2012 NFL Mock Draft: Full First Round Complete with Potential Trades

The 2012 NFL draft will be here before you know it, and since there's no lockout, expect more trades to occur throughout draft weekend. The first-round may feature just a few, but they'll definitely be some big ones. 

Being able to deal current NFL players for draft picks makes trading on draft day a little easier. Last year, teams could only swap picks for picks, but thankfully that isn't the case this year. 

While it's extremely difficult to predict what players would be traded, it's easy to see which NFL teams are in need of making draft day deals. 

Some desperately need to jump up, while others would benefit more from dropping back and gaining great value in return. 

With that said, here's my 2012 NFL mock draft complete with possible first-round trades. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft 

* Picks to be determined by coin flip at Scouting Combine

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford  

Luck is the best prospect in the draft, and the Colts would be smart to draft him and secure the future of their franchise. 

TRADE
2. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The first trade of the 2012 NFL draft happens early, and for good reason. The Redskins would swap first-round picks with the Rams, as well as give up a first-rounder for next year and possibly another pick in this year's draft. 

Should this trade go down, it will completely shake up the first round. 

If Washington want to win in the NFC East, it needs a legitimate quarterback. Griffin is a dual-threat QB that thinks pass first, which makes him so dangerous. 

The Heisman Trophy winner is going to thrive in the NFL. He's got the arm strength and his ability to extend plays with his feet are just a couple reasons why he'll be a star at the next level. 

It will come at a hefty price for Washington, but it'd definitely worth it because Griffin is the real deal. Moving up to get him is the Redskins best bet because he's going to be coveted by so many teams. 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

With Kalil now available, the Vikings won't pass up on the opportunity to greatly strengthen their offensive line. Minnesota needs helps in the secondary, but Kalil is too skilled to let walk away. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Browns have plenty of options here at No. 4, plus they have another first-round pick to work with. Trading up or down is definitely a possibility, it just depends on what they want to do.  

I think Cleveland sits tight and drafts a playmaker in Blackmon to help provide a spark for Colt McCoy. The only way the young QB will get better is if the Browns surround him with talented players like Blackmon. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Buccaneers need help all over, but with Claiborne falling there way because of the trade, they'll glad pick him up to help upgrade the secondary. 

TRADE
6. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

New head coach Jeff Fisher loves defense, and he'll want to get a physical force for to boost his defensive line. 

This is why trading back is a wise move for the Rams. A lot of teams will be after RGIII, so the Rams are in a great spot to move back and get a great deal of value in return for the No. 2 pick. 

Fisher won't want to draft a defensive lineman at No. 2, but here at No. 6 it's much better. This is still somewhat of a reach, but Brockers has really big potential, which Fisher won't pass on. 

Listed at 6'6", 306 pounds, Brockers benefits from a weak defensive tackle class this year. That's not meant to take anything away from him, though, because Brockers is very skilled at what he does and he'll only get better as his NFL career moves on. 

Brockers is climbing up draft boards fast, and the Rams will snag him up at No. 6 after making a deal with the Redskins to get extra draft picks. 

TRADE
7.  Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama 

Another potential trade that could go down features the Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bengals have two first-round picks to work with, and since Richardson slips out of the Top 5, they'll jump at the chance to get him. 

This is, of course, all speculation, but because of those two first-round picks, Cincinnati should seriously consider moving up. The Bengals could either package both of their first-round picks in exchange for the Jaguars No. 7 pick, or they could give the Jaguars the No. 17 pick and either a first-rounder for next year or a second and third for this year. 

The Jaguars have made bonehead draft-day moves before, and in this mock draft, they do it again by not getting the two first-rounders for this year. Jacksonville will take the offer that includes multiple picks from this year and next, as opposed to the two first-rounders this year. 

Jacksonville needs an elite receiver for Blaine Gabbert, but the Jaguars would be reaching for one here. Trading back is a smart move for the Jaguars. 

With Cedric Benson headed to free agency, the Bengals need to find his replacement. Sure, they could bring him back, but it would likely be for another one-year deal like last year, which is why I don't think Benson will return. He'll land with a team that gives him a longer deal. 

Richardson will step in and immediately help the Bengals offense, which is why they need to trade up for him. He has excellent field vision, great strength and speed, plus Richardson is superbly gifted at making defenders miss. 

He'd join a very young offense at Cincinnati, but that's fine because it would mean their future would be even brighter. 

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is a skilled pass-rusher, who despite having a down year this past season, will step up big-time in the NFL. The Panthers won't pass on this skilled hometown kid. 

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Miami needs a QB, which I believe they'll pick up in free agency. However, they could decide to pass on that and try to trade up for RGIII.

I think they'll get Matt Flynn before the draft, then turn around and select Reiff for some added protection.  

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama 

The Bills have plenty of options here, but improving the defense is a must. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Chiefs have needs all over, but getting added protection for whoever their QB is next fall is their best bet. 

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Seahawks would love a QB, but they won't find one here. They'll gladly settle for the quickness of Perry, who excels off the edge. Perry definitely fills another one of the Seahawks'  needs. 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8):  Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Cardinals landed a talented corner in last year's draft, and they'll take another one here to insure their secondary gets even better. Kirkpatrick's skills are too good to pass up, especially since the Cardinals secondary still needs help. 

14 . Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly will bring much-needed youth to the Cowboys defense. He's a relentless defender who  flies all over the field, tackling anything that comes his way. Rob Ryan will love having Kuechley on his side. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

DeSean Jackson is likely gone through free agency, so the Eagles need to find another playmaker. Floyd has character concerns, but he'll shape up when drafted by a contender like Philadelphia

16. New York Jets (8-8): Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

The Jets need to get better on the defensive front, so they won't waste any time in selecting Still, who will be a beast on the line for New York. 

TRADE
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11):  Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Jaguars win big by picking up numerous draft picks and still drafting a skilled wideout to help Blaine Gabbert improve. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Chargers need to upgrade on both sides of the ball, but the offensive line is perhaps the biggest need. They'll gladly take a monster like Adams to protect Philip Rivers. 

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): David DeCastro, G, Stanford 

The Bears will hope a receiver falls their way, but it likely won't happen, which is why they should just find one during free agency. They'll still be happy with DeCastro. He is the best interior lineman in the class of 2012. 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Titans need to get better at applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Ingram is just the guy to do that. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Bengals lucked out in still having two first-rounders despite moving up, but the rest of their draft takes a big hit because of the deal with the Jaguars.

Still, though, they'll be perfectly fine with having two talented first-rounders join their team, even if it does mean losing out on project players they'd find later on draft weekend.

Jenkins has character concerns after multiple run-ins with the law and being kicked off the Florida Gators, but the Bengals will look past that and focus on his talent.  

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Browns helped the offense with their first pick of round one, and now they'll give the defense a boost with a strong pass-rusher in Mercilus. 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia                             

Matthew Stafford will love having another Bulldog come play for him, but he'll be even more ecstatic when he sees that it's a gifted offensive lineman who will protect him for many years.   

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The Steelers have needs on offensive line, but Burfict is too talented to let walk away. There are worries about his attitude, but the mighty Steelers defense will shape him up very quickly. 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8):  Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

This a gamble for the Broncos, simply because they have other areas of need, such as defensive tackle or cornerback. Since the top two defensive tackles are gone, drafting Miller to help the offense run smoother is a good move. 

Miller's blazing speed will be a great complement to the power running of Willis McGahee and Tim Tebow.  

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin 

The Texans will have a hard time keeping center Chris Meyers, in addition to Mario Williams and Arian Foster. Houston could easily take a wide receiver here to play opposite Andre Johnson, but getting the best center in the draft is a better decision. 

27. New England Patriots (via NOLA 13-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Patriots have to get better on defense, and they'll start with helping out the secondary by drafting Dennard.  

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chris Polk, RB, Washington 

The Packers have needs on defense, but Polk is too good to let walk. He's a powerful runner who can certainly be an every-down back in the NFL. Green Bay needs to upgrade its backfield, which is why they'll take the gamble on Polk. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina 

The Ravens would love an offensive lineman here, and they could potentially reach for one, but the smart move would be get the best available player here, which is Brown, a quick linebacker who will learn a lot from Baltimore's talented defense. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

If the 49ers are going to win it all, their offense needs more big-time threats, which is exactly what Wright is. 

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

If the Patriots are going to make any first-round trades, this is the pick to do it. A team looking to jump back into round one to get a quarterback would be calling the Patriots non-stop for this pick.

However, New England would be better off actually using both picks for once to get the best talent possible for their defense. 

32. New York Giants (9-7): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

Hightower may not be here, but because of other teams' needs on offense and in the secondary, he slips to the Giants, which they will definitely love.