2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Latest Predictions, Post-Senior Bowl Edition

When it comes to NFL mock drafts, two things are guaranteed.

Controversy and change.

Fans are passionate. They don't always like who their teams select, and they don't like where some players are selected. That's what makes mock drafts so much fun.

I assure you, there is plenty of change since my last mock draft, and this one will be no less controversial.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

An explanation here seems a bit redundant. Peyton Manning appears to be gone, and Luck is the best player in the draft.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

St. Louis' offensive line was dreadful in 2011, and Kalil is a franchise left tackle worthy of the pick. The Rams do need wide receiver help, but Justin Blackmon isn't as good of a value at No. 2.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Antoine Winfield will turn 35 in June and Cedric Griffin is returning from two knee injuries. If the Vikings didn't take Claiborne, he wouldn't fall much further, so he's a good value at No. 3.

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

Colt McCoy is a dreadful quarterback and the Browns desperately need some excitement on offense.  Griffin is a dynamic player with franchise-quarterback potential.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Tampa Bay has plenty of wide receivers, but none are very good and Blackmon would start immediately. Trent Richardson is appealing, but many teams prefer to wait until later on running backs.

6. Washington Redskins: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Yes, Mike Shanahan doesn't draft running backs early, but there aren't any better options at this point. Richardson is worthy of a top-five pick and he offers Washington a dynamic offensive weapon.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Whitney Mercilus probably shouldn't be drafted this high, but the Jaguars are desperate for a pass rusher. Jacksonville would love Justin Blackmon here, but that obviously isn't an option.

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Panthers have a talented defensive end duo, but their defensive tackles are simply awful. Brockers is a high-upside player who could develop into a star, capable of defending the run or rushing the passer.

9. Miami Dolphins: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

With Miami likely switching to a 4-3 defense, Coples is a perfect fit for the Dolphins. Cameron Wake is a speed rusher on the weak side and Coples would offer a more physical presence—albeit an athletic one—on the other end.

10. Buffalo Bills: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Buffalo would love to add Coples or Mercilus here, but they turn to Kuechly, the best defensive player on the board. The Boston College star has superb instincts and can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

11. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Tarvaris Jackson is awful and Seattle needs a new quarterback. Tannehill is raw, but he is a tremendous athlete with a rocket arm and excellent potential.

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Though Branden is solid on the left side, Barry Richardson is absolutely atrocious on the right. Reiff may not be a great left tackle prospect, but he should still be a solid player.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

It's no secret that Arizona desperately needs offensive line help and Adams has elite upside. The 6'7", 323-pounder is a terrific athlete who can block the quickest of pass-rushers.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a steal here, and the Cowboys really need to upgrade their secondary. The Alabama cornerback is big with excellent athletic ability and ball skills.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Eagles could use a defensive tackle to play next to Cullen Jenkins and Cox is an explosive player capable of making plays in the backfield. Luke Kuechly would be ideal, but he is long gone.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Despite having an awful pass rush, the Jets' defense was terrific in 2011. Upshaw would improve the team's pass rush and make the defense even more formidable.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Cincinnati's offensive line isn't awful, but DeCastro is too good to pass on. The Stanford guard can play in space or at the point of attack, and he would really help the Cincinnati rushing attack.

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Shaun Phillips is good, but the Chargers really need another pass-rushing option. Perry is quick and explosive but, more importantly, fits A.J. Smith's mold.

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

The Roy Williams experiment was a disaster, and the Bears are once again in need of a wide receiver. Floyd would be gone if not for off-the-field and injury issues, so he is well worth the pick here.

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

I'm finally willing to admit that Cordy Glenn will be a first-round pick and Tennessee happens to need offensive line help. Chris Johnson's lack of production in 2012 stemmed from poor interior line play, and Glenn is the mauler who can help fix that issue.

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

Jenkins has proven that he is a top-15 talent, and only character concerns make him drop this far. The former Florida standout fits a need for the Bengals and Cincinnati doesn't usually care much about character.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Browns need speed on offense and Wright happens to be one of the fastest players in the draft. The 5'10" wideout is a fantastic fit in Pat Shurmur's West Coast Offense and could contribute immediately.

23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

No cornerback is worth the pick here and one of Detroit's biggest needs is their linebacking corps. None of the Lions' linebackers can cover and Brown does that quite well.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Casey Hampton is old and Poe is a tremendous value in the 20s. The massive nose tackle can plug the run with the best of them and he would add even more talent to an increasingly-young defensive line unit.

25. Denver Broncos: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Broncos don't have much at cornerback after Champ Bailey and even he isn't going to be around forever. Gilmore is a talented player who can dominate or be dominated depending on the game, but the ability is there to succeed.

26. Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

With Andre Johnson often hurt, the Texans need a wide receiver who can dominate as the No. 1 guy. Jeffery has the ability to become an elite player and could fill Johnson's shoes when the star finally does into decline.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

New England's secondary has been awful all year and the often-injured Patrick Chung is the team's lone good safety. Barron isn't a stud, but he is solid and could help the Patriots' shaky run defense.

28. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram isn't a perfect fit in Dom Capers' scheme, but he is capable of playing in a 3-4 defense. The Packers need someone opposite Clay Matthews and Ingram is an excellent value at the end of the first round.

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

As impossible as it seems, Ray Lewis will be retiring soon and Burfict has the ability to step into the legend's shoes. The Arizona State star is raw and overly-aggressive, but he is a terrifying presence capable of dominance.

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

The 49ers don't have any great wide receivers and Sanu would offer the team a versatile weapon. The Rutgers wideout isn't a future star, but he will be solid.

31. New York Giants: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Kareem McKenzie will soon be an ex-Giant and William Beatty simply isn't good. Martin could easily be gone by now and he could start at guard or right tackle for New York.

32. New England Patriots: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Dan Koppen is a free agent and the Patriots need to find his replacement. Konz is good enough to be picked in the mid 20s and he could develop into an elite center.