| 19 January 2012
Mel Kiper, the original NFL draftnik, now ESPN mouthpiece, has posted his first 2012 mock draft.
Before I go forward, let me remind you I hate mock drafts (even more so when they are posted in January insetead of April), and find the heavily coiffed Kiper more of a used car salesman type and master self-promoter than "NFL expert." But when he talks draft, for better or worse, people listen (mostly due to his ESPN bully pulpit). Meaning I have to write about him, even if I find the whole "draftnik" thing incomprehensible.
I'm an EXPERT on judging 20 year old kids.
As always, Kiper's stuff is on ESPN Insider (aka the only way ESPN can to force readers to subscribe to their eye blisteringly bad magazine). So who does Kiper have the Lions selecting with the 23rd overall pick?
Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
Detroit again will go into the 2012 season with perhaps the best front four in the NFL. Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz calculated well that the secondary would make strides after being such a weakness in previous seasons. Where the Lions could use help is at linebacker, and Brown would be a good fit. Brown has great instincts as a rangy tackler, and he has a lot of speed and can run with tight ends. I certainly can see the Lions looking for help on the offensive line at this spot, but if a top tackle doesn't fall to them here, Brown makes sense.
Uh...whatever.
Please remember Kiper's mock is posted before any of the college all-star games, the NFL combine, college pro day workouts, possible injuries and his changing his mind because. well, he's "MEL KIPER, DRAFT EXPERT."
Word to the wise; there's been 2 ESPN mocks, 2 different players projected to be selected on different sides of the ball (Kiper protege Todd McShay has the Lions taking a running back). A consensus, this is not.
Also keep in mind Lions GM Martin Mayhew is on record saying he will continue to draft the best player available, regardless of position...which pretty much blows what Kiper and McShay have to say 3 months before the draft out of the water.
How silly has this draftnik crap become? On Twitter, Dave Birkett, the Freep's Lions beat writer, posted this gem from today's Kiper teleconfrence:
Really? A career quarterback who has never played wide receiver is the highest rated player at the positon? OK...
If Robinson does end up a wide out (and I admit it is a likely scenario, being his talents don't fit the NFL QB norm), it's not going to happen untill after the end of the 2012 season, as he's Michigan's best damn QB and a Heisman candidate as well. Regardless, Kiper believes Robinson is going to be a 1st round pick, as you would expect of the highest rated player at a skill position...again, a position he has NEVER played at a high level.
That strategy sure worked out well for the Panthers and Matt Jones, didn't it?
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