Ryan Van Bibber has released SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft and it includes picks for the three Florida teams, all picking in the top 10 slots of the draft.
The Buccaneers are expected to select Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 5 overall. The 5-foot-11, 224-pound Pensacola, Fla. native ran for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns for the national championship-winning Crimson Tide in 2011 and posted nine 100-yard plus performances. Van Bibber breaks down the selection this way.
LaGarrette Blount isn't a feature back; Richardson is. Blount still has a role to play, but Tampa joins the rest of the league in having a multifaceted ground game. The best running back in the draft would add another dimension to Tampa's offense, helping not only as runner but as another option for Josh Freeman in the passing game.
The mock expects the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay at Alabama for their pick, too, this time selecting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 7 overall. He measures in at 6-foot-3 and 192 pounds. The Gadsden, Ala. native had 29 tackles and nine passes defended this season, according to ESPN.
Finally, the Miami Dolphins are expected to draft Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro at No. 9 overall. The Bellvue, Wash. native measures in at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and Van Bibber assesses him this way:
I think DeCastro is the second-best offensive lineman in the draft, behind [Matt] Kalil. DeCastro has the chance to be something special on the inside, a difference maker who will make the players around him better.
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