2012 NFL Draft Order: Middle-of-the-Pack Teams Sure to Snag a Star

There are always those teams in the NFL that you feel are this close to being a playoff-caliber team.

Maybe they underachieved, like the Philadelphia Eagles or San Diego Chargers. Perhaps injuries sidelined their best players, like the Kansas City Chiefs.

Or maybe they are the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and, well, who the hell ever really knows what goes on there?

One way or another, these teams will be in line to snag a star in the middle of the first round with the opportunity to land a stud. Nail the pick and the playoffs should come calling.

Flop on the pick and you can expect your team to be enjoying the playoffs just like you are—from a couch.

Kansas City Chiefs

Season in Review

The Chiefs finished the season 7-9, in no small part due to season-ending injuries along the way to running back Jamaal Charles, safety Eric Berry, tight end Tony Moeaki and quarterback Matt Cassel.

With playmakers at cornerback (Brandon Carr) and wide receiver (Dwyane Bowe) set to hit free agency this year, and two solid but non-elite options at quarterback (Cassel and Kyle Orton, who will be a free agent), the Chiefs have some interesting decisions to make with their roster as it stands.

Team Needs

Nose tackle, offensive line, backup running back, potentially a wide receiver.

My Mock Draft Has Them Selecting

With the 11th pick in the first round, the Kansas City Chiefs select Trent Richardson, running back, Alabama.

A lot of people have Richardson as a top-10 pick, though I don't see it—too many teams in the top 10 have more pressing needs than running back. So with Richardson sitting at No. 11, the Chiefs will jump at the chance to select the perfect thunder to Charles' lightning.

Dallas Cowboys

Season in Review

The Dallas Cowboys were 7-4 and sitting in the driver's seat to win the NFC East.

Until they finished the year 1-4, that is, missing the playoffs altogether.

The talent on this team seems high. They are loaded at the skill positions, with playmakers like Miles Austin, Dez Byrant, Jason Witten, Felix Jones, DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo.

Team Needs

Cornerback, an effective outside linebacker opposite DeMarcus Ware, guard.

My Mock Draft Has Them Selecting

With the 14th pick in the first round, the Dallas Cowboys select David DeCastro, guard, Stanford.

You might not think of offensive guards as being stars, but consider that B/R's own Matt Miller has graded DeCastro higher than any other guard in the past decade.

Solid offensive line play provides stability for a team. Lord knows an inconsistent Cowboys squad could use some stability.

Philadelphia Eagles

Season in Review

The Dream Team had an early bedtime this year, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs despite Super Bowl aspirations. The additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Steve Smith, Ronnie Brown and Vince Young turned out to be as much hype as help this season.

Rookie defensive coordinator Juan Castillo seemed lost early in the season and the defense lacked an identity until the season was beyond salvaging. Michael Vick was injury-prone. DeSean Jackson and his impending free agency became a distraction.

But don't be fooled—the talent is there for a team that won four in a row to close the season and would have made the playoffs if they only won one of the five games in which they blew a fourth-quarter lead.

Team Needs

Linebacker, safety, possibly wide receiver if DeSean Jackson doesn't return.

My Mock Draft Has Them Selecting

With the 15th pick in the first round, the Philadelphia Eagles select Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College.

The Eagles have two main weaknesses on their team: linebacker and safety. While they have young safeties in Nate Allen and Jaquan Jarrett that might develop into better players, the team's linebacking corps is abysmal.

Drafting Kuechly—this year's Butkus Award winner who is forgoing his senior season—will provide the Eagles with a tackling machine they desperately need, especially if they continue to run the Wide 9 defense next season.

New York Jets

Season in Review

By now, I'm sure you've heard all about Santonio Holmes "quitting on the team" and third-string quarterback Greg McElroy ripping the Jets' selfish players and corrupt locker room.

Or about how the team lost three straight games and blew a chance at the playoffs.

Yikes.

So is this Jets team in crisis mode and not responding to Rex Ryan's message any longer? Or are they a few tweaks here and a few selfish guys being removed there from returning to the playoffs?

My guess is the latter.

Team Needs

They could use the help in several areas. And hopefully that help will have a good attitude.

My Mock Draft Has Them Selecting

With the 16th pick in the first round, the New York Jets select Nick Perry, defensive end, USC.

The Jets finished tied for 17th in the NFL in sacks this season with 35. A 3-4 rush end that can attack the quarterback would certainly make the Jets defense—Rex Ryan's baby since taking over the team—a tougher unit to face.

Perry had 9.5 sacks this year and 23 in his three years at USC. He would be an instant upgrade for the Jets.

San Diego Chargers

Season in Review

Despite underachieving once again, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs for the second straight season, both Norv Turner and A.J. Smith will return next season.

Why? I'll never know...

The question of the offseason will likely revolve around what the team will do with wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who wants to hit the open market. But will the Chargers use the franchise tag and pay the receiver somewhere in the vicinity of $12 million next season?

My guess would be no, but we'll see.

Team Needs

Linebacker, offensive line, wide receiver if Vincent Jackson isn't re-signed.

My Mock Draft Has Them Selecting

With the 18th pick in the first round, the San Diego Chargers select Michael Floyd, wide receiver, Notre Dame.

The Chargers could save some money but get a similar threat at the wide receiver position by letting Jackson explore free agency and drafting Floyd, a playmaker that Philip Rivers will look to early and often.

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