Pete Prisco 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Top 5 Picks from Prisco's Mock

In anticipation of the madness that is the NFL scouting combine, CBS Sports NFL columnist Pete Prisco put out his first 2012 mock draft on Tuesday. The combine begins Wednesday and runs through the weekend.   

Let's take a closer look at five of Prisco's best picks in his initial, pre-free agency mock draft.

Riley Reiff (Iowa) to Minnesota Vikings

If the St. Louis Rams don't trade out of the No. 2 spot, there's a fairly good chance they'll take LT Matt Kalil. That scenario would leave the Vikings without the pick that most have penciled in at No. 3 overall. Instead of looking at a different and less valuable position, the Vikings could still find a starting left tackle in Iowa's Riley Reiff. Protecting the quarterback is too important to let pass, even if the top tackle is off the board. 

Morris Claiborne (LSU) to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It seems momentum is growing for the Buccaneers to take Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the No. 5 pick, but I think that would be a big mistake if Claiborne is still on the board. The LSU cornerback can provide some much-needed stability in pass defense and a dynamic return presence similar to what Claiborne's former teammate at LSU—Patrick Peterson—gave Arizona in 2011. Richardson feels like too much of a luxury pick for a team that needs to get back on track.

Michael Brockers (LSU) to Carolina Panthers

Adding offensive help around Cam Newton is going to be tempting in the first round, but the Panthers could really start improving the interior of their defensive line by taking Brockers. Getting a mid-level receiver that can impact football games is much easier than a game-changer on the defensive line. Value wins out for Brockers to Carolina.

MIke Adams (Ohio State) to Detroit Lions

Secondary depth is certainly an issue, but getting the chance to draft the left tackle of the future is simply too much for the Lions to pass up on. Finding a cornerback can be a second-round goal if Adams is still on the board. Keeping Matthew Stafford upright should always be a top priority. 

Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M) to Denver Broncos

Few in the media have been as critical of Tim Tebow as Prisco, so it figures that he'd have the Broncos taking a first-round quarterback. But this scenario isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. The Broncos should add a young, traditional-style quarterback to ensure they aren't trapped with a gadget player who gets figured out by 2012. The Dolphins had to move on from the Wildcat, and you should anticipate that the Broncos will eventually have to move on from whatever Tebow is running now.