2012 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will the 8 Current Playoff Losers Take?

In our 2012 NFL Mock Draft, we project who the eight teams that have been knocked out of the playoffs this season will pick 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—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

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

The Bengals could certainly chose to upgrade the running back position, but that position is easier to find later in the draft. In Wright, Cincinnati gets a playmaking slot receiver who can help take pressure off A.J. Green. 

22.  Cleveland Browns—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Playmakers on offense are needed in Cleveland, but I'm not sure there's one readily available at No. 22 without reaching. Instead, the Browns get a right tackle to team with Joe Thomas for the next 10 years. 

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Injuries were a big reason why the Lions suffered a big slide in pass defense late in the season. But they need more talent in the back four, and Dennard is a guy that could start or play the slot immediately in 2012.

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

The Steelers need to get younger on both sides of the line, and Glenn could be a lineman who bolts up boards during the pre-draft stage. He can play both tackle and guard, but he'll likely be a guard in the NFL long-term.  

25.  Denver Broncos—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

If the Broncos are set on building around Tim Tebow at quarterback (I'm not sold they are set on that view), then getting an explosive running back to team with him in the backfield is high on the priority list. After Trent Richardson, Miller is likely the top back available. 

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

The Texans could choose to get another receiver to team with Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub. But I like them to take Poe, who gives them another body on the defensive line to help continue their dominant ways on that side of the ball in 2012.

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

Patriots fans will certainly call for defense, and no one will be surprised if that's the way they go with their first pick. But they also need to get younger on the interior of their offensive line, and Konz is the best center in the 2012 draft class. 

28.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB USC

It's no secret that the Packers' pass rush all but dried up in 2012, as no team had a worse sack percentage this season than Green Bay. Adding another impact player in the front seven is an absolute must.   

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

30.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State

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

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