Mel Kiper Jr. 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Kiper's Mock 1.0

Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN's NFL draft expert, hasn't put out a mock draft since Jan. 18, but let's take a quick look back at his first mock draft to see where things could change ahead of the second. 

Note: Because Kiper's mock was published before the playoffs ended, the last four picks are in the wrong order. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck

2. St. Louis Rams: WR Justin Blackmon

A vast majority of mock drafts now have the St. Louis Rams trading out of the No. 2 pick. While some avoid speculating on trades, this move down looks too set in stone to ignore. Kiper may oblige in his next mock.  

3. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil

4. Cleveland Browns: QB Robert Griffin III

It should be interesting to see what Kiper has the Browns doing if another team trades up with the Rams at No. 2 to take Robert Griffin III. How that second pick plays out can drastically chance how the rest of the top 10 plays out.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Trent Richardson

6. Washington Redskins: CB Morris Claiborne

If Kiper does choose to include a trade, it's possible that the Redskins are the team he puts at No. 2. Most mocks now consider Washington as the front-runner to trade up with the Rams to grab Robert Griffin III. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Quinton Coples

8. Carolina Panthers: CB Dre Kirkpatrick

9. Miami Dolphins: OT Riley Reiff

10. Buffalo Bills: OLB/DE Courtney Upshaw

11. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Devon Still

12. Seattle Seahawks: DE Melvin Ingram

13. Arizona Cardinals: OT Jonathan Martin

14. Dallas Cowboys: OG David DeCastro

15. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Luke Kuechly

16. New York Jets: S Mark Barron

Barron has plummeted down most boards after suffering a hernia injury. I'd be willing bet Kiper holds serve and either takes Barron down his first round or into the next 32 altogether.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Alfonzo Dennard

18. San Diego Chargers: OG Cordy Glenn

19. Chicago Bears: WR Michael Floyd

20. Tennessee Titans: OLB/DE Nick Perry

21. Cincinnati Bengals: RB Lamar Miller

Miller is a game-breaker, and the Bengals have a need at running back. But there's something that tells me only one running back will get drafted in the first round in April. We'll see if Kiper keeps two in or adopts that thinking. 

22. Cleveland Browns: WR Kendall Wright

23. Detroit Lions: LB Zach Brown

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: NT Dontari Poe

25. Denver Broncos: DT Fletcher Cox

26. Houston Texans: WR Mohamed Sanu

27. New England Patriots: DL Michael Brockers

Kiper has the Patriots taking defensive players in the front seven with both first-round picks. His second mock could surely see the Patriots take a player in the secondary, especially at cornerback. 

28. Green Bay Packers: OLB Whitney Mercilus

29. New York Giants: OT Zebrie Sanders

30. Baltimore Ravens: LB Vontaze Burfict

31. San Francisco 49ers: WR Alshon Jeffery

32. New England Patriots: LB Andre Branch