2012 NFL Draft Order: Full First-Round Predictions, Post-Super Bowl

Well, that was a fun 2011 NFL football season. There were many firsts that occurred, some great finishes, some huge surprises and an epic Super Bowl game between the New England Patriots and eventual champion New York Giants.

Now that the season has come to an end, it is time to get into full offseason mode as most NFL front offices have already done.

With that said, the 2012 NFL Draft order has been completely set, minus a few coin flips. We have completed the Senior Bowl and are getting prepared for the NFL Scouting Combine followed by pro days.

While free agency will get a bulk of the attention over the course of the next two months, the most important event of the offseason will be the NFL Draft in April.

This article is going to give you my most recent and in-depth mock draft of the season. Some things have changed from the previous version, but my big board appears set, as does my list of needs for each team.

So, you should see more consistency as the offseason begins full throttle.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

All this talk about whether Peyton Manning is staying or leaving is pretty much irrelevant when it comes to the draft philosophy of the Indianapolis Colts. They are going to select Andrew Luck and depend on him to lead them back to the promised land.

Sure, there will be teams like the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins that put a phone call in to new Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, but they are not going to budge from this position. 

It reminds me a great deal of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. A team that had been in consistent contention for a championship with David Robinson, seeing their big man go down at pretty much the most opportunistic time.

The Spurs were able to land the No. 1 overall pick and selected Tim Duncan, who led them to the title.

Look for Andrew Luck to have immediate success with this franchise. They still do have a lot of nice pieces on this roster. It will take time, however, for him to learn the nuances of the NFL. This means Colts fans really shouldn't be planning a trip to New Orleans next February.

It is going to be a rebuilding process, but you couldn't ask for a better player to build around.

2. Washington Redskins (Projected Trade with the St. Louis Rams)

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Projected Trade: The St. Louis Rams send the second overall pick to the Washington Redskins for sixth overall pick in 2012, second round pick in 2012 and first-round pick in 2013.

I had previously said that I am not into the game of predicting trades, however, this one seems to make a lot of sense for both teams involved. Washington gets their quarterback of the future, while the St. Louis Rams get a bounty of top picks to help build around Sam Bradford.

Robert Griffin III would have been the consensus No. 1 overall player in the 2013 NFL Draft had he decided to return to Baylor next season. This is a quarterback who has the skill set to be dominating at the next level.

He reads defenses extremely well, has great pocket presence and possesses one of the liveliest arms that I have seen come out of college in a long time.

Washington desperately needs to give their franchise a face, much like what the Carolina Panthers did when they selected Cam Newton No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

With the emergence of Roy Helu Jr. and a solid offensive line, Griffin III will be coming into a situation upon which he can succeed right away.

I understand that giving up two firsts and a second is a lot, but the Redskins really don't have any other options at this point, short of hoping against hope that Peyton Manning becomes available and is able to return from a neck injury.

That is false hope, if you ask me.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

I almost went with Justin Blackmon here until I realized that Charlie Johnson was the Minnesota Vikings starting left tackle this season; he just isn't that good.

When a team spends a first-round pick on a quarterback, they better make sure that he has the protection necessary in order to succeed at this level.

The Minnesota Vikings really didn't do that. Their quarterbacks were sacked a total of 49 times last season, with Christian Ponder going down a total of 30 times in just 10 starts.

It really doesn't matter what playmakers you have on the outside if your quarterback doesn't have the necessary time in the pocket to get the ball out there. This is the situation that Ponder found himself in a great deal as a rookie.

Matt Kalil will provide the Vikings with that franchise offensive tackle that they have been missing since Bryant McKinnie in his heyday. This is a player who has an extremely physical game about him, bringing brute strength to the outside.

He might struggle early on against speed rushers due to issues with footwork. However, the USC product will learn the nuances of the game relatively quickly and become a Pro Bowl performer in short order.

4. Cleveland Browns

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

I have taken to the idea that Colt McCoy could be a successful quarterback for the Cleveland Browns if they put some weapons around him.

No quarterback, no matter their skill set, would have had major success last season with the lack of weapons this team had on the offensive side of the ball.

Their receivers combined for a total of 159 receptions in 2011, just 37 more than the amount of receptions that Wes Welker had. That is an eye-opening statistic if I have ever seen one.

Enter into the equation Justin Blackmon, by far the top receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft class. He has all the physical ability to be a true No. 1 receiver.

He gains separation down the field, uses that awesome frame to shield off defenders and already runs crisp, pro-ready routes.

This is the type of playmaker that the Cleveland Browns have been missing since the days of Mac Speedie, remember him? I didn't think so!

The added dimension of Justin Blackmon on this offense would make them much more explosive by his mere presence.

It is the idea that you cannot rotate all your coverage into the box against running backs or between the hashes against tight ends if you have a threat on the outside.

If Blackmon falls to No. 4, this should be a real no-brainer.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Michael Brockers, DL, Louisiana State

Ouch, I can already hear the boos coming from Raymond James Stadium. This would probably be the least popular first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Why not go after Trent Richardson? What about a corner?

The answer is that Michael Brockers gives the Tampa Bay Buccaneers great value at a need position with the fifth overall pick.

He is, by all accounts, one of the most physically dominating defensive linemen to enter the draft in a long while, right up there with Ndamukong Suh. This is how good I project the former LSU standout to be.

Michael Brockers has the ability to dominate along the interior of the line, in both the run and passing game. He gets great leverage in his upper body, has amazing strength and is a fluid athlete for someone his size.

Tampa Bay recorded an astoundingly low 23 sacks as a team this season, the lowest figure in the entire NFL. Over the course of the last five games of the season, the Buccaneers yielded just 26 points less than the San Francisco 49ers did all season long. During this span, they gave up an average of over 40 points per game.

It doesn't get much worse than that.

Their rush defense was so anemic that they gave up 160 rushing yards or more 10 different times during the 2011 season. Gerald McCoy wasn't cutting it prior to his season-ending injury, and the Buccaneers have absolutely no one up front to rely on to stop the run: it really is that simple.

Michael Brockers gives them a multi-dimensional player who has the ability to rush the passer and stop the run. Could be one of the best picks in the entire draft five years down the road.

6. St. Louis Rams (Projected Trade with the Washington Redskins)

Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State

Projected Trade: Washington Redskins sends sixth overall pick in 2012, second-round pick in 2012 and first-round pick in 2013 to the St. Louis Rams for second overall pick in 2012 NFL Draft.

The Rams make this trade because they don't have a need for one specific player. Rather, this team needs upgrades at multiple positions.

The idea of selecting a receiver like Justin Blackmon with the second overall pick just doesn't give this franchise the value that they need right now.

In Morris Claiborne, the Rams get a corner who is ready to step in and contribute immediately. He already has pro-ready technique on the outside and is great in man coverage. It also helps that Claiborne played in a pro-style offense at LSU. This will only limit that transition to the NFL.

One of the best corner prospects to enter the draft in a long while, Claiborne is already a better cover corner than his former teammate and current Arizona Cardinal, Patrick Peterson. He has the ability to take away one side of the field, completely limiting the opponent's No. 1 receiver.

With a defensive-minded head coach in Jeff Fisher, it just makes sense for them to go with one of the most talented players on that side of the ball with this pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Jaguars' new ownership, led by Shahid Khan, brought in Mike Mularkey as their head coach to help groom Blaine Gabbert as the quarterback of the future.

This vote of confidence in the struggling young signal-caller indicates that Jacksonville is going to do everything in their power to give him weapons.

Right now they don't have that threat on the outside. Their leading receiver, Mike Thomas, gained just 440 yards this season and was extremely inconsistent. catching two passes or less in six of the Jaguars last nine games.

A lot of this had to do with the inability of Gabbert to get the ball to the outside, but they just need more skill out there.

Michael Floyd would provide the Jaguars a huge threat on the outside, one that can provide Gabbert with the consistent play-making ability that he needs in order to succeed. He is a tremendous red-zone threat, already runs pro-ready routes and has really soft hands.

While I might be higher on the Notre Dame product than most, I think that he has a chance to be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL. That is going to be hard for Jacksonville to pass up.

8. Carolina Panthers

Devon Still, DL, Penn State

To say that the Carolina Panthers need some help with their rush defense would be a major understatement. They gave up over 100 rushing yards 10 times this season, including an astounding 208 against the Saints in the season finale.

They didn't get much help from the linebacker group either, but that had a lot to do with injuries. Players like Terrell McClain just didn't get it done along the interior of the defensive line.

They allowed way too many holes to open up, putting the onus on that injury-plagued middle three to make stops far beyond the line of scrimmage.

I am pretty sure that Carolina is hoping against hope that Michael Brockers falls to them here. I just don't see that happening. They do get a player in Devon Still, who was the top interior defensive lineman in the draft before Brockers decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility.

The former Penn State star is stout against the run and continually clogs the middle with brute strength. While there are concerns about Still's conditioning and ability to play three downs on defense, he has the ability to shut down the opponents' running game when on the field. This fits an obvious need for the Carolina Panthers.

9. Miami Dolphins

Johnathan Martin, OT, Stanford

I did flirt with Brandon Weeden here, who is jumping up my draft board. With that said, I envision a scenario where Matt Flynn takes his game to South Beach.

Short of Robert Griffin III falling to this slot or the Dolphins trading up past the Cleveland Browns to select him, they will go with value here.

If Matt Kalil is the best offensive tackle in the draft, Johnathan Martin is 1B. This is a dude that has been responsible for blocking Andrew Luck's blindside at Stanford over the course of the last three seasons, and he has done a bang-up job with that duty.

Martin probably has the best technique of any tackle in the entire draft and can come in and start immediately.

Just imagine a Miami Dolphins offensive line book-ended with Jake Long and Johnathan Martin. That has the looks of a dominating unit. Besides, Marc Columbo is definitely not the answer at tackle opposite Long.

10. Buffalo Bills

Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

The Buffalo Bills would be ecstatic if this scenario played out in front of them. I am pretty sure that they are incredibly worried that Miami would jump all over Upshaw is he were available to them at No. 9.

The former Alabama linebacker is a fit for Buffalo in every possible way. First, he has the ability to get to the quarterback on a consistent basis.

Second, he isn't scheme-reliant and is able to play in both the 3-4 and 4-3. Finally, the Bills desperately need an elite linebacker in order to help improve their weak defense.

Buffalo yielded 30 points or more seven different times, ranking 30th in scoring defense. This is a unit that continually gave up large sums of yardage throughout the season. They held opponents to less than 300 yards of offense just three times in 2011, yielding over 400 yards seven different times.

Their leading sack "artist," Marcell Dareus, acquired just 5.5 as the defense ranked among the worst in the NFL with 29 as a unit. Needless to say, the Bills secondary had absolutely no shot of being successful playing behind this front seven.

Courtney Upshaw gives them a player who will produce double-digit sacks on a consistent basis. Not just this, he isn't a pass-rush specialist. Rather, Upshaw had the ability to be a three-down backer in the NFL.

This is a value pick at a need position.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Much like the Buffalo Bills the pick before, Kansas City would be jumping up and down if David DeCastro fell to them at No. 11. He is by all accounts the surest bet you are going to get along the offensive line in this entire draft.

In fact, I would go as far to say that the former Stanford guard is one of the best interior line prospects to enter the draft in two decades. This is how good I project him to be.

Ryan Lilja is already on his way out of Kansas City. This dude performed so horribly this season that I don't think he deserves to ever don a NFL uniform again. Replace him with a player of DeCastro's ability, and your offense is much better by just one addition.

This is going to be the thinking of the Chiefs front office come April. You can pretty much lock that prediction down!

12. Seattle Seahawks

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

If it weren't for his age, Brandon Weeden would be right up there in the conversation with Robert Griffin III as the second best quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft. In fact, I think this whole age thing is a little overplayed.

He has the experience, on and off the field, to come in and be an impact player out of the gate. You cannot say that for most rookie quarterbacks, and it is something the Seahawks need.

While Tarvaris Jackson played decent in 2011, he isn't the long-term answer in the Pacific Northwest. Rather, he is little more than a stopgap option for Peter Carroll and Co. 

One of Brandon Weeden's best attributes is his quick release and accuracy on the intermediate routes. Two things that Jackson tends to struggle with on a consistent basis. He has all the measurements to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL.

He stands at 6'4" and weighs just over 200 pounds. Additionally, the former Oklahoma State star can make every single throw on the football field with ease.

This selection would enable the Seahawks to start Jackson in 2012, with an eye on moving Weeden to the starting quarterback position in 2013.

If you are worried about his age, really don't be. He will be an above-average starter for a good seven seasons or so, that is pretty much a sure bet.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The former Ohio State has just jumped Riley Reiff on my big board with his Senior Bowl performance. This is a player who is going to be great for a really long time. He already has pro-ready technique and can handle the speed rushers on the outside.

It isn't like this is an area of strength for the Arizona Cardinals, either. Their quarterbacks were sacked a total of 54 times and it caused Kevin Kolb to miss substantial playing time. I understand that Cardinal fans weren't happy with Kolb's performance in 2011, but he didn't have the necessary protection in order to succeed.

Levi Brown was nothing more than average at left tackle, while Brandon Keith struggled a great deal on the other side. It could be said that Arizona needs to get two or three starting-caliber offensive linemen in order to even have a chance of contending against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Arizona gets that future book end along the offensive line with the selection of Mike Adams. You can't ask for much more in terms of value and need outside of the top ten.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

This pick isn't as much of a reach as many people would conclude. Janoris Jenkins is a top ten talent on the football field and would have gone there if he didn't have the off-field issues that have been so widely publicized.

The Dallas Cowboys also need a tremendous amount of help and youthful infusion in the secondary. This is a unit that "boasts" one over-the-hill corner in Terence Newman and another, Mike Jenkins, who is consistently average with major injury concerns. 

Janoris Jenkins is the second-best corner in the draft and might be the best overall cover guy outside of Morris Claiborne. He will also help the Dallas Cowboys out on special teams as return man.

I project the former Florida star to be nothing short of a shutdown corner in the NFL, something that the Cowboys desperately need.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Donta' Hightower, LB, Alabama

All of my previous mock drafts had the Philadelphia Eagles selecting another inside linebacker, Luke Kuechly, with this pick. Well, things have changed over the course of the last couple of weeks.

Mainly, Donta' Hightower has jumped the former Boston College player on my big board and is now the No. 1 inside linebacker in a weak draft class at that position.

Injuries have been a primary concern of many in regards to Hightower; this is one of the reasons he isn't getting much play in the first round as of late. With that said, the former Alabama star has been able to remain relatively healthy over the course of the last season or so.

A lot of this is going to depend on how Hightower tests out following the NFL Scouting Combine and when teams conduct interviews. If he gets a clean bill of health, expect Hightower to be a top 20 pick.

The Eagles are in desperate need of someone who can actually tackle the ball carrier. They missed more tackles than any team in the NFL, with a lot of them coming in crunch time situations when the game was on the line.

Hightower would come in and immediately become the starter in their 4-3 defense and make that front seven much better by his mere presence. We are talking about a player who goes north-to-south extremely well, strings out rushers with the best of them and has top-of-the-line speed.

16. New York Jets

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

This former Alabama running back is the best prospect at this position since Adrian Peterson. In fact, I have Trent Richardson No. 2 overall on my board.

However, a dramatic fall off to the New York Jets wouldn't be out of the question. Recent drafts have placed less importance on selecting running backs in the first round.

From 2000 to 2006, there were 22 running backs selected in the first round, an average of three per season. There have only been seven selected in the first round since five went that high in 2008.This means that front offices aren't finding value at that position early in the draft.

With that said, I fully expect some team to trade up into the top ten to select Richardson should he fall past the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Short of that happening, you can believe the New York Jets would jump all over the superstar back.

I have come to the all-too-obvious conclusion that Mark Sanchez is unable to lead his team on a consistent basis without a strong running game. Right now, they really just don't have the backs who can get it done.

Trent Richardson would provide them with someone who can carry the ball 25-to-30 times a game, dominate the trenches and take it to the house consistently.

He has the perfect combination of speed, athleticism and strength. This is a running back who will get to the second gear before opposing defenders have had an opportunity to adjust.

He doesn't take losses, which is a huge benefit for a future franchise back. One of the most impressive parts of Richardson's game is the fact that he will not be brought down on initial contact a large majority of the time.

You are looking at a player who will consistently put up 1,500 yards on a yearly basis. That is pretty much a lock.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Now that the Cincinnati Bengals seemed to have addressed their offense with the play of both Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, it is time that they get some young blood in the secondary.

This is a team that is going to be in contention for quite some time. Their offense has an opportunity to be dynamic behind the play of those two aforementioned skill-position players coupled with a great young offensive line and solid tight-end option in Jermaine Gresham.

The Bengals front seven also played extremely well in 2011. While Cincinnati does have a No. 1 corner in Leon Hall, they could use some help on the other side of the field.

Jamell Fleming, a quick riser following Senior Bowl week, has a tremendous ability to take one side of the field completely away from the offense. Fleming is going to be a great all-around corner.

He has the hip movement on the outside to stay with receivers, is fluid going up against double moves, is a willing run supporter and plays much smarter than you would imagine from such a young player.

The addition of Fleming would give the Cincinnati Bengals two really good corners in the back end of their defense, making their front seven better just by their mere presence.

18. San Diego Chargers

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

I understand that Marcus McNeill is entrenched as the San Diego Chargers left tackle after signing a huge $49 million contract back in 2010.

The issue is more about what they are going to do at the right tackle position. Jeromey Clary has been solid, but not great opposite McNeill.

He tends to struggle against the speed rush and doesn't have great lateral movement. San Diego is going to invest a lot in the protection of their franchise quarterback, Philip Rivers.

In Riley Reiff, they get a player who will not jump out as the most athletic or physically gifted offensive linemen in the draft.

He doesn't do anything great, rather the former Iowa star is good at just about everything. While his ceiling might not be too high, Reiff is already a damn good offensive tackle.

The idea of having Reiff and McNeill bookend their offensive line for the next five years has to sound really good for A.J. Smith and Co. right about now.

Solid value at a position of need.

19. Chicago Bears

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

I am not as high on Alshon Jeffery as others might be. Instead, I have him as the fourth-best wide receiver in the NFL Draft.

He tends to struggle out of the break, taking a while to hit that second gear. This causes the former South Carolina receiver to get bogged down at the line against press coverage.

He also struggles maintaining a consistently high level of play, getting squared out of certain games.

With that said, the Chicago Bears are going to look at the tremendous upside that Jeffery has and drool over the possibilities. They don't have a true No. 1, go-to receiver on the outside.

Instead, Chicago "relies" on a combination of big-play receivers and struggling veterans to get it done. This isn't sustainable for Jay Cutler and Co. Rather, they need to address that receiver position early in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Jeffery might have a huge "bust" factor, but he also has the most potential of any player in the entire draft. He has the size, strength and physical ability to dominate on the outside.

With the right coaching and improvement with the aforementioned shortcomings, Jeffery could turn into a truly elite receiver in the NFL.

Time will tell.

20. Tennessee Titans

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

It has become readily apparent that the Tennessee Titans need to get more weapons on the outside for both Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker, whoever starts the 2012 season behind center. Once Kenny Britt went down, the Titans passing game struggled a great deal.

With that said, Nate Washington did step up with the first 1,000 yard receiving season of his career. It just makes sense for them to get another young receiver opposite Britt, moving the veteran Washington to the slot.

You have to like the skill set that the former Rutgers stars brings to the game. Versatility is something that I have continually read and seen in regards to Mohamed Sanu since the season ended.

He has ideal size at 6'2" and can get to that second gear on the outside in relatively short order.

What I like most about Sanu is the fact that he gets separation at the line of scrimmage and uses that frame to fend off defenders on the outside. He reminds me a great deal of Andre Johnson in that aspect.

He will be able to come in and immediately contribute to the Titans offense as a No. 3 receiver, before jumping the depth chart once he gets used to the nuances of the game.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (Fla.)

I went defense with the Bengals first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. This time I have decided to go back to the offensive side of the ball. Cincinnati has a tremendous amount of young talent on defense, but lacks that running back of the future.

Cedric Benson is not the long-term answer and might not even be back in Ohio next season. This means that the Bengals are going to have to find a running back who can shoulder the load and complement what promises to be a dynamic passing game moving forward.

Lamar Miller might be the best all-around running back in the draft outside of Trent Richardson. He is extremely difficult to bring down between the hashes, has the ability to acquire the outside edge on sweeps and has tremendous upper-body strength.

You are looking at a running back who can be multi-tool threat for the Bengals sooner rather than later. He will need to improve in the blocking game, which is usually the case for young backs coming into the NFL.

With that said, you cannot deny the combination of speed (4.3, 40-yard dash) and strength that Miller possesses. He promises to be one hell of a back at the next level.

22. Cleveland Browns

Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

In my opinion, there are three elite running backs in the 2012 NFL Draft class. Both Trent Richardson and Lamar Miller are gone when the Browns are slated to pick here, so they go with the final "elite" running back.

Doug Martin might be as good of an all-around running back that you are going to get in the draft. He has the build to be an every-down back in the NFL, but its the combination of strength and agility that surprises me.

The former Boise State star has really nice vision and shows a great amount of patience at the line, two things that scouts look for in regards to an elite running back. Although his 40 time might not be great, Martin plays much faster on the field.

He is also a good blocker in the backfield and a capable receiver.

With Peyton Hillis set to become a free agent and Montario Hardesty struggling to get it going in 2011, the Browns are in desperate need of a star running back to help Colt McCoy out in the backfield.

If they are able to come away with a No. 1 receiver and starting running back in the first round, Cleveland will consider it a major success.

23. Detroit Lions

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Detroit Lions could definitely use both a guard and a corner in the first round. With that said, I fully expect them to attempt to solidify that offensive line in front of Matthew Stafford.

Dominic Raiola was a good center for this franchise over the course of the last decade, but he just isn't getting it done anymore. He struggled a great deal in both run blocking and pass protection in 2011.

You need to have that franchise center to help out the quarterback, the Detroit Lions surely don't have that right now.

When selecting in the bottom half of the first round, teams do take into account value as much as need. This is why I have them going with the consensus No. 1 center in the draft rather than a second-tier corner.

After all, selecting a center in the first round helped both Pittsburgh and Miami over the course of the last two drafts. I expect this to be the case with Detroit in 2012.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The two best fits for this talented former Arizona State linebacker would be the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. The one good thing that came out of the Steelers' early playoff exit was the fact that they will be drafting in the early 20s rather than the late 20s.

Pittsburgh finds themselves in an unenviable salary-cap situation for the first time since their run began some eight years ago.

James Farrior has lost a step or two over the course of the last two seasons and is set to earn nearly $4 million in 2012. They have to retain the services of Lawrence Timmons in order to keep the core of that front seven intact. 

Acquiring a player of Burfict's ability would give Pittsburgh another young player to fit alongside Timmons, LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison at linebacker. He will also have a chance to learn from some of the best defensive players in the game.

With that said, I am not as big on Vontaze Burfict as other people are. I think that his game isn't nearly refined enough to make an immediate impact. He needs to improve on pass coverage and read plays better.

However, the talent is there and this situation gives him the best chance at success moving forward. Value at a need position in the 20s, you couldn't ask for much more.

25. Denver Broncos

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

If this South Carolina product fell to the Denver Broncos, John Elway and Co. would be ecstatic. He might be one of the most pro-ready corners in the entire draft and fills a major hole along their defense.

You are talking about a corner who has the build, technique, strength and on-ball ability to be a shutdown corner in the NFL.

Champ Bailey isn't getting any younger and is set to count $15 million against the cap in 2012. Even if the Broncos are able to come to an agreement on a restructured contract with the future Hall of Fame corner, they need to get some young blood along this unit.

Gilmore also possesses the ability to return kicks, something the Broncos would be looking into this off-season anyway. It is the proverbial "killing two birds with one stone" metaphor.

26. Houston Texans

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

My last couple mock drafts had the Houston Texans going with a tackle for their 3-4 defense here. While that is still a strong possibility, they could get one of the top two at that position in the second round.

Look for them to go with value at an equally important position with their first-round pick. Andre Johnson is one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL, but the Texans just don't have that No. 2 receiver to complement him on the other side.

Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter are just not the answers at that position. Each is nothing better than a really good No. 3 slot guy.

Enter into the equation Kendall Wright from Baylor, who is a perfect fit for Gary Kubiak's offense. While Wright doesn't have the size at 5'10", he plays much bigger than that frame.

This is a player who gets off the line relatively quickly, doesn't struggle that much against press coverage and runs precise routes.

The one issue that scouts have with Wright is that his ceiling isn't incredibly high. I don't see that as a major issue because he is already damn good.

You can expect him to be an immediate contributor for the Texans in 2012.

27. New England Patriots

Melvin Ingram, DL/LB, South Carolina

If one thing stood out to me in the Patriots' Super Bowl loss, it was the fact that they are really missing that athletic player in the front seven. While Jarod Mayo does fit that bill to an extent, he needs more help. 

Melvin Ingram is a physically gifted beast who fits perfectly into the Patriots 3-4 and 4-3 hybrid defense. He can play with his hands down in obvious passing situations and drop back as a linebacker in base coverage.

This is something that would have a dramatic impact on their success as a unit moving forward. It would also help their secondary out a great deal.

I fully understand that New England needs help at corner and receiver, but this is why they have four picks in the first two rounds. It makes sense for them to jump certain teams behind them here in order to assure that they get Ingram.

28. Green Bay Packers

Dre' Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

There is no way in the world that the Green Bay Packers pass up on the opportunity to select Dre' Kirkpatrick should he fall to them here. This is an ultra-talented player who translates well as both a corner and a strong safety.

While there are concerns about his man-coverage ability, Kirkpatrick is physical at the line and can throw receivers off their route early.

With all this said, I am not a huge fan of him on the outside. Instead, I believe that the former Alabama corner translates better as a free safety.

Either way, the Packers need help at both positions. There is no telling if Nick Collins will ever be able to return for that devastating neck injury, and Charles Woodson just isn't getting any younger.

There will come a time when his game slips and it makes sense for the Packers to have a replacement on their roster when that happens.

29. Baltimore Ravens

Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

This pick might shock a lot of people. What I saw from Bobby Wagner during the Senior Bowl made me a true believer of the former small-school linebacker. He is electric in the middle of the field and already has a pro-level game at linebacker.

You are talking about a player who will be able to come in and immediately learn from Ray Lewis, one of the best linebackers ever to play the game.

One of my favorite aspects of Wagner's game is the fact that he is incredibly fast north-to-south and drops back into coverage rather easily. He possesses fluid hip movement and can get to the quarterback on the occasional blitz.

Bobby Wagner is going to be a quick riser up the draft boards of many experts once the NFL Scouting Combine comes. He is also a perfect fit for the Ravens.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Nick Perry, LB, Southern California

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Aldon Smith, who many people considered to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year, in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Why go with another outside linebacker a year later? After all, the 49ers did have the best front seven in the entire NFL this past season.

Well, when you are an "elite" team drafting in the back end of the first round, you can afford to go with best player available. There is absolutely no question that Nick Perry would be the best available player at 30.

It isn't that outside linebacker is an area of strength for the 49ers, either. Outside of Aldon Smith, they are really thin at this position. Ahmad Brooks is set to become a free agent, while Parys Haralson struggled a great deal to remain consistent throughout the season.

The idea of having a linebacker group that consists of Smith, Perry, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman might just be too much for the 49ers brass to pass up on. In fact, it would make one of the best linebacker units in the modern history of the NFL.

31. New England Patriots

Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Now this is a pick that give the AFC Champions value at a position of incredible need. They were unable to mask those secondary issues in the Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

It still boggles the mind that New England was still able to get as far as they did with their lackluster group of corners.

That is a rare feat, something that will not happen on a consistent basis. To say that they need major upgrades along this unit would be a gross understatement. I can envision a scenario where the Patriots nearly overhaul their corner situation.

It could start with Alfonzo Dennard, an incredibly physical corner who plays tremendously well in press coverage. He throws receivers off their routes, jams them at the line and is capable of running with just about anyone on the outside.

The former Nebraska star has seen his draft stock drop some since a lackluster Senior Bowl performance, but he is still a tremendous value with the second-to-last pick of the first round.

32. New York Giants

Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

The Super Bowl Champions take an athletic linebacker in the middle of their front seven and you are talking about a defense that will be able to keep up this high level of play for a long time.

Zach Brown has amazing speed, reads the offense extremely well and flies to the ball. When I say "flies to the ball," I mean this dude is on the ball carrier as quick as I have seen from a linebacker in a long time.

He might struggle a little bit early on with overpursuit, but once Brown gets used to the nuances of the NFL, he is going to be one hell of a linebacker.

Make no mistake about it, the Giants are still a deeply flawed team. They don't have every single hole on the roster filled, and the addition of Brown would go a long way in filling one of those holes.