2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions with Top-5 Trade Up

At this point in the process, there are very few who think that the St. Louis Rams will pick at No. 2 overall in the 2012 NFL draft. Trading out of that selection makes so much sense on so many levels that the Rams would be absolutely crazy not to get what they can for it. 

With that said, let's take a look at how the 2012 draft could shape up:

2012 NFL Mock Draft    

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (Via trade with St. Louis Rams)

Forget Peyton Manning. He's going to be a health risk for whatever is left in his NFL career, and there simply isn't the kind of firepower on offense yet to surround a veteran like Manning.

That reality makes it paramount for the Redskins to pass on Manning (whenever he's released) and do whatever it takes to move up to No. 2 in the draft. Getting Griffin III would be a franchise-changing moment for the Redskins. It'd also give Washington a future at the game's top position that they've lacked for longer than anyone in that organization probably wants to admit.

It's time to end a generation of stopgap quarterbacks and get a guy who can get the Redskins back into NFL relevancy.   

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

6.  St. Louis Rams – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (Via trade with Washington Redskins)

St. Louis doesn't need a quarterback, and there's no can't-miss player outside that position in the 2012 draft. Holding a ransom for the No. 2 pick is far and away the best option that St. Louis can choose, and trading down four spots with the Redskins is an ideal situation.

They'll add a couple of good picks to their current draft capital, maybe a young player and still get to pick in the top 10. They can go a myriad of ways at No. 6, but getting a top-flight tackle to finally hold down the blindside should be one of them.  

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

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

9.  Miami Dolphins – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

10.  Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

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

12.  Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

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

14.  Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

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

16.  New York Jets – Nick Perry, OLB, USC

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

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

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

20.  Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

23.  Detroit Lions – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

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

26.  Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

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

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

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

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

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

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