2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Players Will NFC North Teams Target in First Round?

Andrea HangstJun 7, 2018

The NFL season never really ends. After the Super Bowl, there's the Scouting Combine, free agency and ultimately the NFL draft to occupy our days and nights.

And there's nothing more compelling than watching every team select players who may eventually be the key to a Super Bowl victory down the line.

However, more immediately, teams are trying to fill gaping holes on their rosters and build depth for the future.

It's not difficult to see where the four teams in the NFC North need help. In the following slides, I detail players each team could take in the first round, rounding it all out with my first-round mock draft for all 32 teams.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

1 of 5

The Minnesota Vikings needs to build around quarterback Christian Ponder, and while there are a number of ways they can do so, first and foremost they need to keep him protected. Therefore, there's little chance that they don't select USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil with their No. 3 overall pick.

Kalil, whose father and brother have NFL experience, allowed zero sacks in 2011. While some of that can be attributed to the skills of his quarterback Matt Barkley, that's an impressive number that will surely have Kalil starting at left tackle for the Vikings in 2012.

At 6'7", he has the height of a pro-ready player, though he could stand to bulk up some. He's great at run-blocking as well, which considerably helps whichever running back starts for the team in 2012 and ultimately only serves to help star rusher Adrian Peterson once he returns from his ACL injury.

Ponder's chances for an improved sophomore season are greatly increased with Kalil protecting him. The pro game shouldn't come as easy for him as it did in college, but there's no way he will struggle for very long. He's the best offensive lineman in the draft for a reason and should boost the Vikings offense from day one.

No. 19: Chicago Bears

2 of 5

Wide receiver is a perennial need for the Chicago Bears, and it's likely they will make a move for a veteran in free agency. But they'll also need a sure-handed rookie to develop, and I see them snagging Notre Dame's Michael Floyd with their first round pick.

Floyd is prototypical in almost every way except for his speed. He can gain separation on defenders using his hands, however, and he's got good height and size and he can be relied upon to catch passes, which is more than can be said for most of Chicago's receivers.

He had 100 receptions in 2011, for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns. His best year came in 2010, when he produced 12 touchdowns on just 79 receptions.

He's not the only receiver the Bears would be smart to target. If they aren't sold on Floyd, look for them to pick up either Baylor's Kendall Wright or Arkansas' Jarius Wright.

Guys like Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery won't be available to them considering their draft position, and the fact that the talent at receiver drops off considerably after the first round nearly cements the team taking a wide receiver with their first-round pick.

No. 23: Detroit Lions

3 of 5

Running back has been a position that has been trouble for the Detroit Lions in recent years.

With Jahvid Best's career potentially over after a number of concussions, last year's draft pick Mikel Leshoure an unknown commodity after missing his entire rookie season with an injury he suffered in training camp and Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris not starter-worthy, they need to make a move in the offseason.

If they choose to pick up a running back in the draft, then there's no better option for them in the first round than Miami's Lamar Miller. Miller rushed 227 times in 2011 for 1,272 yards and nine scores.

Miller is fast, elusive and can find holes and exploit them immediately. He's hard to tackle thanks to both his speed and his size, and he's incredibly athletic.

He's got work to do when it comes to blocking, and he's not proven to be much of a receiving threat in his time in Miami. But if the Lions want a fast running back who can gain them significant chunks of yardage, then Miller is their man.

If they want to go another direction, however, look for the Lions to select a cornerback in the first round and dig up a gem of a running back in a later round.

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

No. 28: Green Bay Packers

4 of 5

In 2010, the Green Bay Packers had one of the most fierce defenses in the league, but that dropped off significantly in 2011. There are a number of areas in which their defense can improve, but stopping guys up front and putting pressure on quarterbacks is of primary concern.

That's why I see the Packers selecting UNC's Quinton Coples, a defensive end who is also well-suited to playing defensive tackle.

Coples has the advantage of both speed and power, but he may not be fast enough to be a strictly pass-rushing defensive end in the NFL. He can be useful at defensive end in a situational basis, but his main strength lies in stopping the run.

He's got the added bonus of being a good tackler—a skill that is rapidly in decline in the NFL and something the Packers struggled with in 2011.

The Packers also fielded an extremely weak secondary. Another first-round option for the team is Northern Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins, despite the number of knocks to his character.

Jenkins is small for his position at 5'10", but it's hard to believe it on the field. He's exceptionally aggressive and can keep pace with even the speediest of receivers.

I have him going to the New England Patriots in my mock draft, considering they are more than willing to pick up players who have had off-field issues in the past. But if the Packers can look past them, they have a good shot of picking him up in the first round instead of Coples.