Mel Kiper 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Analyzing Mel Kiper's First Round Hits and Misses

Much like Christmas just wouldn't be the same without Santa Claus, the NFL Draft wouldn't be the same without the well-coiffed Mel Kiper Jr. dispensing his annual analysis of the draft for ESPN.

Kiper recently released his latest mock draft, and while there's no arguing that the esteemed Mr. Kiper knows a great deal about football and the NFL Draft, much like any of the hundreds of other mock drafts that can be found online this time of year, Kiper's picks leave some people nodding happily while others grimly shake their heads.

Here's one man's take on some picks that Kiper nailed and some others that he whiffed on.

Feel free to start shaking your head at any time.

HIT: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kiper's Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings (1.03)

Kiper had this to say in regards to Kalil:

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"The Vikings need to upgrade at left tackle, and Kalil is the rare one who could step into that position right away at the NFL level."

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This assumes that the Rams don't stand pat and take Kalil, which would then put the Vikings in a position to reap a windfall of picks from a team looking to trade up and select Robert Griffin.

However, if the Rams do the reaping, then Kiper's absolutely right that the Vikings need to improve over Charlie Johnson at left tackle, making the USC standout a no-brainer pick.

MISS: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Kiper's Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1.05)

In regards to the Buccaneers potentially spending a top five pick on the Alabama running back Kiper said:

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"If the Bucs are going with a "best player available" mantra early on— very possible given a wide range of needs—Richardson would make a lot of sense here."

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However, I have to disagree, as with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne still on the board the Buccaneers could not only select arguably the "best player available" but also address a huge area of need on their defense.

My Pick: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

HIT: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Kiper's Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins (1.09)

On the Dolphins selecting the first team All-Big 10 performer Kiper said:

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"The Dolphins will be adding a quarterback, and Reiff helps them finish what could be a solid offensive line in 2012."

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I couldn't agree more, and the 6'6" 300-pound Reiff would provide an instant upgrade at right tackle over Marc Colombo, who looked awful for much of last season.

MISS: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kiper's Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs (1.11)

On college football's leading tackler in 2011 Kiper says:

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"Kuechly is simply a machine, a prototype for what you want in an interior linebacker. He has exceptional instincts, and masks any questions of his speed by diagnosing the play faster than anybody out there."

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That may well be true, but the 11th overall pick is a significant reach for the smart but not overly athletic Butkus award winner, especially given that the Chiefs have several more pressing needs than at SILB.

My Pick: In my last mock, I had Reiff pegged as landing here, but with him off the board the Chiefs would likely look to address either their lagging pass rush or offensive line, so for the sake of argument we'll slot outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw of Alabama here.

MISS: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Kiper's Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys (1.14)

Kiper said this in regards to the Cowboys potential selection of the Alabama safety:

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"Dallas got shredded far too often with the passing game in 2011, and while Barron might be a very slight reach here in terms of his current grade, he's a perfect fit for the Cowboys."

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While I'm in complete agreement both that the Cowboys secondary needs work and that Barron is a reach in this spot, I fail to see how drafting a safety that's better in run support than he is in coverage will help the Dallas secondary keep from getting torched again in 2012.

My Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

HIT: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kiper's Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals (1.17)

Are there any players in the first round that didn't go to Alabama?

In regards to Bengals possibly selecting the second team All-American, Kiper says:

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"The Bengals held up pretty well against the pass last year, but should look for the heir to Johnathan Joseph, whom they lost to Houston before the 2011 season. Kirkpatrick fits the bill."

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Kiper hit the proverbial nail on the head here, and drafting Kirkpatrick would be a good value in this spot as well as providing the Bengals with an upgrade opposite Leon Hall at cornerback in Cincinnati.

HIT: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Kiper's Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals (1.21)

Regarding the consensus All-American making his way to the Queen City Kiper remarked:

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"I have guard as one of the top needs for the Bengals, and they won't do any better than DeCastro at this spot."

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That's an understatement, as I was tempted to label this a "miss," given that I don't see DeCastro falling this far. But if he does, it should take the Bengals about seven seconds to pull the trigger on the 6'5" 312-pound road grader.

MISS: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Kiper's Landing Spot: Green Bay Packers (1.28)

In regards to Harrison Smith heading to Green Bay Kiper stated:

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"The Packers are another team that should be looking for the best value possible at either safety or cornerback, and Smith provides value here."

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That's two more safeties than I have being drafted in the first round.

It is true that no team in the National Football League allowed more passing yards than the Green Bay Packers in 2011, but that had as much to do with Green Bay's inability to get after the quarterback as it did with coverage deficiencies, making addressing the pass rush a bigger priority for the Pack.

My Pick: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC