs in consecutive drafts?

	#16 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) He’s big and good in run support, but has struggled in coverage at times. Jerry Jones will like this guy, so will Eli Manning.

	#17 Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) Could he suffer a fall? He doesn’t have explosive speed, he can make frustrating errors. Blackmon isn’t a top-ten lock.

	#18 Lamar Miller (RB, Miami) Cincinnati has some promising young playmakers and Miller would add another dimension.

	#19 Janoris Jenkins (CB, North Alabama) Elite cornerback talent but troubled by off-field problems. Cincy needs to draft a corner and Jenkins is good enough to start quickly.

	#20 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) Jay Cutler will thank the Bears if they make this pick. Wright’s playmaking qualities and deep speed will bring the best out of Chicago’s quarterback.

	#21 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) He’s a little over rated, but should find a home in round one. New York can afford to take the best player on their board.

	#22 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) Having drafted a new quarterback earlier, Cleveland now needs to add a playmaker. Floyd has the kind of size Mike Holmgren likes in a #1 receiver.

	#23 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) With 14.5 sacks this year, someone will give him a chance early in the draft. New York needs to add to it’s outside pass rush.

	#24 David Wilson (RB, Virginia Tech) Electric running back who adds another dimension to Denver’s offense. They could also look at Kelechi Osemele.

	#25 Kelechi Osemele (OG, Iowa State) He could be better than DeCastro, but doesn’t get anywhere near as much hype. This would be a smart move by Detroit.

	#26 Alameda Ta’amu (DT, Washington) His potential to play nose tackle will keep him in round one, even if his play has been inconsistent for the Huskies.

	#27 Peter Konz (OC, Wisconsin) Stood out last year in a big-name Badgers offensive line. Could return for another year, but ready to have an impact as a pro.

	#28 Kevin Reddick (LB, North Carolina) Bill Belichick doesn’t make obvious picks and could spring a surprise. Reddick can play any of the LB positions – seriously under rated.

	#29 Nicolas Jean-Baptiste (DT, Baylor) He’s no Phil Taylor, but every time I’ve watched Baylor this year he’s been the one defensive player who looks to have some pro-potential.

	#30 Oday Aboushi (OT, Virginia) I’ve seen Virginia twice this season and Aboushi looks like a NFL tackle. Baltimore needs to bolster that offensive line.

	#31 Vontaze Burfict (LB, Arizona State) Although I think his stock is falling, someone could take a shot on Burfict. My guess is he’ll end up playing AFC North.

	#32 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) He’s having a good year but his stock is limited due to the position he plays. This would be a nice get for the Packers.