2012 NFL Mock Draft: Answers to Burning Draft Questions as Top Order Set

The NFL draft process has officially begun. The order is set and we can now begin the incessant prognostication that will keep us on the edge of our seats for the next few months. 

Now we get to see how the best in the nation really stack up as they are weighed and measured with immense scrutiny. Everything from intelligence to 40-yard dash time is up for grabs. 

Here is our look into the draft board as the NFL regular season comes to a close. The order is set, but that doesn't mean the picture is any clearer. The dissection starts now, and that is where the real fun begins. 

The final order is courtesy of NePatriotsDraft.com 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14) Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No duh meets are you freaking kidding me in the most obvious selection on the board. The Colts some how lucked into enjoying one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game in Peyton Manning. In what is bizarre fortune, they now get a sure thing in Andrew Luck. 

There is little doubt that Luck will fall from the perch as obvious first overall pick. This is the time of year that the board gets shuffled time and again, but the 6'4" artist is safe from such tumult. 

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14) Matt Kalil, USC, OT

The Rams could use some receiver help to go along with Sam Bradford. There is enough talent in this draft to answer such things later. What they really are in dire need of is a safety valve for their young quarterback. 

The last thing they want is the next great thing to become the next David Carr. Safety first as the Rams take a stout tackle who has great footwork and an even better passion for the game. This is a great find for a team that just suffered an embarrassment of a season. 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13) Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

The Vikings pretty much let anyone throw on them. They need a player that is willing to stop the humiliation and Morris Claiborne is the man.

Now comes the speculation that the Vikings could deal this pick. With Robert Griffin III flying up draft boards, this pick gets very tasty despite the Vikings' needs. 

There are some teams with some obvious QB issues. If they keep it, Claiborne is the perfect player to come in and light the defense immediately. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12) Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

Peyton Hillis had to go and curse the Browns' backfield with his decision to grace the Madden cover. Well, it's a good thing that Trent Richardson is coming out. 

The Alabama star will soon be a Cleveland fan favorite with his zeal and nuanced approach to the game. There is also a chance the Browns will flirt with taking a quarterback at this point. 

5. Tampa Bay Bucs (4-12) Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Oh, boy. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were awful at the close of 2011. This team was soft up the middle, to the sides, in the run and by air. The young team that was on its way up took about a dozen steps back. 

The star cornerback is exactly the kind of hungry player this team needs. With Kirkpatrick, this team is nowhere near the doormats they were for the bulk of this season.

6. Washington Redskins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 

Here's the thing. Robert Griffin III is going to be the most polarizing athlete in this draft. Expect to see him rise and fall with the changing wind of public opinion. 

For now, RG3 is being seen as the second-best quarterback and someone that could legitimately test Andrew Luck for the top spot. We will see how this buzz translates to the draft process which is an arduous one to say the least. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

Now we get to one of the more interesting players on the board. Blackmon has the build and talent to be a surefire Top 10 pick and will flirt with the first five if he kills it in the Fiesta Bowl and shows his immense strength and speed at the combine. 

Blackmon can still improve his stock which is already high with many teams. This would give Blaine Gabbert a star receiver in the making. Perhaps this is the missing part of the Jaguars' offensive formula. 

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10) Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Panthers might have enjoyed some wins at the hands of Cam Newton if they could have stopped anyone from scoring. 

Coples is a bruiser that should sit comfortably in the Top 10 as one of the best pass rushers in the nation. Carolina could use more grit, and Coples has a ton. 

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10) Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Matt Moore killed the Dolphins' Andrew Luck campaign a long time ago. So the Dolphins might as well take care of him. Reiff is as dependable as they come in protection.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10) Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Could the Bills trade up for a quarterback? They could but that is hardly what is ailing them most. I see them getting some much-needed help to improve a porous offensive line. 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9) Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

I know what you are thinking here, and that is this is a tremendous reach. I agree. Landry Jones is not garnering a whole bunch of praise at the moment, but that can change with a phenomenal pro day. 

The fact is the Seahawks may need a running back as well if they find Marshawn Lynch too expensive. Any running back here that's not Trent Richardson is a reach as well. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The best part about Martin is his run blocking which should help the Chiefs flourish next season. A team that needs to open up holes gets a battering ram.  

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Cardinals need another receiver to draw some attention on the field, but that is not nearly their biggest issue. This team still has problems on defense that can be addressed with a player like Luke Kuechly. 

The Boston College star has fine instincts and is always at the right place at the right time. Or wrong place if you are a receiver that gets in his way. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

After a dreadful showing in the final game, the Cowboys could use a workhorse who is as versatile as he is tough. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

You can close the book on DeSean Jackson staying an Eagles receiver. He did a great job of burning just about every bridge in Philadelphia. 

No matter. The Eagles have a perfect player in Michael Floyd. Here is to hoping his head is in the right place. 

16. New York Jets (8-8) Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State

Well that year could have gone better. Something tells me the Mark Sanchez experiment is in the most danger it has ever been, but there is no solution on the board.

The Jets love to run blitz after blitz. It would be nice to have a player that can wreak havoc all on his own. And that is where the scary Devon Still comes in. Still would allow the Jets much more freedom defensively, freeing up the rest of the players on the field. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via 8-7 Oakland Raiders): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska 

I love what the Bengals did defensively in 2011, for the most part. The Bengals still need a great deal of help in the secondary. Dennard's fate rests in the draft process as he is one player that is a jack of all trades and a master of none. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8) David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Chargers should attempt to draft some consistency to the season. Seeing as how such things are impossible, they will settle on beefing up a line that was a touch worse than suspect in 2011. 

19. Chicago Bears (8-8) Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

I could see the Bears taking yet another stab at shoring up an offensive line that always seems to give them fits. However, the Bears may see some of their fine talent on defense leave so it's time to think ahead. 

Branch has great instincts and a fantastic first step. The Bears would keep up their ethos of defense first with this pick.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7) Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

The Titans may want to trade this pick as they don't have a tremendous amount of needs. If they are so inclined, depth on offensive line is always a good thing. 

21. Denver Broncos (8-8) Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Don't let their success fool you. This franchise is in a state of flux and could use a quarterback, but none exist that warrant a pick here. 

The Broncos are long in the teeth in the secondary and could use a shot of youth. 

22. New York Giants (9-7) Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The time for Ahmad Bradshaw sharing time may be at an end. We will see how the rest of the Giants season plays out, but it is time to consider a passing of the torch.

Lamar Miller may not be here at this time as his stock is primed for a big-time rise once he shows what he can do at draft workouts.  

23. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) Mark Barron, S, Alabama

It would be wise for the Bengals to continue forming a defensive juggernaut to contend with division rivals. Barron may not serve a specific need but he is a no-brainer pick if he slides this far. 

24. Houston Texans (10-6) Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is a stud, injury history or not. However, he needs someone on the line that can draw attention as well. Wright can get up the field in a hurry and has tremendous hands. 

25. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Kevin Reddick, LB, North Carolina

I am confident the Browns are settled at quarterback despite what most people think. They settled the running back situation and now need to shore up the holes on defense. 

Reddick is a smart player that just knows where to be. The Browns can build off that as this young team continues to grow. 

26. Detroit Lions (10-6) Zebrie Sanders, G, Florida State 

He is a little rough around the edges but will shine in the run block. This is a player that will only get better at the next stage as he loves to learn. 

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

The Steelers are in danger of reaching here for a player they don't need. Poe is the perfect youngster to take over at nose tackle when the time comes. 

28. Baltimore Ravens (12-4) Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

This guy is a killer and will only show as much when he hits the draft process. That's why I am confident that he won't even be here when all is said and done. 

If he does land with the Ravens, he has a perfect mentor in Ray Lewis who shares his predilection on making players pay for being near him on the field. 

29. New England Patriots (via 12-3 New Orleans Saints): Jared Crick, DE, Wisconsin

The Patriots get a steal with one of the final selections in the first round. Crick is a versatile end that will flourish in the NFL. My only worry is if he proves that he is indeed healthy, he won't be here at this point. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) Jarvis Jones, OLB/DE, Georgia

The 49ers don't necessarily need a pass rusher, but Jones is the best around at this point and they can surely find use for him, especially if the Niners have assumed turnover this offseason. 

31. New England Patriots (13-3) Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State

The Patriots simply have to address their pass defense which was once again embarrassing. Martin goes a long way to shoring up such things. 

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1) Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State

The Packers continue to make fine picks with what they are given. Cox isn't going to amaze fans with his selection, but he is a solid player that will gel well with the Packers. 

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