2012 NFL Mock Draft: Updated Pre-Combine Analysis of All 32 Picks

The 2012 NFL scouting combine takes place from February 22nd to the 28th, and we'll see the stocks of many prospects shift after their showing inside Lucas Oil Stadium.  

Without taking all those ultra-hyped drills into consideration, let's piece together one final mock draft before the class of 2012 heads to Indianapolis for the biggest job interview of their lives. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Come on. By now everyone, including my grandma, knows the Colts are going with Andrew Luck. Absolutely a perfect fit for a team in the beginning stages of organizational reconstruction. 

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

This could all change if the Redskins make a play at Peyton Manning, but right now, RG3 has got to be Daniel Snyder's No. 1 QB target. They'll offer the Rams their first- and second-round picks in 2012 and their first-round pick in 2013 to get the Heisman Trophy winner with transcendent abilities.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Another obvious choice. The Vikings are set on Christian Ponder as their franchise quarterback, and logic tells us they'll look to draft a franchise left tackle to protect him. They'd love to trade back, but with Griffin III gone, it's unlikely anyone will be looking to move up into this spot. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is the top receiver in this draft, and although other receivers may have more speed (Kendall Wright) or more size (Alshon Jeffery, Michael Floyd), Blackmon is the most well-rounded of the group. It doesn't matter if it's Colt McCoy, Matt Flynn or any other quarterback throwing passes in Cleveland next year—he needs a legitimate receiving weapon. 

Blackmon's the guy. 

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

After their tremendously disappointing 2011 in which they lost their last eight games, the Bucs will look for the best available player here that fits a major need. 

While it can be argued that Trent Richardson is the better overall prospect, LeGarrette Blount is more than capable touting the rock. 

They need help in their secondary that's loaded with question marks, especially playing a division with Cam Newton, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. 

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

I initially had the Rams going with wideout Alshon Jeffery here, but I don't think new head coach Jeff Fisher will like taking the second-best receiver with the No. 6 overall pick.

They'll get additional selections from their deal with the Redskins and can draft offensive weapons then. With former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith dealing with concussions, there's a chance he'll be cut. St. Louis must keep Sam Bradford upright in order for their franchise signal-caller to progress. 

Reiff is a balanced left tackle who has room to grow into one of the better pass protectors in the game. 

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

The Jaguars are the most wideout-needy team in the league. Blaine Gabbert will never improve throwing to a bunch of no-name receivers who cannot consistently get open. Jeffery will instantly open up the playbook and is a bona fide downfield threat. 

Decent value, fills a huge void.

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

This pick is ideal for the Panthers. Like Cam Newton, he's a young player with loads of potential who can grow into one of the best players at his position. 

A raw athlete with a great motor and surprising strength, Brockers can be brought in slowly to help the league's 25th-ranked run defense. 

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

With Cameron Wake and Upshaw, the Dolphins will have their bookend defensive ends of the future. Wake was relatively in check this season compared to his 14-sack campaign in 2010. With Upshaw drawing attention away from him, Wake could return to dominant ways.

Upshaw could certainly feed off the attention typically paid to Wake, as well. 

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

The Bills need a versatile, positionally flexible edge-rusher and South Carolina's Melvin Ingram is precisely that. He played everywhere along the defensive line for the Gamecocks and even dropped into coverage on occasion. 

At 6'2'' and 278 pounds, he runs like a tight end and has a variety of moves he employs while getting after the quarterback. 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Seahawks are another club that would like to add more potency to their pass rush. They totaled 33 sacks in 2011, and Chris Clemons quietly had 11 quarterback takedowns. 

Raheem Brock will be 34 before the 2012 season begins and is a free agent. Coples, although a bit risky, would fit wonderfully into their 4-3 scheme. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Some may have Kuechly as a prospect who's too slow to be picked so high. After watching tape, I realize he's not the quickest from sideline to sideline, but he's extremely instinctual and understands how to maneuver around blocks and fundamentally wrap up ball-carriers. 

He'd formulate a fantastic linebacker pairing with 2011 Pro Bowler Derrick Johnson in the middle of Kansas City's defense. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals need a left tackle upgrade. Badly. They're putting Kevin Kolb in a precarious situation if Levi Brown is the starter at that spot next season. Martin is one of, if not, the most athletic linemen in this class and is a road-grading run-blocker. With time, he can emerge as a reliable pass protector, too. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

Derrick Dockery and Kyle Kosier were OK as stop-gap options for the Cowboys in 2011 but are not viable future options at the guard spots.

DeCastro is one of the most polished guard prospects to enter the draft in the last decade—there's really not one area in which he doesn't excel.

Not the sexiest pick for Dallas, but a much-needed one who will significantly benefit the team for years to come. With the Giants in the division, they must have as many maulers along their offensive line as possible. 

DeMarco Murray will certainly be happy. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Eagles fans have been yearning for a impact linebacker for quite a while, and Burfict has that kind of potential. 

At 6'3'' and 250 pounds with nothing holding him back athletically, he should make an easy transition to the NFL. If he can scale back his desire to always lay the highlight-reel hit, Burfict can be a star at the pro ranks.

16. New York Jets: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, Southern California

I like Perry—a lot. He's got the best burst off the line I've seen and frequently beats tackles with pure speed.

At 6'3'' and 250 pounds, he has decent size to be that Calvin Pace-type pass-rushing hybrid for a Jets defense that regressed in 2011.  

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Yes, I have T-Rich falling to No. 17. He's a phenomenal running back prospect, but in today's NFL, running backs aren't held in high regard like they used to be. 

The Bengals are looking to inject youth to their backfield, and Richardson will join Andy Dalton and A.J. Green to create Cincinnati's very own "Big Three."

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

With Marcus McNeill likely to be cut and Nick Hardwick possibly retiring, the Chargers need help on their offensive line. 

Yes, they'll look to re-sign Jared Gaither, but they need depth. Glenn can play guard or right tackle in the NFL and has above-average athleticism and strength at the point of attack.

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

The Bears will be ecstatic if Floyd falls to them. They're in dire need of a big-time wideout to aid Jay Cutler's continual improvement and to take pressure off do-it-all runner Matt Forte. 

At 6'3'' with a solid frame and good leaping ability, Floyd is the most logical selection for Chicago at No. 19 overall. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

The Titans used their 2011 second-round pick on Akeem Ayers, a similar prospect, but Brown is faster and has more upside.

He's ideal for the 4-3 alignment as an outside linebacker—a very important position playing in a division with Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster. 

Tennessee's run defense allowed nearly 130 yards per game in 2011. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Bengals could go cornerback with this pick, and it'd be a fine choice. However, Wright represents great value here and would give the Bengals yet another young offensive weapon. 

He'd be an exquisite complement to the bigger A.J. Green and could wreak havoc on underneath bubble screens as well as on the occasional deep ball. 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Browns grabbed their future offensive focal point Justin Blackmon at No. 4 overall, and thanks to their 2011 trade with the Atlanta Falcons, they're able to select their defensive field general at No. 22.

Hightower's lack of top-end speed is his most glaring flaw, but at 6'4'' and 260 pounds with experience playing in the middle of the best defense in the country, he has the necessary tools to be a solid pro. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

I initially dropped Kirkpatrick down my board because of his marijuana arrest, but his talent will outweigh that off-field mistake on draft day.

The Lions need rangy talent in their secondary to compete with the Green Bay Packers' premier offense. 

Kirkpatrick isn't a fantastic man-to-man guy, but he'll work wonderfully in zone schemes and can match up with bigger receivers when need be. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State 

The Steelers must protect Ben Roethlisberger better than they did in 2011.

He was sacked 42 times last season. A vast upgrade is needed along the offensive line. Max Starks performed admirably for Pittsburgh, but they must acquire depth. 

Adams is a raw but mammoth tackle prospect who displayed sound footwork during his time with the Buckeyes. 

25. Denver Broncos: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Martin was extremely impressive during the Senior Bowl and, at 5'9'' and 215 pounds, really has the body to take on feature-back duties in the NFL, which is exactly what the Broncos are looking for.

The future of Knowshon Moreno is unknown, and Willis McGahee is better suited as backup guy.

This Boise State star was surprisingly explosive through the hole and showed his abilities as a receiver in Mobile. He's a well-rounded back who will give the Broncos some stability at the running back position for many years to come. 

26. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Texans would love to grab a wide receiver, but they're in a position to draft the best player available. At this point, Devon Still represents fine value and will add more strength to one of the better defensive lines in the league. 

There could be some shuffling across the the D-line if Mario Williams leaves in free agency, and Still would be put in a position to become a disruptive force in the middle for Houston. 

Wade Phillips is the biggest fan of this pick. 

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Patriots need serious secondary help, and Barron is easily the best safety in this draft class.

He'll miss the Combine due to surgery he's set to have on a double hernia. However, he should be recovered by training camp, and when healthy, he's an smart and impactful safety. 

He'd formulate a great last line of defense with Patrick Chung for Bill Belichick's rebuilding defense.

28. Green Bay Packers: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is similar to Dre Kirkpatrick in the fact that he's bigger and more rangy than most cornerbacks in this class. 

He reeled in seven interceptions over his last two seasons with the Gamecocks and makes his presence felt in the run game as well. 

Gilmore can learn the nuances of the game from Charles Woodson and become a real playmaker in the near future. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Matt Birk is a 35-year-old free agent. Konz is the best center prospect in this year's class. This makes too much sense not to happen. 

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

The 49ers are dying for an outside presence in their offense. Sanu isn't a big-name receiver, but at 6'2'' and 215 pounds with good hands and deceptive speed, he's a prime No. 1 receiver candidate. 

He won't be thrown into a pressure-packed situation right away playing on a defensive-minded, run-heavy 49ers team, and he can progress slowly into a prominent role with the team. 

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Illinois

The Patriots received solid pass-rushing contributions from Mark Anderson and Andre Carter in 2011, but Carter ended the year on IR.

They must add more youthful edge-rushing talent to their weak defense. Mercilus is the right guy at No. 31. 

He led the nation with 16 sacks in 2011 although it was his only year of solid contributions for the Fighting Illini.

Belichick will be able to slowly work him into the defensive game plan, and he can play in a situational role in 2012, similar to how Aldon Smith was used in San Fran this season. 

32. New York Giants, Kelechi Osemele, OL, Iowa State

Right tackle Kareem McKenzie will likely head elsewhere in free agency, leaving a relatively large hole on the right side of the Giants' offensive line. 

Osemele can play a variety of positions, but at 6'5'' and 330 pounds, he projects best as a right tackle. A well-rounded offensive lineman, Osemele was one of the more dominating tackles in college over the last few seasons. 

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