2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Teams Can Afford to Fill Needs in 2nd Round?

While the focus of the draft is on the best players going to struggling teams, some franchises are dealing with a lot less pressure. 

These teams will be focused squarely on value in the first round. They don't have any needs pressing enough to do anything else. 

Highlighted teams in italics.

1. Indianapolis Colts, Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Start buying your Andrew Luck jerseys now, Indianapolis. This is an inevitable move and it needs to be. The Colts have to start moving into a new era.

2. St. Louis Rams,  Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Rams need to trade this pick but for now, we're going to assume they've kept it. Whether they keep it or not, they can't go out of position to take Kalil. They need someone to protect Sam Bradford and Kalil is the best option by a long ways. 

3. Minnesota Vikings, Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The late-season injury made it clear that this team can't be too reliant on Adrian Peterson. They need a vertical threat and Blackmon is just that. He is a tremendous athlete and is the (ridiculously early) leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

4. Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns shouldn't even consider a quarterback until they put some talent around him. That starts with Richardson at No. 4. The Alabama back is an athletic marvel and the Browns shouldn't even consider anyone else at this pick.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

The NFL's worst scoring defense needs to get younger on the outside. Claiborne is the best defensive back in this class, and it's not even close. This is a no-brainer. 

6. Washington Redskins, Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Whether they have to trade up or not, the Redskins can't leave this draft without a franchise quarterback. That means that RG3 is Washington bound. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

His legal issues are something of a concern, but this kid is too talented. The Jaguars are pathetic in the secondary and have to fill some needs through the draft. Bringing Jenkins back to Florida is the best move for Jacksonville to make. 

8. Carolina Panthers, Devon Still, DT, Penn St.*

Up the middle is where the Panthers have to improve. Jon Beason will go a long way in doing that, but he needs a man in the middle. That is where Still enters the picture. He is a raw talent that will make a big impact on the NFL early. 

9. Miami Dolphins, David DeCastro, G, Stanford*

DeCastro is the best interior lineman in the draft. That is a perfect fit for the team that needs to keep its rushing attack strong. 

10. Buffalo Bills, Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Bills recorded fewer sacks than any NFL team in 2011. That needs to change if they are going to seriously compete. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs, Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa*

The Chiefs allowed too many sacks last season. With a strong group of returning players, a guy to protect the quarterback is the only thing separating this team from real contention.

12. Seattle Seahawks, Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama*

Kirkpatrick has great size for a defensive back, which will be essential. The Seahawks need to allow fewer deep balls, which is where Kirkpatrick will make the difference. 

13. Arizona Cardinals, Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin protected Andrew Luck while at Stanford and that seemed to work pretty well. Whoever the Cardinals go with at quarterback will need protection, and Martin is the best player available to fill that gap.

14. Dallas Cowboys, Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Cowboys represent the opposite problem—they have specific needs and may have to draft by position rather than by best available talent. They need a corner in a big way and while Dennard is a reach, he is the best available. If Dallas can't swing a trade to land Claiborne, Jenkins, or Kirkpatrick, they have to take Dennard, reach or not. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles, Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

With a good group of linebackers, this team is going to be scary in 2012. Burfict is the best inside linebacker in this year's group. He is an absolute monster in the middle and will have plenty of chances to shine next year.  

16. New York Jets, Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery will vault up draft boards at the Combine, which is a good thing. He deserves to be the second receiver taken this year. The Jets need to give Mark Sanchez a long term chance to succeed and that starts with a young receiver to build with.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland Raiders), Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

A wide receiver tandem of A.J. Green and Michael Floyd would be a nightmare to defend. The Bengals need more of an offensive presence away from Green and Floyd will supply that. 

18. San Diego Chargers, Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

You can't judge Philip Rivers unless he has a stable line in front of him. This team has no depth up front and Glenn would certainly provide some. 

19. Chicago Bears, Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Bears are the only team that missed the playoffs that doesn't need to worry about filling a need in the first round. When they get Jay Cutler and possibly Matt Forte back, this will be a much better team. 

They could use a pass rusher and a receiver or offensive lineman wouldn't be the end of the world but if the top guys aren't available for the Bears, there is absolutely no need to reach. 

With Cutler, the Bears are clearly a playoff team. They don't need to sacrifice overall value to fill a need that didn't cost them much to begin with. 

20. Tennessee Titans, Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Cortland Finnegan has one foot out the door so the Titans need to look to the draft to replace him. Gilmore is immensely talented, although a little young. It will take some time, but he'll be a quality player. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals, Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Sticking to the theme of bolstering the offense, the Bengals can't rely on Cedric Benson for 1,000 yards again if they decide bring him back. Miller is a quality back, capable of running inside and outside.  

22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons), Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Richardson filled one gap but the Browns still have no real receiver to speak of. Until some talent is put around him, the Browns need to stick it out with Colt McCoy for at least another season. Wright is a dynamic receiver that helped make RG3 the Heisman Trophy winner. 

23. Detroit Lions, Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Lions are too much like the Eagles. They have a lot of talent but can't stop the run when it counts. Kuechly was the best tackler in college football in 2011. The Lions can't leave this draft without him. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers, Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Pittsburgh can afford to do a few things here. One is to gamble on more of a project pick, the other is to take the highest ranked player. 

The Steelers just don't need a lot of help. When Ben Roethlisberger comes back healthy, this is a Super Bowl caliber team. 

Their focus needs to be on working in some younger talent on the defense and possibly bringing in a back to spell Rashard Mendenhall, who missed the end of last season with an injury. But this is certainly not a spot to reach for need. The Steelers should easily draft for value or potential in the first. 

25. Denver Broncos, Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron can defend the pass but can also step up and pop receivers and backs running short over the middle. Replacing Brian Dawkins is a need and Barron is cut from a similar cloth. 

26. Houston Texans, Mohamed Sanu, WR Rutgers

This team really doesn't need a lot in the offseason. They will come back as a healthy team in 2012 as an instant Super Bowl favorite, whether Mario Williams returns or not. 

The needs just aren't that pressing in Houston. They could use a receiver to line up on the other side of Andre Johnson and whether Williams leaves or not, an outside linebacker would be nice. You can never have too many pass rushers. 

But this is pretty much a value pick. The Texans don't need to reach for anyone in this spot. They can wait until later on to fill needs. 

27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints), Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Normally a 13-3 team that made the Super Bowl wouldn't have a pressing need, but the Pats are anything but normal. They need to defend the pass better, as New England was 31st in the league in passing defense last year. The Patriots have to land at least one defensive back this year. 

28. Green Bay Packers, Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Packers need to pressure the quarterback more and force earlier passes. If they don't bring that presence in, the secondary is going to have the same problems that we saw against the Giants in the playoffs.

29. Baltimore Ravens, Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Not surprisingly, this team is eerily similar to the Steelers. They need to phase in some younger talent on defense and could use a receiver to put on the other side of Torrey Smith, but there is no pressing need there. 

Konz is a good selection because he will be ready to step in early and be a star, which is valuable for the Ravens. Their window to win is shrinking, so going for an impact player is a good move. But if Konz doesn't become available, the Ravens have no need to reach for a pick here. 

Their window is small to win but this team will be good in 2012. There is no need to reach for anyone here.

30. San Francisco 49ers, Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The 49ers can go a few different ways here, but they can't quite look for value alone. Regardless of what Kyle Williams did, if the 49ers protected Alex Smith better, they would have gone to the Super Bowl. Adams had some off the field issues at Ohio State but is loaded with talent. The 49ers' offense will be a lot better if they fix their line issues.

31. New England Patriots, Zach Brown, OLB North Carolina

With Andre Carter going into free agency, the Patriots will need to bring in another pass rusher. Brown is a good all-around defensive player, capable of pass rushing, pass coverage, and run defense. That is the versatility that New England needs.

32. New York Giants, Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

There are a few spots that I would like to see the Giants improve at, but they don't need to reach. Obviously this team's weaknesses didn't hurt them and when their secondary gets back to health, one of the biggest weaknesses will be improved. 

They could also use some solidification on the offensive line or a linebacker, but there is no reason to reach. The Giants have the pieces in place to win (obviously) and shouldn't do anything but draft for value here. No need is pressing enough to reach.

* Picks 8/9 and 11/12 will be decided by coin toss.

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