2012 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl First-Round Projections

With the madness of the Super Bowl behind us, it is time to look ahead to what the NFL draft has in store. This is the time when the prospects get their first big moment in the NFL spotlight and hope to one day celebrate like the New York Giants did on Sunday night. 

The Scouting Combine takes place in Indianapolis on February 22, so we will start to get a much better feel for where players are going to go after that.

In the meantime, here is our latest NFL mock draft to study now that there are no more games to talk about. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

It doesn't matter what Peyton Manning's actual status for the 2012 season really is. The only thing that matters is the Colts are in full rebuilding mode. 

Luck will make for an easy transition, but give him time to develop before you expect him to just put up Manning-esque numbers. The team around him is going to have to get younger as well, so there will be a period of adjustment. 

In three years, we will be talking about Luck as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. 

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Sam Bradford took a step back in 2011 because of poor offensive line play and no wide receivers. The Rams will be able to address the line later on, but Blackmon will immediately be the No. 1 target for this team when he steps foot on the field. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The secondary is old, so they could go after Claiborne with this pick. With Christian Ponder showing positive signs late last season, they will be too tempted to pass up on Kalil's size and strength. 

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

Griffin will give the Browns the best quarterback prospect they have had since Tim Couch. This one should end better than that one. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

There might be a push for the Buccaneers to go after Trent Richardson to add a new wrinkle to the offense, but Claiborne fills a bigger need at a more difficult position. 

As a general rule, whenever the choice comes down to a potential shutdown cornerback or an elite running back, you always go with the defensive player. 

Claiborne may not quite be Patrick Peterson, but he is about as close as one can possibly get. He is a lockdown defender and can contribute on special teams. He will bring a positive attitude to this franchise. 

6. Washington Redskins: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Mike Shanahan appreciates the value of a good running game. Quarterback is a more pressing need, but there isn't one worth taking at this spot. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

New head coach Mike Mularkey might push for a legitimate wide receiver, but the conservative Jaguars will build the offensive line. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, LB/DE, Alabama

Jason Taylor has retired, and the Dolphins need someone who can step in right away to attack Tom Brady two times a year. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers can do for the Panthers defense what Cam Newton did for the offense in 2011. He did not get talked about much prior to declaring, but when you watch him on tape it is impossible not to fall in love. 

The Panthers were as soft as any team in the NFL on the defensive line last season, so any upgrades they can make will be for the best.

It is going to be difficult for them to compete in the brutal NFC South, but they are headed in the right direction. With a couple moves here or there, they could challenge for a wild-card spot. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Anywhere you look on defense—with the exception of Marcell Dareus—the Bills need help. Ingram is raw, but his talent is too great to pass up. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs:  Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Romeo Crennel is going to want his team to be physical. Martin will bring an attitude to the offensive line. Matt Cassel and Jamaal Charles will be better for it. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Unless the Seahawks fall in love with a quarterback and have to move up (or down) to get him, it is hard to get a read on what they will do. Still can plug the holes in the middle of the defense that plagued them at times in 2011. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OT, Stanford

DeCastro will be Kevin Kolb's new best friend. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

While the drug arrest does hurt Kirkpatrick's stock some, the Cowboys are so desperate for help in the secondary that it won't matter. He is not as talented as Claiborne, but he is closer than you might think. 

He does need to get better in straight coverage, but he reads quarterbacks as well as any defensive back in this draft. 

The Cowboys were close to making the playoffs this year and figure to be in the mix again in 2012. Unless they fix their problems on defense, they will be stuck at home in January wondering where it all went wrong. 

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

All those free agents signed last year, but the Eagles still couldn't find a linebacker in the middle who could tackle. Kuechly brings an attitude and leadership desperately needed in the defense. 

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

If Rex Ryan is committed to Mark Sanchez, he has to find him receivers who will actually play hard for an entire game. Floyd is the physical kind of wideout that the Jets coach will love. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller will be the answer to the quarterback-running back-wide receiver equation the Bengals need with Cedric Benson likely leaving via free agency. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Glenn is the physical player that the Chargers need on the offensive line to get Philip Rivers back to playing at the level we all expect from him. 

19. Chicago Bears: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

If you saw the Bears without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, you know how important it is for the offensive line to protect them. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is either going to be a top-10 pick or the best bargain in the NFL draft. The Titans will love to see him on the board when they make their pick. 

To say that the Titans' pass rush was abysmal last year would be an understatement. They had no one that was able to get after the quarterback, and it ultimately led to their undoing late in the season.

The North Carolina product has all the tools to be an impact pass-rusher off the edge. He has a great first step and tremendous strength to overpower offensive linemen. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

After getting their running back four picks earlier, the Bengals will get the cornerback they need. Dennard is not as physically gifted as Claiborne or Kirkpatrick, but he makes up for it with his instincts and knowledge of the game. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Much like their fellow Ohio team did last year, the Browns will get the quarterback-wide receiver combination they need to contend in the AFC North. 

23. Detroit Lions:  Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jim Schwartz and his staff are building something special. Jenkins might have more talent than any defensive back in this draft except Claiborne, but his rap sheet is going to scare teams away. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

While the offensive line is a more pressing need, the defensive line is getting older and needs a spark. Cox is more of a defensive end than a tackle, but he has the strength to be effective at either position. 

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy is raw, sure, but he fills the Broncos' biggest need. They have the edge rushers already in Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. They are missing the size in the middle to prevent teams from running all over them. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

It became obvious during the playoffs just how reliant the offense is on Andre Johnson. He is great, no one can deny that, but he needs someone to help on the opposite side in order to perform at the top of his game. 

Wright made quite an impression in 2011 with Heisman winner Robert Griffin at Baylor. He is a smaller receiver, but he has the instincts and route-running ability to catch the ball anywhere on the field. 

The one drawback to his game are his hands. He drops more passes than he should, but that won't hamper is draft status too much. 

27. New England Patriots (via Saints): Jared Crick, DE/DT, Nebraska

Bill Belichick banks on talent as much as any coach in the NFL. Injury or not, Crick has the talent to be an impact defensive lineman.

28. Green Bay Packers: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict is as raw as any player in this draft, but he might be a better athlete than anyone else, too. The Packers need to get Clay Matthews help. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

One of the benefits to being the Ravens is that there aren't any glaring needs to fill. Konz can play sparingly in 2012, to get comfortable in the system before taking over full-time in 2013. 

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

Sanu is going to be the missing piece to the Alex Smith puzzle. The quarterback made great strides in 2011, but his development was hindered because he had no one to throw the ball to on the outside. Vernon Davis is a great weapon, but they need more. 

Sanu is listed at 6'2" and 215 pounds, which will make him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He is not afraid to go after the ball, always making catches in traffic and outjumping defenders to haul it in.  

31. New England Patriots: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

The Patriots have some upgrades to make on defense. Brown is one of the best tackling linebackers in this class. 

32. New York Giants: Whitney Mercilus, LB, Illinois

While the Giants will have some time to celebrate their Super Bowl victory, Mercilus will make an immediate impact for a soft Giants linebacking group. 

Follow @adamwells1985