2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Entire First Round, Post-Super Bowl

For some, the NFL season ended Sunday night when the New York Giants came back and beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. 

For a growing number of others, the "other" season—the NFL draft season—is now kicking into full swing.

Let's take a quick look at our first-round 2012 NFL mock draft, post-Super Bowl edition.   

2012 NFL MOCK DRAFT 

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Peyton Manning is likely on the way out, Luck is almost certainly on the way in. 

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

Taking Blackmon at No. 2 might be a reach but the Rams are widely assumed to be trading down.

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Protecting their investment at quarterback from last April is a top priority for the Vikings this April.  

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

Doubt Griffin III would last to No. 4 if a trade occurs. But the Browns would be crazy to let him slip past this pick.

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

Ronde Barber is on the verge of retirement, Aqib Talib still has legal troubles and Claiborne is the best cornerback in the 2012 class. 

6.  Washington Redskins—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Washington has to be jumping at the bit to move up to No. 2, just as long as a Manning doesn't factor into their plans 

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

It's going to be hard to get an accurate assessment on Blaine Gabbert until Jacksonville gets him some weapons on offense. 

8.  Carolina Panthers—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The UNC product spurned a number of local fans, but his potential at a need position is going to be difficult for the Panthers to ignore.  

9.  Miami Dolphins—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

As long as the Dolphins add another quarterback in free agency, they can afford to shore up the right side of their offensive line with Reiff.  

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Few teams need pass rush as much as the Bills and Upshaw has the potential to be a 10-sack guy in his rookie year. 

11.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Jamaal Charles is far from a sure thing after ACL surgery and the Chiefs have to re-establish themselves as a dominating running team. 

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Seahawks are a piece or two away from being a top five quality defense and Brockers very well could be one of those pieces.

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Cardinals need a pass rusher and an offensive tackle. They find the best available at the two positions in Ingram. 

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dallas is likely releasing Terrance Newman this offseason, which would further deplete the Cowboys' lacking secondary talent.

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

A dominating front four and a secondary that gelled late was still let down by poor play at linebacker. 

16.  New York Jets—Nick Perry, LB, USC

The Jets have to find their old identity and that might start with finding more pass rush on defense. 

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins calmed fears about his level of play at the Senior Bowl and the Bengals could cross off a huge need by taking him at No. 17. 

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Did DeCastro fall too far? Maybe. But the Chargers absolutely wouldn't mind, as he would be the beginning of a rebuilding process on the offensive line in San Diego.  

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

The Bears haven't had a true No. 1 receiver since the days of Marty Booker and Marcus Robinson. Yeah, it's been that long.

20.  Tennessee Titans—Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Titans will take a long look at an interior offensive lineman here. But Brown's athleticism at Will linebacker would complete a young, talented linebacking corps in Tennessee. 

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The miles on Cedric Benson's tires have added up in a hurry and Miller is likely the best running back prospect outside of Trent Richardson.  

22.  Cleveland Browns—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Waco, Texas comes to Cleveland as the Browns pick up the Griffin-to-Wright combination that lit up the Big 12 last season.  

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard's stock took a hit at the Senior Bowl but many still think he's a first round talent. Detroit needs more quality depth in the secondary.

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Glenn has the kind of versatility that Pittsburgh usually covets in an offensive lineman.  

25.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DL, Penn State

Could a quarterback go here? Wouldn't rule it out. Still, drafting Still would help solidify the Broncos' improving defensive front.  

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

There are only a select number of rosters with as few holes as the Texans, but adding another talented big man up front can help ensure Houston's defensive revival wasn't a fluke. 

27.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Somehow, someway, the Patriots have to improve their secondary. Barron is a guy who could start right away next season.  

28.  Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Packers won't turn around their defense until they find an impact pass rusher to place opposite Clay Matthews.    

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

Put a troubled but talented player like Burfict in the Ravens' locker room, and who knows? Maybe the Ravens could have Ray Lewis 2.0 on their hands. 

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

All you need to know: The 49ers' receivers caught a grand total of eight passes in the postseason. 

31.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Maybe you didn't notice, but the Giants assaulted the Patriots interior offensive linemen in the Super Bowl. 

32.  New York Giants—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Adding an instinctive and productive linebacker would make the Giants a nightmare defense.