Todd McShay's mock 4.0: AFC North style
March, 30, 2012
3/30/12
2:00
PM ET
By
Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com
ESPN's Todd McShay offered the fourth version of his 2012 mock draft
this week. Here's a look at the AFC North part of it:
4. Cleveland Browns
Version 1.0: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Version 2.0: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Version 3.0: Richardson
Version 4.0: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Hensley's comment: I agree with version 3.0 more than 4.0. Blackmon doesn't have the speed that the Browns really need at wide receiver. That's why the Browns should go with Richardson at this spot.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Version 1.0: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Version 2.0: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Version 3.0: Kirkpatrick
Version 4.0: DeCastro
Hensley's comment: It will be a tough decision for the Bengals if DeCastro and Kirkpatrick are still available at this spot. DeCastro would make more of an immediate impact for the Bengals, who have done a nice job of adding veteran cornerbacks this offseason.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Version 1.0: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Version 2.0: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
Version 3.0: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Version 4.0: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Hensley's comment: If the Bengals want to take a cornerback here, the choice is between Gilmore or Janoris Jenkins. While Jenkins has better coverage skills, Gilmore doesn't have the same character issues as Jenkins. Don't rule out a wide receiver at this spot either.
22. Cleveland Browns
Version 1.0: Kevin Reddick, OLB, North Carolina
Version 2.0: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Version 3.0: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Version 4.0: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Hensley's comment: Version 4.0 is a better prediction than Brockers, because the Browns have a big need at right tackle. But there are concerns, because Adams lacks a mean streak, which is a must-have in the AFC North. The Browns might wait until the second round to take a right tackle.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Version 1.0: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Version 2.0: Adams
Version 3.0: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
Version 4.0: Hightower
Hensley's comment: This still seems like a no-brainer to me. Hightower would step into the void left by James Farrior. Pittsburgh could also take an offensive lineman or cornerback in the first round.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Version 1.0: Adams
Version 2.0: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
Version 3.0: Peter Konz, C-G, Wisconsin
Version 4.0: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
Hensley's comment: There is a definite need at safety. Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard are entering the final years of their contact, and longtime backups Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura signed elsewhere this offseason. Smith, who had been pegged as a second-round pick, has been rising up boards recently. I'm just not completely sold on his playmaking ability.
4. Cleveland Browns
Version 1.0: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Version 2.0: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Version 3.0: Richardson
Version 4.0: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Hensley's comment: I agree with version 3.0 more than 4.0. Blackmon doesn't have the speed that the Browns really need at wide receiver. That's why the Browns should go with Richardson at this spot.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Version 1.0: David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Version 2.0: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Version 3.0: Kirkpatrick
Version 4.0: DeCastro
Hensley's comment: It will be a tough decision for the Bengals if DeCastro and Kirkpatrick are still available at this spot. DeCastro would make more of an immediate impact for the Bengals, who have done a nice job of adding veteran cornerbacks this offseason.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Version 1.0: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Version 2.0: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
Version 3.0: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Version 4.0: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Hensley's comment: If the Bengals want to take a cornerback here, the choice is between Gilmore or Janoris Jenkins. While Jenkins has better coverage skills, Gilmore doesn't have the same character issues as Jenkins. Don't rule out a wide receiver at this spot either.
22. Cleveland Browns
Version 1.0: Kevin Reddick, OLB, North Carolina
Version 2.0: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Version 3.0: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Version 4.0: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Hensley's comment: Version 4.0 is a better prediction than Brockers, because the Browns have a big need at right tackle. But there are concerns, because Adams lacks a mean streak, which is a must-have in the AFC North. The Browns might wait until the second round to take a right tackle.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Version 1.0: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Version 2.0: Adams
Version 3.0: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
Version 4.0: Hightower
Hensley's comment: This still seems like a no-brainer to me. Hightower would step into the void left by James Farrior. Pittsburgh could also take an offensive lineman or cornerback in the first round.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Version 1.0: Adams
Version 2.0: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
Version 3.0: Peter Konz, C-G, Wisconsin
Version 4.0: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
Hensley's comment: There is a definite need at safety. Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard are entering the final years of their contact, and longtime backups Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura signed elsewhere this offseason. Smith, who had been pegged as a second-round pick, has been rising up boards recently. I'm just not completely sold on his playmaking ability.



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