2012 NFL Mock Draft: Morris Claiborne and Top Defensive Playmakers Available

1. Indianapolis Colts Select Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

You've heard everything about Andrew Luck by now. There's no question he'll be the No. 1 pick.

2. St. Louis Rams Select Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

I love Jeffery as a sleeper pick. He has his Calvin Johnson-like skills that will propel him ahead of Justin Blackmon as we near the draft. 

A.J Green and Julio Jones showed this year that you shouldn't be afraid of SEC receivers. 

3. Minnesota Vikings Select Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings need a left tackle to protect franchise quarterback Christian Ponder, bad.

4. Cleveland Browns Select Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Quarterback might make sense here, but the Browns will stick Colt McCoy for at least another year.

Richardson, the best running back prospect in a few years, is an immediate upgrade over a departing Peyton Hillis and an injury-prone Montario Hardesty.

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

Tyrann Mathieu got most of the attention on this LSU defense, but Claiborne was terrific as well.

Claiborne led LSU with six interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. He won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.

He benefited from playing across from Mathieu, but there's still no question Claiborne is the best coverage player in the draft.

Ronde Barber won't last forever, and pairing Claiborne with Aqib Talib will make this defense extremely dangerous.

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

Let's go ahead and make this clear: John Beck and Rex Grossman are not cutting it. Robert Griffin is about as exciting of a prospect as it gets, and he looks like a clear star.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars Select Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Jaguars would be more than happy to get the uber-talented Blackmon at this spot. 

8. Carolina Panthers Select Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Panthers showed this year that they can score the ball in bunches, and Cam Newton is only going to get better as he improves his throwing.

Still, though, they struggled immensely against the run game-in and game-out. 

Brockers, a redshirt-sophomore who just declared for the draft, is an absolute stud and will immediately boost Carolina's run defense.

He has the size, speed and strength to constantly command double teams, and he's the type of player that will constantly be disrupting opposing offenses. 

Dre Kirkpatrick isn't a bad option here, either.

9. Miami Dolphins Select Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins need a quarterback, but Matt Barkley and Landry Jones are no longer options. Instead, they'll settle for arguably the best run-blocking tackle in the draft. 

10. Buffalo Bills Select Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

The Bills have a few holes to fill, so they could go a number of different ways here, but Upshaw is NFL-ready.

He has a special mix of athleticism of talent that will allow him to get to the quarterback with consistency. He could very well end up being this class' Von Miller. 

Upshaw was the leader of that Alabama defense, which ranked in the top three in pretty much every major category. 

He will immediately take over for Shawne Merriman on the outside. Upshaw's upside is tremendous. This could turn out to be a steal.

11. Seattle Seahawks Select Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Just like Miami, Seattle needs to upgrade the offense, and most importantly, QB, but there just aren't any options here. Instead, they'll improve an already young, exciting defense with the NCAA's sack leader. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs Select Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Playing for one of the best secondaries in the nation, Kirkpatrick earned first-team All-America honors. He broke up nine passes and forced two fumbles.

Kirkpatricks is not only good in coverage, but he's one of the best tackling cornerback prospects in the draft. 

He will be an immediate starter in the league.

Kansas City ranked 23rd in yards per pass allowed, and Kirkpatrick could easily help at corner or safety. 

13. Arizona Cardinals Select Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin was a stud in Stanford's pro-style offense, so he's clearly ready to step in and start for the Cardinals.

14. Dallas Cowboys Select David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro is far and away the best guard in this draft, and the Cowboys can't afford to let him pass by.

He's comfortable pulling, and that works perfectly for Dallas' pitches and sweeps.

15. Philadelphia Eagles Select Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict has character concerns, but the Eagles, who were incredibly soft in the middle of their defense, can't pass on him.

16. New York Jets Select Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram adds a good pass rush to a defense that didn't perform as well as it usually does this season.

17. Cincinnati Bengals Select Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Bengals have one of the best, young offenses in the league, except at running back. Cedric Benson has been solid, but he's not getting any younger. Miller fixes that.

18. San Diego Chargers Select Alonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Chargers were atrocious against the pass this season (28th in yards per pass allowed), so Dennard makes sense.

19. Chicago Bears Select Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Bears need to improve their offensive line in a bad, bad way. Adams could step in at left tackle, quite possibly the biggest need for Chicago.

20. Tennessee Titans select Nick Perry, LB, USC

The Titans were good on the defensive side of the ball this season, but didn't get to the quarterback enough. Perry is rising up draft boards and has an uncanny ability at getting in the backfield. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals Select Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is another one with character problems, but he has the potential to improve Cincinnati's pass defense. I also wouldn't be surprised if Cincy traded this pick.

22. Cleveland Browns Select Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Browns offense was atrocious this year, so they have no problem selecting two skill players in the first round.

Greg Little is solid, but he's more of a yards-after-catch type of player. Wright is more of a down-field threat for Colt McCoy.

23. Detroit Lions Select Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Get ready, because in the coming months, Chris Polk is going to shoot up draft boards. The Lions have Jahvid Best, but there are major concerns of him being a full-time back.

Best and Polk in the backfield would make the Lions offense even scarier.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Select Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still has been terrific during his time with the Nittany Lions, and he helps Pittsburgh's aging D-line (Casey Hampton, most notably). 

25. Denver Broncos Select Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Broncos could use some added depth in the middle of that defensive line, and Poe, who has the size and quickness to be scary good, does just that. 

26. Houston Texans Select Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Texans will be happy to get Floyd here and pair him up with Andre Johnson on the outside. 

27. New England Patriots Select Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Patriots badly need some help in the passing game, and Gilmore, who doubles as a returner, would be a fantastic pick here.

28. Green Bay Packers Select Chandler Jones, DE/LB, Syracuse

Jones is the perfect fit for a Green Bay team that has struggled immensely at getting to the quarterback. He's incredibly fast on the outside and has the ability to improve this defense.

29. New York Giants Select Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly could potentially be a steal here, and it's a perfect fit for what the Giants are looking for. Win, win. 

30. Baltimore Ravens Select Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Ray Lewis won't last forever, and Hightower gives them a viable replacement for the future.

31. San Francisco 49ers select Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu is a perfect third-down target for San Fran's conservative offense. He strikes me as a Wes Welker type of player, just bigger.

32. New England Patriots Select Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Crimson Tide defensive players continue to roll off the board as New England further improves its secondary.