Boston College Mock Draft Final Update: Draft Day
By Joe Micik
Not every question will be answered tonight, but one of importance to Eagles fans will: who drafts Luke Kuechly?
That’s right: the 2012 NFL Draft starts tonight, and if you’re not watching hockey, you can see Kuechly on his cell phone at home while his family congratulates him on national television. The question is who provides the call.
You saw my guesses as to Kuechly and the others, but what do the mock drafters say?
5th-best player available on Scouts Inc. big board [+5]
DraftCountdown.com: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks [unch]
"Luke Kuechly of Boston College is a tackling machine and one of the most productive linebackers the college game has ever seen."
DraftTek: Round 1, Pick 21: Cincinnati Bengals [-11]
"The Bengals have been rumored to be in trade discussions with the Seahawks to acquire their 12th pick for the 21st and Rey Maualuga so that they can grab Kuechly."
NFL.com (Mike Mayock): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills
NFL.com (Charles Davis): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs [+1]
NFL.com (Michael Lombardi): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs
NFL.com (Charley Casserly): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs [unch]
CBS Sports (Rob Rang): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills [+5]
CBS Sports (Dane Brugler): Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers [+10]
"With current Panthers’ linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis coming off serious injuries, Luke Kuechly will give Carolina a player who can step in from day one and contribute."
CBS Sports (Pat Kirwan): Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills
CBS Sports (Clark Judge): Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports (Will Brinson): Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers
Jeff Saukaitis: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
Fox Sports (Peter Schrager): Round 1, Pick 21 — Cincinnati Bengals
WalterFootball.com: Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers [+3]
DraftSite: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks [unch]
Your NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 15 — Philadelphia Eagles [unch]
The New NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 15 — Philadelphia Eagles [unch]
"With this selection I have them taking Luke Kuechly because he is a play maker at the linebacker position and they need to improve their defense in nearly every way possible."
By team: Seattle 5, Buffalo 3, Kansas City 3, Carolina 3, Cincinnati 2, Philadelphia 2
DraftTek: Round 5, Pick 136 Overall — Indianapolis Colts [+3]
DraftSite: Round 5, Pick 144 Overall — Buffalo Bills [+5]
Fox Sports (Peter Schrager): Round 6, Pick 171 — St. Louis Rams
DraftTek.com Big Board Rankings
Luke Kuechly: 7 [+1]
Donnie Fletcher: 147 [-7]
Montel Harris: 301 [note: not in draft]
Current Ranges
Luke Kuechly: Mid-1st round
Donnie Fletcher: Early 5th round to undrafted
All others: Undrafted
Analysis
We have a late entry in the Luke Kuechly sweepstakes in #9 Carolina. Many have suggested he might become a top-ten pick, and the Panthers certainly fit that bill. The leader with a plurality, however, remains the Seattle Seahawks. As a Boston College alum and fan, just like yesterday, I would still be kind of insulted if Kuechly, now 5th on ESPN’s big board, plummeted to #21. I understand some of the mock drafters were talking trades, but I’m not sure how anyone would explain a fall like that when there several teams before Cincinnati on the list who would kill to take Kuechly. I still find it highly unlikely that he will get past #12.
Donnie Fletcher actually fell off one of the big mock drafts, WalterFootball, which could either be chalked up to an oversight or their actually thinking he won’t get drafted. Still, others have him in the fifth or sixth round, which is where you should look for him.
No other Eagles appear on any mock drafts and have not for some time now, which means it is more than likely that Kuechly and Fletcher will be the only two Boston College selections.