2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Teams That Could Trade Up or Down

Every April, we see NFL GMs jockey for draft position with trades to either move up in the order or fall back and accumulate picks. The 2012 NFL Draft should be no different.

Let's take a look at some of the teams who may make a move up or down come April:  

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

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

With the new CBA, trading into the top five of the draft won't be as rare as it used to be. In fact, the practice might become commonplace. The Rams will certainly be one of the teams that fields calls for a move up. If Robert Griffin III declares for the draft and continues his Heisman Trophy momentum, he'll be one of the reasons for a trade up.  

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If the Rams stay put and draft either Blackmon or Kalil, the Vikings will hold the last pick before the Browns at No. 4. If Griffin fell to No. 4, it's likely Cleveland would take him there. You could see a team making a last-ditch effort to move up and make sure they get their hands on Griffin.

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

If Griffin is as good as advertised in the pre-draft workouts and interviews, there's no doubt that Redskins owner Daniel Synder will look into a trade to get him. Washington is one of the few teams left in the NFL that really need an answer at the quarterback position. 

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

8.  Carolina Panthers—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

It will be interesting to see how the new coach in Miami goes about the quarterback position. Will he put confidence in Matt Moore, who played well down the stretch? Or could the Dolphins attempt to move up to get Griffin and give the new head coach a rookie quarterback to tie his name to?  

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

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

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Devon Still, DT, Penn 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

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Not every team is the New England Patriots, but we've seen the Patriots' front office trade down repeatedly to stockpile picks. The Bengals are in that kind of position. With several picks coming from the Raiders in return for Carson Palmer, the Bengals could really give themselves some draft capital both this season and in coming years with a trade down from No. 17. 

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

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

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—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

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

It's the New England Patriots. Expecting them to stay put when they have two picks at the end of the first round goes against what they've shown in the past.

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

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

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

Back in 2009, when Green Bay was transitioning to a 3-4 defense, Packers GM Ted Thompson defied his draft history to move back into the first round to draft OLB Clay Matthews. With the Packers now lacking in pass rush opposite Matthews, Thompson could make another move up to get the guy he needs.