NFL Draft 2012: Tough Decisions for Teams at the Top of the Draft

The 2012 NFL draft is right around the corner, and the draft chatter is heating up.  There are tough decisions that need to be made and there is no room for error.  We need look no further than last year to see that a team that performed poorly a year ago can use the draft as a tool to turn the team around in a hurry.  As much good as a team can get out of the draft, it can severely hamper it's recovery with a bad choice.  It is not a time for mistakes to be made.

There is a wealth of information that teams gather on players and this information helps teams to make personnel decisions.  This information also goes into determining what teams view as their strengths and weaknesses, and it plays a vital role in determining whether a team trades up or down, and whom they target during the draft.

With all of the information-gathering, there are still huge decisions to be made as there are no guarantees in the NFL.  All teams have needs, and some are in a position to have to make very important decisions for the future of their franchise.

St. Louis Rams and Pick No. 2

The St. Louis Rams have the rights to the second pick in the 2012 NFL draft, and the decision that the Rams make will shape the outcome of the entire draft.  It is expected the Rams will trade down to accrue extra picks this year as well as a future No. 1 pick.  Looking at the Rams roster you can see why that is a logical thought process.

The Rams used the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft on quarterback Sam Bradford.  He is widely viewed as the Rams' quarterback of the future.  In running back Steven Jackson, they have one of the few remaining running backs in the NFL who is a workhorse and an every-down back.  The Rams added some play-makers in the passing game in the 2011 draft.  It is clear that the Rams are trying to put talent on the field for Sam Bradford and the passing game.

The Rams have to answer a few questions.  First is whether they think that they can find value with the second overall pick.  Conventional thinking is no, and it would make sense for the Rams to move down a few spots and gain a few extra picks so they can really put some pieces around Bradford.  The Rams have a new head coach, Jeff Fisher, and he may be looking to add his stamp on the franchise.

The Rams will either make a selection at No. 2 or trade down.  If they do make a selection at No. 2 it would be a player like tackle Matt Kalil from USC.  If they trade down, it would be to a team looking to jump to the No. 2 spot looking for Robert Griffin III. 

It is widely reported that the Redskins are looking to make the jump.  The Redskins hold the sixth overall pick, and at No. 6, the player pool that the Rams would be looking at would be larger.  Justin Blackmon would enter the picture at No. 6 as a No. 1 play-making wide receiver for Bradford.

Cleveland Browns and Pick No. 4

The Cleveland Browns have several decisions to make in the 2012 NFL draft.  They own pick No. 4 and also pick No. 22, which was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL draft.

The first and most important question is whether the Browns believe that Colt McCoy is their franchise quarterback.  The answer to this question is crucial to the outcome of the draft for the Browns.  If McCoy is believed to be the quarterback of the future, the Browns need to surround him with some talent. 

A great start would be the addition of Trent Richardson at running back.  Richardson is a horse and a player that can make plays in the running game and in the passing game.  He has the ability to make a huge impact for an offense. 

With the 22nd overall pick, the Browns would do well to add another weapon to the offense for McCoy in the form of a wide receiver.  Speed is a proven NFL commodity, and Kendall Wright has it.  He would immediately spread defenses and open up things for the Browns offense.

If the Browns do not believe that McCoy is the future, then you can expect them to be a part of the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes.  It's the NFL, and you are not going very far without a franchise quarterback.

Washington Redskins and the No. 6 Pick

There are very few guarantees when it comes to the NFL these days, and I can't think of anything more guaranteed than the fact that the Washington Redskins will have a new starting quarterback in 2012.  Rex Grossman and John Beck strike fear in no one.  Grossman and Beck will not get it done, period.

The Redskins must address this issue during this offseason, whether it is in free agency or in the draft.  They have to add a play-making quarterback, and they need to make this addition this year.  The way that the NFL is moving, most teams don't have a chance without a special player behind center.

Looking at the mock drafts, you can see that most experts are calling for the Redskins to trade up to draft Robert Griffin III for Baylor.  This would be a very good move as Griffin is a phenomenal athlete, a very good quarterback and he is just scratching the surface as a younger player.  Although Andrew Luck may be the most polished quarterback right now, it is Griffin who has the most upside.

Free agency is another route that the Redskins could take, but aside from Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning, most would be considered stop-gaps.  This kind of move is not necessarily a move that would upgrade the quarterback position for the Redskins and would leave them falling behind even more.

Jacksonville Jaguars and Pick No. 7

The Jacksonville Jaguars are desperate for a premier wide receiver.  It is common knowledge.  They need to add talent at the wide receiver position for 2011 first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert.  There is no team more desperate for a playmaker than the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars drafted Gabbert with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to be their franchise quarterback.  Some are already considering Gabbert a bust, but it is much too soon for that decision to be made.  To be fair to Gabbert, the Jaguars have very little to offer him at the wide receiver position.  For any sort of decision to be made as to whether he is franchise quarterback material, the Jaguars need to surround Gabbert with some kind of NFL-level talent.

The Jaguars have to decide whether they want to address this position in free agency or gamble during the draft.  If the Jaguars wait for the draft they must come out of the draft with this year's best wide receiver, and I believe that is Justin Blackmon.  The gamble is whether the Jaguars think he will be on the board when they draft at pick No. 7.  There are three teams ahead of Jacksonville that also have a pressing need at the wide receiver position.

The Jaguars could add a wide receiver during free agency but would have to really pay a hefty price to bring a wide receiver into the fold.  There is a wealth of free agents at the wide receiver position, including Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Bowe.