2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Would Benefit from Moving Down

Although it's exciting to have a high first-round draft pick, it's often best for a franchise to move down in the NFL draft and acquire more picks or players that will give the team more value than a single selection would.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick often trades down and even out of the first round to acquire picks for future rounds, and that strategy has worked well for him. He has acquired many second-round picks for the Patriots over the years, and that has allowed the team to find good players but not be forced to pay them first-round salaries.

Let's look at the teams who would benefit from moving down in the draft.

1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

With Colts star Peyton Manning's long-term health uncertain, plus the fact he is 35 years old, the time for the team to draft his future replacement has come.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is a future Pro Bowl player who has the arm strength, throwing accuracy and football intelligence needed to be an effective NFL player.

2) St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams need top-tier wide receiver that can help quarterback Sam Bradford bounce back from his poor sophomore season, and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon is the perfect player for this role.

Blackmon has exceptional catching ability and is an all-around beast of a wide receiver.

3) Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

After finding a good quarterback for the future in Christian Ponder in the 2011 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings need someone to protect him for a decade.

Matt Kalil is a very good left tackle and will be a fantastic NFL player.

4) Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Injuries to Peyton Hillis hurt the Cleveland Browns offense this season, and the team would be best served taking Alabama running back Trent Richardson to replace Hillis because he is not durable. Richardson has the speed and field vision to be a very good NFL running back.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne*, CB, LSU

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to draft a cornerback because the team's defense did not play to the level it's capable of this season, and veteran corner Ronde Barber is likely a few years away from retirement.

Morris Claiborne is a stud corner that should have no problem becoming a shut-down cornerback in the NFL.

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

It's no secret that the Washington Redskins need a quarterback for the future since Rex Grossman and John Beck aren't going to lead them to the playoffs anytime soon.

Robert Griffin III was fantastic at Baylor this season and won the Heisman Trophy as well. He throws the deep ball well and can make plays with his exceptional running ability.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery is one of the most talented players in this draft and has all the making of an elite receiver with his speed, catching ability and strength.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert needs someone who can make plays for him, and Jeffery would give him a reliable target in the Jaguars passing offense.

8) Carolina Panthers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Carolina Panthers would be wise to trade out of this spot because there will be teams willing to move up if Alshon Jeffery, Robert Griffin III or Morris Claiborne drop to this spot. 

The Panthers need a lot of help on both sides of the ball, especially in the secondary, and would be better served acquiring more picks to help those weaknesses in this draft.

If they keep the No. 8 pick, David DeCastro of Stanford is an awesome offensive guard that will dominate in the NFL.

9) Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Miami Dolphins won't find a quarterback here, which is their most glaring weakness, so they need to trade this pick. Their late-season success showed they aren't that many pieces away from contending for an AFC Wild Card playoff spot.

They need some help on the offensive line, and they don't need to use this pick to get a quality tackle here. If they do keep the pick, Riley Reiff of Iowa is the best choice.

10) Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

For the Buffalo Bills to really make a playoff push next season their defense needs to be better, specifically their pass rush. The Bills don't put enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and with Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, they could select a very talented pass-rusher with the versatility of being able to play linebacker or defensive end.

11) Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Whitney Mercilus was one of the top defensive ends in college football this season and would really help the Seattle Seahawks defense rush the quarterback much better.

The Seahawks have a good secondary, but they need some more talent on the defensive line.

12) Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The man that protected Andrew Luck so well this season at Stanford was offensive tackle Jonathan Martin. Martin is a very strong tackle who pass protects and run blocks very well. He would be a fine addition to the Chiefs offensive line.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The Arizona Cardinals should select the local college star Vontaze Burfict with the No. 13 pick because the young defensive star has too much talent to pass up.

He needs to mature a bit more and find the best spots to be aggressive in, but he has major potential as a stud linebacker.

14) Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Dallas Cowboys need to defend the pass better, and Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama is a very talented corner who would be able to cover top-tier NFL wide receivers very soon into his career.

15) Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Eagles passing offense suffered a few injuries this season, including to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. With fellow receiver DeSean Jackson wanting a new contract, Philadelphia would be wise to select a wide receiver with this pick, and Notre Dame's Michael Floyd would be a great fit.

16) New York Jets: Nick Perry, LB, USC

The New York Jets defense is talented but an area of weakness is at outside linebacker who can cover and rush the passer. USC linebacker Nick Perry can do both those things well and is very sound fundamentally.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Andy Dalton would probably be happy if the Bengals drafted a solid offensive tackle like Mike Adams in the NFL draft this April. Adams was a standout player on the Buckeyes this season and will be a solid pro player.

18) San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Chargers really struggled to protect quarterback Philip Rivers this season, so drafting an offensive lineman would be a smart move for them in this draft.

Cordy Glenn is one of the top guards in this draft and could step in and perform well right away for the Chargers.

19) Chicago Bears: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Brian Urlacher isn't the dominating player he used to be, and the Bears would certainly be better for the future if they got younger at linebacker.

Zach Brown from North Carolina is a great talent and would benefit from learning the position from someone like Urlacher.

20) Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Melvin Ingram is an underrated defensive end and would really improve the Tennessee Titans pass rush. He's too good of a talent to pass up here, and the Titans could use a star end to build their defense around for years.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Cincinnati Bengals need to trade out of this pick because they already have an earlier first-rounder, and they would be smart to trade this selection to a team that would want Lamar Miller from Miami.

The Bengals could use a running back, but they also need another wide receiver. Having two first-rounders gives the Bengals the flexibility to trade one of them for more value.

22) Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Cleveland Browns have no wide receivers that scare defenses, and they really need a playmaker on offense who can help out young quarterback Colt McCoy. Kendall Wright is a quality receiver who excels on deep routes and has good speed.

23) Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Detroit Lions ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in passing defense this season, and drafting a cornerback should be a priority for them. Gilmore is a quality corner with good coverage skills and a high football intelligence.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Steelers defensive line suffered through some injuries this season, including veteran defensive tackle Casey Hampton. The interior of the line needs some younger players who can take the defense into the future, and Dontari Poe from Memphis is a talented defensive tackle to look at here.

25) Denver Broncos: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Peter Konz is a very good center and the Denver Broncos would be wise to consider taking him here at pick No. 25. Konz could easily turn into a Pro Cowl center and someone who would do well in protecting quarterback Tim Tebow for many years.

26) New York Giants: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The New York Giants had a poor passing defense this season, and injuries played a key part in that disappointment. Mark Barron is a very good safety and excelled this season for an exceptional Alabama defense. He would be a great fit at safety for the Giants.

27) Houston Texans: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Houston Texans have a strong defense, but with star pass-rusher Mario Williams suffering injuries the past two seasons, the team would be wise to draft a talented linebacker.

Luke Kuechly of Boston College is a fundamentally sound player who has a high football intelligence and would excel in Wade Phillips' defensive schemes.

28) New England Patriots: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

The Patriots need a better pass rush, and someone like Chandler Jones would be a nice fit in Bill Belichick's defense.

Jones would also give the Patriots some nice versatility with his ability to play both defensive end and linebacker effectively.

29) Baltimore Ravens: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

Ronnell Lewis would be a nice addition for the Ravens defense that would benefit from getting younger at linebacker, especially since Ray Lewis does not have to many great seasons left.

Ronnell Lewis has coverage skills and could also help the Ravens pass rush rank among the best in the league again.

30) San Francisco 49ers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The 49ers defend the run better than anyone in football, but their 16th-ranked passing defense could still use improving. Alfonzo Dennard from Nebraska is a good cornerback and has a ton of talent. He could be a steal if he falls to the end of the first round.

31) New England Patriots, Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Devon Still is a very good defensive tackle and would give the Patriots more depth and a younger player capable of making an impact from Week 1.

I could also see the Patriots trade out of this pick because they have one just three picks earlier. Given Belichick's previous drafting history, I'd be shocked if they keep both of these first-round picks. The Patriots could trade down and get a lot of value for one or both of their first-round selections.

32) Green Bay Packers: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

The Green Bay Packers' running game was one of the worst in the NFL this season, and they could certainly use another young back. Chris Polk of Washington has good speed and is a smart player, too.