2012 NFL Mock Draft: Where the Top Offensive and Defensive Prospects Could Land

With the NFL Combine just two days away, it's time for the last mock draft/prospect talk before we can all see who's who.

On Wednesday, coaches and general managers will begin a week-long process in which they'll settle in throughout the Lucas Oil Stadium stands and meticulously examine over 300 NFL prospects.

When the combine ends on February 28, the NFL world will have a much better idea of what their targeted players are capable of.

Or maybe they won't.

After all, the NFL is not a track meet (40-yard dash) or a weightlifting competition (225-pound bench press). How valuable are the measurable statistics?

Perhaps they aren't as valuable as you might think. However, I have a hard time believing the NFL Combine is not important if so much time and resources are spent on talent evaluation.

But before we find out who is the biggest, fastest, or strongest prospect, here are my top five offensive and top five defensive prospects, and where I think they will go in April's draft.

1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (No. 1 Overall)

For a while, I was a proponent of the Colts trading this pick, for two reasons:

• If Peyton Manning was healthy, he's proven. Andrew Luck is unproven.
• The amount of leverage the Colts would have over all the teams bidding for that top pick would be very powerful.

Now it seems Manning is kind of healthy, but "kind of" might as well mean out for the year when referring to a neck injury. You never know if that one hit could be the end of a career (notice how Ravens free safety Ed Reed has been playing as of late).

The more I think about Luck going to the Colts, the more it makes sense.

There is a new head coach in town (Chuck Pagano), and as good as Manning has been, that $28 million roster bonus would be a severe financial hindrance to the team and their quest to return to double-digit wins in a season.

As I said, Luck is unproven, but so is every other prospect. Nothing can prepare you for the NFL like real game experience.

While Luck doesn't have the mobility of Aaron Rodgers, he reminds me of Rodgers when I watch his passes and his control of his offense. From head to toe, like Rodgers, Luck seems to be in total control at all times.

Besides, no one will blame the Colts if Luck turns out to be a bust.

Not that that's something Indy is considering, but it does give the coaching staff more of an argument towards immunity in the unforeseen event that Luck is a bust and their jobs become jeopardized.

2. Trent Richardson, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 6 Overall—TRADE from Washington)

In my opinion, Trent Richardson was the best player in college football this past season.

However, as any NFL fan will tell you, the running back position is becoming a thing of the past.

Even players like Ray Rice and Matt Forte, who account for more than half of their team's offense, cannot sustain their current work rate.

Richardson played two games against LSU this season (second best defense in NCAA FBS), and here are his combined stats: 43 carries, 185 yards (4.3 yards per carry), one touchdown; seven receptions, 91 yards (13.0 yards per reception).

Although Richardson obviously couldn't play against the best defense in the nation (Alabama), he flourished against the best of the rest.

Five of the top eight defenses in 2011 were SEC defenses. That's as tough an opposition as you can play against, going from college to the NFL.

The Chiefs are in need of a second running back, especially with the season-ending left ACL injury Jamaal Charles suffered in Week 2 of last season.

Assuming the Redskins trade their sixth pick to the Chiefs, Richardson should be on the board and should be the pick for Kansas City.

Believe it or not, Kansas City isn't that far off from being a playoff contender. Entering 2012 with a new head coach (Romeo Crennel), a healthy Charles, a healthy Eric Berry and a healthy Tony Moeaki would be a huge step towards the playoffs.

Adding a player of Richardson's caliber to the mix would further improve the Chiefs' chances of success.

3. Morris Claiborne, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5 Overall)

According to Adam Schefter, as of today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are $67 million under the salary cap (most cap room in the league).

Greg Schiano (shee-AH-no) makes the transition to the NFL after being the head coach at Rutgers for the last 11 years. While successful at Rutgers, going from the Big East to the NFC South is a huge leap, as every team besides Tampa Bay has a good chance to win the division.

Schiano will be charged with game planning against Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and Drew Brees at least six times a year.

Welcome to the NFL.

What's the best way to start preparing for those players? By drafting Morris Claiborne.

Claiborne is as complete a defender as there is in this draft. His athleticism, ball skills, experience and instincts make him the clear choice for the Bucs.

Pairing Claiborne with Aqib Talib would instantly make that cornerback tandem among the league's best (assuming Talib is allowed to play following his March trial for assault with a deadly weapon).

Even at pick No. 5, in the new collective bargaining agreement, Claiborne won't cost the Buccaneers a ton of money, helping them maintain their cap liberty.

*Claiborne is behind Richardson because of where I rank the players, although I think he will be selected before Richardson.

4. Dre Kirkpatrick, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 7 Overall)

Like the Buccaneers, the Jaguars are a Floridian team that's at the bottom of their division with a lot of holes to fill.

Like the Buccaneers, the Jaguars play in a division with two very good quarterbacks and one good quarterback, all of whom are capable of passing for 400 yards any given week.

Like the Buccaneers, I expect the Jaguars to select an elite cornerback from the SEC West.

Dre Kirkpatrick is shades behind Claiborne, in my opinion, due to his alleged lapse in judgement on January 17.

Other than that, Kirkpatrick is a bigger version of Claiborne with just as much talent.

The Jaguars propensity to draft defensive linemen in recent years hasn't paid off to the extent they'd hoped it would. The NFL is becoming more and more of a passing league, which should signal the Jaguars to draft Kirkpatrick as soon as they're on the clock.

Kirkpatrick was the main pass defender for the Crimson Tide in 2011, helping them allow only 111.46 passing yards per game (on average) to opponents.

In 13 games last season, Alabama's defense intercepted 13 passes and allowed only six passing touchdowns.

This pick could go a number of different ways, but if the Jaguars want to win now, they ought to draft Kirkpatrick.

5. Robert Griffin III, Miami Dolphins (No. 4 Overall—TRADE from Cleveland)

Before you get up in arms, this projection is made assuming the Redskins sign Peyton Manning assuming the Colts don't keep him.

I know what assumptions do, but this assumption is more probable than most.

Follow me for a minute: the Colts draft Andrew Luck, thus dropping Peyton Manning. Manning needs a new team, and the Redskins are the biggest draw (owner willing to spend a lot of money, premier division, Hall of Fame caliber coach).

That leaves the remaining Robert Griffin III suitors as Cleveland and Miami.

Of the top nine teams selecting in the first round of this year's draft, only the Redskins and Dolphins have a starting quarterback with more than three years experience.

In other words, with all of the money quarterbacks garner in today's NFL, it is too soon for any team (besides Miami) to draft another quarterback.

Griffin III would fit in well with the Dolphins, as his athleticism would compliment the athleticism of Brandon Marshall, Reggie Bush, Jake Long and Davone Bess.

In terms of personality, Griffin III seems to be very grounded and focused, which is vital if he were to play in a city like Miami.

If Griffin III gets drafted by the Dolphins, it's very possible he could be the second best quarterback in that division by the end of 2012, if not sooner.

6. Justin Blackmon, St. Louis Rams (No. 2 Overall)

Justin Blackmon is my sixth best prospect overall, but I think he'll be drafted second overall by the Rams.

There will be a few bidders for the second overall pick, as teams may attempt to move up to select Robert Griffin III. However, Blackmon seems too good to pass up.

Giving Sam Bradford a premier, all-around receiver for (potentially) the next decade is something new Rams head coach Jeff Fisher should seriously consider.

I know Blackmon played in the Big XII last year, and not the NFC West, but consider this:

• The Rams' leading receiver in 2011 was Brandon Lloyd (51 receptions, 683 yards, five touchdowns)
• Blackmon's 2011 receiving statistics: 121 receptions, 1,522 yards, 18 touchdowns

This is an especially important move for the Rams, as the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals all have big, athletic secondaries.

Adding Blackmon will give the Rams a fighting chance to compete for the NFC West division title.

Blackmon reminds me of another No. 81, minus the distractions.

7. Courtney Upshaw, Buffalo Bills (No. 10 Overall)

Versatile defenders, particularly the outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid, are a big reason why the elite NFL teams sustain their success these days.

Terrell Suggs, Jason Pierre-Paul, DeMarcus Ware, etc. are all elite pass-rushers that are able to drop into coverage if need be.

Courtney Upshaw is of a similar ilk, as he registered 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2011. Upshaw was the defensive MVP of the 2012 BCS National Championship game, when Alabama beat LSU, 21-0.

With former Crimson Tide teammate Marcell Dareus currently starting for the Bills at nose tackle, Upshaw could play alongside him at defensive end, or play outside linebacker in Dave Wannstedt's 4-3 defense.

There is an excellent chance the Bills won't have to trade up to select Upshaw, which would allow them to pick an NFL-ready defender without having to compromise their draft strategy.

If nothing else, drafting Upshaw improves the Bills' chances of stopping Patriots offensive stars Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

The Bills might have a higher sense of urgency to draft Upshaw if their AFC East rivals Miami Dolphins trade up to draft Robert Griffin III.

8. Quinton Coples, Cleveland Browns (No. 9 Overall—TRADE from Miami)

If Cleveland were to trade down to No. 9, it would be a good news/bad news situation for Browns fans.

The bad news is they wouldn't get Robert Griffin III.

The good news is they'd still draft in the top 10, they'd get an additional draft pick and they'd get the best 4-3 defensive end in the draft (Quinton Coples).

With the size to compete and hold his own in the rugged AFC North, Coples could play opposite Cleveland's 2011 second-round pick, Jabaal Sheard.

In his last two seasons, Coples has totaled 17.5 sacks. As a junior, he played defensive tackle. As a senior, he played defensive end. However you look at it, Coples seems to have his best football ahead of him.

In a division with Ben Roethlisberger (6'5", 241 pounds) and Joe Flacco (6'6", 245 pounds), drafting a player like Coples (6'6", 285 pounds) to fortify your defense makes a lot of sense.

9. Matt Kalil, Minnesota Vikings (No. 3 Overall)

If there is a sure-shot pick in the first round, I think it's the Minnesota Vikings selecting former USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

Then again, the Vikings did draft Christian Ponder 12th overall last year, so I guess anything is possible.

Speaking of Ponder, he may not be an upper-echelon NFL quarterback, at least not yet. But that's not the point.

The point is that, in the NFL, quarterback protection is as important as quarterback performance.

Kalil is the best offensive lineman prospect in the draft, and has the pedigree to back up his praise. Kalil's older brother Ryan is the starting center for the Carolina Panthers. Kalil's father, Frank Kalil, was a 1982 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills.

At 6'7", 295 pounds, Kalil will continue to develop, especially going against Jared Allen every day in practice (Allen led the NFL in sacks in 2011 with 22).

Think of Kalil as the Clay Matthews of offense—a former Trojan with NFL heritage who has the potential to dominate the point of attack for years to come.

10. Melvin Ingram, New York Jets (No. 16 Overall)

Like Dre Kirkpatrick is just behind Morris Claiborne, I see Melvin Ingram as just behind Courtney Upshaw.

Ingram recorded 10 sacks and two interceptions for the Gamecocks in 2011. He also helped South Carolina to become the third best defense in the country by season's end.

Like Upshaw, Ingram is scheme-diverse, able to play inside at tackle or outside at end. And if there's one head coach that gets the most out of those types of players, it's Rex Ryan (yes, in that respect, I consider Ryan better than Bill Belichick).

I'd imagine the Jets cumulative quarterback pressure wasn't where Ryan wanted it to be in 2011. Aaron Maybin was the team's leading sacker with 6 sacks in 11 games.

Although Maybin was drafted 11th overall in 2009, and although he played in 27 games for the Bills, he started only once while with Buffalo (zero sacks in those 27 games).

The Jets need more consistency from the "five technique" and Ingram could be just the man for the job.

Brian Thomas (10 seasons) and Calvin Pace (nine seasons) are both outside linebackers that will need to be replaced in a couple of years—perhaps another hat Ingram could wear.

All in all, I see the Jets drafting a pass-rusher in the first round. While that talent pool is deep this year, I see Ingram as the Jets' selection at No. 16.