2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Traps Teams Must Avoid

The first round of the NFL draft is full of fool's gold, and prospecting teams often fall for it. All that glitters is not gold, but it often catches your eye.

I've listed a few teams that will catch the gleam and believe they struck it rich. Instead, they'll be lamenting their selection.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The changing of the guard begins.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor *

The Redskins will give up quite a bit to obtain the services of Griffin, but he'll be the sort of exciting, game-changing leader on offense the team desperately needs.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings really need an upgrade at left tackle. Enter Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The fact that the city of Cleveland might riot if the team doesn't select an exciting prospect like Blackmon or Trent Richardson probably won't factor into the team's decision. But the fact the team in actuality needs an upgrade at the skill positions just might.

The smart pick would be for the team to take Morris Claiborne if both Kalil and Griffin are off the board. The cornerback pairing of Joe Haden and Claiborne would be incredible.

However, I have a feeling the Browns will look to add weapons on offense, and the best option in that regard is to add Blackmon. I think he's overrated and his ceiling is that of a poor man's Anquan Boldin, but I fully expect him to be the pick here.

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

The Bucs will be loving life if Claiborne falls to them. They seriously need an upgrade at cornerback.

6. St. Louis Rams: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery is rated lower by most, but I still think he'll be the better of the two when comparing he and Blackmon.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick should be ranked as 1B in the cornerback department behind Claiborne. This is a slam-dunk pick for Jacksonville.

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

Coples impressed with an excellent performance at the Senior Bowl, but the hope in Carolina that he'll be another Julius Peppers will go unrecognized. He should be a solid player, however.

9. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

See a need, fill a need. The Dolphins will be glad to solidify a position of need at right tackle with the steady Reiff.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Bills are likely to play more four-man fronts under new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt, meaning Ingram's athletic versatility would suggest he could play as a either in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

But buyer beware—until this past season, Ingram was only utilized as a pass-rush specialist and could be a liability against the run at the NFL level. For as high a motor as he has, he can be slow off the line. It remains to be seen how his play recognition would hold up as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Ingram is an excellent athlete, but a team like the Bills would probably be reaching to select him this high.

11. Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Chris Clemons could use some help on the edge. Mercilus, who had 16 sacks last season, will do just that.

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Vontaze Burfict, OLB, Kansas City

Burfict has incredible athletic ability, but he also has bust written all over him.

His production dropped last year, his work ethic has been questioned and he has self-control issues on the field, playing too angry at times.  However, pairing him with Derrick Johnson in the middle of Kansas City's defense will be too tempting for the team to pass up.

If even the smart decision would be taking someone with fewer red flags.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Whoever plays quarterback for the Cardinals next year will need an upgrade at left tackle from Levi Brown, who has been a disappointment. The Cardinals turn to Stanford's Martin.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

I have a feeling the Cowboys will make a big splash in free agency—I've been having nightmares about them signing Mario Williams—so they'll play it safe in the draft and select for the un-sexy need.

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

The Eagles need upgrades at linebacker and safety. They instantly improve their linebackers with Kuechly.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, USC

Upshaw will instantly step in as starter at the 3-4 defensive end position for the Jets.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama **

Richardson will drop further than people expect. The Bengals will be a scary team next year.

18. San Diego Chargers: Dont'a Hightower, MLB, Alabama

Takeo Spikes is old. Hightower is a stud and a perfect fit in San Diego.

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

A good value at this draft slot, Floyd will give Jay Cutler a steady player at wideout.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC

I can't get behind Perry. I know he's an excellent athlete—and I know Tennessee needs to improve its pass rush—but I think Perry will be a bust.

I don't think he's strong enough to survive as a 4-3 defensive end, and I think he'll be a one-dimensional and ineffective player in a 3-4 scheme when he isn't asked to rush the quarterback.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

The Bengals could go a lot of different directions with this pick, but I say they anchor their defense with the gigantic Poe.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

I don't expect Peyton Hillis to return, and Montario Hardesty is injury prone. Miller is the perfect pick for Cleveland here and will help quell any last thoughts about rioting.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Another solid addition for one of the NFL's up-and-coming teams.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Keep Ben Roethlisberger healthy—draft a lineman!

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Denver is going to be built around solid defense and a ball-control offense, especially if Tim Tebow sticks around for the long haul. Brockers brings great value here and may be taken far earlier than even this.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The speedy Wright is the perfect complement on the outside to Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama***

Jenkins is even more talented than this slot, but his dismissal from Florida will keep the naysayers naysaying. Bill Belichick will be happy to ignore them.

28. Green Bay Packers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still is the perfect replacement for Cullen Jenkins, whom the Packers never sufficiently replaced after he bolted for Philadelphia in free agency last year.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

Defense wins championships. If anyone knows this, it's Baltimore.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

The 49ers need to improve their weapons on the outside. The Niners brass will take one look at their receiving corps and say, "Anything you can do, he Sanu better."

Yes, the 49ers brass will talk like cavemen in the name of a pun. Who wouldn't?

31. New England Patriots: Chandler Jones, OLB, Syracuse

Jones is a better fit in the 3-4 than the next linebacker selected in the draft. If the Pats keep this pick, that is.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

The rich get richer. The Giants gladly sign the linebacker with high upside to improve their linebacker group.

* The Redskins, worried the Browns might take Robert Griffin III at No. 4, trade the sixth pick in the first round, along with their second- and fourth-round pick this year and second-round pick next year for St. Louis' second overall pick.

** From Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade.

*** From New Orleans in last year's Mark Ingram trade.

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