2012 NFL Mock Draft: The New England Patriots Select...

With the thirty-first pick of the 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft, the New England Patriots (chosen by jeff.l.b) select...

Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State

Continuing with the theme presented with the Patriots first pick, with their second pick in the first round the Patriots need to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball, most specifically with addressing the pass rush more effectively. Where it is true the faults of the Saints and Patriots nearly mirror each other, unlike New Orleans, the Patriots have not solidified their outside linebacker position via free agency. At 6'3" and 260 lbs., Shea McClellin would fit perfectly as an outside rush linebacker in New England's 3-4 defensive package.

While McClellin will never wow anyone with a combine performance, time and time again when you watch tape he does one thing and one thing well....he makes plays. McClellin favors quite well Ryan Kerrigan, the first round OLB/DE draft pick for the Washington Redskins last year. McClellin has a constant no-quit motor that allows him to be able to make plays long after most at his position would have given up on. Additionally, unlike Kerrigan, McClellin possesses the ability to drop back and fill lanes quite effectively which will allow him to be a full three down linebacker and not just a rush linebacker in passing situations. A good solid blend of height, weight, speed and flat out determination McClellin would fit a much needed position for the Patriots at the end of the first round.

I freely admit that I was torn between McClellin and Hightower at this selection. However, I felt that McClellin fit the mold of a true 3-4 OLB more whereas Hightower would probably be better suited on the inside. Regardless, It would not surprise me in the least of the Patriots pulled the trigger on either of them come draft day.

Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this years community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft Section.

Pick	Team	Selection	Team Representative	Approval Rating
1	Indianapolis Colts	QB Andrew Luck - Stanford	Legatron Morstead	77%
2	Washington Redskins	QB Robert Griffin III - Baylor	VAsaintsfan	78%
3	Minnesota Vikings	OT Matt Kalil - USC	Hans Petersen	69%
4	Cleveland Browns	RB Trent Richardson - Alabama	Fan since the Aints	81%
5	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	CB Morris Claiborne - LSU	Alex Swift	50%
6	St. Louis Rams	WR Justin Blackmon - Oklahoma St.	GRIZZ	73%
7	Jacksonville Jaguars	WR Michael Floyd - Notre Dame	AcquiredPanic	51%
8	Miami Dolphins	WR Kendall Wright - Baylor	were gonna need a bigger boat	16%
9	Carolina Panthers	DT Michael Brockers - LSU	DatFan	43%
10	Buffalo Bills	OT Riley Reiff - Iowa	theprogrammerman	51%
11	Kansas City Chiefs	G David DeCastro - Stanford	Jimbo03	69%
12	Seattle Seahawks	DE Melvin Ingram - South Carolina	BASAINT	57%
13	Arizona Cardinals	DT Dontari Poe - Memphis	jeremysherwin	44%
14	Dallas Cowboys	S Mark Barron - Alabama	Saint for Life	59%
15	Philadelphia Eagles	DE Quinton Coples - North Carolina	caominh	26%
16	NY Jets	LB Courtney Upshaw - Alabama	GRIZZ	65%
17	Cincinnati Bengals	WR Stephen Hill - Georgia Tech	coldpizza	54%
18	San Diego Chargers	DE/OLB Nick Perry - USC	Alex Swift	44%
19	Chicago Bears	TE Coby Fleener - Stanford	Jay Cutler	44%
20	Tennessee Titans	LB Luke Kuelchy - Boston College	shipgoalie05	37%
21	Cincinnati Bengals	CB Stephon Gilmore - South Carolina	coldpizza	54%
22	Cleveland Browns	OT Jonathan Martin - Stanford	Fan since the Aints	63%
23	Detroit Lions	CB Dre Kirkpatrick - Alabama	AcquiredPanic	80%
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	S Harrison Smith - Notre Dame	WVPiratesfan	13%
25	Denver Broncos	DT Jerel Worthy - Michigan St.	Saint for life	42%
26	Houston Texans	DT Fletcher Cox - Mississippi St.	Jimbo03
27	New England Patriots	DE Chandler Jones - Syracuse	jeff.l.b
28	Green Bay Packers	LB Whitney Mercilus - Illinois	caomhin
29	Baltimore Ravens	C Peter Konz - Wisconsin	Fan since the Aints
30	San Francisco 49ers	QB Ryan Tannehill - Texas A&M	Jimbo03
31	New England Patriots	LB Shea McClellin - Boise St.	jeff.l.b