2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Must Hit Big in First Round

The only way to make up for a horrible season or future losses on the roster is to have a terrific draft. Some of the NFL teams listed better have a mind-blowing time when they are officially on the clock. 

The last thing you want is to come away from the draft with a howl bag of trash that does nothing for your franchise. You only need to look at the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams as examples of what happens when the coffers are empty. 

Why can't they all be like the Green Bay Packers?

Here we have highlighted some teams that really need an infusion of youth badly. Of course, their pending disaster wouldn't be complete without mention of what disaster movie most aptly describes their conundrum.  

 

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

Yeah, so this team needs a quarterback like Norv Turner needs a clue. Let's just say Peyton Manning comes back to full Manning glory next season. We all saw what happens the second he is sidelined. 

This franchise can't deal with such a loss and needs a star quarterback to take over for a legend that is at best a couple years from retirement. 

That is why the complete and utter destruction of planet earth typifies the gravitas of this team. So we give you the movie 2012. 

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

The Rams flirted with making Sam Bradford into the new David Carr as a shoddy line made way for hit after hit on its budding star.

The time has come to lock down a safety net for the franchise player. Matt Kalil would do just that. This is the most pivotal thing the Rams need right now. Forget receivers—if an offensive lineman is not grabbed, you can expect pretty much what took place in Deep Impact.   

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

The Vikings pretty much let anyone do as they pleased in 2011. They need a player that is willing to step in on day one and stop the humiliation, and Morris Claiborne is the man.

Now comes the speculation that the Vikings could deal this pick. Robert Griffin III looms close by and would give the Vikings a treasure trove of goodies. I like.  

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

Never, I repeat, never allow your star player to feature on the cover of a Madden video game. The results are just horrendous. Help, thank god, is on its way as the best running back in the nation will be available at this point.  

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

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers laid a steaming pile of eggs at the doorstep of the NFL season. This team needs to remember what it was that made it so great a year ago. Oh, and the Bucs also need a great deal more talent on defense. That is where Alabama phenom Dre Kirkpatrick comes in. 

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

The Day After Tomorrow is what will happen if the Washington Redskins don't take Robert Griffin III, and I don't see them ignoring the Heisman winner. 

The Redskins would have a star in RG3 and one hell of a great personality. A team that has dealt with a great deal of locker room turmoil in the last couple of seasons could use a quality QB that has leadership written all over him. 

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 after a fine showing in the Fiesta Bowl.

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, North Carolina, DE

Pretty much all the talent is under center for the Panthers. It's time to share the love and get some depth on defense as well. 

Coples is a beast that would give the Panthers a young weapon on defense. Perhaps now they can win some games in which Newton dominates. 

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

Matt Moore destroyed any hope the Dolphins had for Andrew Luck 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, North Carolina, OLB

There will again be talk of the Bills flirting with a quarterback at this spot or trading up. I just don't see it, because 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, Oklahoma, QB

Reach, reach! Well, I agree. Landry Jones may not garner 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, Stanford, OT

The best part about Martin is his run blocking, which should help the Chiefs challenge for the division next season. The line needs a big body that can move up field and that's Martin.   

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

Here is a tricky one because 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 Cardinals were once again soft on defense and it is getting tiresome. For this issue, we look to the classic Tremors. It fits because this is a disaster that only concerns a few people that actually consider themselves Cards fans. 

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

After a horrible final game where toughness was questioned, the Cowboys could use a workhorse who is as versatile as he is tough. Upshaw is a hungry player that would uplift a spiraling franchise. 

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

DeSean Jackson seemed hell-bent on torching the franchise with a sour attitude. He has since apologized, but the writing should be on the wall, or somewhere apparent. 

There is no way a talented team like this can duplicate a horrendous effort. The Eagles need a solid player that is more hungry than he is entitled. For their plight, we use In the Army Now, which was more disaster of a movie than disaster movie. 

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

Somehow, the Jets managed to once again skirt expectations. Only this time it was far worse. 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 incessant blitz packages, making it necessary to have a player that can hold his own on the line. 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, Nebraska, CB

Dennard is not going to blow you away with power or speed. In fact, there isn't one thing that he is elite at, yet he is one of the most versatile players on the board, a jack of all trades the Bengals could use. 

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

The Chargers would love to draft consistency or some other intangible. Hell, even a new head coach would be nice. But they will settle on a stout lineman that can keep Philip Rivers upright.  

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

The Bears could go a number of directions here. I would love them to take some additional help on offensive line. With some turnover on defense likely, they should draft Branch. 

He 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, Georgia, G

The Titans aren't extremely want of just one thing. However, they could use some O-line help and Glenn is a bear that can get up the field in a hurry. Love the footwork as well. 

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

It's time to get some help for the old codgers in the secondary. A pocket passer would be nice too, but we won't go there.  

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

I love Ahmad Bradshaw, but I am not so sure Tom Coughlin does. It's time to pass the torch to a running back that will continue to rise up draft boards.   

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

The wise move is 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. I am not so sure he slides this far, though. 

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

Andre Johnson is a stud but could be even better with a star on the other side of the field. Wright would free up the big man.  

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

Colt McCoy is the man, despite what most people think. The Browns 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, Florida State, G

Sanders lacks polish but is a beast in the run block. The Lions would do well to nab him if he is around. 

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

The Steelers don't really need much and may very well reach. Poe is a powerful tackle to take over when the time comes. by now, we have reached the teams that are fairly well off at the moment. It's time for the happiest movie of all time. Yes, Rudy. 

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

This guy is a beast that can err when it comes to penalties. His passion for the game is unparalleled, though. 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, Nebraska, DE

The Patriots get a steal with one of the final selections. Crick is a versatile machine but only needs to prove he is healthy to fly off the board well sooner of this spot. 

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

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, Oklahoma State, S

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

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

The Packers do what they do best and that's make solid picks late in the game.  

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