2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Teams Will Add Pass Rush Help?

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, the following teams will look to add pass-rushing help:

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

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffery, 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

Another year, another struggle for the Bills to get to the quarterback. That needs to change if Buffalo wants to make headway in the AFC East. Marcell Dareus, their first-round pick a year ago, led the team in sacks with 5.5.

Adding Upshaw, Dareus's former teammate at Alabama, would go a long ways in improving the Bills pass rush.  

11.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Brandon Weeden QB, Oklahoma State

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford 

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College. 

16.  New York Jets—Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

35 sacks isn't a terrible number for a defense, but you'd expect it to be a much higher for one led by Rex Ryan. While the offense was just as much to blame as the defense for the Jets collapse, I think New York should focus their attention on becoming the kind of intimidating defense they were at the start of Ryan' reign.

Drafting a pass rusher like Lewis is a start. 

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Whitney Mercilus, DE Illinois

The interior of the Bengals defensive line was as good as any team's this season, but they still need to find that one edge rusher that can consistently get home to the quarterback.

Plus, with another pick just four spots after this one, the Bengals can afford to take a chance on a high-risk, high-reward prospect like Mercilus, who stormed onto the scene in 2011 with 16 sacks for Illinois. 

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears—Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alabama

20.  Tennessee Titans—Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Titans could go in several directions with this pick, but I have them improving their pass-rushing capabilities on the outside. While many see Ingram as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he has the body to play in Tennessee's 4-3 as a defensive end.

Look for him to rise up boards as the process goes along.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

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

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

25.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT, Penn State

26.  New York Giants—Dont'a Hightower, LB Alabama     

27.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT Memphis       

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

29.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30.  San Francisco 49ers—Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB, USC

Despite going 15-1 and securing the NFC's No. 1 seed, the Packers may need pass-rushing help more than any team in football. Only Clay Matthews can be counted on for consistent pressure, and the Packers currently have no one opposite him to provide help.

Insert Nick Perry, who could rise up boards in a hurry once the pre-draft workouts come around.