2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Must Trade Up to Fill Biggest Needs

When doing a mock draft, we can never forecast what trades will happen. There will always be speculation, but nothing more than that. Still, while I can't do a mock draft for a trade that hasn't happen, I can say what teams need to move up in the draft. 

Note that this is projecting the first round as if not a single trade will be made between now and April. Some teams will need to make some moves if they are going to improve in 2012.

1. Indianapolis Colts, Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There's still no way around it, this is the No. 1 pick. He's ready for the NFL right now, and the Colts need to look to the future. Whatever future Peyton Manning has in the NFL will be short. The Colts can't do anything but take Luck.

2. St. Louis Rams, Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Until Sam Bradford is kept on his feet, the Rams are going to struggle. Kalil will instantly help make that happen.

3. Minnesota Vikings, Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

With Adrian Peterson's injury in Week 16, it's clear that the Vikings are going to need to find other ways to move the ball. Percy Harvin is good, but too easy to key on. Drafting Blackmon would bring an instant change to that.

4. Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

I would really like to see the Browns get a receiver. Until they do that, the Cleveland offense will be mediocre, at best. But Justin Blackmon is the only receiver worth taking here, and I don't see him being available. 

They will need to make a trade up to land a player like Blackmon. If they can't do that, Richardson is an excellent addition.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Buccaneers' defense was pitiful in 2011. Some of that was because of injuries up front. Tampa didn't have that excuse for their pass defense. 

6. Washington Redskins, Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

There's no way Griffin falls below this spot. He's the Heisman Trophy winner and one of the more dynamic quarterbacks to come out of college in recent memory.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

The Jaguars need a lot of help. Outside of Maurice Jones-Drew, their offense is dismal. Still, their greatest hole is in the secondary. Claiborne is fundamentally sound, and brings an explosive element to the game

8. Carolina Panthers, Devon Still, DT, Penn St.*

With Jon Beason returning from injury, the Panthers' run defense will be better. But if the Panthers can't get a lineman to keep blockers from Beason, it will still be a rough year. Still is a monster that will keep blockers occupied. 

9. Miami Dolphins, Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina*

Mocks change a lot from week to week, but I haven't done a single mock that had the Dolphins taking anyone other than a quarterback. But with Matt Barkley staying at USC and Landry Jones' return to Oklahoma, there isn't a quarterback that the Dolphins could even reach for at No. 9.

If the Dolphins have their sights set on Luck or Robert Griffin, they will need to move ahead of at least the Redskins. Otherwise, they will need to trade down until later in the first round, or wait until the second to land Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M) or Nick Foles (Arizona). Either would possibly be gone by the time the Dolphins pick.

10. Buffalo Bills, Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Bills aren't unlike the Dolphins, although I don't think they need a quarterback. They do need a man to help keep Ryan Fitzpatrick on his feet. Martin is that guy. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs, Riley Reiff*, OT, Iowa

The Chiefs will have injured players throughout the roster returning. What they will still need is a better group up front to open up the offense more.

12. Seattle Seahawks, Alshon Jeffery*, WR South Carolina

A disappointing season will be made up for with a combine that will impress. Jeffery is an athletic marvel. The Seahawks will need some more balance in their offense to compete for the postseason. Jeffery brings a dynamic element.

13. Arizona Cardinals, David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The defense is improving, and the skill players are in place for this team to contend. What they don't do well is protect up front. That goes for the entire division they play in. But all NFC West teams are strong up front on defense. DeCastro kept Andrew Luck safe, and will do the same for Kevin Kolb.

14. Dallas Cowboys, Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Cowboys need Kirkpatrick or Claiborne. Their secondary needs to be instantly aided. Still, while Dennard here is a bit of a reach, if the Cowboys don't take a CB in the first round, the person making the decision needs to be fired. If that's Jerry Jones, then he needs to sell the team. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles, Vontaze Burfuct, LB, Arizona State

The Eagles won't be any better without defending the run better. Burfict is a strong man in the middle that will make the team the best in the NFC East.

16. New York Jets, Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

If the Jets don't improve their offensive front, they will be watching the playoffs again. Mark Sanchez is not a good enough passer.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland Raiders), Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bengals owe the Raiders in a big way. This pick will put them in perfect position to get Floyd and form a lethal WR duo for a long time. 

18. San Diego Chargers, Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

The Chargers were a team filled with flaws, but it started up front. They couldn't keep defenders away from Philip Rivers, which led to a brutal stretch of interceptions. 

19. Chicago Bears, Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Bears would do well to trade up for Trent Richardson. Matt Forte is a free agent and it's hard for me to think that he'll be back. When Jay Cutler returns, he'll need a back to help him out like Forte did this year. Given Richardson's pass catching ability, he's that guy.

If not Richardson, then they need to move up for one of the draft's top offensive lineman. Picking here is going to be hard for them to fill either of those holes, although Hightower is a diverse linebacker that will make the defense even better. 

20. Tennessee Titans, Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With a returning Kenny Britt alongside Wright and Chris Johnson in the backfield, the Titans will have a dynamic offense, which hasn't been the case in a long time. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals, Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Here's another team that would do well to trade up for Richardson. The problem is that do to that, they would likely need to give up the earlier first rounder, which would hurt their ability to add a quantity of playmakers. 

But the Bengals lacked a running game all year. In the AFC North, it's going to be hard to win that way.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons), Mohamed Sanu, WR Rutgers

Kendall Wright would give a dynamic element to the Browns' offense. Sanu is a good receiver, but he doesn't offer that kind of punch. 

In both of their picks, the Browns are going to miss out on the best receiver. If they can find a way to get either Blackmon or Wright, they will do well. 

23. Detroit Lions, Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Lions could go in many directions here, as long as it's defensive and not on the front four. But like many other teams, they do not do anything to defend the run. Given the men up front, a good middle linebacker will make the defense instantly better.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers, Quinton Coples, DE/DT, North Carolina

As we saw on Sunday, the Steelers are a little thin up front. They are also old, which means injuries will happen. Coples is a player that can be groomed into the defense.

25. Denver Broncos, Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

The Broncos' defense is good, but still too easy to run on. If they want their strengths (great speed rushers) to be exploited, Denver will need to plug up the weaknesses. That comes in the form of a big defensive tackle to plug up the middle of the field. 

26. New York Giants, Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is one of my favorite players in this draft. He can defend the pass, as well as the run. The Giants need help in both fronts. I would suggest that they trade up for a middle linebacker, but that's only if Barron isn't available. 

27. Houston Texans, Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi State

This is a team that has very few needs. When healthy, this is easily one of top two or three complete teams in the NFL. Cox is a good player for them, but I would like it a lot more if they went for another receiver. 

With the backs they have and Andre Johnson, an explosive receiver would thrive on matchups. 

28. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints), Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Patriots' pass defense is awful. They're also up a lot, so they're going to see a lot of passes. Jenkins has had some character issues, but his talent is second to none. Bill Belichick has thrived with these players in the past. 

29. Baltimore Ravens, Peter Konz, C Wisconsin

The Ravens certainly depend on the run, and Konz may be more ready for the NFL than any player in the draft. He'll make a good team even better.

30. San Francisco 49ers, Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina

With Carlos Rodgers entering free agency, the 49ers will need to prepare for needing to revamp the secondary. Even if they bring Rodgers back, they're still a little vulnerable to giving up the big play. Gilmore would make this secondary quite deep.

31. New England Patriots, Jared Crick, DE/DT, Nebraska

Crick missed most of the 2011 season, but is a serious impact player up front. The Patriots need help there too, taking the heat off of the secondary.

32. Green Bay Packers, Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

If the Packers win the Super Bowl, it will be in spite of the injuries up front. If they fail to repeat, the injuries will be the cause. They need to get younger and deeper on the offensive front.

Order of Picks 1-24 per ESPN.

* Denotes order will be determined by coin toss

Picks 25-32 will be officially determined in playoffs

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