2012 NFL Draft Predictions: Projecting Landing Spots for Top Defenders

As the 2011 NFL regular season nears its end, the lucky fans of 12 teams get to turn their focus to the playoffs, but for supporters of the 20 squads who missed the postseason it's time to look ahead to next year, beginning with April's 2012 NFL draft.

The reason that some of those teams failed to make the playoffs is the lack of a stout defense, so many squads will look to first address that side of the ball, beginning with the five teams and players listed here, taken from my Updated 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

1.03: Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

2011 Stats: 46 tackles, 6 interceptions

Louisiana State cornerback Morris Claiborne was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-American, and for a team that is absolutely desperate for help in the secondary such as the Minnesota Vikings Claiborne is as about as no-brainer as draft picks get.

1.08: Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

2011 Stats: 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble

The 6'6", 285 pound Coples is a stout run defender that is also capable of bull-rushing his way to the quarterback, two areas in which the Carolina Panthers struggled at times this year, making him a solid choice toward the back end of the top 10.

1.10: Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

2011 Stats: 25 tackles, 2 forced fumbles

The Buffalo Bills badly need to upgrade at cornerback, so they'd almost certainly jump at the opportunity to select Kirkpatrick, who was both second team All-SEC and a second team All-American as a junior at the University of Alabama.

1.12: Arizona Cardinals: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

2011 Stats: 191 tackles, 3 interceptions

Boston College inside linebacker Luke Kuechly was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 as well as recipient of the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award, and Kuechly would make an excellent battery mate for young star Daryl Washington on the inside of the Arizona Cardinals defense.

1.16: New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

2011 Stats: 46 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 interception

The second Crimson Tide player to be chosen among the draft's first five defenders, Courtney Upshaw would provide the New York Jets with some much-needed pass rush help, and his experience in the 3-4 defense would likely appeal to head coach Rex Ryan.