2012 NFL Mock Draft: Assessing the Top First-Round Defensive Prospects

When you look at the postseason field in 2012, it's pretty obvious how fast the demise of defense has come about in the NFL. The top seeds in each conference—the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots—have allowed the most yards in the NFL this season.

Will this trend mean that teams look at mostly offense in the first round of upcoming drafts? I'm not so sure. There's always going to be a place in the NFL for elite defenders.

Let's take a quick look at some of the top defenders in our 2012 NFL mock draft:

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State 

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT USC 

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor 

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

NFL GMs will struggle to find a more complete cornerback prospect in the 2012 class than Claiborne. His combination of size (6'0") and quickness (4.45 40-yard dash), plus electric return abilities, should make him one of the first defenders picked in April.

Tampa Bay is a logical landing sport for Claibore, as they desperately need playmakers on defense and Ronde Barber is likely to retire. In the pass-heavy NFC South, you better have guys that can cover.  

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffrey, WR South Carolina

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Riley Reiff, OT Iowa

8.  Carolina Panthers—Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB Alabama

Some scouts aren't as high on Upshaw as others, but his pass-rushing skills and versatility in a 3-4 defense are going to make him a tough guy to skip over come April. Upshaw still needs a good combine showing to dispel any fears about his lack of explosiveness. If he checks out athletically, the Bills could take him this early to improve their lack of a pass rush.  

11.  Seattle Seahawks—Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

12.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB Alabama

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford

14.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College

15.  New York Jets—Ronnell Lewis, LB Oklahoma

16.  Oakland Raiders—Zach Brown, LB North Carolina

17.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG Stanford

18.  Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama

If Claiborne is the top cornerback, then Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick is a close second. He has such uncommon length for a cornerback at 6'3" tall, and athleticism isn't an issue. Against some of the big, physical receivers in the NFL today, Kirkpatrick would be a valuable piece. 

19.  Dallas Cowboys—Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alabama 

20.  Tennessee Titans—Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina

21.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT Penn State

22.  New York Giants—Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina 

23.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR Baylor

24.  Houston Texans—Dont'a Hightower, LB Alabama

25.  Cleveland Browns—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

26.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB Nebraska

27.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL Georgia

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Burfict's stock started sky-high before this season, but he's had some inconsistencies and maturity issues that dropped his stock. Still, Burfict couldn't ask for a better situation to get tossed into than Baltimore. With a year or two of tutelage under Ray Lewis, Burfict could be the kind of impact middle linebacker that Lewis has been for so many years.   

29.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C Wisconsin

30.  San Francisco 49ers—Juron Criner, WR Arizona

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB USC