2012 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine Picks for the First Round

The NFL combine is among us and draft season is in full swing. Many players will improve their stock in the upcoming weeks, while others will take a drastic free fall.

Each year the NFL draft is full of surprises. Whether it be draft-day trades or enormous reaches the draft is sure to astonish.

Anyone who follows the draft should know to expect the unexpected. Each draft is a wild and crazy ride that affects the future of each franchise.

 Without further ado, here is how the draft could look if it were to take place today.

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, University of Stanford

What can really be said about Andrew Luck that hasn't been said already?

Andrew Luck grades out as one of the top quarterback talents to come out of college in the past 25 years.

Luck is sound fundamentally, has a fluid release and knows how to control an NFL offense.

His two year starting stint with Coach Harbaugh is also a positive when it comes to his draft stock. 

Expect Luck to be running the show in the "House that Peyton Built" next season. 

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor University

Trade Scenario: Washington sends its 1st round pick (6th overall), 2nd round pick (39th overall) and 2012 1st round pick for St. Louis' 1st round pick (2nd overall)

It looks like mobile quarterbacks are here to stay in the NFL and Robert Griffin III may just be the best mobile quarterback prospect to come out in recent memory.

Griffin actually grades out higher than Cam Newton for a couple of reasons. First off, Griffin's accuracy to all three parts of the field is much better than Newton's was coming out of college.

The arm strength's of Griffin and Newton are comparable. Griffin gets the edge in mechanics and pocket presence. Newton does grade higher than Griffin in terms of size though.

Nevertheless, this is a quality pick and trade for the Redskins. The Redskins simply cannot continue to have Rex Grossman starting at quarterback.

Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Christian Ponder showed flashes of potential this year for the Viking, but he was plagued with poor line play.

Charlie Johnson is an inadequate blindside protector and should be moved back to the right side.

Kalil is smooth in pass protection and is more than adequate in terms of run blocking. Kalil kept last year's No. 9 overall pick, Tyron Smith, on the right side at USC.

With Kalil protecting Ponder's blindside, Ponder could have a breakout year.

Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, University of Alabama

Trent Richardson is the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson was taken 7th overall by the Vikings.

His unique blend of speed and power is similar to Peterson, or Arian Foster.

Generally running backs are not taken in the top ten picks, but Richardson is an exception.

Richardson grades high in speed, power, patience and vision, but his best attribute his his pad level.

Richardson's pad level while running the ball allows him to take on big hits and pick up an extra yard or two. He positions his body extremely well and breaks arm tackles in the open field.

Richardson could help spark the Browns' anemic offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Morris Claiborne should be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer come April. He has very fluid hips and is rarely out of position.

Ronde Barber is nearing the end of his career and Aqib Talib may have worn out his welcome in Tampa Bay.

Claiborne's smooth footwork and solid closing speed make him a prime prospect for the Buccaneers.

Claiborne also has solid value as a returner in the NFL.

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

In my opinion, Justin Blackmon is not the best wide receiver prospect in this class.

But he will be the first wide receiver selected this fall.

Some team will fall in love with Blackmon's unique blend of size and power. I fully expect that team to be the St. Louis Rams.

Chances are Brandon Lloyd will be headed to New England this offseason leaving Sam Bradford with no true No. 1 wideout.

While many draw comparisons to Terrell Owens, I expect Blackmon's career to be more similar to Michael Crabtree.

Blackmon lacks focus at times in games and can disappear altogether when frustrated.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, University of Iowa

The Jacksonville Jaguars must upgrade the right tackle position. Riley Reiff is the best tackle on the board here at pick seven.

Reiff is solid in pass protection and a mauler when it comes to run blocking. He dominated Pittsburgh's defensive end prospect in Brandon Lindsey earlier in the year.

The Jaguars get some protection for Blaine "Happy Feet" Gabbert and also upgrade the run blocking for MJD with this selection.

Miami Dolphins: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor University

REACH ALERT:

Each year it seems like there is a reach in the Top 10 picks. Whether it is Tyson Alualu, Tyson Jackson or Darrius Heyward-Bey a reach in the Top 10 picks have become a trademark of the NFL draft.

Rumor has it that Kendall Wright is climbing up many draft boards and may be ranked ahead of both Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffrey on some teams' boards.

Joe Philbin loves small speedy receivers (Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, James Jones) and will be looking to find a wide receiver to pair with Brandon Marshall.

Kendall Wright is a No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL and should fit well in Miami's system. Whether it is Matt Moore, Matt Flynn or a rookie behind center for Miami this year, the organization will look to upgrade the offense.

Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State University

Devon Still underachieved during his college career up until his senior year. But this past season he exploded onto the scene winning Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 10.

Still is a big body in the middle standing at 6'5" and 310 pounds. He is a big run-stopper in the middle, but his interior pass-rushing skills could use some work.

The Panthers desperately need an upgrade at the defensive tackle position and this pick will come down to Devon Still and Michael Brockers. I think the Panthers opt for Still in this situation.

Buffalo Bills: Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Buffalo Bills desperately need to add a solid pass-rusher on the outside. Nick Perry could be their guy.

Nick Perry had an excellent junior season using his great burst and explosion off the line of scrimmage. Perry has a solid speed rush and can improve his bull rush by adding more bulk to his frame.

Perry is a riser on the draft boards and could see a jump in his stock following the combine.

Ultimately the Bills will fall in love with his athleticism and burst. This is a bit of a reach here, but Perry is the best pass rusher on the board in terms of 4-3 defensive ends.

Kansas City Chiefs: Johnathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Chiefs have to be upset that they let Jared Gaither go this past season. Kansas City needs to protect Matt Cassel and open more running lanes for Jamal Charles.

Jonathan Martin is the best value here for the Chiefs. He should step in right away on the right side and could potentially move to the left side with some work.

The addition of Martin bring the Chiefs one step closer to returning as the AFC West champs within the next few years.

Seattle Seahawks: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Michael Brockers is a stud, but may fall slightly in the draft due to his lack of experience (only a redshirt sophomore).

Brockers has a unique blend of size, strength and athleticism that makes him a versatile prospect as a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 defensive end.

Nevertheless, Brockers is extremely raw. He has an immense ceiling, but the struggles of former LSU defensive tackles such as Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are a very minor red flag.

Pairing Brockers with Brandon Mebane gives the Seahawks an elite interior pass rush.

Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Arizona Cardinals MUST protect their multi-million dollar investment in Kevin Kolb. With the top tackles off the board, the Cardinals may turn to David DeCastro here.

DeCastro spent his college career protecting Andrew Luck and is more than capable in both the running game and pass protection.

Drafting a guard this high in the first round may seem to be a tad bit of a reach, but DeCastro is the highest rated guard prospect since Steve Hutchinson.

Hutchinson helped turn Shaun Alexander into one the top running backs in the NFL and you don't hear Adrian Peterson complaining either.

Kevin Kolb and Chris Wells will both be ecstatic about this selection.

Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, University of Alabama

Dallas' secondary was horrendous this year, plain and simple. Terrance Newman has lost a step and should not be a starting corner in the NFL.

Dre Kirkpatrick is a freak in terms of physical skills. Jerry Jones will certainly fall in love with Kirkpatrick's 6'3" frame and his elite athleticism.

As for the marijuana arrest, not only was Kirkpatrick's charges dropped, but Jerry Jones has taken chances on the likes of Adam "Pacman" Jones. The arrest will be a non-issue in Jones' eyes.

Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

Andy Reid is not a fan of spending first round draft picks on linebackers. It was more than evident when the Eagles fielded one of the worst linebacking corps in the history of pro football this past fall.

Kuechly has to be the pick here. He is the best linebacker available here at this selection and is an absolute tackling machine.

His solid mechanics and elite consistency will benefit him in the upcoming draft.

Drafting Kuechly here instantly upgrades the Eagles linebacking crew.

New York Jets: Alshon Jeffery, WR, University of South Carolina

Plaxico Burress is at the end of the road and Santonio Holmes is a cancer in the locker room. That combination alone leaves the Jets with a need at the wide receiver position.

Alshon Jeffery falls into the Jets lap here. Jeffrey may just be the best receiver in this class and has the prototypical size for a No.1 wideout.

Jeffery's inability to get separation from corners down the field this season is a bit of a red flag. In his defense though, South Carolina's quarterback situation was far from great.

While Blackmon had Weeden and Wright had RGIII, Alshon Jeffery had Stephen Garcia and Connor Shaw.

With a combination of Shonn Greene, Santonio Holmes and Alshon Jeffery, Mark Sanchez has no excuse to continue to regress as a quarterback.

Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama University

The Cincinnati Bengals really missed Johnathan Joseph this season and there is some uncertainty surrounding Leon Hall's injury.

Janoris Jenkins is a solid selection here and could help out the Bengals in a division that boasts speedy receivers such as Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Torrey Smith.

Jenkins is a tad bit on the short side as for as corners are concerned but makes up for it with his fluid hips and solid footwork.

Jenkins is a pure cover corner who could be among the league's best with proper development.

The Bengals don't care much about character concerns so Jenkins' dismissal from the Florida program shouldn't hurt him here.

San Diego Chargers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State University

Marcus McNeil is likely to be cut, Jared Gaither is unreliable and Jeromey Clary is a joke on the right side.

Mike Adams has steadily been rising up draft boards with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl and could get a long look from the Chargers.

Adams failed to live up to expectations at Ohio State but boasts a large amount of potential.

His size and pass protection provides him the ability to play left tackle in the NFL.

Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Mike Martz is finally gone and Bears fans rejoice. In all seriousness, the Bears offense should evolve to a top-tier unit without Martz trading away talented pass catching tight ends and signing bum receivers like Roy Williams.

Gone are the days that the Bears will trot out Devin Hester and Johnny Knox as their starting wideouts, when in reality both are better suited as slot receivers.

Jay Cutler should be ecstatic to finally have a big bodied receiver to throw to. If the Bears can retain Matt Forte, this selection is huge for the franchise.

Michael Floyd has the ability to turn into Brandon Marshall v2.0 for Jay Cutler. Bears fans, you can start the party.

Tennessee Titans: Quinton Coples, DE, University of North Carolina

Despite the likelihood of Coples being a top 10 pick, this is where he truly belongs.

The Titans' pass rush was a joke this year. Karl Klug lead the way in sacks with a mere seven. With a division boasting some talented quarterbacks (Matt Schaub, Peyton Manning/Andrew Luck) the Titans must apply more pressure.

Coples is a physically gifted athlete, but is an underachiever on the outside. During his breakout year in 2010, Coples lined up primarily from the inside at a defensive tackle position. As he moved outside during his senior year, his numbers fell significantly.

Coples reassured teams of his ability to beat guards on the regular at the Senior Bowl, but was dominated by multiple tackle prospects.

Coples is an undersized defensive tackle and an underachieving defensive end. Not a good combination when talking about the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals: Vontaze Burfict, MLB, Arizona State University

The Bengals follow suit here once again by by selecting a player with questionable character but undeniable talent.

A week ago this pick seemed unlikely, but with the recent arrest of middle linebacker Rey Maualuga this pick could happen.

Burfict is an imposing leader in the middle of the defense who could make a smooth transition to the pro game.

His tenacity and hard hits are second to none in this draft. But he can be overly aggressive at times.

If Burfict can keep his imposing style while staying away from personal foul penalties he could be the steal of this draft.

Cleveland Browns: Whitney Mercilus, DE, University of Illinois

The Browns need to add an outside pass rusher and Whitney Mercilus is about as talented as they come.

Mercilus has a unique combination of size and athleticism that propelled him to his 14.5 sack season. He is a tad bit raw but has immense upside.

The one red flag on Mercilus is the fact that he was a one-year wonder.

If Mercilus can continue to develop and refine his pass rushing skill set, he has the potential to mature into one of the best pass rushing ends in the game.

Detroit Lions: Melvin Ingram, DE, University of South Carolina

The Detroit Lions target the best player available regardless of position. In this case that happens to be Melvin Ingram.

Ingram falls in this mock due to circumstance, but is an extremely talented player. He is a little small to be a 4-3 defensive end, but so is Dwight Freeney.

With Cliff Avril heading to free agency and Kyle Vanden Bosch on the down swing of his career, this selection also fills a small need.

Ingram should thrive in Detroit and will benefit from the elite pass-rushers that will accompany him on the line.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, University of Alabama

Dont'a Hightower is a prototypical 3-4 ILB and seems to be a match for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh will be looking to upgrade the middle of their defense this offseason and Dont'a Hightower would get them off to a great start.

Hightower has unique size for a linebacker and seems to be too big to play in the middle in a 4-3 defense.This could cause this talented player to fall right into Pittsburgh's lap.

With Hightower playing the middle for the Steelers, the defense will improve and continue to be one of the top in the league.

Denver Broncos: Lamar Miller, RB, University of Miami

John Fox loves running backs about as much as Jim Schwartz loves defensive lineman.

The Denver Broncos got the best value of free agency this past offseason when they signed veteran running back Willis McGahee.

McGahee was spectacular early on in the season but seemingly wore down down the stretch. Knowshon Moreno may have played his last down in a Broncos uniform following his recent DUI arrest.

This opens up a chance for Lamar Miller to be the selection here. John Fox loves utilizing multiple backs (see DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart) and Lamar Miller is the best on the board.

Miller has a nice combination of power and speed that makes him both a reliable runner and gives him the ability to break off a big gain.

John Fox is currently salivating as he reads this.

Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Kevin Walters and Jacoby Jones are absolute bums. It is about time that the Houston Texans line up someone reliable across from Andre Johnson.

Mohamed Sanu is a solid wide receiving prospect but lacks name recognition. Sanu has solid size and will excel from having a dominant wide receiver in front of him.

If this selection happens, Mohamed Sanu is my dark horse for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, University of Alabama

In my opinion, Coutney Upshaw is the most overrated prospect since Vernon Gholston.

Upshaw's size and speed combination limit his versatility as a prospect and should only be considered by 3-4 teams.

Upshaw does offer a solid pass rush but may struggle against bigger athletic tackles in the NFL.

I expect Upshaw to free fall in the draft. While considered as a top 10 to top 15 draft pick by many, I see Upshaw as a late first or early second round prospect.

Green Bay Packers: Peter Konz, C, University of Wisconsin

The Green Bay Packers have a great center in Scott Wells, but he is a free agent this offseason. Wells could draw a large amount of interest in the free-agent market, making it difficult for Green Bay to retain him.

If that is the case I could see the Packers looking to Peter Konz here. Konz is the consensus top center in the draft and provides good value here at pick No. 29.

When you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers and a seemingly pass-happy offense, you must protect the passer. Peter Konz is more than capable of doing that and will fill in nicely for Wells.

Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M University

Trade Scenario: Miami sends 2013 1st round pick and conditional pick to Baltimore for the 29th selection in the 2012 draft

I'm not totally sold on the Miami Dolphins reeling in Matt Flynn this offseason and Joe Philbin will want someone to develop in case Matt Moore doesn't work out in Miami.

New regimes mean new quarterbacks and Joe Philbin takes one here. Tannehill is the best quarterback prospect left on the board at this point and there is a significant drop off in talent once Tannehill becomes unavailable.

Tannehill falls into a great offense with the likes of Brandon Marshall, Kendall Wright, Reggie Bush and Jake Long.

If Tannehill can't succeed in this situation, it is hard to think of a situation in which he would succeed.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Trade Scenario: The San Fransisco 49ers acquire the rights to Mike Wallace. The 49ers send this selection as compensation.

Pittsburgh continues to shore up the middle of their defense here by adding Dontari Poe. Poe is a behemoth of a man.

With Casey Hampton nearing the end of his career, Poe could step in as the starting nose tackle from day one.

The small-school prospect is extremely raw but has unlimited potential. With the right team and development, Poe could turn into one of the best nose tackles in the NFL.

New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DE, Michigan State University

The Patriots continue to focus on defense here with this pick. Jerel Worthy may be a better fit for a 4-3 defense, but has the ability to move to a defensive end in the 3-4.

After adding some pass rush with Courtney Upshaw as their previous pick, the Patriots may look for some run support.

Lining up Worthy side by side with Vince Wilfork will eat up a lot of blocking which could allow for Upshaw to draw man to man blocks on the outside.

Just like teams who draft quarterbacks protect their investment with a great left tackle, the Patriots protect their investment of Upshaw by drafting a solid defensive end prospect.

New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Eli Manning has a dominant receiving corps, but the one thing he is missing is a solid pass-catching tight end.

Coby Fleener is the remedy to the New York Giants' woes at the tight end position.

Fleener is a big athletic tight end who is an instant upgrade over the likes of Travis Beckham and Jake Ballard.

Fleener should be able to take some pressure off of Victor Cruz and gives Manning more options down the field.

In today's NFL a pass-catching tight end is a quarterback's best friend and Fleener very well may be the best of the class.

Orson Charles and Dwayne Allen may be options here as well.