2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mocking the First Round According to Team Needs

It's about that time of year again; when only one team ends the season on a positive note, while every other fan is insistent that their team is just a "few pieces away" from bringing home a championship. 

Every team, including the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, has holes. Filling them through the draft is the cheapest and most effective way to go about building your team and filling the gaps. 

Here is a mock draft, with each team's biggest needs listed. 

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Standford

Team Needs: QB, OT, DT, CB

This is already a done deal; they might as well start contract negotiations right now. Luck is the best prospect in the draft, and perhaps the best quarterback prospect ever. 

Luck has the ability to start right away; as his best attributes are his football acumen and what he does in terms of recognition and adjustments pre-snap, which has become an increasingly important part of quarterback play over the last decade or so. 

No matter what the Colts do with Manning, Luck will be the pick. With a new GM and head coach in place, starting over with a new quarterback that will soon be among the NFL's best is an ideal situation for a brand new regime. 

St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Team Needs: WR, OT, CB, OLB, DT

The Rams have spend a lot of resources on offensive lineman, including a second overall selection on Jason Smith just three years ago. 

However, just because they missed on a tackle in 2009 does not mean they should give into the temptation of taking Justin Blackmon over Kalil here to solve their glaring receiver need. Kalil is by far the better player and is a much better prospect than Jason Smith was back in 2009. 

Blackmon is the best receiver in this year's class, but he is not on A.J. Green's or Julio Jones' level. Taking him with the second pick in the draft would be a reach. 

It is also very possible that the Rams find a trading partner with someone looking to land RGIII, and they can take Blackmon or another tackle later in the draft for greater value. 

Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Team Needs: OT, CB, WR, S

The Vikings may have the worst secondary in football, and Claiborne would be a massive upgrade for them at the cornerback position. Claiborne has a chance to be a great player, and is probably a better pure corner than his former teammate Patrick Peterson. 

Peterson is instinctive, fluid, and has great ball skills. He is at his best as a press-man corner, but he can fit just about any system. 

The Vikings, assuming they stay in this spot, have two options: 1. If Kalil is gone, take Claiborne or 2. If Claiborne is gone, take Kalil. If they are both on the board, flip a coin. Both players are great prospects and fill the Vikings' biggest needs. 

Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Team Needs: WR, RB, QB, RT, DE, LB

Few teams have been more boring to watch over the past few season than the Brownies, so why not add college football's most electric player to give the Cleveland offense a much-needed jolt?

Cam Newton has proven that "spread" quarterbacks can succeed in the NFL, and there is little reason to believe that RGIII cannot be sucessful as well. He has the arm strength, accuracy and great mobility. 

There is a pretty good chance that Griffin will be long gone before the Browns pick. If that happens, the Browns will probably target Justin Blackmon or Trent Richardson for a much-needed upgrade to their skill positions.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Team Needs: RT, OG, LB, CB, RB

The Bucs have a lot of problems, particularly on defense. But their needs simply don't match what is left on the board. 

Richardson may just be the second-best prospect in the draft, behind Andrew Luck. He can do it all, with a surprising second gear to take any play to the house. LeGarrette Blount is good, physical back, but he is not the multi-dimensional threat that Richardson is. Trent has a chance to be one of the best backs in football sooner rather than later. 

With Greg Schiano at the helm, the Bucs are going to want to run the ball a lot, with a two-back system that Schiano utilized at Rutgers.

Getting an offensive lineman is also a possibility, and a nabbing a corner is another alternative. But to me, the value is near what you would get by picking a talent like Richardson, even if he does have a shorter shelf life than players at other positions. 

Washington Redskins: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Team Needs: QB, WR, TE, OT, OG

The Redskins are in for quite an interesting offseason. They are expected to be big players in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, and are very viable candidates to trade up for Robert Griffin III. 

For the purpose of this mock draft, we'll assume they stay where they are and take the best player available at a position of need, which is Justin Blackmon. 

When you look at the Redskins offense, there is only one dynamic player that draws extra attention from defenses: tight end Fred Davis, who is a free agent. Jabar Gaffney and Santana Moss are on the wrong side of 30 and do not pose any special threat to defenses. Blackmon would be a huge upgrade at the position and will be a red-zone threat the Skins have lacked for years. 

Still, unless they secure the rights to Peyton Manning's services, I would be stunned if they don't make an aggressive play for RGIII.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Team Needs: WR, OG, CB, DE, QB

The jury is certainly still out on Blaine Gabbert, but he may have been working with the worst receiving corps in the NFL. He had no deep threat and lacked any kind of physical presence outside of tight end Mercedes Lewis. 

Wright may actually have the most upside of any receiver in this class. With a ton of burst and speed, he draws a lot of comparisons to Mike Wallace of the Steelers. Having a player that can turn a quick out into a 60-yard touchdown would do wonders for this anemic offense. 

Adding a pass-rusher like Melvin Ingram is certainly a viable option, but upgrading this offense and giving Gabbert as many tools as possible would do much more in improving this football team as a whole. 

Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Team Needs: DT, S, CB, WR

The Panthers made a lot of strides, mainly due to the fantastic play of quarterback Cam Newton. 

However, until they can find a way to fix their defense, especially against the run, this team will struggle to compete in the tough NFC South. 

Michael Brockers is quite an interesting prospect; he is a physical specimen and a perfect size fit as a 3-technique in a 4-3 system. He has shown that he can play the run, and has shown flashes of potential as a pass-rusher. 

If he can be coached up, he can wind up being a fantastic player. If not, he can easily be a bust. 

Even if he does disappoint as a pass-rusher, he will still be a better option than anyone else on the Panthers' roster at defending the run. To me, the Panthers are the best suited to roll the dice on a defensive tackle like Brockers. 

Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Team Needs: RT, QB, S, DE

The inevitable departure of Vernon Carey leaves a gaping hole at right tackle, and Reiff will be able to come in right away and fill it. Physical and technically sound, Reiff may not have tremendous upside as a guy like Kalil may have, but he is perhaps one of the safest picks in the draft. 

After taking Mike Pouncey in the first round last year, the Dolphins have a chance to have an excellent offensive line for a long time with this pick. 

Miami is expected to make a move for Peyton Manning, and perhaps try to trade up for Robert Griffin III. Safety help is also needed, but there are no prospects worthy of a top-10 selection. 

Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Team Needs: DE, OT, TE, WR

With the anticipated move to a 4-3 defense and a desperate need for a pass rush, Melvin Ingram is a nice fit for the Bills. Ingram was impressive at the Senior Bowl and is probably the best pure 4-3 end is this year's draft class. 

Ingram is a bit raw, but he has long arms and explosiveness that will translate well to the next level. He has shown the ability to get to the quarterback in a lot of different ways and can shed blocks and make an impact in the run game. 

The Bills showed once again that they are just too easy to run the ball on, and adding more meat to the front seven would go a long way in solving their run support and pass rush problems. 

In addition to Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams, the Bills will have quite a front four on the defensive line that will give them a chance to compete with every team in their division. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Team Needs: OT, WR, ILB, DT

The Chiefs actually don't have a ton of needs; their defense is solid (if inconsistent), they have some players at the skill positions and will be getting a lot of players back from IR. 

However, they could use some added protection for whoever their quarterback is next year is, whether that is Kyle Orton, Matt Cassel, or someone else. Martin is en elite tackle prospect that should be able to start away on the right side. He has some holes in his game but has the skills to mirror and move his feet well enough to have a chance to be a very good player. 

If the Chiefs cannot re-sign Dwayne Bowe, however, they will have a big hole at the receiver position. 

Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Team Needs: QB, RB, DE, OG

Seattle is actually a very good football team, but they just can't seem to finalize that pesky quarterback position. Since no quarterback remaining is worth picking at such a high spot, I gave them Coples to boost their pass rush. 

Raheem Brock is on the wrong side of 30 and is deteriorating quickly. If they can slowly inset Coples as a rotational player, he can prove to be quite effective. 

Just as several other teams on this list, I expect Seattle to be very interested in trading up for RGIII. David DeCastro, the guard out of Stanford, is a very viable option here as well. 

Arizona Cardinals: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Team Needs: OT, C, QB, WR

Levi Brown may be the worst starting offensive tackle in football, and luckily for Cardinal faithful, he is a free agent. 

Meanwhile, Mike Adams was perhaps the most impressive player at the Senior Bowl, stonewalling the best pass-rushers at the event. A good frame and base, Adams can mirror and use his hands well. 

With so many tackles available in this draft, one of them is bound to fall to Arizona here. With his upside, Adams may actually end up being the best player of his class. 

Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Team Needs: CB, S, ILB, TE

Dallas had some serious issues in the secondary last year, and being able to select Dre Kirkpatrick at this spot in the draft provides great value. 

Dre has ideal size and length and is very instinctive, making him an excellent zone corner. He is also patient and physical at the line of scrimmage when in press man coverage. He is also regarded as the best tackling corner in the draft. 

Dallas also needs a partner for their budding linebacker, Sean Lee, on the inside. It appears as if they will put the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer, which would eliminate a need at outside linebacker.

Philidephia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

Team Needs: ILB, S, WR, C

The Eagles had an extremely disappointing campaign in 2011, but given the way they ended the season, they should still be considered as contenders in the NFC East, given that they fill just a few of their needs. 

Luke is not the most physically intimidating of linebacker, but the Eagles have a history of taking smaller defensive players hoping to get value. He is instinctive and consistently wraps up, while getting early jumps on the football on a consistent basis. 

The Eagles tried Casey Mathews at middle linebacker to start the season, and the run stats against the Eagles showed how big of a mistake that was. The Eagles were just too easy to run on last season and allowed opponents to control the game, and need to force opponents into 3rd-and-long situations to let their speed rushers loose. 

New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Team Needs: RT, OLB, S, WR

The Jets have been looking for a pass-rusher since they wiffed on Vernon Gholston in the 2008 draft. They have been able to use their great coverage to hide their deficiencies at outside linebacker, but at some point you gotta put you hand in the dirt and get after it. 

Aaron Maybin provided a spark as a pass-rusher, but the Jets need a guy who can be on the field for all three plays. Maybin is strictly a situational player due to his lack of size. 

Upshaw is a very versatile player, capable of playing in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, making him a perfect fit in Rex Ryan's multiple looks. He plays well in space and sheds blocks easily. 

The Jets also have a massive hole at right tackle, as Wayne Hunter has been terrible as Damien Woody's replacement. If Upshaw is gone and a tackle falls to 16, the Jets will have a tough time turning one of them down. 

Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Team Needs: RB, OG, CB, S

The Bengals could go in a lot of directions here—but I decided to ultimately give them the best player at a position of need, David DeCastro. DeCastro may be the best offensive lineman in this draft, and with Bobbie Williams likely on his way out as a free agent, the Bengals can get his immediate replacement. 

DeCastro has the ability to be a star right away. If you look at his scouting report, there isn't really anything he does poorly. Taking guards in Round 1 is not generally considered to be great value, but in this situation, DeCastro is a "value pick" at 17. 

The Bengals could go with a runner to replace Cedric Benson, who is a free agent. Mark Barron is also an option as a replacement to Chris Crocker at strong safety. 

San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia

Team Needs: OT, CB, ILB, WR

With the future of Kris Dielman in question, the Chargers could use help at almost every spot on the line. So, why not pick the most versatile lineman in Cordy Glenn?

Glenn is probably best suited as a guard, but he has the experience as a tackle to plug and play right away. He has the upside to eventually develop into a quality starter at the position. 

Their right tackle, Jeremy Clary, was terrible. Jared Gaither, who played admirably for a guy fresh off the waiver wire, is not under contract. 

Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Team Needs: RB, WR, S, LT

While Matt Forte remains, somehow, unsigned, running back remains the biggest need for the Bears. For now, I will assume that situation will rectify itself, and Forte will be a Bear sooner than later. 

This leaves the biggest need for Chicago at the wide receiver position. Roy Williams did some nice things during his time with the Bears, but he clearly is not a consistent target that puts any real fear in opposing defenses. Fortunately for Chicago, there are a plethora of options for this stage of the draft, and Michael Floyd is the best option. 

Floyd has his share of off-field troubles, but it beats being incredibly out of shape like Alshon Jeffery is. However, combine results could completely change Alshon's stock for better or worse, and he can possible be the pick here.

For now, Floyd is the most complete receiver remaining, being explosive and able to make plays after the catch. 

Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Team Needs: OG, C, DE, CB

Blame Chris Johnson for his down year in 2011 all you want, but the interior line of the Titans has not been getting the job done over the past few years. Eugene Armano has not turned out to be the player the Titans hoped he would become. 

Konz is another product of a Wisconsin line that as dominated college football over the past few seasons. He is a smart player that can gain leverage and get to the next level, finding his assignments in a hurry. 

If the Titans are going to make the transition to Jake Locker next season, ensuring that he will not see a lot of interior pressure is key to his development. Drafting a solid interior lineman like Konz will pay dividends in that regard. 

Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jekins, CB, Northern Alabama

Team Needs: RB, OG, CB, S

When Leon Hall went down in the middle of last season, the Bengals defense reverted to its mediocre ways after a fast start. The Bengals like to play a lot of man coverage with minimal safety help, and adding a talent like Jenkins will allow them to play the style of defense they had when Hall and Jonathan Joseph were on opposite each other.

Jenkins is a very talented player, but has some character concerns that led to his transfer to Northern Alabama. If it weren't for those concerns, Jenkins could have stayed at Florida and been a top-15 pick. 

Cleveland Browns: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

Team Needs: WR, RB, QB, RT, DE, LB

The Browns continue to load up on playmakers, and with Peyton Hillis possibly on his way out, finding a runner becomes a huge priority for the Brownies. 

I am a bit higher on Wilson than most, but he is surprisingly strong and rarely goes down on first contact. He has great top-end speed and acceleration, and can be an asset in the passing game. 

The knock on Wilson is that he is a bit slow to read his blocks and blocking assignments, but those are common traits in rookie runners.

Adding a new running threat will go a long way in keeping as much pressure off a young RGIII (should this mock draft prove to be accurate) as possible.  

Detroit Lions: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Team Needs: CB, OT, RB, SS

The Lions biggest needs really don't match up well for where they draft, but they did prove how valuable depth at running back is. There are many in the organization the believe Jahvid Best may never last in the NFL, and Kevin Smith struggled to stay healthy in his own right. 

The Lions are not going to be able to get away with the excuse for a running game they put on display last year, and Miller provides solid value at this spot. He can run both inside and outside and has breakaway speed to be a threat on every play. 

If the draft plays out like this, the Lions will try to trade out of this spot, as there are not many players that fit the Lions here. But for now, they can at least finalize their running back depth chart with the selection of Miller. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Team Needs: OT, OG, NT, CB, ILB

The Steelers are traditionally BPA (best player available) drafters, and fortunately for them, the need meets the value. Still may be the best interior defensive lineman in this year's draft. 

He is a bit small to replace Casey Hampton at the nose tackle position, but he anchors very well and shows good burst for a man of his size. If he can add some weight, he can fill in nicely in the Steelers' line rotation, which will result in fewer snaps for an aging Casey Hampton. 

Adding an offensive lineman will also be a priority. However, there really is not anyone available that would not be considered to be a "reach" pick, and it is very un-Steeler-like to reach just to fill a need. 

If the Steelers don't think Still can put on the size to be a true nose tackle, he could trim just a few pounds and fill a spot at defensive end, where Aaron Smith's career is nearing its end. 

Denver Broncos: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

Team Needs: RB, TE, G, CB

I am not Tebow believer, but not having a reliable target at tight end did him (and Kyle Orton) no favors. 

At 6'3'', Orson looks more like a receiver than a tight end, but he certainly held his own in the blocking aspect of the game. He does, however, run some sloppy routes and does not have the most reliable set of hands. 

He can be a matchup nightmare for defenses, and the Broncos could certainly use more offensive weapons for whoever their quarterback will be moving forward. 

Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Team Needs: WR, NT, C, CB

The Texans don't have a lot of needs, but they have struggled with being able to find a reliable target opposite Andre Johnson, who has seemed to catch the injury bug these past two seasons. 

As we have all saw in the AFC divisional round, Jacoby Jones is anything but reliable. 

Sanu has a lot of upside, with a big, imposing frame with long arms. He isn't overly fast, but he has showcased the ability to "pluck" the football out of the air. 

Adding a target like Sanu will make it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to match up against the Houston offense. 

New England Patriots: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

Team Needs: OLB, SS, WR, RB

The New England Patriots strike gold with this pick, nabbing one of the best OLB prospects in the draft. 

Perry is explosive and quick, but can be a bit stiff and tight at times when rushing the passer. Still, the Patriots have such a need for a young pass-rusher that they have to be thrilled with the value they are getting out of this pick. 

Adding a deep-threat receiver also must be a priority, but with Sanu of the board and a lot of talent available in the free-agent market, the Patriots can get their guy elsewhere. 

Green Bay Packers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Team Needs: OLB, DE, ILB, RB

The Packers, despite having the NFL's best regular season record, had serious issues on defense last year, and finished dead last in yards allowed. 

Hightower is a great middle linebacker prospect that has a chance to be the best of his class, and the Packers have to be thrilled with the value they are getting at this spot in the draft. 

Hightower is a power box run defender that is instinctive and unafraid to take linemen head-on. He has great change of direction in space and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. 

A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop both had bad seasons, and he could immediately push both of them, particularly Bishop, out of a starting job. 

Baltimore Ravens: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Team Needs: OG, OT, WR, OLB

The Ravens desperately need another target for Joe Flacco; he was asked to make far too many difficult throws to covered receivers this season. 

Jeffery is an interesting prospect to say the least; he has serious weight issues and did not respond well to quarterback issues at South Carolina, but his talent in undeniable. When in top shape, he is one tough guy to cover. 

Putting him in the close-knit Ravens locker room would be the perfect environment for him to flourish. They rolled the dice on Jimmy Smith last year, who has worked out so far in terms of character issues. What suggests that Ray Lewis can't solve Jeffery's love for food?

San Franscisco 49ers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Team Needs: WR, OLB, QB

The 49ers probably have fewer needs than just about any other team, making this pick so difficult. There is no longer much value for a receiver at this spot. Mercilus is not my favorite prospect, but if they can turn him to just a decent player, the 49ers will have the most complete front seven in football. 

Whitney lacks instincts and tends to stand upright and not use hands, but he does have an array of moves and uses his power to get to the quarterback. He led the nation last year with 14.5 sacks. 

The lack of production in his junior season is alarming, but if the 49ers can get him to produce on the level he did during his senior season, they could have a great player on their hands. 

New England Patriots: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Team Needs: OLB, SS, WR, RB

When one of your starting safeties is a player that could not make the cut as one of the Jets' poor set of safeties, it's time to upgrade. 

Barron's is an extremely physical player, who will shoot like a cannon to make plays in the backfield. He can cover a lot of ground in a hurry and has great instincts and ball skills.He has experience lining up at linebacker in nickel situations, and has the ability to be a cover-1 center fielder. 

The issue with Barron is that his hips are somewhat stiff and he has a tough time recovering from wasted movement. 

I do believe, however, that with some coaching, Barron can turn out to be a heck of a player. Even if he fails to progress as much as I think he can, he is still an upgrade over anything the Patriots currently have.

New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Team Needs: OT, OG, RB, LB

This pick actually solves several problems at once. First, it gives the Giants more depth at a position that had a lot of injuries in 2011, and will give them another player with a lot athleticism, which they lack outside of Michael Boley. 

Second, should Osi Umenyiora leave via free agency, the Giants will be able to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to his natural spot at defensive end, and move Zach Brown into the lineup.

Kiwanuka was forced to move to linebacker a few seasons ago, due to the lack of athleticism the Giants had at outside linebacker and the glut of talent they had at defensive end.

Brown is very good in space and has a great natural "feel" for what is happening around him. He moves fluidly and is instinctive in both coverage and in the run game. 

In today's NFL, you need athletic linebackers that can cover, and Brown fits the bill.