2012 NFL Mock Draft: All 32 1st Round Picks

The regular season has finally come to an end and we now have a clear picture of at least the first 20 picks of the NFL draft, so let's take some time and mock the entire first round.

The first round is meant for the play-makers and game-changers, and every pick will fill a void that needs instant improvement.

Sit back, take care and enjoy this full first-round NFL mock draft. 

No. 1: Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

Despite their late-season charge, the Indianapolis Colts still secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. That means the top spot in the Andrew Luck pecking order. 

Luck is clearly the best prospect in this draft class and may be one of the top prospects of our generation, so this is a no-brainer. 

Peyton Manning or no Peyton Manning, the Colts need to draft the best player possible. That means Luck—not Robert Griffin III, and especially not trading the pick. 

No. 2: St. Louis Rams

Pick: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

While the St. Louis Rams season was marred by injury after injury, their overall poor play can't be overlooked. 

Justin Blackmon would give quarterback Sam Bradford a legitimate No. 1 target that can flat out change the outlook of games. 

The Rams could honestly go a couple of ways with this pick, including trade it, but getting Bradford a guy to gel with and build around will be huge in the coming years.

I mean, just look what A.J. Green has done in his rookie year.  

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

In the 2011 draft, the Vikings took a shot and drafted their quarterback of the future in Christian Ponder. In 2012, it's time to protect their investment. 

Matt Kalil possesses the size/athleticism combination that scouts love. While he does lack in the consistency department, he is better than anyone the Vikings currently have.

Kalil will be the franchise left tackle the Vikings need to protect Christian Ponder's blind side and should be a perennial pro bowl offensive lineman for years.  

No. 4: Cleveland Browns

Pick: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Trent Richardson is a work-horse running back and runs the ball downhill with burst and power. However, he has the fact that only three running backs have been drafted in the top 10 in the last five drafts working against him. 

Richardson is certainly good enough to warrant a top-10 selection, and he's especially appealing to a team like Cleveland that hasn't been able to stay healthy at that position. 

With lead back Peyton Hillis on his way out the door and Montario Hardesty's injury problems, Richardson will head the depth chart from Day 1 and contribute instantly to the Browns' offense.

No. 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

Morris Claiborne has worked his way up draft boards and now is thought of as the best cover cornerback in the 2012 draft. Some even value him higher than former LSU corner and top-5 NFL draft pick Patrick Peterson. 

The Buccaneers secondary has more question marks than the The Riddler and none more troubling than Aqib Talib's off-the-field issues. 

Alongside of Talib is Ronde Barber, who may not have many years left as he isn't getting any younger. 

Claiborne is the right pick for a Tampa Bay squad that has more than its share of problems to address this offseason. 

No. 6: Washington Redskins

Pick: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

If Robert Griffin III is still on the board when the Redskins are slated to make their selection, then this is an obvious pick. They may have to trade up, however, because of Griffin's ever-rising stock. 

Rex Grossman and John Beck showed us all that they aren't good enough to run Mike Shanahan's offense, and Griffin is a player that fits that mold. 

He's a strong-arm quarterback who makes good decisions and has the ability to roll out of the pocket and throw on the move. 

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is easily the fastest rising talent in the 2012 NFL draft. 

No. 7: Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

The Jacksonville Jaguars have improved on the defensive side of the ball in 2011, but that's gone vastly overlooked due to their putrid offense. 

Alabama has had an absolutely dominant year on defense, and no one has been more impressive than cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. 

He's a fantastic cover man in zone schemes and will fit in nicely with the Jags defense that will likely not have Rashean Mathis next season. 

Kirkpatrick will fill the void left by Mathis and then some. 

No. 8: Carolina Panthers

Pick: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Devon Still has emerged as one of the best defensive game-changers in all of college football and earned Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year for his play. 

The Carolina Panthers could really go one of two ways with this pick, and the more popular of the two may be adding more weapons for Cam Newton on offense. 

However, finding a way to stuff the run may be the right option. Devon Still would add instant improvement to the league's 25th-best run defense. While eighth overall may be a little high, he is the best available player at his position. 

No. 9: Miami Dolphins

Pick: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Riley Reiff is only a junior, but should he elect to come out of college early, he'll be a top draft pick because of his elite footwork and the fact that so many teams are in need of O-line help. 

While the Dolphins would loved to have had Matt Barkley in this situation, adding Reiff on the other side of All-Pro Jake Long could give the Dolphins a pair of tackles to build around for years. 

Pending the Dolphins don't make a splash and trade up for Robert Griffin III, offensive line and Reiff is a solid pick at No. 9 overall. 

No. 10: Buffalo Bills

Pick: Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

While Justin Blackmon may be the first wide receiver selected in the draft, Alshon Jeffery of South Carolina is clearly the more physically gifted and prototypical NFL pass catcher. 

Jeffery's stats have been hindered by poor quarterback play and defenses adding one and even two extra defenders at times. 

Buffalo needs desperately to find a player opposite Stevie Johnson to assist Ryan Fitzpatrick in proving why he was worth every penny of his new lucrative contract. 

Jeffery has what it takes to be one of the best in the game for years to come. 

No. 11: Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

It's rare for offensive guards to be selected high in the NFL draft because they aren't necessarily a dime a dozen in the NFL, but DeCastro may be the exception. 

He will undoubtedly come in Day 1 and perform at a high level in opening up running lanes for a Kansas City team that thrives on running the football. 

Kansas City could also look at DeCastro's teammate Jonathan Martin. 

No. 12: Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Nick Perry, Defensive End, USC

Nick Perry is an extremely explosive edge rusher with exceptional size, and his biggest pro may be his upside. Many believe he may have not even tapped his full potential yet.

He led the Pac-12 in sacks in 2011 and would be a great addition for Pete Carroll to the Seattle defensive line.

No. 13: Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

Jonathan Martin is a genetic masterpiece—at 6'6" and 305 pounds, many scouts argue him as the best offensive tackle in the draft. 

Arizona invested unbelievable amounts of money into Kevin Kolb, and left tackle Levi Brown has done absolutely nothing to help protect that investment.

Martin would give an instant update over Brown who has been simply terrible. 

No. 14: Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

Janoris Jenkins is one of the most talented players at his given position, but his off-the-field issues may turn teams away from him. 

The Cowboys desperately need help in the secondary, and Jenkins just screams like a player that Jerry Jones would take a chance on. 

If he can maintain a good reputation after draft day, he could become one of the best steals of this draft class.

No. 15: Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Luke Kuechly, Inside Linebacker, Boston College

Luke Kuechly will be one of—if not the safest—selections of the 2012 NFL draft. Kuechly has led the nation in tackles each of the last two seasons. 

The Eagles were awful against the run this season, and much of that was attributed to horrible tackling and gap assignments. Kuechly fills both those voids as well as giving nice sideline-to-sideline speed.

If he has one knock, it's his ability to shed blockers. However, behind a defensive line that already has Cullen Jenkins, Jason Babin and Trent Cole, he could really be a nice selection. 

No. 16: New York Jets

Pick: Courtney Upshaw, Outside Linebacker, Alabama

Alabama's Courtney Upshaw has an incredible amount of raw talent and has grown to be one of the most complete pass rushers in the nation. 

He is capable in a 3-4 and a 4-3 defensive scheme and would also fit nicely into Rex Ryan's 46 defense. 

16 may be a tad high for Upshaw, but the Jets need a pass rusher, and I like Upshaw's potential over current Jets' players Aaron Maybin, Calvin Pace and fellow draft prospect Whitney Mercilus.

No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)

Pick: Alfonzo Dennard, Cornerback, Nebraska

There was a time that Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard was talked about as the best cover corner in all of college football, but he was injured in the early season and then didn't look the same when he came back. 

He is extremely physical and has above-average ball skills that are essential for the NFL and would be a great fit opposite side of Leon Hall. 

If he posts some good offseason workouts, we can certainly see Alfonzo Dennard jump back a little closer to his original projections.

No. 18: San Diego Chargers

Pick: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

San Diego's offensive line was littered with major injuries to its players, and maybe none more important than long-time starter Marcus McNeill. 

Mike Adams is a strong, physical offensive tackle that can play left or the right tackle come Day 1. 

He's rising quickly up draft boards, and San Diego will benefit greatly from having added healthy pass protection for Philip Rivers. 

No. 19: Chicago Bears

Pick: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Tackle, Georgia

Chicago may have more gaping holes that need to be addressed than any other team, but none is more embarrassing than its offensive line. 

The Bears drafted Gabe Carimi in the 2011 NFL draft and feel they have found their solution at right tackle for years to come—now they just need a left tackle to replace the abysmal J'marcus Webb. 

Cordy Glenn has impressive footwork for a lineman of his size and can come in and help protect Jay Cutler on the blindside from the beginning. 

No. 20: Tennessee Titans

Pick: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End, South Carolina

Due to the departure of Jason Babin, the Tennessee Titans ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks in 2011. Melvin Ingram has proven to be one of the best sack-men in all of college football. 

He has great pursuit and a wide array of edge moves that will be crucial in the NFL.

The Titans also need help in their secondary, but I don't really know how you could pass up on Ingram at No. 20 overall. 

No. 21: Denver Broncos

Pick: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State

The Broncos' defense ranked near the top in almost all categories in the second half of the season in 2011, so why add another guy on defense? 

Well, the Broncos have a phenomenal pass rush with Elvis Dumerville and Von Miller, but what John Fox could really use is a massive defensive tackle to eat up double teams. 

Cox's stock is rising, and many believe that he hasn't yet hit his full potential.  

No. 22: Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

There is a huge drop off at the running back position in this draft class; however, both guys are legitimate first-round players. 

Lamar Miller has continually drawn comparisons to the Eagles' LeSean McCoy with his ability to make people miss on top of his close physical comparison to the Pro Bowl running back. 

The Bengals' stint with Cedric Benson may be coming to a close, and a young stud like Miller would fit perfectly into the core of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. 

No. 23: Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons)

Pick: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Many people believe that Michael Floyd's talent level warrants him a higher draft pick, and while I may be one of those people, I think his off-the-field issues will drop him slightly in this draft. 

Floyd has exceptional size for a No. 1 NFL wide receiver, but he is a lazy route runner and occasionally forgets his hands in traffic. 

I'm still a believer in Colt McCoy for at least one more year, and I think we will see an improved McCoy with a target like Floyd to throw to. 

No. 24: Detroit Lions

Pick: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

The Lions are one of the hottest up-and-coming teams in the NFL, but for what they bring on the defensive front, they lack in the secondary. 

Stephon Gilmore is an NFL-ready playmaker that not many people know about, but he would be an instant upgrade at the corner position over Eric Wright. 

He runs around a 4.5 40-yard dash and can be used as a difference maker in the return game as well. 

No. 25: Houston Texans

Pick: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

Kendall Wright is one of the fastest rising receivers in the 2012 NFL draft class, and it's not just hype. He's a dynamic playmaker that can make a difference as a receiver and as a return man.

The Texans struggled when Andre Johnson went down with injury because they never really had a reliable receiver outside of Owen Daniels to pick up the slack. 

Wright is an improvement over a player like Jacoby Jones in the slot and would add a true burner into Houston's offense. 

No. 26: New York Giants

Pick: Zach Brown, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina

One of the main reasons the Giants barely slipped into the playoffs was because of their defense. Most especially the line-backing core, and Zach Brown would fill that need nicely. 

Brown is a smaller outside backer, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in sure tackling as well as speed and quickness off the ball. 

Brown would be a nice compliment alongside Mathias Kiwanuka's physical style of play and also with giving the Giants a very underrated run defender. 

Brown is one of the better talents in the 2012 class. 

No. 27: San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Mohamed Sanu, Wide Receiver, Rutgers

Many people may not know who Mohamed Sanu, is but in his career at Rutgers he's become one of the most reliable receivers in the country. 

He possesses nice size at 6'2" but lacks an elite, next-level speed that you would like to see. However, he'd fit in nicely with San Francisco's offense because they don't rely on the deep ball at all. 

Sanu has what it takes to be a solid possession receiver alongside the rejuvenated Michael Crabtree. 

No. 28: New England Patriots

Pick: Whitney Mercilus, Outside Linebacker, Illinois 

This may be bold, but Whitney Mercilus could very well be the 2012 version of Aldon Smith. 

Mercilus led the nation in sacks and would be a nice addition to a Patriots defense that needs help at every single position outside of Vince Wilfork. 

Mercilus will provide added pressure on the quarterback, flush passers from the pocket and hopefully force opposing quarterbacks into uncomfortable situations. 

No. 29: Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Vontaze Burfict, Inside Linebacker, Arizona State 

Terrell Suggs donned his alma mater "Ball So Hard University," and that's exactly how Vontaze Burfict plays the game of football. 

I mean, think about it—Ray Lewis is 36 years old and will have a lot to teach a young talent like Burfict. You know, pass down the legacy of true Ravens' football.

Burfict is about as much raw talent as there is in this class. He's phenomenal at making plays, tracking down the ball and finishing plays. However, he's beyond undisciplined and his tendencies for playing beyond the whistle as led to his rapidly declining draft stock. 

Like the Andrew Luck-Peyton Manning mentor comparisons, the Ray Lewis-Vontaze Burfict echos could ring for more than a decade. 

No. 30: New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints)

Pick: Mark Barron, Strong Safety, Alabama

There is no question that Mark Barron is the best safety prospect in the 2012 draft class, and while he still has a lot to learn in the film room, he is as good as any on the field. 

He's an exceptional tackler; when you watch him play, you can just see that his instincts as a playmaker are special. 

The Patriots are desperate on defense and can really benefit from Barron. Can you say the next Rodney Harrison?

No. 31: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Dontari Poe, Nose Tackle, Memphis

This is a pure replacement pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers have always thrived on their ability to defend the run and with Casey Hampton climbing in age, it's time to bring in the next great nose tackle. 

Poe is a nice combination of size (6'5", 350 pounds) and agility, but what he has working for him most is that this is a relatively weak defensive tackle/nose tackle class. 

The Steelers could go with Michigan State's Jerel Worthy as well but since they still employ a true nose tackle I like Poe's chances of donning the black and yellow. 

No. 32: Green Bay Packers

Pick: Jared Crick, Defensive End, Nebraska

Nebraska's Jared Crick has mid-first round talent but a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him for the rest of the season and his draft stock began to plummet. 

The Packers defense has been porous in terms of giving up yards this season and could really use an edge rusher outside of Clay Matthews to get them back to where they were in their Super Bowl year. 

Crick is a tad bit undersized and may struggle at first with the size of NFL offensive linemen, but his motor is ridiculous and his ability to make plays is second to none.