If North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples begins a free-fall in the 2012 NFL draft, like Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune thinks he may, several teams should seriously consider moving up to take the talented pass-rusher.
Pompei, who is one of the more plugged-in national NFL reporters, said in a mailbag Wednesday that Coples is a candidate to fall in the draft for a number of on- and off-the-field reasons.
He has top-of-the-draft talent, but Coples doesn't always play like it. NFL scouts question his motor, his passion for the game and his coachability. I think he is going to drop in the draft.
Coples has been considered a top-10 pick by many for some time, but worrisome chatter about his motor issues have mostly gone overlooked when projecting where he may land in three weeks. The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars are common destinations in mock drafts for Coples.
However, if Coples does fall as Pompei thinks, at least five teams—to various degrees, depending on the severity of the fall—should take a long look at moving up.
Here are the five:
Chicago Bears (No. 19 overall)
Pompei makes no mistake in saying he'd pass on Coples even if he fell to No. 19 overall, where the Bears are scheduled to pick. But it seems possible Chicago could have a different take on the UNC star.
Given GM Phil Emery's aggressive approach to the offensive side of the ball and flirtation with several pass-rushers in free agency, Coples may be worth moving up to get. Getting up to No. 12 or 13 wouldn't take a huge commitment to pull off, either.
And if Coples did show top-10 talent once he landed on an NFL roster, can you imagine the problems offensive coordinators would have slowing Coples and Julius Peppers off the edge?
Tennessee Titans (No. 20 overall)
The Titans had to alter their free-agent plans when Peyton Manning came into the picture, but defensive end Mario Williams was a guy many pegged as a target for Tennessee. And while the Titans eventually inked Kamerion Wimbley, Tennessee probably isn't done revamping a pass-rush that lacked bite a year ago.
Like the Bears, Tennessee would only have to move up a few spots if Coples began to fall down the board. Interior offensive line is certainly one area the Titans want to address, but it would be hard to turn down the change to get such a dynamic pass-rushing option in the middle of the first round.
Detroit Lions (No. 23 overall)
Yes I know, the Lions have one of deepest defensive lines in football in terms of overall talent. But stick with me here; veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch is entering his mid-30s, and opposite end Cliff Avril is likely to be playing 2012 under the one-year franchise tag.
Watching Vanden Bosch regress and Avril leave next offseason would strip the Lions of major pieces on the strong point of their defense. Moving up to get Coples, arguably the top defensive end in the draft, would make Avril expendable in 2013, while giving the Lions a valuable insurance plan on the defensive line.
New England Patriots (No. 27 overall)
The Patriots are known more for trading back in the draft, but Coples may be worth an exception in 2012. New England has two late-first-round picks to play with, and they could easily put together a package to move into the teens.
Once there, the Patriots could pounce on Coples, who would give New England an every-down pass-rusher to replace the departed Mark Anderson. There's also the idea that Coples can play in both a 4-3 and 3-4 front, so New England could continue to play hybrid fronts while keeping Coples in the game.
Green Bay Packers (No. 28 overall)
The same logic that applies for the Patriots applies here for Green Bay. The Packers could use Coples is a variety of ways up front in their 3-4 packages.
Unlike New England, however, the Packers are absolutely desperate for pass-rush help. In 2011, Clay Matthews was the only reliable pass-rusher on the roster, and even he finished with just six sacks.
GM Ted Thompson is typically more comfortable moving back in the draft, but he's shown in the past that he will make a move up to get someone his defense needs. Could Coples be a guy that Thompson values enough to go get?
Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson
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