2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Teams Will Look at 3-4 Pass-Rushers?

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, the bolded teams are projected to take 3-4 rush linebackers in the first round.

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—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina  

8.  Carolina Panthers—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Bills were a surprise team to start 2011 but faded in part because they couldn't stop anyone on defense. Adding Upshaw, the draft's premier 3-4 pass-rusher, will make a difference immediately in 2012.

11.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

With three offensive tackles off the board, the Cardinals decide to upgrade OLB. Ingram, who could shoot up draft boards during the pre-draft process, will help turnaround Arizona's lacking pass-rush.  

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College 

16.  New York Jets—Nick Perry, LB, USC

New York needs to get back to playing Jets football, and that starts and ends with smash-mouth, in-your-face defense. You can't have that without a dominating pass-rush. Perry is an athletic college DE who should transition well into a 3-4 rusher. 

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20.  Tennessee Titans—Zach Brown, OLB, UNC 

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia 

25.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DL, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

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

28.  Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Packers GM Ted Thompson has neglected the ROLB position opposite Clay Matthews for two offseasons, and it contributed to the Packers' playoff collapse at home. Now, adding a pass-rusher or two is priority No. 1 in Titletown. Mercilus bust onto the scene in 2011 and should be able to play standing up at the next level.   

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

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

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

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