The good people over at Mocking the Draft have released their newest mock draft and in it, they project that USC T Matt Kalil will head east to protect the blindside for Blaine Gabbert (or, whoever wins their QB battle, I suppose). Per Brad Wells, Jacksonville will choose Matt Kalil with the 8th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft:
Matt Kalil | Offensive tackle | Southern California: After owner Shahid Khan all but hamstrung the front office with the botched attempt to trade for Tim Tebow, Jags G.M. Gene Smith practically falls out of his chair while reaching for the phone and screaming into the mouthpiece, "WRITE KALIL ON THE CARD, DAMMIT!" Kalil is a superb left tackle prospect and will make everyone forget that Smith wasted a first rounder on Eugene Monroe just four seasons ago.
Kalil is one of the best tackle prospects in recent memory and would be integral in the development of Gabbert, a QB Jacksonville is hoping will improve after a shaky first seasons. Having time to throw the football and trusting that you're not going to get blindsided is certainly good for a quarterback's psyche.
To talk about Kalil with USC football fans, head on over to Conquest Chronicles. Mock drafts should be talked about more thoroughly at Mocking the Draft.
