2012 NFL Draft Schedule, TV Time, Streaming And More: Buccaneers Pick No. 5 Overall

Greg Schiano will be running his first draft for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. Here is where you can watch it live.

2012 NFL Draft Schedule, TV Time, Streaming And More: Jaguars Pick No. 7 Overall

The Jaguars picked Blaine Gabbert in the first round last year, can they put some talent around him in 2012? Here is where you can watch the draft live.

2012 NFL Draft Schedule, TV Time, Streaming And More: Will Dolphins Take Their Quarterback?

There is a lot of intrigue following the Dolphins' first round pick, but they have plenty of picks through the weekend. Here is where you can watch the draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars Likely To Go Defense At No. 7

The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to seek help on the defensive side of the ball in the 2012 NFL Draft, which starts Thursday night in New York with the first round on ESPN and NFL Network. The very top of the draft seems to be solidifying but there's no real consensus on which way the rest of the top ten will go, and the Florida teams are sure to play a big part of that with picks at Nos. 5, 7, and 8. The mock drafters at CBSSports.com predict the Jaguars will go with defense, but among the six of them, they list a wide variety of options for Jacksonville at No. 7.

Three of the six mocks have the Jags selecting cornerback Stephon Gilmore out of South Carolina, who is listed as the second best defensive back behind Morris Claiborne. The other three, however, have Jacksonville selecting defensive end Quinton Coples, outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, or defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Pete Prisco thinks the Jags are trying to get out of their spot and trade down, but if they stay at No. 7, they will take Ingram, who he labels as the best pass rusher in the draft.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Morris Claiborne The Consensus Pick For Buccaneers?

While we already know who will go first and second overall in Thursday night's first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, there is still plenty of speculation in the top five. The Buccaneers currently hold the fifth pick and many have presumed they would land LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, the top cover corner prospect in the draft that would fill a need for Tampa Bay.

All six mock draft experts at CBSSports.com project the Bucs drafting Claiborne at No.5. In fact, they all have the top five playing out exactly the same way with Matt Kalil going to Minnesota at No. 3 and Trent Richardson landing in Cleveland at No. 4. Here's what one of their six mock drafters, Pat Kirwan, had to say about the Claiborne pick:

Unless Tampa jumps up to Minnesota's spot they will miss out on Richardson. The Bucs will think long and hard about Claiborne at this spot, but teaming him up with Eric Wright gives them a solid tandem.

We're only hours away at this point, and new coach Greg Schiano will have his first draft pick in the fold Thursday night.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins Set To Select Ryan Tannehill At No. 8?

The saga of Ryan Tannehill has been one of the hot stories in the run up to the 2012 NFL Draft, which will get underway on Thursday night at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Tannehill has been projected all over the board in the first round, rising up as high as No. 3 overall behind fellow quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. He had an impressive workout at Texas A&M, which had mock draft experts raving about his pro potential. With his rise up the mock draft boards, the Browns and Dolphins were pegged as the likeliest landing spots.

And CBSSports.com seems to agree, with all six of their mock drafters projecting Tannehill to go to Miami at No. 8. If this scenario plays out, it would reunite the Aggie quarterback with his former coach in College Station, Mike Sherman, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins. Pete Prisco expects a few teams, specifically Seattle, may try to move up ahead of Miami to take Tannehill but he thinks those trades won't materialize and he will land in South Beach.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Could Trent Richardson Fall To Buccaneers?

The NFL Network's Mike Mayock released his first and only mock draft on Wednesday afternoon, and there were a couple surprises in the top ten. Mayock predicts the Minnesota Vikings taking Matt Kalil at No. 3 and the Cleveland Browns selecting Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon at No. 4, freeing up the Buccaneers with an ideal choice of what many believe are their top two targets -- Trent Richardson and Morris Claiborne.

While Mel Kiper has a worst-case scenario with both Richardson and Claiborne coming off the board before No. 5, Mayock has the Bucs taking the top running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. Of Richardson, Mayock writes:

Richardson is as compact and coiled an athlete as the position has seen since Adrian Peterson. Richardson is explosive, powerful and balanced. He is a heady and instinctual player who is patient enough to wait for blocks and quick enough to cut backfield to daylight. Richardson has a strong core that he uses to break arm tackles and get physical leverage under blitzers in pass protection. He is a true three-down back who can be effective on screens.

Mayock then has the Claiborne going to the St. Louis Rams with the next pick. This would have to be a scenario the Bucs brass would be enjoy playing out on Thursday evening.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Mock Shakes It Up For Buccaneers And Jaguars

Draft day is almost here, with just over 24 hours before the first pick is announced at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night. The first two picks are all locked in but after that, there's still plenty of mystery in the top ten, where all three Florida teams are scheduled to pick.

The godfather of the mock draft, Mel Kiper, released the fifth version of his projections for the first round on Wednesday and he went against the conventional sequence for both the Buccaneers and Jaguars. Kiper has top-rated tackle Matt Kalil falling to No. 5, with cornerback Morris Claiborne going No. 3 to the Vikings. Here's what he says about the Kalil pick for the Bucs:

If the board fell this way, I can also see the Bucs working the phones to get out of this spot. Kalil really would be a nice addition for this team, but they could shop the pick to a team in more desperate need of a top tackle.

As for the Jags, who are supposed to pick two spots later at No. 7, Kiper mocks up a trade for Gene Smith and company. He projects a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, who would move up to No. 7 and draft defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Jacksonville would move down to No. 15, the Eagles original slot, and still get a top-ranked corner, in Stephon Gilmore, which some project them taking 7th overall:

The Jags move down out of the top 10, and still get good value at a huge need. Gilmore is capable of coming in and starting right away, and the Jags were simply decimated in the secondary last year. Another defensive end would be helpful, but if Ingram is off the board they can't get a ton of value here at that spot.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Seven Round Mock Reflects Popular Picks For Florida Teams

The 2012 NFL Draft starts on Thursday night, and once the names start being called, all hell will break loose. But until then, we can still pretend like we know what is going to happen. Chad Reuter of NFL.com put together a seven round Mock Draft reflecting every pick that will be made, and it has some picks for Florida teams which have become very popular. Here are the first two picks he has slated for each Florida team.

The Buccaneers have the highest pick of all the Florida teams, and Reuter has them adding to their defensive secondary with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with their first round pick. Claiborne is a perfect fit for the Bucs, should he last that long on the board. He has the Buccaneers then taking running back Doug Martin from Boise St. in the second round. That pick makes sense considering there are many people who think that the Bucs would consider Trent Richardson in the first round if he is still on the board.

Reuter has the Jaguars adding one of the Draft's lat risers with their first round pick in the form of South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore has climbed up the board recently with a strong combine performance and Pro Day. He then has them adding to the defensive line in the second round with DeVon Still, who was a borderline first round pick for a lot of this process.

The Dolphins pick No. 8 overall, and Reuter has them taking the hot name in this process, Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. We all know why this pick makes sense, and if a trade doesn't happen with a team jumping ahead of them, it seems inevitable. He then has the Dolphins adding a piece along the offensive line in Clemson DE Andre Branch in the second round. That pick also makes sense because the Dolphins need new personnel for their transformed defensive front.

To check out the rest of the picks, and there sure are a lot of them, go here.

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2012 NFL Draft: Joe Philbin Says Dolphins Aren't Focusing Solely On Ryan Tannehill

The NFL Draft will take place over three days this weekend, but teams have been preparing for it for months now. In that time they have evaluated hundreds of prospects, and now that the Draft is just about here, it's time to lie about their feelings towards just about everybody. It's called a smokescreen, and it's meant to keep the other teams drafting ahead or behind the team off balance. Consider Joe Philbin, the head coach of a Miami Dolphins team that has been linked to Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick by just about everybody on the Planet. Well, according to Mike Berardino of the Sun Sentinel, the Dolphins aren't even really talking about Tannehill.

"We’ve talked obviously a lot," Philbin said. "We’ve had draft meetings. We’ve discussed him as an individual. We’ve watched his film. Obviously Mike [Sherman] has been around Ryan for a long, long time, but it wasn’t like we sat around and said, ‘OK, what about him at eight?’ "

With all due respect to Philbin, I'm sure many of the people in his staff have said that exact sentence dozens of times over the past few weeks. They may not be waiting for Tannehill to drop into their laps, but it seems naive to think that they haven't even discussed the possibility. The truth is they've probably had that level of conversation about every player that could conceivably fall to them, and a lot of players ranked lower than their pick too. But this is just the way the game is played this time of year.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Jaguars Say Miami Dolphins Will Draft Ryan Tannehill

The Miami Dolphins will, as many have guessed, select former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft -- at least according to the team's neighbor to the north, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Speaking with Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union on 930 AM in Jacksonville, the Jaguars' director of player personnel Terry McDonough claimed that the Dolphins are going to select Tannehill.

"People know Miami’s going to take [Tannehill]," he said. "If a team wants a quarterback they’re going to have to come in front of Miami."

And who's in front of Miami? That'd be the Jaguars, who currently hold the No. 7 overall pick and are reportedly interested in trading down -- something that they have had trouble doing as of late.

So is McDonough serious? Or is he simply looking to create some interest in the team's top-10 pick? We'll find out Thursday.

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NFL Draft 2012: Jaguars Not Finding Any Buyers For No. 7 Pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be desperate to find some way to trade down from the No. 7 overall draft pick. Unfortunately they have been finding no takers at all. The Draft Insider says that not only are the Jaguars desperate to do this, the Minnesota Vikings are as well.

The consensus is the Minnesota Vikings will do everything they can to move out of the draft's third slot but in the end may have no takers. Ditto for the Jacksonville Jaguars,who we hear have been shopping the 7th pick, almost in desperation, yet have found no buyers.

This could change on Thursday night depending on what players get selected, but as of right now, both the Vikings and the Jaguars appear to be locked into their selections.

The NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday night in New York City.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ryan Tannehill Still Projected To Miami

We're almost 48 hours away from the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, which means that it's the last chance for people around the Internet to get their Mock picks in so they can say "I told you so" when the draft ends up falling as they have predicted it. The guys over at Mock 101 put out a new mock on Tuesday morning, and it mirrors a lot of other picks from around the Internet. The first selection is Morris Claiborne to the Bucs at No. 5 overall.

Tampa Bay finished #21 in Pass Defense and have given up 12 plays of 40 yards or more. To go along with that, at any minute the Buccaneers could be without starting CB Aqib Talib. The other starting CB Ronde Barber is still playing solid, but he his nearing the end of his career. The Claiborne pick gives the Bucs a shutdown CB in a division with Drew Brees,Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan.

Next up is the Jaguars, who take South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram at No. 7.

Jacksonville re-signed Jeremy Mincey, but they wont be enough for the 2012 season. Another pass rusher will need to be obtained and Melvin Ingram could be the guy. Sure, Coples is till available, but his bust factor could be enough to deter the Jaguars. Ingram gives the Jags versatility and ability that they currently lack on defense.

And finally the Dolphins, who answer one of the Draft's biggest questions by taking Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick.

Like it or not, Tannehill will go in the 1st round. I wouldn’t take him here, but it’s a good possibility it will happen. After missing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn this offseason, the Dolphins can’t go into 2012 with David Garrad or Matt Moore under center. Tannehill might not start week 1 with those aforementioned in the mix, but he gives the Dolphins some long-term security at the QB spot.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins May Opt For Defensive Lineman Over Ryan Tannehill

With just three days before the NFL Draft's first round gets underway in New York, many mock draft experts are trying to project where quarterback Ryan Tannehill will land on Thursday night. Tannehill's stock has fluctuated dramatically over the past month, when he dazzled scouts with a workout in College Station. Plenty of projections have the Dolphins selecting Tannehill at No. 8, but could the new offensive regime, in fact, be pushing for help on the other side of the ball? Will Brinson, a CBSSports.com blogger, predicts the that the Dolphins will take defensive end Quinton Coples out of North Carolina:

With its move to a 4-3 defense, Miami needs another bookend rusher to go along with Cameron Wake. Coples is precisely that, even if there are concerns about his productivity. Miami's just going to have to trust Joe Philbin can make the offense click with no big additions.

Coples would certainly be a solid addition on the defensive front, pairing with Cameron Wake to bookend the pass rush. It's interesting to note, of course, that Brinson has Seattle and Pete Carroll trading up one spot ahead of Phoenix to take Tannehill at No. 7, where the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently slotted.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars Targeting Defensive Back At No. 7?

All three Florida franchises have picks in the top ten of this week's NFL Draft, with cornerbacks projected by many to land in both Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. Most mock draft experts have the Buccaneers taking cornerback Morris Claiborne out of LSU with the No. 5 overall pick. While Claiborne is ranked as the top cornerback in the draft, Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina is making a strong push towards the top of the first round. Rob Rang of CBS lists the Jags as potentially one team that has Gilmore ranked as the top overall corner, and predicts Gene Smith will take him with the No. 7 pick:

Like the Rams a pick ahead of them, at first glance it would appear that the Jaguars would love the opportunity to protect their young quarterback Blaine Gabbert with a playmaking receiver like Blackmon. There is considerable buzz throughout the league, however, that should the team be unable to trade down, general manager Gene Smith prefers Gilmore, even ranking him ahead of Claiborne as the top cornerback in the draft.

This goes against many predictions that the Jaguars will not pass on Justin Blackmon if he's available at seven. Rang has the Oklahoma State wideout dropping to No. 9 and the Carolina Panthers.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Greg Cosell Shakes Up Conventional Wisdom

NFL Films guru Greg Cosell is one of the most respected analysts in the game today. He crunches more tape by 9 a.m. than most so-called experts crunch all month. Cosell rolled out his first ever 2012 NFL Mock Draft, first ever mock draft period, using a slightly different approach that is sure to give fans plenty of water cooler fodder.

Cosell based his picks purely on his own study, matching the players with the teams and their respective draft spots. The results will surprise any reader.

Starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cosell goes with North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

5. Tampa Bay: Remember what I said about Minnesota. It applies to the Bucs as well. In the NFC South, they must defend Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton. If they expect to be competitive, they must cover on the perimeter. They select the best pure man-to-man cover corner in the draft, Janoris Jenkins. If you watched him at Florida in 2010 matched against AJ Green, Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery, you know what I mean.

Jenkins is likely to slide on draft day because of off-field concerns, but few question his talent.

For the Jacksonville Jaguars Cosell goes with another cornerback, this time the one that is likely to be one of the first four picks in reality, LSU's Morris Claiborne.

7. Jacksonville: The Jaguars select the third corner in the top 7 picks, Morris Claiborne. Claiborne played both press and off coverage at LSU, and he also played in the slot. Claiborne was more of a mirror or shadow press man corner, much like Champ Bailey has been in his career. Claiborne was a smooth efficient mover, but he was not as physical as Gilmore, and I don't believe he provides the same slot versatility as a blitzer and run support defender.

I doubt any Jags fan would complain much if their team had the chance to draft Claiborne.

Cosell's pick for the Dolphins is a more realistic possibility, one that has been discussed plenty in recent weeks, Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

8. Miami: What I'm about to say certainly applied to Cleveland as well, but I could not pass on such a special player as Richardson at #4. If you have a top 15 NFL quarterback (give or take) you can compete for division titles and by extension, championships. If you don't, it's very difficult. Think about the top 15 in the NFL right now, and you'll realize it's a fair statement. That logic leads me to Ryan Tannehill for the Dolphins. In fact, over time, I believe he has a chance to be significantly better than Top 15.

Tannehill could very well fall to the Dolphins, or he could get picked in the top five.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Draft 2012: 'Legendary' Alumni To Announce 2nd-Round Picks For Teams

For the second year in a row, the NFL will have former players from each team on hand to announce the second-round picks for their former teams. The league announced on Monday afternoon that a group of 33 "legendary" NFL alumni will be on stage at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night to announce the selections. For the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Jaguars, the players are definitely household names for fans of those three teams.

Announcing the pick for the Buccaneers will be safety Dexter Jackson. A fourth-round pick in the 1999 played for Tampa Bay from 1999 through 2005, except for a one-year stint with Arizona in 2003.

Center Dwight Stephenson will announce the pick for Miami. Stephenson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. He played his entire career, from 1980 through 1987, for the Dolphins. He was a five-time Pro Bowl player.

Fred Taylor will make the announcement for Jacksonville. Taylor played for the Jags from 1998-2008, spending his last two seasons in New England. He topped the 1,000-yard mark seven times with Jacksonville, and is still the all-time rushing leader for the franchise.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Draft 2012: What Are Chances Dolphins Draft Ryan Tannehill?

Predictions are always something that can either make you look like a genius (Joe Namath) or make you look like a fool (Matt Hassleback). Regardless its always fun to put thoughts down as to how things are going to turn out in any given event.

Michael Lombardi of NFL.com has just published a list of predictions he has made with the 2012 NFL Draft, set to start on Thursday night at 8 p.m. There is one prediction in particular that Miami Dolphins fans should take notice with.

9. I believe the Miami Dolphins will in fact take Ryan Tannehill with the eighth pick. This is not a smoke screen. The quarterback that the Dolphins want their fan base to believe in will be the quarterback for their future.

The Dolphins have been linked with the Texas A&M quarterback for awhile now. It would not surprise many folks given that the Dolphins have both David Garrard and Matt Moore on their roster, both with NFL experience. This would give Tannehill a chance to develop under both quarterbacks and be the long term solution for Miami after one or more seasons on the bench.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars, Buccaneers Go Defense, Dolphins Go Offense

The 2012 NFL Draft is now less than a few days away. Thursday night fans will be waiting with bated breath to see who is the newest addition to their team. SB Nation released their latest mock draft on Monday and the Florida teams look to be selecting defense fairly high.

Starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 5 overall draft pick, SB Nation predicts them to choose cornerback Morris Claiborne of LSU.

This certainly looks like the dream scenario for Tampa. If Claiborne and Richardson are gone, they could certainly justify Kalil here, moving Donald Penn over to the right side.

The Bucs seem to have no shortage of moves they can make at No. 5. They already have a quarterback they are confident in with Josh Freeman, so they can look to help out their skill position players, their offensive line or the secondary with this pick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are also a team that has been wringing their hands, trying to figure out who would make the most sense. If Ryan Tannehill is available at No. 7, don't be surprised to hear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell say that a trade has been made and the Jaguars go down in the first round. However, this mock draft has Tannehill going to the Browns at No. 4.

So if he's off the board that early, who does Jacksonville choose at No. 7? The prediction here is defensive end Melvin Ingram of South Carolina.

You can never have too many pass rushers, and Ingram looks like the best in the class. He pairs nicely with Jeremy Mincey on the other side. Jacksonville would love to trade out of this spot, and some team might be willing to move up for Ingram or other players.

Ingram could be a player that comes in and makes immediate impact for the Jaguars defense. They could use anyone that brings more excitement to Jacksonville going forward.

Now what of the Miami Dolphins? If Tannehill is off the board here as was predicted, where do they go? Do they trade out and try to stockpile picks and address their quarterback needs in later rounds? Or do they look for someone to help the two quarterbacks they have now? With this mock draft, they are predicted to select Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd with the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Brandon Marshall is gone. Miami needs a No. 1 receiver to replace him, and they'll pick Floyd over Blackmon with both on the board.

Someone like Floyd will help with the quarterbacks they have under contract now, so there is a good chance that they will try to help them if they cannot get their quarterback of the future in the first eight picks.

The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Draft: Jaguars Could Have Trouble Trading Back From No. 7

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a pretty good pick at No. 7, but they might opt to trade back in the first round and gain some more picks, opting for quantity over quality. But that might not be the easiest thing to do according to Peter King at Sports Illustrated.

One of the things you're going to hear in the run-up to Thursday night's first round of the draft is how badly the Jacksonville Jaguars want to trade down from No. 7, which is true. And last night, one of the stories hatching around the league was that Seattle would move from 12 to seven -- ahead of Miami at eight -- to pick Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. I think it's unlikely, and not just because the Seahawks just bought a quarterback, Matt Flynn, in free agency, last month.

It might be difficult to see a way for the Jaguars to trade back right now, but when the draft is underway ad some prospect falls to No. 7 that a different team is totally in love with, things might change awfully fast for the Jaguars.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Not Pushing For Ryan Tannehill, According To Report

The Miami Dolphins need a franchise quarterback to ignite their fan base, and they hold the No. 8 overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, right around where Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill is projected to be drafted. Do you see what I am getting at here? A report came out recently that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is pushing for Tannehill, but Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald isn't so sure.

I can totally see Ross giving his opinion on players. He has done it in the past. My source, meanwhile, tells me Ross has not had any conversation with Jeff Ireland telling him which player to pick and that conversation will not happen, either.

Secondly, it's simply wrong to suggest the Dolphins drafting Tannehill will improve ticket sales in 2012. It will definitely not do so during the current period. It probably won't do so in training camp, either because everyone, including fans, know Tannehill is probably not going to start for Miami in 2012 even if he gets drafted -- at least not coming out of the gate.

We'll never really know for sure if the Dolphins' owner is pushing for Tannehill because if the Dolphins do elect to go with the young signal caller, we'll never hear that the owner strong armed the GM into making that decision. But Tannehill wouldn't be a bad fit for the Dolphins and it wouldn't surprise me if he was draft there.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins Owner Pushing To Draft Texas A&M QB?

Ryan Tannehill played wideout for the Texas A&M Aggies up until his junior season before being converted to quarterback for the remainder of his collegiate career.

As signal caller for the Aggies, Tannehill threw for 5,450 yards with 42 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. That's enough for Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to consider taking him with the eighth pick in the first round of this weeks NFL Draft, according to a report by ProFootballTalk.

It's unknown whether Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be selected with the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh choice in the 2012 NFL draft. If the converted receiver remains on the board at No. 8, it's believed that the Dolphins will be inclined to take him.

After missing out on Peyton Manning and Green Bay Packer's quarterback Matt Flynn in the offseason, Tannehill could be the answer to the Dolphins gaping hole at the QB position. Miami desperately needs something (or someone) to generate enough excitement to get fans back in the seats and behind the Dolphins once again.

Stay tuned to the NFL Draft this Thursday to see if Tannehill does indeed start his pro career in South Florida.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: The Sporting News Predicts Buccaneers, Jaguars, And Dolphins To Draft Defense

The Sporting News recently published their correspondents mock draft on their web site. What was a bit surprising on that mock draft was that for the three Florida NFL teams, none of them selected offense players. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn't as surprising with their choice as they were predicted to select cornerback Morris Claiborne of LSU with the No. 5 overall draft pick. The explanation comes via Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

The Bucs have bigger needs than cornerback, but the chance to land a player who can immediately solidify their secondary for perhaps the next decade is too much to pass on.

The Bucs could always use a bit more stability on the defensive set, given Ronde Barber's age and Aqib Talib's off-field troubles.

With the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Sporting News predicted they would select defensive end Melvin Ingram from the South Carolina Gamecocks with the No. 7 overall pick. The explanation with that pick comes via Gene Frennette of the Florida Times-Union.

Ideally, the Jaguars would like to trade down, possibly to Seattle at No. 12 and take wide receiver Michael Floyd if available. Being stuck at No. 7, though, Ingram is the safer pick.

Jacksonville's pass rush a season ago was one of the worst in the league so getting some help there would be a good pick for the Jaguars to make. However, if the opportunity presents itself to trade down and acquire more picks, I don't think Jacksonville would deny that if the price was right.

The Miami Dolphins, whom a lot of mocks have predicted them selecting quarterback Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M, were predicted to select defensive end Quinton Coples of the North Carolina Tarheels with the No. 8 overall pick. Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post claims that its too high to select a project like Tannehill.

Yes, the Dolphins need a young franchise quarterback, but don't expect them to use the eighth overall pick on developmental project Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins need instant impact players, and they can get an elite pass rusher in Coples.

The Dolphins could draft a player like Coples and then address the quarterback issue in later rounds. There are a pair of veterans on the roster for Miami right now so waiting til later rounds to not reach on a project quarterback could work in their favor.

The NFL Draft will begin on April 26 at 8 p.m. from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Draft: Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland Has 'Pretty Good Feeling' About Who He Will Take

The 2012 NFL Draft is now under a week away, and the Dolphins still have a lot of options as to what they may do with their No. 8 overall selection. According to Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland says he has a pretty good idea of what he is going to do with that pick, but then kind of contradicts himself in the next sentence.

During his annual pre-draft press conference that lasted nearly 30 minutes, Ireland said he and his staff finalized their draft board Wednesday night and that he has "a pretty good feeling at what I want at eight."

But, he added, "Every time I see another good player, that's a consideration at eight. I'm like, 'Wooh, that would be a good player to have.' There's some really good players in this year's draft, especially in the top 10. Some real impact players."

Anybody beyond the first couple of picks can't really know what is going to happen with their selection because they don't know which trades will happen before them or which players will be taken in the spots preceding theres. But at least Ireland has a good feeling about it.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Jaguars Could Show Interest In Stephen Hill, According To Report

The Jacksonville Jaguars threw Blaine Gabbert to the Wolves last year, starting him at quarterback without very much talent for him to throw to. They've added some talent there in free agency, but they could also be looking for some talent at that position in the Draft. According to Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union, they could be looking at Georgia Tech wideout Stephen Hill. Here is a little bit more info on where Hill could go in the Draft.

Hill is probably a second-round draft pick, or he could be a late first-rounder. I don't know that the Jaguars would be able to trade down far enough that they would take Hill in the first round. Kansas City, the most likely team to want to trade up and grab Ryan Tannehill, picks 11th. But it's possible if they like him that much. Some mock drafts have him going to the San Francisco 49ers at 30, but if he is available in the second round, that's a more likely scenario for the Jaguars.

And if you are unfamiliar with Hill as a prospect, here is a video profile on him from SB Nation.

Stephen Hill 2012 NFL Draft Profile (via sbnnfl)

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Peter King Predicts The Miami Dolphins Will Select Ryan Tannehill

With the NFL Draft a little more than a week away, Peter King of Sports Illustrated released his latest mock draft. In this mock draft, King not only predicted who he thought each team in the first round would choose, he also thought about who the teams should choose.

With the Miami Dolphins at the No. 8 overall draft pick, King predicts that the team should and will draft Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

If you're going to trust the coach you hired (Joe Philbin) to energize the offense and the coordinator you hired (Mike Sherman, who coached Tannehill in college) to tutor the quarterback, you've got to pick the triggerman they want. But you can't panic by moving up to take Tannehill, because that would most likely cost at least a second-rounder. Not worth it.

The Dolphins would be smart to not try and risk trading up to get Tannehill as it would be a fairly high cost to get him higher. The jury is still out on whether or not Tannehill could be a great quarterback in the NFL, but make no mistake, the Dolphins need a quarterback for the future.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Peter King Predicts Jacksonville Jaguars Will Choose Stephon Gilmore But Should Pick David DeCastro

With the NFL Draft now a little more than a week away, Sports Illustrated's Peter King has released his latest mock draft. King not only predicts who he thinks a team will pick in the draft, but he also explains who he thinks the team should pick.

For the Jacksonville Jaguars, King predicts that they will select South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Stephon Gilmore, but should select Stanford Cardinal guard David DeCastro with the No. 7 overall draft pick.

Like Tampa, Jacksonville has a major hole at cornerback, and I hear the Jags like Gilmore a ton, which would have to be the case for them to reach for him here. Still, I'd solve a position of need for the next 10 years with the second-best offensive lineman in the draft-and a guy with the mean streak Jacksonville's O-line needs-then take the corner in round 2.

The Jaguars have needs at both positions, so a decision to pick either player can only help the team out. However, the idea of selecting someone that could help with the pass rush is an idea that should not be ignored, especially if North Carolina defensive lineman Quinton Coples is available at this pick.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Peter King Predicts Buccaneers Will Select Morris Claiborne

The NFL Draft is a little more than a week away and Sports Illustrated's Peter King has released his latest mock draft. King goes a little more in-depth in his mock draft by going over who he thinks the team will pick and who the team should pick in the first round.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the No. 5 pick for King was obvious, LSU Tigers cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Ronde Barber is 37, and free agent corner Eric Wright is plenty leaky, so this is Tampa Bay's position of greatest long-term need. The Tigers trusted Claiborne on an island; as a pro he'll have to hold his own against NFC South gunslingers Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan if the Bucs are going to have a chance to be competitive.

A pick like Claiborne can help the Buccaneers build their secondary going into the 2012 season. Especially with Aqib Talib's ongoing troubles with the law.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: SBNation Mock Draft Has Buccaneers Picking Morris Claiborne, Jaguars Picking Quinton Coples And Dolphins Picking Ryan Tannehill

The SBNation Mock Draft went through all 32 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft. Blog writers for each team picked their team's first round pick, giving the reasons why. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fresh off of a free agency spending spree which should help improve offense selected LSU Tigers cornerback Morris Claiborne with the No. 5 overall draft pic according to Bucs Nation.

After a flurry of high-profile free agent signings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have managed to fill a number of needs, eliminating a few prospects from consideration for their fifth overall draft pick. The team still has two major needs it must fill, though, as they need a new starting linebacker and a third-down back who can act as a complement to the limited Legarrette Blount. However, no linebacker or running back on the board would represent great value with the fifth pick. While Luke Kuechly and Trent Richardson are both terrific players, picking 4-3 linebackers or running backs in the top 5 seems like a thing of the past. The Bucs haven't viewed these positions as particularly important in the past, either, mostly relying on mid- to late-round draft picks.

Instead, the Bucs are more likely to select cornerback Morris Claiborne. While the Bucs don't have a huge immediate need at the position with Aqib Talib, Eric Wright and Ronde Barber under contract, the team does not have a lot of certainty at cornerback. Ronde Barber has had a great career, but he's been steadily declining for years. Aqib Talib's various legal problems have been well-documented, and it's not even clear whether the former first-rounder will be able to enjoy his freedom during the season. Add to that possible discipline handed down by Roger Goodell, and the fact that he's entering the final year of his contract and he can't be counted on.

All of this means the Bucs must find a long-term, reliable starter at cornerback at some point in the next year, and Morris Claiborne could easily fit the bill. The LSU cornerback is the best cover cornerback to come out in years, and could immediately start in case of an Aqib Talib jail sentence and/or suspension. Barring that, he'd get a season to learn the ropes with Ronde Barber as a mentor, before becoming a likely starter in 2013. Either way, the Bucs get a good, young player who could be a long-term starter at a position in dire need of stability.

With the No. 7 overall draft pick in the SBNation Mock Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected North Carolina Tarheels defensive end Quinton Coples. A pick like Coples should help the Jaguars in the pass rush department. However, the writer of Big Cat Country says that maybe the right thing to do is to trade down and maybe look at another pass rusher while stockpiling picks.

Picking Coples at seventh overall has become the cliché, boring pick for the Jaguars, but with Morris Claiborne off the board, it's really the only player that makes sense. The Jaguars have lacked a legitimate pass rusher since ... well, forever. Tony Brackens was quite the pass rusher, but he hasn't been on the team since 2003. The failures of Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves from the 2008 Draft only further stagnated the pass rush.

Jeremy Mincey emerged for the team in 2011 with eight sacks, but he's less a pure pass rusher and more an every-down player that forces quarterback pressures with his high motor. Even if he does continue to improve in 2012, though, there is no pass rusher on the roster to have much faith in on the other side of the line.

A 6-6, 284 pound athletic freak like Coples is a risky, home-run type of pick, but the Jaguars need more star power and need to swing for the fences to find stars. In my opinion, the best idea would be for the Jaguars to trade down 10-15 picks and go after another pass rusher like Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus.

With the No. 8 overall draft pick in the SBNation Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill. While Tannehill has been the topic of much debate when it comes to whether or not he is ready to be a quarterback in the NFL, the Dolphins have two veteran quarterbacks already under contract, so the decision to draft Tannehill and sit him for at least a year and perhaps two could work in their favor.

Taking Tannehill here may not be a popular choice among Miami Dolphins fans. He's a reach at the eight spot, and I would agree with many fans that he may not be worth taking here. But, the Dolphins need a quarterback, and he's the top one left on the board.

There's a good possibility that the Dolphins could look at Melvin Ingram at this position as well, and I would love that pick. He's the perfect pass rusher the Dolphins need to pair with Cameron Wake. But, in the end, the need for a quarterback outweighs the pros for picking Ingram.

The Dolphins know Tannehill, having his head coach, Mike Sherman, as the team's new offensive coordinator. If they believe he is capable of being a franchise quarterback, then I am all for this pick -- even if it is a reach in a down quarterback draft year.

The actual NFL Draft begins on April 26, in two weeks, starting at 8 p.m. from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Bucs Get Morris Claiborne In Don Banks Latest Mock

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team that most feel can go one of two ways in the 2012 NFL Draft. Most experts tend to believe the Bucs will pick either Alabama running back Trent Richardson or LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the No. 5 overall pick. In his latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Don Banks of Sports Illustrated gives the Bucs a cornerback.

5 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Ronde Barber sounds a little re-invigorated by the opportunity to play for an all-business head coach like Greg Schiano. But that doesn't mean Barber can play forever. Tampa Bay still could use a young cornerback to carry the torch and Claiborne more than fits the bill.

The Bucs have one of Claiborne's old coaches on their roster so they should know plenty about him. In Banks' mock, Richardson went off the board to the Cleveland Browns, so the pick of Claiborne makes perfect sense in preparation for when Ronde Barber retires and if Aqib Talib finds himself in legal trouble again.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars Get Melvin Ingram In Don Banks Latest Mock Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the tougher teams to pick for in mock drafts, because they're a team that could go a handful of different was once their pick rolls around based on how the top six teams draft. One area of concern for the Jaguars is at the defensive end position and Don Banks of SI.com gives them a pass rusher in his latest NFL Mock Draft.

7 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

I still think the Jaguars might have a trade offer for their spot to weigh, with No. 8 Miami seemingly poised to select Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill if no one beats them to the punch. No. 11 Kansas City makes some sense, with the rookie providing some competition for less-than-entrenched Chiefs starter Matt Cassel.

As Banks notes, the Jaguars are a team who have made it known publicly they're willing to listen to offers to move out of the No. 7 overall pick. There is some concern of how well Ingram fits as a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL, but he's certainly a player the Jaguars could use on their defense.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins Get Ryan Tannehill In Don Banks New Mock

As we inch closer and closer to the 2012 NFL Draft, we're starting to see more of what it looks like teams are going to do in the NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins have been a tough team to pick for in mock drafts, but Don Banks of Sports Illustrated thinks they're going to get their quarterback of the future in his SI's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

8 - Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

If the Dolphins do land Tannehill, one of the takeaways will be that Miami obviously had more faith in new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman's evaluation of Tannehill's potential than new head coach Joe Philbin's evaluation of Matt Flynn's potential.

Tannehill lasting until No. 8 overall is the best case scenario for the Dolphins, but there is growing belief that the quarterback could be drafted as high as No. 4 by the Cleveland Browns or another team could trade up for him and leap the Miami Dolphins.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Brock Osweiler To Visit With Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins missed out on all of their opportunities to get a quarterback of the future during this offseason, whether it be trading up into the top two picks in the draft, signing Peyton Manning or even settling for someone like Matt Flynn or Alex Smith. They did sign David Garrard, but they still lack that young player to develop, which means they could be looking for help at that position in the draft. We've heard a lot of talk about Ryan Tannehill in the first round, but it looks like they'll be considering later round prospects as well, and will meet with Brock Osweiler in Miami according to the man himself.

Just landed in Miami...excited about my visit with the Dolphins!

— Brock Osweiler (@BrockOsweiler) April 9, 2012

Osweiler is the mammoth quarterback of Arizona State who has only started for a little bit over a year in his Sun Devil career. He stands 6 foot 7 and has a very strong arm, but he isn't ready to start in the NFL yet. He could sit for a few years and learn behind the placeholders the Dolphins have added at quarterback, and could turn out to be that young player the Dolphins have been waiting for at quarterback.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Morris Claiborne Gives Bucs Some Depth

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the more interesting situations in the 2012 NFL Draft. After spending oodles of cash to make roster upgrades in free agency, the team opened up more options for the fifth pick in the draft. In the latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft from SB Nation, the Bucs make a move to help their defense.

In this scenario, the Bucs take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Ronde Barber began his NFL career when Apple was a struggling company. Aqib Talib goes on trial in June for assault with a deadly weapon. They need some help in the secondary, and Claiborne is too good to pass up here. They can easily find a complementary running back to pair with LeGarrette Blount later in the draft.

Trent Richardson and another pass rusher like Quinton Coples or Melvin Ingram would also be options here. Claiborne is the best defensive player in the draft this year, and with the new rookie salary schedule, taking cornerbacks in the top five is no longer cost prohibitive.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars Opt For Michael Floyd

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in one of the more interesting and potentially powerful spots in the 2012 NFL Draft. With the seventh pick, they have a number of options at their disposal, as well as an enticing place for teams looking to trade up in the first round.

Of course, predicting trades is even harder than predicting which players will get drafted by teams. The latest mock draft at SB Nation leaves out the trade projections and foresees the Jags taking Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.

For a receiver class that people can't seem to stop bitching about, it seems odd to have two in the top 10. Floyd may not have the ceiling of the top two receivers taken last year, but he is big and catches the ball well. Blaine Gabbert needs a player like this in the offense with him.

If a trade is not in the cards, finding another pass rusher to bookend with Jeremy Mincey is another option some are holding forth for the Jags.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins Pass On Ryan Tannehill In SB Nation Mock

More and more mock drafts are linking the Miami Dolphins to Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The reasons are fairly obvious. Miami needs a young quarterback to groom into the face of the franchise. Matt Moore and David Garrard are fine temporary solutions, but they need a long term answer. The latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft at SB Nation has the Dolphins going a different direction, looking for more impact right off the bat.

This mock has them taking South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram. Here is the rationale for the pick:

No Tannehill here? Nope. A bad offseason may have Miami feeling a little risk averse. Drafting a top pass rusher will pay immediate dividends and make them competitive while they reconfigure the offense. Yes, Ingram is the first pass rusher taken in this scenario. There are too many questions about Coples' motivation, and Ingram's speed is appealing.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Gives The Dolphins A Quarterback

The Miami Dolphins are a team that can go a handful of different ways in the NFL Draft. One area of concern for the Dolphins is their answer long term at the quarterback position. Luckily for Dolphins fans, ESPN's Mel Kiper has the Dolphins picking up a quarterback in the first round of the draft.

8 - Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

We know Miami lacks a long-range plan at quarterback, and while Tannehill isn't a guy I'd endorse as an immediate starter, his ceiling is so high you can take him here with a plan in place because his rate of growth. His already sound mechanics and skill set imply a bright future. The talent isn't in question.

There is some belief Tannehill might not make it to the Dolphins' pick at eighth overall, but if he does the Dolphins can finally get their potential franchise quarterback.

42 - Miami - Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

A great fit in Miami's adjusted scheme, Branch offers late-first-round value at this spot.

In the second round, Kiper has the Dolphins picking up another defensive end as the team is making the transition to a 4-3 defense from the 3-4.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Thinks The Jaguars Add Pass Rush

One area of concern for the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into the 2012 NFL Draft is at the defensive end position. Despite bringing back Jeremy Mincey on a new four-year deal, the Jaguars still need someone opposite him on the defensive line. In ESPN's Mel Kiper's latest NFL Mock Draft, Kiper thinks the Jaguars add a pass rushing in the first round.

7 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

As versatile a defender as there is in the draft, Ingram provides immediate pass rush help to a Jacksonville defense that sorely needs it, and he offers great flexibility to any coaching staff that wants to mix up their looks, which is pretty much all of them. He isn't extraordinarily explosive, and has short arms, but he disengages very well and has an arsenal to attack blockers and opposing quarterbacks.

Ingram has been a fast riser in most mock drafts and would undoubtedly be an addition to a struggling Jaguars pass rush.

The other big area of need for the Jaguars is at the wide receiver position, and in the second round Kiper has the Jaguars picking up a local kid who played his college football in the Big 10.

38 - Jacksonville - A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

The Jags should get at least one wide receiver out of this draft class. They start with Jenkins, a riser on my board.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Has Morris Claiborne To Buccaneers

As we get closer and closer to the 2012 NFL Draft and now that free agency has run it's course for the most part, mock drafts begin to settle in closer to what teams might actually do. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the mock drafts haven't changed much, as ESPN's Mel Kiper gives the Bucs a guy most have pegged to them from the beginning in Kiper's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

5 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

A great player, an instinctive corner, a high-character kid and a guy that can make a sagging pass defense better from the day they draft him. What's not to like? Claiborne is hands down the best cover corner available in the draft, and the Bucs still need plenty of help with age and uncertainty dotting their secondary. This is a safe pick and a guy that should be very good for a long time.

Even though the Bucs have signed some players in the secondary, the NFL has become a passing league and it seems like you can never have enough quality defensive backs on your roster. In the second round of the mock draft, Kiper has the Bucs sticking with defense and adding another linebacker.

36 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

Slightly undersized, David is an elite playmaker and would go much higher if he measured out at a more conventional size.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit SB Nation's Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation. For more on the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Don Banks Predicts Two Defensive Players And A Quarterback For Florida Teams

With the NFL Draft now about three weeks away, the speculation is only going to get more and more frenetic the closer to draft day it becomes. SI.com football writer Don Banks released his latest mock draft and looking at all the Florida teams, there is one team that chooses something a bit unexpected. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Banks has them drafting LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Almost every draft season, like clockwork, we get a Wonderlic test score news leak. This year, the recent headline was that Claiborne scored a woefully low four (out of 50) on the NFL's favorite aptitude test. Proving what? Maybe that he's not a great test-taker? The film still seems to indicate Claiborne is a heck of a football player and the best defensive back in the 2012 draft. That's going to carry the day with someone in the top six, and the Bucs are the most cornerback-needy team in that neighborhood.

Claiborne may not be the smartest player in this draft, but if he can do well as a cornerback in the NFL I'm sure that this score will not be held against him.

Banks has the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting what could be considered a surprise. A lot of people expect the Jaguars to go with either an offensive lineman to help protect fledgling quarterback Blaine Gabbert or a wide receiver like Michael Floyd to provide another weapon. Banks has Jacksonville selecting South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram.

The Jaguars on the clock might entertain trade offers from teams trying to get Tannehill ahead of No. 8 Miami, and Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd seems to be a trendy pick for the Jags as well. But Ingram helps Jacksonville's anemic pass rush, and receiving depth is far more plentiful this year than impact edge rushers.

A good pass rusher would help the Jaguars out and they could help themselves on the offensive front in later rounds. Jacksonville will have a lot of choices when their 10 minutes come up at the end of April.

As for the Miami Dolphins, Banks predicts what a lot of people have been thinking of. Banks predicts that Miami will select Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

The Dolphins finally get their future starting quarterback, and it'll be offensive coordinator Mike Sherman's job to determine when it's time to transition from the Matt Moore/David Garrard tandem to the athletic and accurate former Aggie.

Miami has been desperate to find a franchise quarterback for over a decade, there is a good chance that Tannehill could be that quarterback if he transitions well to the NFL.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Trent Richardson To Tampa Bay, Justin Blackmon To Jacksonville And Quinton Coples To Miami In Latest Projections

The pro day season has ended for many major colleges and universities. Now the teams must go over the films and scouting reports of every player they are interested in before they hand in their pick at the 2012 NFL Draft. All the Florida teams have picks in the top eight of the draft, so special attention will be paid in the Sunshine State.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the thought was that Morris Claiborne of LSU would be a slam dunk for them. But in the most recent SBNation mock draft, Claiborne is selected at No. 3 by the Minnesota Vikings. Which would leave the Buccaneers at No. 5 to draft running back Trent Richardson of Alabama.

If Kalil were still available here, the Buccaneers would have a tough decision to make. They have a left tackle in Donald Penn, who signed a six-year deal in 2010. On the other side, they have Jeremy Trueblood who is terrible and entering the last year of a two-year contract extension. Ultimately, I doubt Kalil gets this far down the board. His talent might lure a team up, like the Rams, to the fourth spot if he falls past Minnesota. But Richardson is not a bad pick at all here, and gives Tampa's offense an excellent running game to complement the addition of Vincent Jackson as their top receiver.

Not a bad choice of players, Richardson is a great running back and can make the adjustment to the NFL right away. And while a pick on the defense would certainly help the Buccaneers improve under first year coach Greg Schiano.

For Jacksonville Jaguars, the question is simple. Do you build the offensive line to help protect whoever leads the offense, or give the leader a new weapon? This mock draft states that the Jaguars will draft Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

The Jaguars signed Laurent Robinson, but with just one productive year, he could be primed for disappointment or the top bargain in free agency. Either way, adding a second receiver helps their offense and whatever quarterback ends up ostensibly running it, Blaine Gabbert or Chad Henne.

If the Jags are going to try and build around Gabbert, an offensive line choice would be the safe pick, but drafting a wide receiver could provide the Jaguars some more offensive firepower to expand their offense.

As for the Miami Dolphins there are a lot of directions they could go in selecting their newest player. The SBNation Mock Draft has them selecting North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples.

After dealing away Brandon Marshall, Miami may be forced to give Michael Floyd some consideration here. Drafting Coples gives their defense, which is making the switch to a 4-3, another pass rusher on the outside.

Coples has a lot of ability and the Dolphins could use another rusher off the edge.

The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on Thursday April 26 on ESPN.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Behind The Steel Curtain Has Florida Teams Potentially Reaching

The blog 'Behind The Steel Curtain' just released their most recent mock draft on Friday. In there, the writer finds one team to be picking a sure thing and two teams to be potentially reaching for players.

Starting off with the No. 5 overall pick, here is the summary for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

No. 5, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

This pick is about as certain as Andrew Luck is to the Colts. The Bucs biggest need by far is at the corner position and the best player available is Morris Claiborne. Claiborne is a lockdown corner who in terms of coverage, is better than Patrick Peterson was coming out of LSU. He has the size, speed, and ability to be a lockdown corner in the NFL on the level of a Revis.

Claiborne is a player that the Bucs could really use on the defensive side. After using free agency to address some of the needs on offense, defense is a big need for them now and putting Claiborne with a veteran secondary member like Ronde Barber is only a good thing.

No. 7, Jacksonville Jaguars, Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

This is where the draft gets tough for me. The Jags are in a terrible spot here being forced to either reach to fill a need or take a player who does not fill a need that is better value. Floyd is their best option here because he fills their biggest need and has the potential to be the best WR in this class.

A decent enough explanation as to why they would draft Floyd here, but wouldn't an offensive lineman like Riley Reiff work out a little better here than a wide receiver? Sure you need to surround Blaine Gabbert with some weapons moving forward, but if he doesn't have protection it won't matter who is lined up on the outside. Still a receiver like Floyd can certainly step in right away and contribute.

No. 8, Miami Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

While I don't think Tannehill is worthy of a first round pick, I am trying to be accurate and it is looking more and more likely that the Dolphins will take Ryan at No. 8. The Dolphins forced themselves into this spot because they were unable to get any of the FA QB's to sign with them. Now they will be forced to reach for a QB prospect who is not very good.

Now I'm not fully sold on Tannehill either, but why the negativity? Isn't the whole point of a draft to be pulling talent that you think can lead your team going forward? Tannehill could very well amount to not a whole lot in the NFL, but obviously there is something there that coaches and scouts like in Tannehill and thats why he is starting to shoot up the draft board.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Todd McShay Going Along With Trends In Latest Mock

Todd McShay just came out with his latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft, and it has some picks that are starting to look pretty common among the Florida teams, starting with Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

This is a tough call because you could make an argument for taking LSU CB Morris Claiborne here and grabbing one of the second-tier running backs with the 36th pick. Richardson is a special prospect, though, and he could be just what QB Josh Freeman and the Bucs need to jump-start an offense that finished 30th in the league in rushing last season.

Next up is a pick that isn't quite as common, Iowa tackle Riley Reiff for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reiff is a safe, high-character pick who fits the draft style of Jags general manager Gene Smith. He will solidify the offensive line and provide protection for second-year QB Blaine Gabbert as he continues to develop. North Carolina DE Quinton Coples is the most talented player on the board at this point, but he's the kind of high-upside prospect who doesn't fit Smith's style.

Finally the pick that has become nearly unanimous over the past couple of weeks, Ryan Tannehill to the Dolphins.

Tannehill is still somewhat raw as a quarterback -- just 19 starts after beginning his career as a wide receiver -- but his athleticism and upside are impressive. He also makes better decisions than some give him credit for and he didn't get much help in his senior year, when he was coached by new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman.

McShay also provides picks for the second round of the draft and has all three teams building some depth along the trenches. The Buccaneers take North Carolina outside linebacker Zach Brown, the Jaguars take USC defensive end Nick Perry and the Dolphins take Mississippi tackle Bobby Massie.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Draft: Mark Domenik Says Bucs Are Willing To Trade Back

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers own the No. 5 pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, but they might make their first selection there when the draft finally rolls around. According to Stephen F. Holder of the Tampa Bay Times, GM Mark Domenik and the Bucs are open to trading down if that becomes an option.

"I really like where we're at in the draft, picking No. 5," Dominik said. "I know that we'll walk out with a good player if we stay at 5. But I'm willing to move back if I feel like the opportunity is there."

Dominik later added, "If I can move down some, do I? Yes. If I don't, then I'm happy where we're going to be at 5."

Based on what the Rams got for the second overall pick this year and what the Browns got for the No. 6 pick last year, this might not be a bad option for a Browns team that has a ton of holes to fill all over their roster.

For more on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, keep it locked to this StoryStream. But for more on this and all things Tampa Bay Buccaneers football, please head over to Bucs Nation.

2012 NFL Draft Order: List Of Eight Picks Owned By Dolphins

The NFL has released the official order of picks for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. You can find the complete list of picks, including the newly added compensatory picks, at SB Nation. But here is the list of picks that are owned by the Miami Dolphins.

Round 1 - Pick 8 - 8th Overall

Round 2 - Pick 10 - 42nd Overall

Round 3 - Pick 9 - 72nd Overall

Round 3 - Pick 10 - 73rd Overall

Round 4 - Pick 8 - 103rd Overall

Round 5 - Pick 10 - 145th Overall

Round 6 - Pick 27 - 196th Overall

Round 7 - Pick 8 - 215th Overall

It is also worth noting that this is only how the picks will be laid out before the draft starts, once teams start making trades it will obviously alter the order dramatically.

We'll have plenty more on the upcoming Draft in this StoryStream, so keep it locked for more information. For more on this and all things Miami Dolphins football, please check out the Phinsider.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Buccaneers Own 6 Picks In Upcoming Draft

The NFL has released the official order of picks for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, now complete with compensatory picks that teams have been awarded for losing some of their players over the last year. You can find the complete draft order here at SB Nation, but here is where the six picks that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers own will fall.

Round 1 - Pick 5 - 5th Overall

Round 2 - Pick 4 - 36th Overall

Round 3 - Pick 5 - 68th Overall

Round 5 - Pick 5 - 140th Overall

Round 6 - Pick 4 - 174th Overall

Round 7 - Pick 5 - 212th Overall

It bears repeating that this is only how the order will start out, as trades will drastically affect the order of picks during the actual NFL Draft.

For more on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, keep it locked to this StoryStream. But for more on this and all things Tampa Bay Buccaneers football, please head over to Bucs Nation.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Jacksonville Jaguars' 7 Picks Announced

The NFL has released the full 2012 NFL Draft order, and Jacksonville Jaguars fans will need to get their bathroom breaks in early as the Jags will not be waiting long to make their selections in each round. Here is a look at the current slate of picks for the Jaguars:

Round 1 - 7th Pick - No. 7 overall

Round 2 - 6th Pick - No. 38 overall

Round 3 - 7th Pick - No. 70 overall

Round 4 - 6th Pick - No. 101 overall

Round 5 - 7th Pick - No. 142 overall

Round 6 - 6th Pick - No. 176 overall

Round 7 - 21st Pick - No. 228 overall (from the Cincinnati Bengals)

In the 2011 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected DE Aldon Smith with the 7th overall draft pick. Unfortunately, Smith was only able to record 14.0 sacks (5th most in the NFL), 2 fumbles forced, a fumble recovery and a safety in his first season with the 49ers.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit SB Nation's Jags blog Big Cat Country or check out SB Nation's NFL news hub. Stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay for breaking news from all of Florida's major sports teams.

2012 NFL Draft: Bucs, Dolphins And Jags All Shutout On Compensatory Picks

The NFL announced compensatory draft picks for the 2012 NFL Draft on Monday afternoon. A total of 15 NFL teams received additional picks. The Buccaneers, Dolphins and Jaguars were not among the franchises that scored one of the 32 extra picks awarded by the league.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams losing "more or better" free agents than they signed in the previous year. Teams can receive a maximum of four compensatory picks. To determine compensatory picks, the league uses a formula that takes into account salary, playing time and a postseason appearances.

The league started awarding compensatory draft picks in 1994. Since then, the Buccaneers have received 18, the Dolphins 15 and the Jaguars 19 compensatory picks.

This highest compensatory pick awarded was as third-round pick for the Oakland Raiders who lost cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, among others, last year.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Morris Claiborne Still Penciled In For Buccaneers

The fellas over at SB Nation have come out with the latest edition of their 2012 NFL mock draft, and it has picks for the Buccaneers and the Jaguars that have become commonplace. It also has a pick for the Dolphins which might start to become pretty popular as well. But we start with Tampa Bay, and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 5

Ronde Barber is postponing Social Security checks to play another year. Aqib Talib somehow found a very large hole in the judicial system, allowing him to return this season, maybe. Having Claiborne ready to fill the void for either one of those players make Tampa's secondary that much better.

Next up is the Jaguars, who are projected to take North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples at No. 7.

For all the talk about the quarterbacks this year, it is worth remembering that pass rushers are at a premium. Jacksonville should experience some immediate dividends by drafting Coples, the top pass rusher in the draft, and putting him on the other side of the recently re-signed Jeremy Mincey.

Finally the Dolphins. Miami missed out on all of the big name available quarterbacks this offseason, so they might need to take a quarterback in the first round of the draft. That could mean Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M will be taking his talents to South Beach with the ninth overall pick.

Greg Cosell recently gave the Aggies' quarterback his seal of approval, calling him a "better prospect than [Christian] Ponder." With the veteran David Garrard and Matt Moore on staff already, Miami is in a good position to let Tannehill soak up the pro game without feeding him to the sharks right off the bat.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Draft: Latest Mock For Buccaneers, Dolphins, And Jaguars

The countdown to the 2012 NFL Draft is in full swing, and experts are weighing in on where they think the top prospects will end up. Don Banks of SI.com released his latest mock draft on Friday. Here is what he thinks the team of the Sunshine State will do.

First for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he feels they will take Morris Claiborne of LSU with the fifth pick.

"Even with Ronde Barber back for another year and Eric Wright signed in free agency, the Bucs should be thrilled to find Claiborne sitting there as a starting fixture at cornerback. "

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the seventh pick, and Banks thinks they will bolster their defense by taking defensive lineman Melvin Ingram of South Carolina

"Ingram seems like the kind of consistent and powerful defender that Jaguars GM Gene Smith looks for, and the team's pass rush needs significant help."

Finally, Banks thinks the Miami Dolphins will address their quarterback issues by taking Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M eighth.

"But unless Miami is prepared to play the season with either Matt Moore or David Garrard at quarterback, Tannehill looks like a solid roll of the dice. His relationship with new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman from their Texas A&M days should mean he's a known quantity."

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Buccaneers Shift Focus Off Of Cornerback

Now that Free Agency has altered the landscape of the upcoming NFL Draft, the guys over at SB Nation have come out with a new revised version of their 2012 NFL Mock Draft to reflect the changes in team needs. The first is with the No. 5 pick owned by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They had previously been linked to Morris Claiborne of LSU, but they explain why running back Trent Richardson is a better choice.

Tampa Bay invested heavily in their offense last week. Richardson is the pièce de résistance. With Carl Nick opening holes for him and Vincent Jackson helping to keep defenses honest, the Buccaneers' offense could be very good in 2012. Morris Claiborne might be the pick here. The team signed Eric Wright for five-years, $37.5 million and expects Aqib Talib to return, so they might wait on a cornerback.

With Tampa Bay looking at other options, it enables Claiborne to slide down a little bit further down the board. He lands with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 7.

Claiborne takes a precipitous fall in the first mock draft following free agency. Jacksonville is just fine with that. The Jaguars wisely re-signed Rashean Mathis, but he is 32 and recovering from a torn ACL. Claiborne is a brilliant cover corner with fine ball skills that should have an impact even as a rookie.

Finally the Dolphins, who aren't gifted a quarterback option that suits them. As a result, they take a defensive end who could help with their conversion to the 4-3 defense.

First, Jeff Fisher rejected them. Peyton Manning never really seemed to want anything to do with them. As a final insult, the Dolphins lost out to Seattle on Matt Flynn, despite Joe Philbin's ties to the quarterback. Watch for them to trade up as Ryan Tannehill gets more attractive as a consolation prize. Or, will they trade down for Brandon Weeden?

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Final SB Nation Mock Before Free Agency

The NFL Combine is over, and NFL Free Agency is about to open up. That will totally change the look of the upcoming NFL Draft because teams will be able to sign players to fill holes they might have ben targeting early round picks to fill. So the guys at SB Nation just released one final 2012 NFL Mock Draft before Free Agency messes it all up. Morris Claiborne performed well enough at the combine that he is now out of reach for the Bucs. As a result, they take Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

You rarely see running backs in the draft this good, not since Adrian Peterson. Richardson's stock should only rise after his March 27 pro day. This is a good addition for Tampa Bay's offense.

Next up is Quinton Coples to the Jaguars at No. 7, a pick that has been pretty consistent over the past few weeks.

Coples stays in this spot again this week because he is the best pass rusher in the draft. His future is on the outside in a 4-3, which is perfect for the Jaguars. If they can get Jeremy Mincey re-signed and plug some holes in their secondary, Jacksonville's defense could net them a few more wins this season.

Finally the Dolphins, who take a little bit of a chance on LSU defensive lineman Michael Brockers.

Brockers represents an unknown. He offered only a "meh" performance at the Combine, but he was an integral part of one of the best defensive fronts in college football. The Dolphins are moving to a 4-3 defense. Brockers gives them a solid presence in the middle, but they have to develop him as a pass rusher to justify a top-10 pick.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Combine Does Not Change Much For Florida Teams

The NFL Combine has come and gone, which means the next big thing on the NFL calendar is the Draft in April. A lot of players will move around the board based on their Combine performances, but it hasn't changed much for the Florida teams in the new 2012 NFL Mock Draft from SB Nation. One thing it did change is the Bucs pick at No. 5, where LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne might have earned a higher pick. As a result, they take Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Richardson was limited at the Combine, but his impassioned defense of the value of running backs was hard to ignore, in his case anyway. Richardson is the exception that proves the rule -- a talented, versatile running back that can improve an offense from the first snap of the season.

Next up the Jaguars who take North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples. . . again.

Coples did nothing at the Combine to upset his status as the top outside pass rusher in the draft this year. In fact, Coples' speedy times in the workouts confirmed his explosive ability. The Jaguars could make some quick gains and help out Blaine Gabbert by improving their defense. They are talking contract with Jeremy Mincey. Pairing him with Coples would improve their pass rush.

Finally the Dolphins, who get a little bit of a surprise when Justin Blackmon slides to them at No. 8.

Prior to the Combine, most would have thought it impossible that Blackmon fell outside the top five. A week in Indy was a good reminder of exactly what people mean when they say the Oklahoma State product is not A.J. Green. Blackmon looks like he will be a fine receiver in the NFL. At his pro day, we may get a better idea whether or not he can be a dynamic one or just a solid possession receiver. Either way, the Dolphins could use a second set of hands to go with Brandon Marshall. That should make life easier for whoever their quarterback is this season.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Combine Results: UCF's Josh Robinson Takes Home Fastest 40-Yard Time

In Combine news of local interest, former Central Florida defensive back Josh Robinson took home the fastest 40-yard dash time of the 2012 NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.33 seconds.

Robinson was also a top performer in the broad jump, as his 11-foot-1-inch leap tied for the best among all participants with Georgia Tech Wide Receiver Stephen Hill. Robinson ranked 11th in vertical jump with a 38.5-inch mark.

Robinson's Combine scouting report notes his incredible athletic ability, but mentioned that he would need to run well to separate himself from the deep pack of defensive backs. With numbers like that, you have to believe his stock will go up from the "fifth-round value" he entered the Combine with.

In other local Combine news, former Miami wide receiver Travis Benjamin was right behind Robinson in the speed department. His 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds was second among all Combine participants.

For more on the NFL Combine and complete coverage leading to the NFL Draft, make sure to head to Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Combine Results: LSU DB Morris Claiborne Works Out For Scouts

According to the latest SB Nation Mock NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be taking LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne with the fifth overall pick. "The Honey Badger" as he has become to be known, worked out for the scouts in Indianapolis Tuesday. Here are his official results.

40 Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds

Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches

Broad Jump: 118 inches

Three Cone Drill: 7.01 inches

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.12 seconds

60 Yard TD Shuttle: 11.44 seconds

In an interview with NFL.com after his workout, Claiborne was happy with his results, and expects to run again on his pro day. He did not take part in the bench press, as to avoid aggravating a wrist injury he played with during the 2011 season. Given the Bucs' need for a defensive back, fans may want to keep an eye on him leading up to the draft.

For more on Claiborne, check out his official Combine page. For more on the Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the NFL Combine and Draft, head on over to Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Florida Teams Following Popular Trends

We're still in the middle of the 2012 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but a lot has changed already based on what we've seen. SB Nation has come out with a new 2012 NFL Mock Draft that reflects some of those changes, but the Florida teams still have the picks that have become very popular across the Mocks on the Internet. it starts with Tampa Bay taking Morris Claiborne at No. 5.

Talk about a pick that could change drastically between now and late April. Aqib Talib faces a March trial for an assault charge, while Ronde Barber is pondering his football future. Given two big question marks, even if one is not available next year, this moves from moderate need to desperate need.

Up next the Jaguars who take North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples to help aide their pass rush.

The Jags struggled to generate much of a pass rush and their defense suffered accordingly. The Jaguars have some serious offensive skill position issues as well, but they would be reaching for a receiver at this point. Coples would make for a strong bookend to Jeremy Mincey if the Jaguars can re-sign him. If Mincey does not return, it makes Coples all the more important.

Finally the Dolphins who add to their offensive line with Iowa tackle Riley Reiff.

The Dolphins will need to find an able replacement for Marc Colombo to protect their QB (whomever that might be) following a season in which they finished 30th in Football Outsiders' Adjusted Sack Rate. Jonathan Martin could still work his way up draft boards, but for now Reiff is the answer to their right tackle needs. Teams do not often invest a high pick in a right tackle, but bookending him with Jake Long could set the Dolphins OTs up for the next several years.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Combine: Schedule And Preview For Sunday

The list of potential draftees being poked, prodded and judged lightens a bit on Sunday in Indianapolis, when the kickers, offensive lineman and tight ends exit the 2012 NFL Combine. Taking their place in the workout spotlight are the "juicier" names, the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.

While those skill positions players are showing off their speed and strength, defensive lineman and linebackers will be undergoing psychological tests and having interviews with teams. Defensive backs, the last group to arrive in Indianapolis, will be having their measurements taken and undergoing medical exams.

Today is traditionally an exciting day at the combine, as some wide receivers and running backs are likely to break stopwatches, while others will appear to be running in cement shoes, dropping their stock in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.

The entire NFL Scouting Combine schedule may be found here. The NFL Network will broadcast drills beginning at 9:00 a.m. and also stream the workouts online.

For more on the NFL Combine, check out Mocking The Draft and SB Nation's Combine StoryStream.

2012 NFL Combine: Florida State, Miami Linemen Participate In Drills

Saturday is Day 4 of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, and it is also the first day potential draftees are participating in drills. The offensive lineman, tight ends and kickers are on display, doing timing, station and skill drills, and several lineman from Florida schools have already participated in drills Saturday morning.

Florida State Seminoles linemen Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko ran 5.41 and 5.22 times in the 40-yard dash, with Brandon Washington from the University of Miami posting a time of 5.19. Datko did not participate in the 225 pound bench press, while Sanders and Washington each did 28 reps.

NFL.com will be live streaming all of Saturday's combine workouts online:

9:00-11:45 A.M.: OL, PK, ST workouts
12:30-3:00 P.M: TE workouts

A full combine schedule is available here. And here's a full invite list.

For complete coverage of the 2012 NFL Combine and the 2012 NFL draft, head over to Mocking The Draft. For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Seminoles, visit Tomahawk Nation. For more on the Miami Hurricanes, visit Seventh Floor Crew.

2012 NFL Combine: Day 4 Sees Offensive Lineman Begin Skill Drills As Defensive Backs Arrive

Saturday is Day 4 of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and it is the first day teams will get to see potential draftees participate in skills drills. The first arrivals to the combine, the offensive lineman, tight ends and kickers, will be finishing up their visit with timing, station and skill drills, while the final group of players, the defensive backs, will be arriving to begin their four day odyssey through the combine.

Four Florida State Seminoles will run through drills today: offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko, tight end Beau Reliford and kicker Shawn Powell. Sanders has been projected in some mock drafts as a late first round choice.

Here's the complete 2012 NFL Combine day four schedule:

• P, K, OL, TE: Workouts (timing, stations, skill drills)
• QB, WR, RB: NFLPA Meeting, psychological testing, interviews
• DL, LB: Measurements, medical examinations, media, psychological testing, interviews
• DB: Registration, orientation, interviews

NFL.com will also be streaming Saturday's combine workouts online:

9:00-11:45 A.M.: OL, PK, ST workouts
12:30-3:00 P.M: TE workouts

A full combine schedule is available here. And here's a full invite list.

For complete coverage of the 2012 NFL Combine and the 2012 NFL draft, head over to Mocking The Draft. For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Seminoles, visit Tomahawk Nation. For more on the Florida Gators, visit Aligator Army. For more on theSouth Florida Bulls, visit Voodoo Five.

2012 NFL Combine: Florida's Chris Rainey Measures Out At 5-Foot-8; USF's Darrel Scott Measures Out At 6-Foot-0

In local Combine news, former Florida Gator running back Chris Rainey and former South Florida running back Darrell Scott received their official measurements in Indianapolis today.

Rainey measured out at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds. His NFL.com scouting report mentions that Rainey could challenge the record for fastest 40-yard dash time at the Combine, which is currently 4.24 seconds held by Chris Johnson set in 2008. With a good enough workout, NFL.com feels he could move up into the middle rounds.

As for Darrell Scott, he comes into the Combine at 6-foot-0 and 231 pounds. The power back left South Florida a year early, and he will be looking to show that it was a good decision during the Sunday workout. He has been left out of most mock drafts, so improving his stock will be crucial.

For complete coverage of the 2012 NFL Combine and the 2012 NFL draft, head over to Mocking The Draft. For more on the Florida Gators, visit Aligator Army. For more on the South Florida Bulls, visit Voodoo Five.

2012 NFL Combine: Plenty Of Florida State Players Arrive In Indianapolis As Day 1 Kicks Off

Wednesday marks the official start of the 2012 NFL combine. The first group of players arrive in Indianapolis, and undergo off-the-field examinations as NFL scouts begin to fill out their files on this year's prospects. The first group to arrive are the special teams players, offensive linemen, and tight ends. As usual, there will be plenty of players representing the state of Florida this year.

The Seminoles will be well-represented on Wednesday, as four FSU prospects will arrive in Indianapolis, led by offensive tackles Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko. Sanders has been projected to go as high as the first round, with some mock drafts having him land in Pittsburgh at No. 24.

Read a complete draft profile of Sanders at Mocking the Draft.

As for Datko, Wednesday will be a big day for the Seminoles best offensive lineman. The mammoth tackle played only the first four games last season, before having issues with his surgically repaired shoulder. The medical review will begin tomorrow with pre-exams and x-rays, followed by complete tests on Thursday.

Read a complete draft profile of Datko at Mocking the Draft.

Other FSU players arriving on Wednesday are tight end Beau Reliford and kicker Shawn Powell. Reliford is predicted to go on the final day of the draft, falling to the fifth or sixth round.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Seminoles, visit Tomahawk Nation, SB Nation's FSU blog. For more on the Gators, be sure to check out Alligator Army, SB Nation's Florida blog. And for all your Hurricanes news, check out The 7th Floor.

2012 NFL Combine: Records That Could Fall In Indianapolis This Weekend

The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine starts tomorrow in Indianapolis, and it will give the best players in the Draft a chance to improve or at the very least solidify their draft position.

The 40-yard dash is the premier event, and could make or break some prospects in terms of where they could be drafted. It doesn't mean much for a prospect in terms of his success in the NFL , but occasionally you'll get a guy like Chris Johnson who translates his speed to the field and finds success there. Here are some other records that could fall this weekend in Indy, via Top End Sports and SB Nation.

40-Yard Dash
4.24 - Rondel Melendez, WR, Eastern Kentucky - 1999
4.24 - Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina - 2008
4.28 - Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton - 2005
4.28 - Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia - 1999
4.28 - DeMarcus Van Dyke, DB, Miami - 2011
4.28 - Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson - 2010

Bench Press (Most 225-Pound Reps)
51 - Justin Ernest, DT, Eastern Kentucky - 1999
49 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State - 2011
45 - Mike Kudla, DE, Ohio State - 2006
45 - Leif Larsen, DT, Texas-El Paso - 2000
45 - Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas - 2010

Vertical Jump (In Inches)
46 - Gerald Sensabaugh, FS, North Carolina - 2005
45 1/2 - Derek Wake, OLB, Penn State - 2005
45 - Chris McKenzie, CB, Arizona State - 2005
45 - Chris Chambers, WR, Wisconsin - 2001
45 - Donald Washington, CB, Ohio St. - 2009

10-Yard Dash
1.40 - Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia - 2009
1.40 - Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina - 2008
1.40 - Justin King, CB, Penn State - 2008
1.41 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State - 2008

20-Yard Shuttle
3.73 - Kevin Kasper, WR, Iowa - 2001
3.76 - Deion Branch, WR, Louisville - 2002
3.78 - Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina - 2004
3.79 - Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia - 1999

Three-Cone Drill
6.42 - Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon - 2011
6.44 - Buster Skrine, DB, Tennessee-Chattanooga - 2011
6.45 - Sedrick Curry, CB, Texas A&M - 2000
6.48 - Rogers Beckett, FS, Marshall - 2000

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Combine: Schedule Of Arrivals And Events

The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine is set to start on Wednesday with the first day of arrivals and testing. The real nitty gritty kicks off on Thursday when that first group of arrivals will start producing the data that draftniks will salivate over. Here is the schedule of arrivals and events that will take place over the next week or so.

The first day of arrivals is slated for Wednesday, and it features kickers, punters, offensive lineman and tight ends. Thursday will see the arrivals of the skill positions, quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, the most highly anticipated group of the week. The defensive lineman and linebackers will arrive on Friday while the defensive backs are scheduled to arrive on Saturday. The following schedule is what each group will go through, throughout their time in Indianapolis.

Day 1
Arrive in Indianapolis, Register, Exams and X-rays, Orientation Interviews

Day 2
Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media Session, Psychological Testing, Interviews

Day 3
NFLPA Meeting, Psychological Testing, PK/ST Workout, Interviews Saturday,

Day 4
Workout (timing, stations, skill drills), Departure from Indianapolis

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: CBS Sports Says Trent Richardson To Bucs

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports came out with his new 2012 NFL Mock Draft and it has some interesting players falling to the Florida teams. But it starts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking a little bit of a risk with Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

The Bucs don't have any obvious holes, but could use upgrades in a number of areas. And with the hiring of Greg Schiano as head coach means Richardson to Tampa Bay makes sense as the former Rutgers coach will seek a hard-nosed runner for his run-heavy offense. Tampa Bay averaged only 91.1 rushing yards per game (30th) last season and incumbent back LaGarrette Blount has struggled with durability and ball security issues.

Next up is the Jaguars, who luck out and get Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon who inexplicably falls to No. 7 overall.

Despite the struggles of rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert, I'm not buying the logic of Jacksonville selecting another quarterback in the top 10 of the draft. The Jaguars have filled their roster with mid-round receivers, but lack a true No. 1 threat and Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon could fall in their laps. I don't believe Blackmon is in the same class as AJ Green or even Julio Jones, but he brings a big, playmaking target that the Jaguars' offense (and Gabbert) desperately need.

Finally the Dolphins who get another tumbler in Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, who could fit in nicely next to Jake Long.

The Dolphins have needs on defense, but could fill a hole opposite Pro Bowler Jake Long at right tackle with this pick. Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff isn't yet a finished product, but offers obvious upside and would be an upgrade over aging Marc Columbo. The Dolphins might be candidates to draft a quarterback, but Matt Moore played better than expected last season and free agent Matt Flynn could soon be in South Beach with the hiring of former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the new head coach.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Has Trent Richardson Going To Tampa Bay

ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper released his latest mock draft today. In that, despite the growing popular thought that Morris Claiborne could be selected by the Buccaneers, he has the Bucs selecting Alabama RB Trent Richardson with the No. 5 pick.

I'll say it again -- don't simply dismiss the idea that Richardson could land here because of the presence of LaGarrette Blount. A great running team now needs more than one good back, and Richardson is by far the best back on the board this year. As well, if the Bucs are going with a "best player available" mantra early on -- very possible given a wide range of needs -- Richardson would make a lot of sense here. Blount has power, but he's far more limited as an all-around back than Richardson. The Bucs were actually below league average in yards per rush in 2011, and could look to improve there.

Two picks later at No. 7, Kiper has the Jacksonville Jaguars taking North Carolina DE Quinton Coples

If the Jags don't add help at wide receiver in free agency, they could look for help here, but they're also desperate for pass rush help. They sacked opposing quarterbacks fewer than two times a game in 2011, and Coples would fit in the scheme as the top 4-3 defensive end in the draft. He has ideal physical traits, with great length at 6-foot-6, and the size to hold up in the run game, complementing his pass-rush skills. Jacksonville is another team that simply needs to upgrade the talent level, so it shouldn't reach on offense at the cost of adding superior talent.

Finally Kiper has the Miami Dolphins, another two picks later at No. 9, selecting Iowa OT Riley Reiff

The Dolphins will be adding a quarterback, and Reiff helps them finish what could be a solid offensive line in 2012. Reiff's tape was exceptional this past season, and given how complete he is right now, stepping in immediately on the right side shouldn't be a problem. Outside linebacker also makes some sense here, but Miami knows its offense is really close, and Reiff makes the quarterback situation that much more appealing, regardless of who takes the snaps. The Dolphins aced their first-round pick last year, also hitting the O-line. Wouldn't hurt them one bit to double down.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Morris Claiborne Projected To The Buccaneers, Again

The NFL Draft is getting here every so slowly. but the Mock Drafts are coming in faster than ever! The latest is from Walter Football, and they have a bit of a surprising pick for the Jaguars. But first, the Buccaneers and Morris Claiborne, which has now just become a necessity at this point.

All indications are that the Buccaneers will definitely consider a cornerback in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Aqib Talib could be going to jail, while Ronde Barber will probably retire this offseason. The corner position is a dire need for Tampa.

Next the Jaguars, who reach significantly for Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.

The Jaguars drafted Tyson Alualu, a second-round prospect, at No. 10 overall two years ago. That was a bigger reach than this, so please don't think that this can't happen.

Finally the Dolphins, who take Quinton Coples from North Carolina, a pick that is starting to make a lot more sense.

Mocking Quinton Coples to the Dolphins didn't make much sense a month ago, but new head coach Joe Philbin announced that he wants to convert this defense to a 4-3. That's a very strange move, given that Miami's stop unit wasn't the problem last year. I already thought the Philbin hire was a curious one to begin with, given the horrible event that just occurred in his life; his illogical moves make my belief stronger.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Buccaneers Continue To Be Linked To Morris Claiborne

The guys over at SB Nation just came out with the latest edition of their 2012 NFL Mock Draft, and it continues on some trends for the local teams. That starts with Morris Claiborne of LSU going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 5 overall selection.

A perfect match of talent and need, Claiborne will make the Bucs' secondary respectable again in 2012. Aqib Talib is bound for breaking rocks and Ronde Barber is pondering retirement after 16 seasons. The new administration in Tampa Bay will appreciate Claiborne's character as much as his talent.

The Jaguars then add some offensive talent tot heir roster at No. 7 with Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.

This is one giant leap for 2012 NFL draft punditry. Buzz is emanating from the internet, as it is wont to do, that Floyd will surprise people with his Combine workout. A good day on the track inside Lucas Oil Stadium could vault Floyd over Blackmon as the top receiver in this draft class.

Finally the Dolphins who add Quinton Coples of North Carolina to their defense. Coples had been a popular choice for the Jaguars at No. 7 but he doesn't slide out of the top ten.

The Dolphins are the second team in the AFC East to announce a shift to the 4-3 defense. Adding Coples gives Miami a natural fit for an outside pass rusher in a four-man front. Coples carries a high potential to bust in this draft. Like most UNC players, he seemed to be in cruise control last year, and then he flashed moments of greatness at the Senior Bowl.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Will Jaguars Surround Blaine Gabbert With Talent?

The guys over at the Sporting News have come out with a new version of a 2012 NFL Mock Draft, and they are in line with some picks that we have seen around the Internet for a while now. It starts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5, and they have them taking LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

New coach Greg Schiano is regarded as a disciplinarian, which could spell the end for cornerback Aqib Talib. Claiborne would give him an elite athlete to replace Talib or to replace Ronde Barber, 36, in a season or two if they keep Talib.

Next up are the Jaguars, who are looking to surround new quarterback Blaine Gabbert with some talent. They have the Jags taking Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.

If young QB Blaine Gabbert is going to develop, the Jaguars must find talented receivers for his targets. Floyd is strong, runs sharp routes and has the great ball skills to be a No. 1 wideout.

Finally the Dolphins, who take Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin.

We believe the Dolphins are the front-runners to sign QB Matt Flynn as a free agent, and they will want to upgrade their pass protection for their new prize. So they grab Martin to replace right tackle Marc Colombo.

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Trent Richardson Projected To The Bucs In 2012 NFL Mock Draft

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano will looking be to change the fortunes of his new team in 2012. To help him accomplish this task, CBS Sports Rob Rang believes the Bucs will look to select Alabama running back Trent Richardson. According to his recently released 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Rang thinks the team will grab Richardson in order to provide Schiano with another weapon and added depth at the running back position.

The Bucs have plenty of pressing needs, as they are coming off a 4 win,12 loss season and currently own the fifth pick in April's draft. In current starting running back LaGarrette Blount, the team has a player who carried the load and exceeded projections in his 2010 rookie campaign, but struggled in 2011. Rang believes Richardson is capable of making an immediate impact for the Bucs and will take pressure of quarterback Josh Freeman as he continues his development.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Where Do Buccaneers Turn If Morris Claiborne Is Unavailable?

The 2012 NFL Draft is getting closer and closer every day, but we're still a ways off so we still have to cling to our Mock Drafts. The latest is from our very own Draft site Mocking the Draft, and they have some interesting choices for the Florida teams. Morris Claiborne has become a near unanimous pick for the Buccaneers at No. 5, but in this mock he is off the boar.d So they have the Bucs taking Trent Richardson to help the run game.

Trent Richardson makes a ton of sense for the Buccaneers. LaGarrette Blount is definitely more of a situational running back, and Trent Richardson is the top prospect available at this pick with Morris Claiborne off the board.

Next up are the Jaguars, and this pick has been pretty much agreed upon, at least by those who don't make the decisions. The Jaguars need pass rush and North Carolina's Quinton Coples is still available.

There are some concerns about Coples' motor, but he dominated at the Senior Bowl, and odds are in favor of him being a top-ten pick in April. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been searching for an elite pass rusher for a while, and with Jeremy Mincey becoming a free agent, the need could be even more glaring by the time the draft rolls around.

Finally the Dolphins, who take Jonathan Martin of Stanford, another pick which has become very popular.

Regardless of who the Dolphins decide to put under center in 2012, the team will need to provide better protection for their signal caller. Jonathan Martin is definitely a step below both Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff, but with the value of offensive linemen increasing all the time, Martin should find his way into the top ten.

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NFL Draft Combine 2012: Darrell Scott Only South Florida Football Player Participating

South Florida Bulls football running back Darrell Scott will be the only USF player participating in the 2012 NFL Draft Combine Feb. 22-28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Scott, who decided to depart South Florida in early Jan. after just one season, will try to impress NFL scouts, front office personnel and experts as they all prepare for the 2012 NFL Draft in April.

Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic running back Alfred Morris and Florida International wide receiver Ty Hilton were also on the list.

Out of the two, Hilton has the highest probability of being draft as NFLDraftScout.com has him as a fourth-round selection, while Morris has no rating.

For more on Hilton NFL Draft future check out his NFL Draft profile at Mocking The Draft.

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NFL Draft Combine 2012: Miami Football Will Have Seven Players Participating

The 2012 NFL Draft Combine list of participants was officially announced Tuesday, and seven Miami Hurricanes will try to impressive NFL scouts, franchise's front office personnel and experts Feb. 22-28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

The the Miami football players who's name's were on the list are: offensive lineman Brandon Washington, defensive lineman Olivier Vernon, wide receiver Tommy Streeter, running back Lamar Miller, quarterback Jacory Harris, defensive line Marcus Forston and wide receiver Travis Benjamim.

Miller currently is the only Hurricane who could be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, while Streeter could be a second-round pick if his speed is impressive enough, said ESPN Draft Expert Mel Kiper Jr. in later January.

Washington is also another player that could be helped by the combine, while Harris and Vernon will need very strong performances to even be considered by teams to select them.

For more on the NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft. For more on Miami football, check out the SB Nation blog The Seventh Floor Blog.

NFL Draft Combine 2012: Florida Football Will Be Represented By Three Players

The 2012 NFL Draft Combine list of participants was officially announced Tuesday, and three Florida Gators football players -- running back Jeff Demps, defensive tackle Jaye Howard and wide receiver Chris Rainey -- will try to impressive NFL scouts, franchise's front office personnel and experts Feb. 22-28 in at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Currently, the Gator moving up the draft board the most is Rainey, who switched from a running back to a wide receiver and performed well at that position during the Senior Bowl. According to NFLDraftScouts.com, Rainey is currently a 3-4th round draft pick, but could vault up board with a strong showing in Indy.

Meanwhile, Howard is projected as a 6-7th round pick by NFL Draft Scouts and will need a good performance to make sure he gets selected during the three-day event in April.

Demps ' name was on the NFL Combine list, but he made it clear that he'd like to pursue the Olympics instead of the NFL Draft.

For more on the NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft. For more on Florida football, check out the SB Nation blog Alligator Army.

NFL Draft Combine 2012: Florida State Football Will Be Represented By Six Players

The 2012 NFL Draft Combine list of participants was officially announced Tuesday, and six Florida St. Seminole football players will try to impressive NFL scouts, franchise's front office personnel and experts, Feb. 22-28 at Lucus Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

On the list of participates for the Seminoles where: linebacker Nigel Bradham, offensive lineman Andrew Datko, corner back Mike Harris, punter Shawn Powell, offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders and tight end Beau Reliford.

Currently, Datko and Sanders are the highest rated players heading into the combine. Both players will be looking to put on a solid showing, so they can improve their draft stock.

Meanwhile, the rest are just trying to put on a good enough showing to be drafted and live out their dreams of becoming a professional football player.

For more on the NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft. For more on Florida State football, check out the SB Nation blog Tomahawk Nation.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Morris Claiborne Becoming Near Unanimous Choice For Buccaneers

The latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft is up over at Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Arizona Cardinals blog, and it doesn't have a ton of surprises. In fact, it starts off with something we've seen almost constantly, Morris Claiborne to the Buccaneers at No. 5.

Claiborne is a future lockdown corner and worthy of a top five pick.

The Jaguars make the lone surprise early in this Mock, reaching a bit for South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery.

The Jaguars put weapons around Gabbert to help him grow into the NFL QB they hope he can be and hope to make their running game even more deadly.

Finally the Dolphins, who take Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin.

Martin slides in at RT and creates a tackle tandem with Long that makes Miami and ideal location for Flynn, Manning, or any other QB.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Buccaneers Take A Risk With First Round Running Back

Now that the Super Bowl is over, we can all start to focus on the upcoming NFL Draft in earnest, finally. SB Nation just came out with the latest edition of their 2012 NFL Mock Draft, and they have some interesting picks for the Florida teams. It starts out with a little bit of a gamble for the Buccaneers, taking a running back in the top five.

People are really averse to drafting running backs this high anymore. Everyone's a GM. Richardson has rare talent for a running back, and the fifth pick in the draft is much cheaper than it used to be. Richardson plays like Steven Jackson, adding another dimension to the Bucs' offense.

The Jaguars have fallen into what I like to call a Mock Draft rut. They've been getting the same guy over and over again, and that's Quinton Coples from North Carolina. Not a bad thing, but not noteworthy either.

Jacksonville has a long list of needs. Pass rushers are always at a premium, and Coples is a better pick here than Dre Kirkpatrick or a receiver. Fans should be occupying that behemoth of a stadium to demand that the team re-sign Jeremy Mincey, which would make for a fearsome pairing along their defensive front.

Finally the Dolphins, who pick up a bookend for Jake Long in Riley Reiff from Iowa.

Since sane new ownership isn't available in the draft (Washington probably would have picked that first anyway), the Dolphins pick up a stellar right tackle. Just as important, he can work in relief ofJake Long who's been battling injuries and entering the last year of his contract.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Todd McShay Provides Latest Mock At ESPN

When guys like Todd McShay put out a Mock Draft, even this early in the process, people listen. So we had to talk about the picks he made for the Florida teams in his latest Mock over at ESPN. It starts with the Buccaneers at No. 5, and Morris Claiborne.

Current Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount is no Trent Richardson (Alabama), but taking a running back this early is always a reach and Tampa Bay's cornerback situation is a nightmare with Ronde Barber on the decline and Aqib Talib facing off-field issues. Claiborne would bring to Tampa the best man-to-man cover skills in the 2012 class, along with good speed and instincts.

The Jaguars definitely need some help getting after the passer, so McShay has them taking North Carolina's Quinton Coples.

The Jaguars are desperate for help at receiver, but Blackmon is off the board and Coples presents great value at this point. He's the most talented defensive prospect in the 2012 class and showcased a versatile skill set and the potential to be a dominant player throughout Senior Bowl week.

McShay knows that pass-rusher isn't the biggest need for the Dolphins at No. 8 overall, but he does think it is the place they can get the most value. He has them taking Melvin Ingram from South Carolina.

Quarterback and right offensive tackle are bigger needs, but there is not an available player at either of those positions who's worth drafting here. Cameron Wake is Miami's only legitimate pass-rushing threat and he turns 30 next season, so Ingram makes sense. He can play tackle in a four-man front or end in a three-man front, giving the Dolphins the scheme versatility they want under new defensive coordinator Kevin Coye, and Ingram had a penchant for making big plays during his senior season.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: More On A Possible Influx Of Receivers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars all had fairly good defensive units in 2011, but their offenses are what let them down for the most part. Particularly with the Jaguars and Buccaneers. That's why in their Mock Draft at Draft King, they have the Bucs and Jaguars looking for some help on the outside. Starting with Justin Blackmon to the Bucs at No 5.

The Bucs are in a desperate situation at cornerback, but if Claiborne is gone, the best value for this spot at this point would appear to be Blackmon. Many view him at the best WR in the 2012 Draft, and he showed his ability to make big plays in his time at Oklahoma State. I strongly disagree with projections of Tampa Bay taking Alabama RB Trent Richardson at this spot, particularly if such a projection included the Buccaneers passing on Blackmon.

Next up the Jaguars at No. 7, and they take Michael Floyd, the receiver out of Notre Dame.

The Jaguars desperately need help at wide receiver. Floyd is extremely talented, with ideal size for the position and a proven ability to both get open and make big catches. Blaine Gabbert needs and deserves a top-tier wide receiver to have as a primary target. Much like the situation the Rams and Browns face, even if Jacksonville signs one of the top wide receiver free agents before the draft, selecting a top-tier rookie wide receiver early in the draft makes sense. To win in the modern NFL, you must throw the ball with accuracy and have playmaking receivers.

Finally the Dolphins, who already have a pretty good receiver in Brandon Marshall. They have the Dolphins looking for help on the defense instead, taking Alabama rush-linebacker Courtney Upshaw.

Miami broke the bank to sign Karlos Dansby after the 2009 season, but after a good 2010, Dansby showed up to camp 20 pounds overweight and ended up recording just two sacks this past season. Cameron Wake had been strong at OLB Miami, but he turns 30 later this month and has a base pay of just $565,000 for 2012, the final year of his contract.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins Bolster Offensive Line

The Miami Dolphins are a team in in the top 10 of the 2012 NFL Draft that can go in many different directions in the draft. Ryan Van Bibber thinks the Dolphins will address the offensive line in the first round in the latest SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

9. Miami Dolphins, Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins need another offensive tackle. Jake Long has dealt with a cascade of injuries over the last season and a half, culminating in a torn bicep. Reiff upgrades the right tackle spot, but he also offers some insurance for Long.

Pass protection was an issue for the Dolphins in 2011 and a lot of that had to do with Jake Long missing time with injuries and the right tackle position. Picking Reiff should allow for insurance for Long and a potential new start on the right side.

For more on the Miami Dolphins visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider. For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Jacksonville Jaguars Might Look At Quinton Coples

As we get closer and close to the 2012 NFL Draft, the consensus of who teams will take will begin to settle in and find a consensus. In the latest SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Ryan Van Bibber has the Jaguars taking a player to help bolster their defensive line.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples was the big winner at the Senior Bowl this week. He salvaged his draft stock after a mediocre senior season, and looks like the best pass rusher in the draft. Jacksonville needs help all over the roster, but pass rushers are at a premium. If they can keep Jeremy Mincey from walking away in free agency, the addition of Coples gives the Jaguars a nice one-two punch along their defensive line.

As it stands, the Jaguars leading sacker from 2011 in Jeremy Mincey will be a free agent. If the Jaguars can re-sign Mincey however and pair him with a young defensive end like Coples, the Jaguars defensive line could potentially be locked in for quite a while.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Morris Claiborne Becoming Popular Choice For Bucs

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne was at one time pegged as the No. 3 overall pick, which would have landed him in Minnesota and made him the highest drafted cornerback in more than a decade.

But in the ever-shuffling world of mock drafts, many people now project Claiborne to slip past the Vikes, which could well land him in Tampa Bay.

SB Nation’s mock draft is among those that currently have the Bucs taking Claiborne at No. 5.

FoxSports.com’s Peter Schrage also has Tampa taking Claiborne.

According to Schrage,

Claiborne’s the wise pick at number 5. Some scouts like Claiborne even more than last year’s 5th overall pick and Claiborne’s former defensive backfield partner at LSU, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Claiborne would be a much-needed addition to a young Tampa defense that got trounced upon last season.

Don Banks of SI.com also predicts that the Bucs will take Claiborne, declaring,

The Bucs have plenty of options that make sense, but in a division where Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan come calling six times a season, landing the draft’s top cornerback qualifies as a no-brainer, especially since Ronde Barber turns 47 any day now.

Claiborne just finished his junior senior at LSU, where he starred alongside SEC Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. Claiborne led the nation in interception return yardage (173) and ranked second in the SEC with six picks.

For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Plenty Of Talent Available In Top-10

The teams that reside in Florida all draft in the Top-10 this Spring, and there should be plenty of talent still available for them. A new Mock Draft at Revenge of the Birds has the Buccaneers taking LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 5 overall.

For the second year in a row, an LSU cornerback is selected with the fifth overall pick, this time going to the Bucs. However, Claiborne is a very different type of cornerback than the other LSU fifth overall selected cornerback Patrick Peterson. Claiborne fits the mold of the prototypical shutdown cornerback, and seriously improves a young Tampa Bay defense coming off of a disappointing season.

They have the Jaguars reaching a little bit, but getting some receiver help they desperately need in Notre Dame's Michael Floyd.

Another team desperate for wide receiver help takes the star Fighting Irish wide out Michael Floyd. When your teams best wide receiver is Mike Thomas, you know wide receiver is a serious need, and this time, need matches value as the Jags pick up an excellent player. Floyd has good size, good hands, and would add a great possession receiver for Blaine Gabbert.

Finally the Dolphins, who bring on a National Champion and Heisman finalist in Trent Richardson.

The Dolphins get an absolute monster in the running game here in Richardson, who could very well contend with the likes of Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson in the debate over who is the best running back in the NFL. Great value here at number nine for the Fins who, despite picking Daniel Thomas at the end of the second round last year, pick up Richardson. Richardson combines incredible strength, with very good speed, elusiveness, pass catching ability, and the tools to be a good pass blocker too. This kid could be something special.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country. For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, visit Bucs Nation. For more on the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more on all of the Florida teams, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.