2012 NFL Draft Order: Teams That Must Make First-Round Trades

With the Super Bowl over, the world can start to focus on the NFL draft. We finally know the official order of picks, so now we can start speculating about which players will fall where and which teams need to make a trade, either up or down, to protect their future. 

One of the great things about this year's draft is all the high-end talent that will force teams to examine where they want to pick. It makes the entire event more exciting and the drama is why we continue to talk about something that is nothing more than a crapshoot. 

Here are a few teams that need to take a long, hard look at making a deal in the first round of April's draft. 

Washington Redskins, Hold No. 6 Selection

Unless the Redskins are able to find the quarterback they so desperately need on the free-agent market, they will have to trade up in order to have a shot at landing Robert Griffin III. 

The good news is they might have the perfect partner out there ready to deal in the St. Louis Rams, who hold the second overall pick. They are going to go after a wide receiver or offensive lineman, but their best value for either one of those selections is lower in the round. 

Dan Snyder and Mike Shanahan need to build the foundation of this team in order to compete in the difficult NFC East. It is going to be a slow journey to that top, one that can't be fixed overnight, but starting with a young, talented quarterback will get them where they want to go. 

New England Patriots, Hold No. 27 and 31 Selections

The reigning AFC champions have a lot of work to do if they want to defend their crown again next season. Their problems on defense are vast, but one or two moves here and there could make all the difference. 

While Bill Belichick usually likes to move down in order to stockpile picks, it will be in his best interest to turn his two first-round picks this year into one in the mid- to late-teens in order to draft a cornerback or defensive lineman.

It was obvious in the Super Bowl that this team needs an anchor in the secondary or a dominant pass-rusher off the edge. This draft is filled with talent at both spots, so the Patriots shouldn't have trouble finding what they need. 

They just have to identify the player they want and then go get him. 

Dallas Cowboys, Hold No. 14 Selection

It is strange to think now, but if the Cowboys had defeated the Giants once last season then the Super Bowl would have had a very different look to it.

Instead, the 'Boys faltered down the stretch because their secondary couldn't stop anyone. They also had problems in pass protection, but they have no depth at the cornerback position right now. Finding an elite talent has to be priority No. 1 for Jerry Jones. 

While it is unlikely they could move up high enough to land Morris Claiborne, they can move up a couple spots to ensure that they land either Dre Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins. 

 

2012 NFL DRAFT ORDER

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. St. Louis Rams

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Cleveland Browns

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6. Washington Redskins

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Miami Dolphins

9. Carolina Panthers

10. Buffalo Bills

11. Kansas City Chiefs

12. Seattle Seahawks

13. Arizona Cardinals

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. Philadelphia Eagles

16. New York Jets

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK)

18. San Diego Chargers

19. Chicago Bears

20. Tennessee Titans

21. Cincinnati Bengals

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL)

23. Detroit Lions

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

25. Denver Broncos

26. Houston Texans

27. New England Patriots (via NO)

28. Green Bay Packers

29. Baltimore Ravens

30. San Francisco 49ers

31. New England Patriots

32. New York Giants