2012 NFL Mock Draft: Could the Miami Dolphins Trade Up to No. 2?

ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker brought up an interesting possibility yesterday regarding the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins.

Now that Jeff Fisher has turned down South Beach for St. Louis, could he be instrumental in sending the Rams' No. 2 pick to the Dolphins?

Walker had this to say:

"

Fisher has a lot of power in St. Louis—something he couldn’t get in Miami—and most likely will get final say in what the Rams do with the No. 2 overall pick. The Dolphins desperately need that pick if they want to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Miami currently has the No. 8 or No. 9 pick and would be open to trading up to land a potential franchise quarterback.

"

Let's explore this possibility a little deeper in our 2012 NFL Mock Draft:

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

2.  St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

There are two things we know about the 2012 NFL Draft: The Colts are taking Luck No.1, and the Rams aren't taking a quarterback at No. 2. So the bidding war begins for the right to move up and take Griffin at either two or three. With so many teams wanting to get a quarterback, it's almost impossible to think the Rams will stay at No. 2. The Dolphins could win that bidding war if they want Griffin enough. 

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If, for whatever reason, the Rams stay put at No. 2 and take Blackmon or some other player, the Vikings become the next team that will receive the calls about moving up. This scenario, at least right now, seems unlikely.

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

It'd be hard to see the Browns passing up the opportunity to take Griffin if he was available to them at No. 4. 

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

It'd be interesting to see what the necessary draft capital would be to move up from No. 8 or 9 (decided by coin flip) with the new CBA. No longer is it taboo to move up into those top spots. The Dolphins need a long-term option at quarterback, and Griffin is as good a No. 2 quarterback prospect as we've seen in a long time.  

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

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

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

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

28.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB USC 

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