2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Will Score Great Value Picks

Every year in the NFL draft, we hear buzz words like "upside," "potential" and "value," among others. Perhaps the most crucial element to a team's success is value. Everyone taken has upside and potential—if they didn't, they wouldn't get drafted. 

Value represents the most impact for the least amount of money and relative to where you are taken in the draft. A player like Andrew Luck, who will be the No. 1 pick, is not great value.

The best recent example of good value is Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints. He was taken in the seventh round in the 2006 draft and has gone over 1,000 yards receiving in five of his first six years. 

In our latest first-round mock draft, we will look at the teams who will get the most bang for their buck (best value players italicized). 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck will be a star, but unless he becomes the best quarterback of all time, it is hard to say he was a great value pick. 

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon's presence alone will make Sam Bradford feel a lot more comfortable in the pocket. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil could end up being the best NFL player in this draft class. He excels in all phases of the game. He will make All-Pro teams for the next decade. He is big, athletic and has the awareness up front to adjust as he sees fit. 

The Vikings are aging on defense and they could go with Morris Claiborne, but rebuilding the offensive line to keep Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder healthy should be a higher priority.

He will have the most impact, both immediately and long term, of any player. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin will bring hope to Cleveland for the first time since Derek Anderson led the franchise to the playoffs in 2007. 

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

New head coach Greg Schiano will want to instill a toughness and attitude on defense. Claiborne will give them the big, physical shutdown cornerback they desperately need. 

6. Washington Redskins: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Since the Redskins will not be able to get one of the top two quarterbacks, they will try to rebuild the offense from the outside in. Floyd will instantly be the best receiver the team has. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Jaguars could go any number of directions with this pick. Brockers has as much upside as any defensive tackle in this draft class. 

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

Getting the best pure pass-rusher in the draft with the eighth overall selection represents the best value for the Panthers.

The offense, led by Cam Newton, is ready to compete for a playoff spot. The defense is still rebuilding, and Coples will give them the speed off the edge they haven't had since Julius Peppers left. 

Coples isn't as athletic as Peppers, but his raw potential is sky high. He should have double-digit sacks on a yearly basis very soon. 

9. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins need to protect their quarterback, whomever that might be, and give Reggie Bush holes to run through. Reiff is clearly the second-best offensive tackle in this class. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw is a great hybrid player. He can play on the edge in a 4-3 defense or linebacker in the 3-4. With the Bills, he will be asked to come off the line to make plays. 

After starting the season 4-0, the Bills were exposed thanks mostly to their defense. They didn't have anyone on the outside who could complement Marcell Dareus in the middle. Upshaw will give them exactly what they need. 

He can be a Shawne Merriman-like pass-rusher for this team if he gets enough first-team reps next season. 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

There are very few running backs that make teams stand up and take notice. Richardson is the best prospect at his position since Adrian Peterson came out in 2007. 

He has the ability to change the game carrying the ball or catching passes out of the backfield. The only reason he lasts this long is because of his position. 

Running backs have been so devalued in recent years that it takes a special player to break the top 10. Richardson has that ability, but other factors will push him just outside that group. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

When your offense is predicated on the run, you have to make sure the offensive line is rock solid. DeCastro should start right away. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Another Stanford offensive lineman, Martin will provide the protection that Kevin Kolb did not have at any point last season. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

If Jenkins did not have any character flaws, he would go in the top 10. He has the body and athleticism to be a star at cornerback, but he has to prove that he can stay out of trouble. 

His problems at the University of Florida led to him being kicked off the team. He had a quiet year off the field at North Alabama, and a good showing at the Senior Bowl elevated his stock. 

The Cowboys are desperate for help at the cornerback position. 

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

Kuechly is a playmaker in the middle of the field and has shown he can lead a defense during his time at college. 

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

Rex Ryan knows that his bread gets buttered on defense, and Perry is one of the most athletic linebackers in this draft. They need a player with his skills and attitude to bring the locker room back. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller doesn't have the name cache that Trent Richardson does, but he could turn into a more complete back. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Philip Rivers' problems last year stemmed from a lack of protection up front. Adams is raw but athletic, and he has enough potential to make a few Pro Bowls. 

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

This would be a dream scenario for the Bears, who are still desperately trying to plug the gaping holes in their offensive line. 

Glenn is a big, strong guard that will fit in perfectly with Chicago's offensive scheme. He is a bit more adept at run blocking, but he is no slouch protecting the quarterback. 

The Bears have to keep Jay Cutler and Matt Forte on the field, so despite their need for a receiver, they will be forced to go with the best offensive lineman on the board. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram will give the Titans their best pass-rusher since Jevon Kearse's first run with the team. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is being overrated by some who think he is a top-10 pick, but he will be a solid No. 2 cornerback for the Bengals' defense. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery will join Robert Griffin III as the foundation of the Browns' offense for the next decade. 

23. Detroit Lions: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

The Lions are going to reach a little bit, but they have a need in the secondary, and Minnifield has more upside than the remaining cornerbacks. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Offensive line is a position the Steelers could go after, but the value isn't there with this pick. Instead, they will go after the fast-rising Brown.

Defense has been the trademark of this franchise forever. There were signs that the current group is starting to realize it's getting older. Brown will be a perfect fit for what Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau want to do.

He could end up being the steal of the first round thanks to his size, speed and athleticism. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox will fill the massive hold in the middle of the defensive line that the Broncos have. He will immediately improve their inept run defense. 

26. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers 

With no real weaknesses to fill, the Texans have the freedom to play around with their pick. Sanu will give them a solid No. 2 receiver to pair with Andre Johnson. 

27. New England Patriots: Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Bill Belichick always goes after strong defensive players in the first round. Gilmore gives the team more depth in the secondary. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt

Despite a 15-1 regular season, the Packers' defense has a lot of work to do. The secondary can stand an infusion of youth. 

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

Rarely will you see the draft's best pure athlete last until the end of the first round, but Burfict has some personal baggage that will scare some teams away. 

The Ravens will be happy to pluck him out of the air when they make their selection. He can learn to play the linebacker position in the NFL from Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs before starting in 2013. 

He can be one of the best all-around linebackers in the game within three years if he is willing to put in the work. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

While the 49ers' defense is great overall, the secondary does have holes. Carlos Rogers could leave as a free agent, which would leave them in a bind.

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

Another defensive stalwart the Patriots will be able to rotate into the mix early in his career before taking over a starting role. 

32. New York Giants: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Polk will give the Giants more stability and upside at the running back position than they have right now with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

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