2012 NFL Draft Order: Players Top 5 Teams Will Target

Now that the 2011 NFL regular season is over, it’s time for the teams not in the hunt for a playoff spot to start the process of selecting their draft picks.

With the first two-thirds of the draft order set, it’s time for the fantasy experts at Bleacher Report to attack the film and come up with the best mock drafts on the web.

The following teams have the first five picks and these are the players they will be looking to take. There are always chances of trades, but trading in or out of the top five is always tough.

Enjoy!

1. Colts, 2-14—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There is almost no doubt in the mind of anyone that knows the game of football that Andrew Luck should and will be the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2012 NFL draft. He is just that good.

While the Indianapolis Colts have a stud quarterback still with Peyton Manning, neck surgery and a 2-14 season proved that the perennial Pro Bowler will not be there forever. They need a backup plan.

This is the time when Indianapolis needs to let Luck sit behind Manning while the Colts get all they can out of their veteran star. With Luck’s talents and Manning teaching him how it’s done, the Colts could have the next Aaron Rodgers.

2. Rams, 2-14—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The St. Louis Rams have one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the NFL, but it’s all for nothing. If a team can’t protect their star player, they will be terrible.

That’s where a player like Matt Kalil comes in. With the No. 2 pick in the draft, the St. Louis Rams will take the left tackle that could protect Bradford’s blindside for 10-15 seasons.

St. Louis could slide Kalil right into the lineup and move current underperforming left tackle and former No. 2 pick Jason Smith to right tackle. Add a solid free agent or two and that’s a solid offensive line.

3. Vikings, 3-13—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

There are many spots on the Minnesota Vikings team that need addressing, but there is a feeling in the organization that the lack of any kind of serious secondary play killed them in too many games.

That’s why the Vikings will use the No. 3 overall pick to take Morris Claiborne out of LSU. Claiborne is the type of game changer that the Vikings are missing.

Claiborne is a great cover corner that also can jump routes, but he has the size and speed to be comparable with former teammate Patrick Peterson.

4. Browns, 4-12—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

With the end of Peyton Hillis’ time in Cleveland coming to an end, it will begin the reign on Trent Richardson of Alabama. As good as Mark Ingram was, Richardson is the real deal.

It’s not the fact that he has the size to bowl over anyone on the NFL level, it’s the fact that he couples it with sprinter speed and unparalleled field vision. It’s almost unfair to defenses that this man is this good.

Cleveland’s offensive line is getting better through all of the drafts they pick ridiculously high in and Colt McCoy isn’t a terrible quarterback, so Richardson should be affective at the NFL level. It won’t be easy in the AFC North, though.

5. Buccaneers, 4-12— Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

While Tampa Bay needs players on both sides of the ball, it is the Bucs' secondary that failed them most this season. Add a possible Ronde Barber retirement and the Bucs are in dire need.

With Alabama playing LSU in the BCS national title game, all eyes in the scouting department of every team will be scrutinizing every move. That’s where Dre Kirkpatrick shows his true colors.

If and when Kirkpatrick helps the Crimson Tide beat the Bayou Bengals in the biggest of games that will convince the Bucs to take the budding star at No. 5 in the 2012 draft.

Before we wrap up, here is the full draft order:

Team                                       W-L     SoS

1.  Colts                                      2-14    .539
2.  Rams                                     2-14    .590
3.  Vikings                                 3-13    .559
4.  Browns                                 4-12    .531
5.  Buccaneers                        4-12    .551
6.  Redskins                              5-11    .477
7.  Jaguars                                5-11    .500
8t. Panthers                          6-10    .504
8t. Dolphins                          6-10    .504
10. Bills                                     6-10    .520
11t. Chiefs                               7-9     .512
11t. Seahawks                        7-9     .512
13. Cardinals                            8-8     .469
14. Cowboys                             8-8     .473
15. Eagles                                   8-8     .488
16. Jets                                        8-8     .500
17. Bengals from Raiders     8-8     .504
18. Chargers                              8-8     .516
19. Bears                                     8-8     .527
20. Titans                                   9-7     .461

>Coin toss at NFL Scouting Combine will determine order

- Picks 21-32 determined by when playoff teams lose
- Browns hold the Falcons’ first-round pick
- Patriots hold Saints’ first-round pick

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

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