2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projections for the Top Pro Prospects
In which cities can we expect the top prospects in the 2012 NFL draft class to land?
A few organizations are in dire need of a franchise-leading quarterback.
Some help along their offensive line, and as the aerial attack continues as the hottest trend in the league, just about every team could use a supremely talented pass-catcher.
Robert Griffin III: Washington Redskins
1 of 4No one epitomizes the word "playmaker" quite like Robert Griffin III.
He can do it all from the pocket, and he certainly possesses the flat-line speed and quickness to do damage with his feet.
He's a more polished, smaller version of Cam Newton.
Scary.
The Redskins certainly cannot move forward as a football team with Rex Grossman or John Beck as their starting quarterback.
Griffin III brings an excitement to the Redskins offense not seen in a while. They'll need to add more weapons around him, but with RG3 and Roy Helu Jr. in the backfield, the Redskins have the start of what it'll take to become a dangerous club.
Justin Blackmon: Carolina Panthers
2 of 4A college career for a wide receiver doesn't get much more productive than Justin Blackmon's.
He had 111 catches in 2010 for 1,782 yards with 20 touchdowns, and with defenses tailoring their game plans to stop him, he reeled in 113 passes for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
At 6'1'', 215, he's the ideal possession receiver that also possesses explosive tendencies in the deep passing game.
Add him to the Carolina Panthers, and Cam Newton's team, on paper, is extremely frightening.
How do you stop Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen and Justin Blackmon?
You don't.
Trent Richardson: Cleveland Browns
3 of 4While most teams are waiting until after the first round to draft a running back, Trent Richardson has the skills, experience and tenacity to be selected in the top five.
He's that good.
The Cleveland Browns looked to be set with their running back in Peyton Hillis entering the season, but after a utterly disappointing season, there's little chance the Madden cover boy will be back in 2012.
The Browns will use this offseason and the draft to build the team around Colt McCoy.
Providing him a hard-nosed, feature back is a start.
They get that with the bull-dozing yet deceptively agile Richardson.
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2012 NFL Mock Draft
4 of 41. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
2. St. Louis Rams—Alshon Jeffery, WR South Carolina
3. Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland Browns—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
6. Washington Redskins—Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
7. Jacksonville Jaguars—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
8. Carolina Panthers—Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
9. Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
10. Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB Alabama
11. Seattle Seahawks—Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
12. Kansas City Chiefs—Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
13. Arizona Cardinals—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
14. Philadelphia Eagles—Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State
15. New York Jets—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
16. Oakland Raiders—Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
17. San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG Stanford
18. Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
19. Dallas Cowboys—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
20. Tennessee Titans—Ronnell Lewis, LB Oklahoma
21. Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT, Penn State
22. New York Giants—Janoris Jenkins, CB, Miami
23. Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
24. Houston Texans—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
25. Atlanta Falcons—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
26. Detroit Lions—Stephon Gllmore, CB, South Carolina
27. Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia
28. Baltimore Ravens—Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College
29. New Orleans Saints—Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
30. San Francisco 49ers—Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
31. New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama
32. Green Bay Packers—Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska
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