2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Picks for Remaining Playoff Teams

The most exciting portion of the draft is obviously the first 10 or so picks, but some of the top drafters in the NFL are consistently picking in the bottom 10. That's no coincidence. Good drafting teams are usually the ones playing into January.

Let's take a look at who the remaining eight playoff teams might select in April. 

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

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

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

If the Broncos are going to commit to Tim Tebow, they have to add the right pieces around him on offense. Arguably the second-best back in the 2012 class, Lamar Miller would be an explosive weapon in the running game.

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

The Giants front four is among the best in the NFL, but their linebackers have been a problem week in and week out. Adding Hightower, one of the draft's most instinctive inside backers, can help solve that deficiency. 

27.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Poe (6'4", 345 lbs.) is slowly creeping up draft boards, just as Baylor's Phil Taylor did last season. Houston could go receiver, but adding defensive line depth is always welcomed. 

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

If there's a place Burfict could go and get his head on straight, it's Baltimore. Learning in the Ravens' veteran defense give him a chance to be an NFL star.

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

The Patriots need defense, we know. But the only need to get young on the interior of their offensive line, and Konz is the best center available. It's a "best player available" pick. 

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

Michael Crabtree has started to look like a No. 1 receiver, but the options after him are limited in San Francisco. Sanu could be a big-time weapon for an offense that is starting to put the pieces together.

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

The constant rotation at safety is a sign that the Patriots don't have an answer at that position. Barron, the draft's best safety prospect, would help at the back end. 

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

Despite winning 15 regular-season games, the Packers lacked a pass rushing threat opposite Clay Matthews. After neglecting the position since 2009, GM Ted Thompson needs to fix rush linebacker this offseason.