Offseason Extra: Our first mock draft of 2012

Question: Is it ever too early to do a mock draft?

Answer: Never!

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With the playoffs in full swing and Super Bowl XLVI still several weeks away and free agency and the draft several months away, we can't help ourselves. We drafted our first 12-team standard mock league with the intent to get a first-hand look on what a draft might look like this summer.

As always, we ask you to share your thoughts. Take advantage of our Fantasy Football Twitter feed (@CBSFantasyFB) and post your comments there or share your thoughts on our Fantasy Football Facebook page.

In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE). There will also be five reserve spots for a 14-round draft. This lineup reflects our CBSSports.com free Fantasy Football game.

Our draft order is as follows:

Pick	Owner	Pick	Owner
1	Adam Moore, Fantasy Writer	7	Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
2	Michael Hurcomb, Editor	8	Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
3	Kevin Goodwin, Fantasy Writer	9	Ed Gauna, Fantasy Writer
4	Jeff Tobin, Associate Managing Editor	10	Al Melchior, Data Analyst
5	Jeff Lippman, Fantasy Writer	11	Scott White, Senior Fantasy Writer
6	Peter Madden, Editorial Director, Fantasy Sports	12	Bill Passonno, Fantasy Writer

Editor's Note: Our Dave Richard shares his take on every round and every team post draft.

Round by Round Round 1 Pick Owner Player 1 Moore Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB 2 Hurcomb Arian Foster, RB, HOU 3 Goodwin Ray Rice, RB, BAL 4 Tobin Drew Brees, QB, NO 5 Lippman LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI 6 Madden Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC 7 Eisenberg Calvin Johnson, WR, DET 8 Richard Matt Forte, RB, CHI 9 Gauna Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA 10 Melchior Michael Turner, RB, ATL 11 White Tom Brady, QB, NE 12 Passonno Chris Johnson, RB, TEN The debate over which position should be taken in Round 1 will go on all summer long and ultimately vary from league to league and owner to owner. Some leagues it will be Rodgers, others it will be a running back. As for the back of Round 1, seeing Chris Johnson taken in spite of his awful 2011 campaign is something that might not last come August. Round 2 Pick Owner Player 13 Passonno Roddy White, WR, ATL 14 White Ryan Mathews, RB, SD 15 Melchior Wes Welker, WR, NE 16 Gauna Cam Newton, QB, CAR 17 Richard Matthew Stafford, QB, DET 18 Eisenberg Darren McFadden, RB, OAK 19 Madden Andre Johnson, WR, HOU 20 Lippman Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE 21 Tobin Jamaal Charles, RB, KC 22 Goodwin Greg Jennings, WR, GB 23 Hurcomb Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN 24 Moore Fred Jackson, RB, BUF We have never seen a Round 2 with this much diversity. Gronkowski taken this early might be an overreaction to his record-setting 2011, but when you consider his production over two seasons, he's a huge asset given the options at tight end. Peterson and Charles are locks to be reached for between 20th and 30th overall in every draft as owners hope they come back from their torn ACLs without issue. Round 3 Pick Owner Player 25 Moore Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG 26 Hurcomb DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL 27 Goodwin Steven Jackson, RB, STL 28 Tobin Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI 29 Lippman Jordy Nelson, WR, GB 30 Madden Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG 31 Eisenberg Jimmy Graham, TE, NO 32 Richard Michael Bush, RB, OAK 33 Gauna Victor Cruz, WR, NYG 34 Melchior Frank Gore, RB, SF 35 White A.J. Green, WR, CIN 36 Passonno Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ This was fascinating -- no quarterbacks were taken and there was an even split between receivers/tight ends and running backs. The decision most owners made here was to take either the best available running back or land a stud wide receiver. This could clinch the argument for taking running backs early as you can still land at least one stud receiver after the initial (and only) run on reliable running backs. Don't count on quarterbacks getting skipped in Round 3 regularly. Round 4 Pick Owner Player 37 Passonno Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA 38 White Reggie Bush, RB, MIA 39 Melchior Mike Wallace, WR, PIT 40 Gauna Darren Sproles, RB, NO 41 Richard Marques Colston, WR, NO 42 Eisenberg Roy Helu, RB, WAS 43 Madden Beanie Wells, RB, ARI 44 Lippman Michael Vick, QB, PHI 45 Tobin LeGarrette Blount, RB, TB 46 Goodwin Peyton Manning, QB, IND 47 Hurcomb Julio Jones, WR, ATL 48 Moore Vincent Jackson, WR, SD Can't argue with some of the picks here -- Bush, Sproles and pretty much every wide receiver taken can be viewed as a "safe" choice, which is typical of Round 4. Some risky picks here: Helu, Wells, Blount and both quarterbacks including Peyton Manning. Obviously it's early in the offseason and we don't know if or where he'll be playing, but for now it's probably safe to expect Manning to land between 40th and 50th overall in drafts. Running backs started to get ugly here. Round 5 Pick Owner Player 49 Moore Willis McGahee, RB, DEN 50 Hurcomb Eli Manning, QB, NYG 51 Goodwin Miles Austin, WR, DAL 52 Tobin Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI 53 Lippman Dez Bryant, WR, DAL 54 Madden Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA 55 Eisenberg Percy Harvin, WR, MIN 56 Richard Steve Smith, WR, CAR 57 Gauna Antonio Gates, TE, SD 58 Melchior Tony Romo, QB, DAL 59 White Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC 60 Passonno Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT Plenty of safe picks with lots of value, but one pick shines above them all: Romo at 58th overall. With an offense consistently in position to throw 500-plus times a season and plenty of targets surrounding him, the pick by Melchior was among the best in the draft, especially considering that a guy who didn't throw a pass at all in 2011 went 12 picks earlier. Save for a quick recovery, expect Mendenhall to settle around late Round 5/early Round 6 this summer. Round 6 Pick Owner Player 61 Passonno Philip Rivers, QB, SD 62 White Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE 63 Melchior DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI 64 Gauna Kenny Britt, WR, TEN 65 Richard Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR 66 Eisenberg Matt Ryan, QB, ATL 67 Madden Brandon Lloyd, WR, STL 68 Lippman DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR 69 Tobin Jason Witten, TE, DAL 70 Goodwin Jahvid Best, RB, DET 71 Hurcomb Malcom Floyd, WR, SD 72 Moore C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF If the pick of Romo in Round 5 was excellent, then Rivers in Round 6 is better, underscoring the depth at quarterback in 2012. A lot of interesting names otherwise: Hernandez could be a gem if he can stay healthy; the same goes for Britt. Lloyd is expected to find greener pastures; Best says he'll play and would be a higher pick if he didn't have the concussion issues. Floyd -- entering a contract year -- might be the Chargers best receiver if Vincent Jackson leaves. Round 7 Pick Owner Player 73 Moore Jermichael Finley, TE, GB 74 Hurcomb Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN 75 Goodwin Matt Schaub, QB, HOU 76 Tobin Steve Johnson, WR, BUF 77 Lippman Mark Ingram, RB, NO 78 Madden Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT 79 Eisenberg Ben Tate, RB, HOU 80 Richard Isaac Redman, RB, PIT 81 Gauna Montario Hardesty, RB, CLE 82 Melchior Vernon Davis, TE, SF 83 White Antonio Brown, WR, PIT 84 Passonno Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL How about three players who totaled over 1,000 yards each available between 75th and 85th overall? Johnson and Brown are tremendous values while Tate is an obvious high-upside pick. Schaub and Big Ben continue the parade of value-choice quarterbacks while our owners began taking some risks with Thomas, Ingram, Redman and Hardesty. Round 8 Pick Owner Player 85 Passonno Reggie Wayne, WR, IND 86 White Stevan Ridley, RB, NE 87 Melchior Cedric Benson, RB, CIN 88 Gauna Santana Moss, WR, WAS 89 Richard Michael Crabtree, WR, SF 90 Eisenberg Toby Gerhart, RB, MIN 91 Madden Tim Tebow, QB, DEN 92 Lippman Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ 93 Tobin Mike Tolbert, RB, SD 94 Goodwin Mario Manningham, WR, NYG 95 Hurcomb Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG 96 Moore Peyton Hillis, RB, CLE Round 8 was Tebow Time, and it's a safe bet that he'll be taken as a high-end No. 2 quarterback in every single draft. Round 8 is the right place for him. Several veterans settled into this round -- not too soon to be considered risky but not too late to be considered steals. This might be the only mock draft this offseason where Crabtree (72 catches, 874 yards, four touchdowns) lasts this long. Benson's slide is related to speculation that he's lost a step and won't be a 20-touch running back in 2012. Round 9 Pick Owner Player 97 Moore Sidney Rice, WR, SEA 98 Hurcomb Brent Celek, TE, PHI 99 Goodwin Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL 100 Tobin Mike Williams, WR, TB 101 Lippman Tim Hightower, RB, WAS 102 Madden Laurent Robinson, WR, DAL 103 Eisenberg Torrey Smith, WR, BAL 104 Richard Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET 105 Gauna Felix Jones, RB, DAL 106 Melchior Pierre Garcon, WR, IND 107 White Kevin Smith, RB, DET 108 Passonno Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET I absolutely love the value choices in this round compared to last round. In fact, you might be better served taking most of these guys a round sooner and players from the previous group one round later. Obvious upside picks in Robinson, Torrey Smith and Leshoure. Solid value choices in Rice, Celek, Gonzalez (wow!) and Jones. Hightower is another back coming off of a torn ACL who could find himself in a position to put up some stats, though his upside is limited because he himself might be limited. Round 10 Pick Owner Player 109 Passonno Kendall Hunter, RB, SF 110 White Fred Davis, TE, WAS 111 Melchior Joe Flacco, QB, BAL 112 Gauna Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN 113 Richard Ryan Williams, RB, ARI 114 Eisenberg Denarius Moore, WR, OAK 115 Madden Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK 116 Lippman Nate Washington, WR, TEN 117 Tobin Pierre Thomas, RB, NO 118 Goodwin BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, NE 119 Hurcomb Titus Young, WR, DET 120 Moore Lance Moore, WR, NO Five guys stand out here as potential movers by this summer: Ryan Williams (yet another rusher coming back from injury), Titus Young, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and both Raiders receivers. If anything, all five of these guys could prove to be ridiculous steals. Fred Davis is an excellent value pick up, especially considering that he could be the main tight end in Washington. Round 11 Pick Owner Player 121 Moore Owen Daniels, TE, HOU 122 Hurcomb Ravens, DST 123 Goodwin Dallas Clark, TE, IND 124 Tobin Jabar Gaffney, WR, WAS 125 Lippman Carson Palmer, QB, OAK 126 Madden Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN 127 Eisenberg Evan Royster, RB, WAS 128 Richard Jared Cook, TE, TEN 129 Gauna Austin Collie, WR, IND 130 Melchior Kellen Winslow, TE, TB 131 White Donald Brown, RB, IND 132 Passonno James Starks, RB, GB More value choices as teams continue to add quality depth. The first DST, Baltimore, was taken here, which is about right for an elite DST. Note that five tight ends were selected as teams that didn't reach for one early settled on one, and that they all have potential to be capable starters. Palmer's selection signals the run on backup quarterbacks which continues into the next round. Round 12 Pick Owner Player 133 Passonno Steelers, DST 134 White 49ers, DST 135 Melchior Bears, DST 136 Gauna Packers, DST 137 Richard Matt Flynn, QB, GB 138 Eisenberg Bernard Scott, RB, CIN 139 Madden Danny Amendola, WR, STL 140 Lippman Cowboys, DST 141 Tobin Andy Dalton, QB, CIN 142 Goodwin Jets, DST 143 Hurcomb Jay Cutler, QB, CHI 144 Moore Josh Freeman, QB, TB In this draft, Round 12 was when the backup quarterbacks flew off the board, and it's no surprise that it happened before the final two rounds when owners typically pick up their kickers and DSTs. Count on this being the case in your drafts as the quarterback position is valuable and any owner who strikes gold with two passers can swing a hot deal fairly early on in their Fantasy seasons. Flynn, Dalton and Cutler are locks to be in every single backup quarterback run. Round 13 Pick Owner Player 145 Moore Eagles, DST 146 Hurcomb Dustin Keller, TE, NYJ 147 Goodwin Giants, DST 148 Tobin Dolphins, DST 149 Lippman Sebastian Janikowski, K, OAK 150 Madden Texans, DST 151 Eisenberg Broncos, DST 152 Richard Patriots, DST 153 Gauna Mark Sanchez, QB, NYJ 154 Melchior Danny Woodhead, RB, NE 155 White Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF 156 Passonno Kevin Kolb, QB, ARI Round 14 Pick Owner Player 157 Passonno Mason Crosby, K, GB 158 White Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE 159 Melchior Neil Rackers, K, HOU 160 Gauna David Akers, K, SF 161 Richard Garrett Hartley, K, NO 162 Eisenberg Nate Kaeding, K, SD 163 Madden Shaun Suisham, K, PIT 164 Lippman Chris Cooley, TE, WAS 165 Tobin Robbie Gould, K, CHI 166 Goodwin Rob Bironas, K, TEN 167 Hurcomb Dan Bailey, K, DAL 168 Moore Matt Bryant, K, ATL

Team by Team Moore Rd.Pk Player 1.1 Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB 2.12 Fred Jackson, RB, BUF 3.1 Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG 4.12 Vincent Jackson, WR, SD 5.1 Willis McGahee, RB, DEN 6.12 C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF 7.1 Jermichael Finley, TE, GB 8.12 Peyton Hillis, RB, CLE 9.1 Sidney Rice, WR, SEA 10.12 Lance Moore, WR, NO 11.1 Owen Daniels, TE, HOU 12.12 Josh Freeman, QB, TB 13.1 Eagles DST 14.12 Matt Bryant, K, ATL Check out the team formed by the owner who spent the top pick of the draft on Aaron Rodgers. There's no arguing Moore's receivers or tight ends but his running backs aren't as staunch as other teams. You'll have to decide if it's worth that price to draft the best quarterback in Fantasy. Then again, if draft averages suggest that two solid starting running backs can be taken in the swing picks at Rounds 2 and 3, then surely quality receivers can be found in Rounds 4 and 5 and a team's foundation can be built with confidence (example: Fred Jackson and Steven Jackson in 2/3, Vincent Jackson and Miles Austin in 4/5). Melchior Rd.Pk Player 1.10 Michael Turner, RB, ATL 2.3 Wes Welker, WR, NE 3.10 Frank Gore, RB, SF 4.3 Mike Wallace, WR, PIT 5.10 Tony Romo, QB, DAL 6.3 DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI 7.10 Vernon Davis, TE, SF 8.3 Cedric Benson, RB, CIN 9.10 Pierre Garcon, WR, IND 10.3 Joe Flacco, QB, BAL 11.10 Kellen Winslow, TE, TB 12.3 Bears DST 13.10 Danny Woodhead, RB, NE 14.3 Neil Rackers, K, HOU Here's an example of a team that waited for a quarterback. In theory, the strategy was marvelous as Melchior was able to lock in two running backs and two stud receivers before getting his quarterback in Round 5. The picks he made at running back -- older players -- are suspect, but it doesn't change the successful results of his strategy. The catch: Will a stud passer like Romo be there in Round 5? Ultimately I think there's too much age on this team, but the receivers are pretty fantastic. Passonno Rd.Pk Player 1.12 Chris Johnson, RB, TEN 2.1 Roddy White, WR, ATL 3.12 Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ 4.1 Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA 5.12 Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT 6.1 Philip Rivers, QB, SD 7.12 Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL 8.1 Reggie Wayne, WR, IND 9.12 Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET 10.1 Kendall Hunter, RB, SF 11.12 James Starks, RB, GB 12.1 Steelers DST 13.12 Kevin Kolb, QB, ARI 14.1 Mason Crosby, K, GB Passonno's team will hinge on his running backs, a common theme among several teams in our mock. Shonn Greene and Rashard Mendenhall seem like a great combination on paper but Greene's been a disappointment over the last two years and Mendenhall is no lock to start the season on time. The rest of the team is pretty good, and Passonno is yet another owner who corralled plenty of receivers for his cause. Rivers was a steal in Round 6 and Wayne could be one in Round 8. Richard Rd.Pk Player 1.8 Matt Forte, RB, CHI 2.5 Matthew Stafford, QB, DET 3.8 Michael Bush, RB, OAK 4.5 Marques Colston, WR, NO 5.8 Steve Smith, WR, CAR 6.5 Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR 7.8 Isaac Redman, RB, PIT 8.5 Michael Crabtree, WR, SF 9.8 Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET 10.5 Ryan Williams, RB, ARI 11.8 Jared Cook, TE, TEN 12.5 Matt Flynn, QB, GB 13.8 Patriots DST 14.5 Garrett Hartley, K, NO I went with Bush in Round 3 as I am banking on him landing a prominent role away from Oakland in 2012 (he's a free agent this offseason). Obviously if he stays with the Raiders then he doesn't belong anywhere near Round 3. As my usual M.O., I loaded up on running backs in an effort to cash in on them via trade. Hence my three receivers and one tight end, though I am fine with what I wound up with there. I also was forward-thinking on Flynn, who I expect to compete for a starting job somewhere other than Green Bay in 2012. Gauna Rd.Pk Player 1.9 Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA 2.4 Cam Newton, QB, CAR 3.9 Victor Cruz, WR, NYG 4.4 Darren Sproles, RB, NO 5.9 Antonio Gates, TE, SD 6.4 Kenny Britt, WR, TEN 7.9 Montario Hardesty, RB, CLE 8.4 Santana Moss, WR, WAS 9.9 Felix Jones, RB, DAL 10.4 Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN 11.9 Austin Collie, WR, IND 12.4 Packers DST 13.9 Mark Sanchez, QB, NYJ 14.4 David Akers, K, SF The first seven picks Gauna made have fantastic potential, but there's obviously some uncertainty. Can Lynch keep up his great play (and will he stay in Seattle)? Is Cam for real? What about Cruz? Will Britt and Moreno be healthy and can Hardesty, Jones and Collie stay healthy? There's risk with every pick you take in a draft but it seems like this team could fluctuate the most among all of the teams built in our mock. Eisenberg Rd.Pk Player 1.7 Calvin Johnson, WR, DET 2.6 Darren McFadden, RB, OAK 3.7 Jimmy Graham, TE, NO 4.6 Roy Helu, RB, WAS 5.7 Percy Harvin, WR, MIN 6.6 Matt Ryan, QB, ATL 7.7 Ben Tate, RB, HOU 8.6 Toby Gerhart, RB, MIN 9.7 Torrey Smith, WR, BAL 10.6 Denarius Moore, WR, OAK 11.7 Evan Royster, RB, WAS 12.6 Bernard Scott, RB, CIN 13.7 Broncos DST 14.6 Nate Kaeding, K, SD Eisenberg's team followed the path of several others in that he built his starters at other positions before getting a quarterback. It worked well -- having Johnson, McFadden, Graham and Harvin along with Ryan makes for a dynamite roster. The running back depth has its perks; Gerhart might begin the season as the Vikings' primary back until Adrian Peterson gets healthy while Tate, Royster and Scott all could see their roles improve from backups. Eisenberg especially hit the gong with Smith and Moore in Rounds 9-10; chances are those receivers will drift higher as the season nears. Lippman Rd.Pk Player 1.5 LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI 2.8 Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE 3.5 Jordy Nelson, WR, GB 4.8 Michael Vick, QB, PHI 5.5 Dez Bryant, WR, DAL 6.8 DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR 7.5 Mark Ingram, RB, NO 8.8 Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ 9.5 Tim Hightower, RB, WAS 10.8 Nate Washington, WR, TEN 11.5 Carson Palmer, QB, OAK 12.8 Cowboys DST 13.5 Sebastian Janikowski, K, OAK 14.8 Chris Cooley, TE, WAS You could argue either way that Gronkowski was worth the second-round pick as Lippman's team has plenty of productive players but serious questions at running back. Maybe Lippman might have been better served waiting on his quarterback like other owners did since he splurged on Gronk; going for McGahee or Blount might have been a better way to go in Round 4 followed by Philip Rivers in Round 5 and a receiver in Round 6 (Dez might have been there). Tobin Rd.Pk Player 1.4 Drew Brees, QB, NO 2.9 Jamaal Charles, RB, KC 3.4 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI 4.9 LeGarrette Blount, RB, TB 5.4 Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI 6.9 Jason Witten, TE, DAL 7.4 Steve Johnson, WR, BUF 8.9 Mike Tolbert, RB, SD 9.4 Mike Williams, WR, TB 10.9 Pierre Thomas, RB, NO 11.4 Jabar Gaffney, WR, WAS 12.9 Andy Dalton, QB, CIN 13.4 Dolphins DST 14.9 Robbie Gould, K, CHI Going with Charles and Blount as his top two running backs could backfire on Tobin, but you can't argue with any of his other picks. He got great value in Tolbert, Williams, Thomas and Gaffney, and if Dalton can take a big step in 2012 he can deal him off for a running back. If assurances were made that Charles would be fine and that both he and Blount would see at least 15 touches per week, this team would be the best in our mock. Goodwin Rd.Pk Player 1.3 Ray Rice, RB, BAL 2.10 Greg Jennings, WR, GB 3.3 Steven Jackson, RB, STL 4.10 Peyton Manning, QB, IND 5.3 Miles Austin, WR, DAL 6.10 Jahvid Best, RB, DET 7.3 Matt Schaub, QB, HOU 8.10 Mario Manningham, WR, NYG 9.3 Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL 10.10 BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, NE 11.3 Dallas Clark, TE, IND 12.10 Jets DST 13.3 Giants DST 14.10 Rob Bironas, K, TEN The best way to describe Goodwin's team is prepared: If Manning isn't ready, he has Schaub. If Gonzalez shuts it down for whatever reason, he's got Clark. He's got two DSTs. Maybe that cost him some potential sleeper picks, but at least Goodwin's depth cannot be questioned. And save for Peyton his first five picks were all solid. Hurcomb Rd.Pk Player 1.2 Arian Foster, RB, HOU 2.11 Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN 3.2 DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL 4.11 Julio Jones, WR, ATL 5.2 Eli Manning, QB, NYG 6.11 Malcom Floyd, WR, SD 7.2 Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN 8.11 Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG 9.2 Brent Celek, TE, PHI 10.11 Titus Young, WR, DET 11.2 Ravens DST 12.11 Jay Cutler, QB, CHI 13.2 Dustin Keller, TE, NYJ 14.11 Dan Bailey, K, DAL Anytime you can pair Foster and Peterson together you're looking good but obviously Peterson fell to Hurcomb because of his knee. If AP can come back strong then his selection will be golden no matter where he's taken. It would have been better if Gerhart had fallen to him in Round 8 to lock up the Vikings backfield, but the depth he has with Murray and Jacobs should suffice. The downside to loading up at running back with his first three picks: His receivers are high-risk, high-reward and could be a nightmare for him to deal with. Madden Rd.Pk Player 1.6 Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC 2.7 Andre Johnson, WR, HOU 3.6 Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG 4.7 Beanie Wells, RB, ARI 5.6 Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA 6.7 Brandon Lloyd, WR, STL 7.6 Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT 8.7 Tim Tebow, QB, DEN 9.6 Laurent Robinson, WR, DAL 10.7 Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK 11.6 Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN 12.7 Danny Amendola, WR, STL 13.6 Texans DST 14.7 Shaun Suisham, K, PIT Looks like Madden followed our strategy from 2011 and waited a while to draft two quarterbacks with mid-round picks. If Big Ben can stay healthy and/or if Tebow can keep up his magic, it'll be great for him. You can't argue with the number of running backs he got early and sleeper receivers he picked up after his first four rushers. White Rd.Pk Player 1.11 Tom Brady, QB, NE 2.2 Ryan Mathews, RB, SD 3.11 A.J. Green, WR, CIN 4.2 Reggie Bush, RB, MIA 5.11 Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC 6.2 Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE 7.11 Antonio Brown, WR, PIT 8.2 Stevan Ridley, RB, NE 9.11 Kevin Smith, RB, DET 10.2 Fred Davis, TE, WAS 11.11 Donald Brown, RB, IND 12.2 49ers DST 13.11 Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF 14.2 Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE White's running back depth is nice; if Mathews and Bush can pick up where they left off then he'll be in phenomenal shape. Note that White didn't reach for a rusher or receiver in Round 1, he "settled" for Brady knowing he could get a good talent coming back in Round 2. Don't be shocked to see Green hit Round 3 in your drafts; Hernandez and Brown might end up going a round higher than where White got them here. The pick of Davis in Round 10 is icing on the cake.