The 2012 NFL Mock Draft is ready to be unveiled as the 2011 NFL season nears the midway point. The general picture of draft alignment is falling into place as the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts show fans how unsuccessful they are. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers have solidified their place atop the NFL.
The college football season has also illuminated its shining stars as its season enters Week 10. On offense, fans have been witness to great performances from Stanford's Andrew Luck and Alabama's Trent Richardson, while their defensive counterparts—including LSU's Morris Claiborne and Notre Dame's Manti Te'o—have been leaving fans in awe.
The 2011 season still has a long way to go, and it has yet to be seen who will leave for the 2012 NFL Draft and who will stay for another year of college. But, in consideration of the outstanding performances so far—and how the NFL will eventually shake out—we've made our selections for next year's draft.
No. 1 Andrew Luck: Seattle Seahawks (from Indianapolis Colts)
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It's no secret Andrew Luck will be the first player picked in the 2012 NFL Draft. If the Colts finished last in the NFL, however, expect them to leverage their pick to their benefit. With the hopes that Peyton Manning will return next year it's unlikely the Colts want a quarterback.
Instead, expect Pete Carroll from the Seahawks to do everything in his power to acquire the Pac-12 standout. The Colts would rather have a defensive player, anyway.
No. 2 Landry Jones: Miami Dolphins
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Unable to win the "Andrew Luck Sweepstakes," expect the Dolphins to take the next best thing in Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones. A proven pocket passer in college, will Jones be the next Sam Bradford or the next Jason White?
No. 3 Matt Kalil: Minnesota Vikings
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In need of offensive protection for new starting quarterback Christian Ponder, the Vikings take USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil to bolster their line.
No. 4 Brandon Thompson: Indianapolis Colts
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The Colts are in desperate need of somebody who can stop the run, which is why they won't mind trading away their first pick, knowing a stud defensive lineman would be still be available.
While their defensive ends are aging, the Colts go with Brandon Thompson to provide some talent at nose tackle.
No. 5 Trent Richardson: Denver Broncos
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The Broncos tried desperately to acquire veteran running back DeAngelo Williams, but to no avail.
Though Denver has plenty of needs, they won't pass up the opportunity to take Alabama's Trent Richardson to fill a need they sought to fill with Williams.
No. 6 Morris Claiborne: Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs need to bolster their secondary beside superstar Eric Berry.
What better way to do so than to add fellow SEC cornerback Morris Claiborne from LSU?
No. 7 Robert Griffin III: Washington Redskins
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While Mike Shanahan typically likes a traditional pocket passer, adding a young Robert Griffin III, who has a good arm and the ability to escape pressure, could be exactly what the Redskins need.
Furthermore, Washington's ownership shows a penchant for mobile quarterbacks, so it appears this is a likely pick for a team needing more options at quarterback.
No. 8 David DeCastro: St. Louis Rams
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Sam Bradford has been sacked 27 times in 2011. The Rams are certainly looking to bolster the offensive line for their young leader.
Stanford's David DeCastro should provide the Rams some relief at guard, as he's used to defending star prospect Andrew Luck.
No. 9 Alshon Jeffery: Cleveland Browns
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While the Browns aren't sure if Colt McCoy is their man at quarterback, anybody leading the Browns' offense needs good targets.
Jeffery is a talented receiver who can get downfield and is solid on the jump ball. A receiver like Jeffery offers any quarterback in Cleveland's system a consistent target.
No. 10 Jonathan Martin: Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals need to protect their passer and get stronger on the run.
To do so, they need more meat up front for Beanie Wells and Kevin Kolb, which is why Jonathan Martin from Stanford is an attractive pick for the Cardinals.
No. 11 Justin Blackmon: Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jaguars don't have any superstars in the receiving corps and are 32nd in the league in passing.
They could use somebody who can get downfield and make plays. Justin Blackmon answers that problem on offense for Jacksonville.
No. 12 Quinton Coples: Carolina Panthers
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The Panthers don't have to look further than their own backyard to find a much-needed pass-rusher on defense. Quinton Coples is an elite prospect who can get into the backfield for a Panthers team that needs to bolster its defensive line to stop the run.
No. 13 Alameda Ta'amu: Tennessee Titans
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The Titans are abysmal up front against the run, so it'll be difficult for them to pass up anything less than a nose tackle.
Alameda Ta'amu can provide the Titans with the necessary size and strength in the middle of the defensive line to stop opposing teams from running over Tennessee.
No. 14 Cordy Glenn: Chicago Bears
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While the Bears can use help all over the field, there is nowhere that needs more help than the Chicago offensive line.
A product a team that likes to run, Georgia guard Cordy Glenn can give Chicago quarterbacks time to set up a real passing game, rather than depending on Matt Forte to do all of the work.
No. 15 Janoris Jenkins: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The Buccaneers' secondary is giving up 240.3 yards per game, and Ronde Barber is aging. Tampa Bay needs an infusion of youth and talent.
If the Bucs think Janoris Jenkins has removed himself from his troubled past, he could be a steal at this position. Finishing college at North Alabama rather than Florida, Jenkins is still considered a top prospect, but how much of his true talent has been overlooked as well?
No. 16 Dre Kirkpatrick: Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals have two first-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, so it's likely they'll seek to bolster their defense with one pick and add an offensive weapon with the other.
As such, look for the Bengals to add Alabama product Dre Kirkpatrick to the secondary in an effort to use SEC speed and talent as an upgrade to their pass-defense, which ranks behind their ability to stop the rush.
No. 17 Michael Floyd: Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals received an additional first-round pick from the Oakland Raiders when the Bengals traded away Carson Palmer.
In doing so, the Bengals will look to improve their offense. To go along with last year's stellar pick of A.J. Green at wide receiver, the Bengals will look to add the big, fast possession receiver from Notre Dame in Michael Floyd.
With Green and Floyd in the mix, the Bengals could be dangerous in the passing game.
No. 18 Peter Konz: Dallas Cowboys
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The Cowboys have an effective passing game, but they could use some updates on the line to assist their talented rushers.
Look for Dallas to add Wisconsin's Peter Konz to the line as competition not only at center but possibly as a lineman who can compete at guard as well.
Either way, the Cowboys need help in the middle.
No. 19 Luke Kuechly: Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles should look right up the road to Boston to find an inside linebacker who can anchor their defense. Luke Kuechly is a Boston College product whose numbers are outstanding. With him in the middle of the Eagles' defense, he can certainly anchor a linebacking corps that needs to stop the run.
No. 20 Dont'a Hightower: New York Jets
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The Jets are in desperate need of someone who can help them stop opponents from running the ball. Dont'a Hightower is an SEC defender and Nick Saban product who could instantly add speed and athleticism to the middle of the New York defense.
No. 21 Jared Crick: New York Giants
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The Giants need to add depth to an aging defensive line.
To do so, they’ll look to Nebraska defensive end Jared Crick. Crick will provide support for a New York defensive line that’s become famous for its strength in years past.
Can Crick be the next superstar?
No. 22 Whitney Mercilus: San Diego Chargers
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The Chargers need help on their defensive line, which ranks 21st in stopping the run.
Adding Illinois star defensive end Whitney Mercilus is an excellent pickup for a Chargers defense that could use an upgrade to handle its AFC foes.
No. 23 T.J. McDonald: Cleveland Browns
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With their second pick of the first round coming from the Atlanta Falcons, the Browns will address a defensive need since they failed to do so by taking star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
To do so, the Browns will add USC free safety T.J. McDonald to their secondary in an attempt to slow opposing passing attacks.
No. 24 Manti Te’o: Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens need a successor to Ray Lewis, whose years of productivity are waning.
Ironically, Manti Te’o models his game after the Baltimore veteran, so who better to add than the anchor of the Notre Dame defense?
No. 25 Billy Winn: Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills are running as effectively as they ever have on offense, which means their focus will be on the defensive side of the ball, where they hope to find an effective defensive lineman.
Look for the Bills to add Boise State defensive end Billy Winn in an effort to stop opposing rushing attacks at the line of scrimmage.
No. 26 Nick Toon: San Francisco 49ers
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The 49ers need to give their quarterbacks targets.
Unfortunately, their success comes with a lower draft pick for a team that likely overachieved in 2011.
Though they could use a highly-touted rookie receiver, the 49ers settle for Wisconsin product Nick Toon to help Alex Smith’s passing game. Toon is still an excellent pick, but this is a team that is in need of a standout to support an average quarterback.
No. 27 Courtney Upshaw: Houston Texans
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With Matt Schaub and Montario Hardesty in control of the Texans' offense, they’ll look for speed on defense.
In doing so, they'll pick Alabama's Courtney Upshaw at outside linebacker as an SEC athlete who’s excellent in coverage, while adding the ability to get after the passer off the edge.
No. 28 Dwayne Allen: Detroit Lions
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The Lions have a long list of young talent on their team, so they'll likely take a tight end to fill in the last missing piece of their offense.
To do so, they’ll draft Clemson's Dwayne Allen, whose size makes him an excellent blocker. He's also an excellent pass-catcher, which will go nicely with Detroit's other large target—Calvin Johnson.
No. 29 Alfonzo Dennard: New England Patriots
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The Patriots have two picks in a row, one of which they received from the New Orleans Saints for Mark Ingram in last year’s draft.
It's no secret the Patriots need players in the secondary, so look for both picks to address that need. At corner, they’ll select the last remaining first-round star in Alfonzo Dennard, who'll add speed and talent to a unit that ranks 32nd in the NFL.
No. 30 Mark Barron: New England Patriots
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After drafting a cornerback, look for the Patriots to draft Alabama strong safety Mark Barron to play the hybrid position for New England's defense.
Doing so, the Patriots should have the pieces to make a dent in their only real glaring weakness. If Tom Brady's offense has a defense that can stop opposing passing attacks, will they return to the Super Bowl next season?
No. 31 Vontaze Burfict: Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers need to add depth to an injured and aging linebacking corps.
To do so, they'll select Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict as their new addition to this vaunted Pittsburgh defense. The Steelers will continue their tradition of having the league's preeminent group of linebackers with Burfict in the fold.
No. 32 LaMichael James: Green Bay Packers
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The Packers don't appear to have many weaknesses, so they can afford to take a risk.
They'll add Oregon's LaMichael James to their aging stable of running backs. Though not the highest on most draft boards, James provides the type of player who will excel in a Green Bay system similar to Oregon's, where the run is set up by the pass.
Who will be drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft?
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