2012 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Predictions with Trades

There are only two NFL teams still playing football, which leaves 30 other fanbases focusing on the NFL draft.

The draft provides hope for the future for all teams, even those with only two wins on the season.

With the order almost set—the Super Bowl will decide the last two spots and a coin flip will decide a few others—it is time to examine potential prospects. 

Here is how the first round could play out in mock draft form, including possible trades.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

There is still uncertainty about what will happen with Peyton Manning next season, but there is little doubt that Andrew Luck will be the first pick for the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts owner Jim Irsay has already said that he plans on taking the quarterback from Stanford, and no one would be willing to part with enough draft picks to make a trade possible.

Luck could be the most complete quarterback to come out of college in years, so the Colts are making the right decision.

2. Washington Redskins (trade from St. Louis Rams)

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

Andrew Luck is a great quarterback, but Robert Griffin III is not too far behind him.

Griffin not only has great accuracy and ability to make deep passes, but he would immediately become one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL.

Since the St. Louis Rams already have a franchise-quarterback in Sam Bradford, they should trade this pick to one of the many teams in need of one.

The Washington Redskins would be willing to part with plenty of future draft picks for a chance to take a quarterback they can build around.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

The Minnesota Vikings selected quarterback Christian Ponder in the first round last season, so the next step is to protect him.

Matt Kalil could step in right away and start at left tackle for a team that was near the top of the NFL in sacks allowed. 

Minnesota already has a few talented skill players in Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin, now it needs someone to do the dirty work up front. Kalil is that player.

4. Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

The Peyton Hillis experiment worked out well for a year, but the running back could not repeat his performance in 2011.

Whether it was injuries, contract issues or the "Madden Curse," Hillis had a terrible year and it is likely he will not be returning with the Cleveland Browns next season.

Who better to take his place than the best running back in college football next season?

Trent Richardson has unique size and speed that translates perfectly to the NFL. He is also prepared to face tough defenses after spending his college career in the SEC.

While many are afraid to use a high draft pick on a running back, Richardson is worth the risk.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of needs, but newly named head coach Greg Schiano puts an emphasis on defense. 

Morris Claiborne has great hands for a defender and can use his size to cover the bigger receivers in the NFL.

With so many good passing offenses in the NFC South, Tampa Bay has very little choice.

6. St. Louis Rams (trade from Washington Redskins)

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

After trading back four picks, the St. Louis Rams still get their man.

Quarterback Sam Bradford needs receiving targets, and there would be no better addition than Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State.

Blackmon's strength makes him almost impossible to defend. He is also at his best in the end zone where he had 38 touchdowns in the past two seasons.

He would quickly become Bradford's best friend.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

It seems that Alshon Jeffery can go anywhere from the Top 10 to a possible second-round pick.

He does not have great speed, but what will help Jeffery is his ability to go up and get a jump ball.

The Jacksonville Jaguars need a big receiver to help out young quarterback Blaine Gabbert so they should grab Jeffery and not risk waiting.

8. Carolina Panthers

Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

Scouts already knew how good Quinton Coples was during the season, but he has turned even more heads during practices for the Senior Bowl.

He has enough versatility that he can fit into any system and play either inside or outside on the defensive line.

The Carolina Panthers need a lot of help on defense, and Coples would provide a boost against both the run and the pass.

9. Chicago Bears (trade from Miami Dolphins)

Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

The Miami Dolphins need a quarterback, but there are no players that would make a good fit for this spot, so a trade seems reasonable.

One team that could trade up is the Chicago Bears who desperately need offensive line help.

Jay Cutler is a good quarterback but he has been under constant defensive pressure during his time in Chicago. It would be worth trading up 10 picks to grab offensive tackle Riley Reiff.

Reiff was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and should be very solid in the NFL.

10. Buffalo Bills

Courtney Upshaw, Outside Linebacker, Alabama

The Buffalo Bills are an improving team, but they still need a lot of help on defense.

Only two teams had less sacks than the Bills this season, so a pass-rusher like Courtney Upshaw would be a great addition.

Upshaw had 9.5 sacks last season for the top defense in the country, and could be a specialist right away like Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs were hurt by injuries this season, but they also could not defend the run. Even with a solid corps of linebackers, the Chiefs gave up 132 yards per game on the ground.

Devon Still was one of the men keeping Penn State competitive this season with his great run-stopping ability.

Still provides a big body in the middle of the defense that will take on blockers and let the rest of the team take care of the tackling. 

12. Seattle Seahawks

David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

Marshawn Lynch had a solid end to the season, but they have not had a top running game since left guard Steve Hutchinson left the team.

David DeCastro could be the best guard to come out of the draft since Hutchinson, and he is one of few interior linemen worth selecting this high.

The Stanford product would immediately help the run game as well as a line that struggles with protecting the quarterback. 

13. Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

David DeCastro stood next to Jonathan Martin throughout his college career, so it would only be fitting if the two were drafted consecutively in April.

Martin is one of the better tackle prospects in the draft, and the Arizona Cardinals need offensive line help. The team gave up the second-most sacks in the NFL this past season.

Arizona definitely needs to protect its investment in Kevin Kolb.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

After being arrested a few weeks ago on a drug-related charge, teams might start passing on Dre Kirkpatrick.

However, the Dallas Cowboys have never been a team to deny a talented player due to character concerns.

Kirkpatrick is still an excellent cornerback that can help a defense that gave up too many passing yards this year. He does not provide a lot of turnovers, but he should still be able to cover some of the faster receivers in the NFC East.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Luke Kuechly, Inside Linebacker, Boston College

The Philadelphia Eagles have a very solid secondary and excellent pass-rusher on the defensive line.

Linebackers were the missing piece, as the current group could not finish tackles and allowed short plays to go longer.

Luke Kuechly would be the perfect fit for this defense. He will not be forced to blitz or play too much in coverage, but he can do what he does best: tackle.

Kuechly finished his three-year career at Boston College with over 500 tackles, and he should be able to track down any ball-carrier in the NFL.

16. New York Jets

Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

The New York Jets have a lot of needs, but one major key will be to get younger at the receiver position.

Michael Floyd is one of the most dynamic receivers in college football. He has great hands, speed and enough agility to score from anywhere on the field.

He will be able to immediately help quarterback Mark Sanchez, who struggled to find his receivers outside of the red zone this season. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

Cedric Benson finished the season with over 1,000 rushing yards, but at 3.9 yards per carry he was 41st in the NFL among qualified players.

Lamar Miller is one of the fastest players in the draft and can replace the weakest position on an up-and-coming team.

The Cincinnati Bengals already have a good young quarterback in Andy Dalton and receiver in A.J. Green. Miller would help create one of the best young offenses in football.

18. San Diego Chargers

Dont'a Hightower, Inside Linebacker, Alabama

Alabama had one of the best defenses in college football history, and Dont'a Hightower was the anchor at middle linebacker on that team.

He could learn from veteran Takeo Spikes and become one of the best inside linebackers in a few years.

The San Diego Chargers will need someone who can stop the run next season in order to get back into the playoffs.

19. Miami Dolphins (trade from Chicago Bears)

Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

While Ryan Tannehill might not rate as high as Matt Barkley or Landry Jones who both returned to school, the quarterback still has an opportunity to be a solid professional quarterback.

He has very good size for the position, as well as enough arm strength to succeed at the next level.

Tannehill still has to work on his decision making, but this will come with more experience under center.

The fact is that the Miami Dolphins need a quarterback of the future, and they are better off trading back to select the Texas A&M product instead of hoping for the best in the second round.

20. Tennessee Titans

Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

The Tennessee Titans have to hope for a lot of things to go right next season. They need to hope that Chris Johnson returns to form, Matt Hasselbeck stays sharp or that Jake Locker can become a legitimate starting quarterback.

However, they have little chance at being able to stop the run without bringing in any help.

Michael Brockers was an underrated reason for the success of LSU this season. The attention was on the secondary, but defensive tackle helped the Tigers become one of the best run-defenses in the country.

With Brockers, at least one position will be settled on the team.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

After almost being forgotten about during the year, Janoris Jenkins is using the Senior Bowl to remind people how good he still is.

The cornerback was dismissed from Florida after multiple drug-related arrests, so he found a home in Division II North Alabama.

Despite the struggles, he is still one of the best in the country at his position and he is worth taking the risk.

Considering the Cincinnati Bengals still have Adam "Pacman" Jones on the roster, they should not have a problem taking a talented player with a troubled past.

22. Cleveland Browns

Melvin Ingram, Defensive End, South Carolina

Melvin Ingram is one of the most terrifying players in college football, totaling 19 sacks in the past two seasons.

He also improved this past season against the run as shown by his 48 tackles with 15 of them for a loss.

If the Cleveland Browns select Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick, they should use this second one (acquired from the Atlanta Falcons) on an impact defensive player like Ingram.

23. Detroit Lions

Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

Anyone who watched the last two games of the season for the Detroit Lions knows that they need help defending the pass.

In Week 17, Matt Flynn and the Green Bay Packers threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns. Drew Brees followed that up with 466 passing yards against the Lions in the playoffs.

Safety Mark Barron is good at roaming the field and taking away the deep ball from opposing teams. He will provide a solid boost to a young defense against both the run and the pass.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger always seems to be injured. This is because he is constantly getting hit by opposing teams and ending almost every play on the ground.

The Pittsburgh Steelers should draft a tackle that can help protect the quarterback. Mike Adams, the second-team All-Big Ten tackle, should be a good fit for a team trying to return to its hard-nosed roots.

25. Denver Broncos

Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

Tim Tebow will go into next season as the starting quarterback, so the first-round pick would be best used on the defensive side of the field.

The unit has a good group of young players and veterans with Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and Champ Bailey. However they still need more help, especially in the secondary.

After giving up six touchdowns to Tom Brady in the playoff loss to the New England Patriots, it seems the biggest need is at cornerback.

Stephon Gilmore will be the best available at this point in the draft. He has good size at 6'1", and decent enough hands to force turnovers in the NFL.

26. Houston Texans

Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

The Houston Texans were hit by the injury bug this season, but they are one of the most solid teams in the league from top to bottom.

One thing the team could use is another receiving threat to compliment Andre Johnson.

Kendall Wight was a burner this season, catching many long passes from Robert Griffin III and helping the quarterback win the first Heisman Trophy in Baylor history.

Wright's speed will help keep some of the pressure off Johnson and running back Arian Foster and create one of the deepest offenses in the NFL.

27. New England Patriots

Alfonzo Dennard, Cornerback, Nebraska

The New England Patriots have two picks at the end of the first round thanks to the New Orleans Saints. After this season, they would be crazy if both selections were not used for defense.

Following this pick are a few teams that can use a cornerback, so the Patriots should grab the best one available right away in Alfonzo Dennard.

Although he showed a little too much anger in a fight with Alshon Jeffery in the Capital One Bowl, Dennard will know that Bill Belichick does not allow this type of behavior with the Patriots.

With proper guidance the cornerback can become one of the best in the game.

28. Green Bay Packers

Nick Perry, Outside Linebacker, USC

The Green Bay Packers struggled to defend the pass this season, but many of the problems came from the fact that they could not get to the opposing quarterback. 

When Clay Matthews was double-teamed there was no one else that could provide a consistent threat.

Nick Perry will help in all phases of defense, including stopping the run and playing in coverage.

USC players often were overlooked while the school was on probation, but Perry stands out as a player that can help an NFL team right away. 

29. Baltimore Ravens

Vontaze Burfict, Inside Linebacker, Arizona State

Ray Lewis is getting up there in age, and who better to fill his place than a middle linebacker with the same energy and tenacity as the future Hall of Famer.

Vontaze Burfict has the speed and athleticism to be one of the top picks in the draft. Unfortunately, he also has some anger problems that has caused teams to shy away from the linebacker.

At one point this season, Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson benched his best player because of too many personal foul calls.

If Burfict can learn to harness his ability he could keep this defense running as strong as ever.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Mohamed Sanu, Wide Receiver, Rutgers

Tight end Vernon Davis came up with huge games in the playoffs, but there were no other targets helping the offense of the San Francisco 49ers.

The team needs a receiver, and the best option will be Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers.

Sanu is not the flashiest player, but has good size and is always around the football. More importantly he would be able to use his size in the red zone, which is a place where the 49ers struggled this season.

After seeing the failed experiment that was Braylon Edwards, San Francisco is not going to try to fill this need in free agency.

31. New York Giants

Cordy Glenn, Offensive Guard, Georgia

Teams that are in the Super Bowl often do not have a lot of needs, but the New York Giants could use more depth on the offensive line.

The team used to have a dominant line that helped them become one of the best running attacks in the league.

Cordy Glenn would be a perfect fit because of his versatility. Glenn can play either guard or tackle and it will help bring together a very talented line.

32. New England Patriots

Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End, Illinois

After selecting a cornerback with the previous pick, the New England Patriots need to pick someone who can rush the passer.

Whitney Mercilus led the NCAA in sacks this season and would fit well opposite Mark Anderson on the defensive line.

The Patriots love to trade their picks, but it is about time they utilized the selections to help fix a poor defense.