2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mike Adams and Players Undeserving of 1st-Round Grade

There's a ton of top-tier talent to be had in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Of course, there are also bound to be at least a few reaches, with teams using their top picks on later-round talent to fill holes rather than upgrade the overall talent level of their respective rosters.

That shouldn't be too much of an issue this spring, though there are bound to be a few toward the end of the first round that will leave you scratching your head, if only just a smidgen.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The real question isn't whether the Colts will draft Andrew Luck, but whether or not Peyton Manning will be in Indy next season.

2. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

I know, I know, it's usually impossible to predict a draft-day trade, especially in the top 10.

But how could the Redskins not give away the farm for the chance to select RGIII?

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

What better way to ensure Christian Ponder's survival under center than with a superb left tackle like Matt Kalil?

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

With RGIII off the board, the Browns will move to upgrade at running back, where (surprise! surprise!) Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty have proven to be anything but long-term solutions.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Bucs' defensive backfield will go from plain ol' thin to paper thin if Ronde Barber retires and Aqib Talib ends up in jail. Adding a talent like Morris Claiborne would help to soften the blow of those departures.

6. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

At long last, the Rams land that elusive No. 1 wide receiver they've long been in search of for Sam Bradford. Now, if only they could upgrade their offensive line a bit...

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

A stout defense with a beastly pass rush used to be the bread upon which the Jaguars spread their butter during their successful seasons. GM Gene Smith is well aware of this and will draft accordingly, starting with Quinton Coples.

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Panthers need help all over their defense, but success for them, as for any NFL team, begins up front. Hence, look for Carolina to load up in the trenches with a talented tackle like Michael Brockers.

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Whoever ends up under center in Miami at the outset of the Joe Philbin Era is going to need some help up front.

Just the sort of help that Riley Reiff can provide in abundance.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The pass rush is the name of the game for Buffalo in the 2012 draft. Ingram, with his athleticism and big-play ability, fits the bill (or Bills) perfectly.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

With Barry Richardson struggling and Jared Gaither gone, the Chiefs will move swiftly to fill their need at right tackle with the intelligent and supremely talented Jonathan Martin.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State

Gee, whaddaya know? Another team in need of help in the pass rush, and another player in Devon Still who's always hungry for some quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Three former Cardinal standouts in the top 13 ? Who'd have thunk it?

Other than Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, that is.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Cowboys are long overdue for an infusion of new blood in the defensive backfield. Jenkins comes with considerable baggage, but also a ton of talent and the ability to be an elite corner from the get-go.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Throw Luke Kuechly into the mix with the Eagles, and their days of struggling to stop the run will soon be long gone.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama

I know what you're thinking—"Enough with the pass rushers already!"

But seriously, folks, the Jets need help getting to the quarterback, and that just so happens to be Courtney Upshaw's specialty.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Stop me if you've heard this story before: the Bengals bring in a Pro Bowl talent who's got enough baggage to garner an additional fee from Southwest Airlines.

Hmmm...Dre Kirkpatrick, anyone?

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Three Alabamians in a row, you ask?

Why, yes! Especially when the Chargers had Bob Sanders at strong safety last season.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

What better way for the Chicago Bears to fill their need at wide receiver than with an uber-talented pass catcher who also happens to be a born-and-bred Midwesterner?

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois

If you had to make a choice on name alone, who would you rather have leading your team in sacks—Karl Klug or Whitney Mercilus?

Now, put yourself in the Titans' shoes.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

So long, Cedric Benson! Helloooo, Lamar Miller!

22. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

RGIII or no RGIII, the Browns would be wise to add Kendall Wright, his Baylor teammate, to their terrible receiving corps.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

If the Lions want to ensure Matthew Stafford's safety for the foreseeable future, they'd do well to upgrade the interior of their offensive line, with Cordy Glenn as the best option.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

How much longer can Ben Roethlisberger survive without adequate protection up front?

The Steelers don't likely want to find out. That may well lead them to reach for Mike Adams, a talented offensive tackle out of Ohio State who nonetheless performed so poorly at the Senior Bowl that his first-round status remains in question.

If Pittsburgh does opt for Adams, they'll be doing so more on his play in college than anything he displayed (or didn't) during workouts.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

With the Broncos' pass rush set for years, now is the time for John Fox and company to address the interior of the defensive line.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Texans won't ever be able to deliver on their considerable promise if they don't find a competent receiver to play opposite Andre Johnson. Alshon Jeffery has more than enough talent on his hands to be that guy.

27. New England Patriots (13-3): Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State

The Patriots desperately need defensive help, despite what their performance in the Super Bowl would suggest. 

That desperation may lead the front office to select Fletcher Cox, who, while a quality defensive lineman in his own right, grades out much more like a second-round talent.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Green Bay may well be desperate enough for help in the defensive backfield to reach for a second or third-round talent at No. 28. As such, Harrison Smith figures to find himself somewhere fairly high on the Packers' draft board as the big day approaches.

Not that Smith isn't a quality prospect or won't be a good player in the NFL, but the Notre Dame product isn't exactly a surefire first-round type, either.

Still, considering the weakness of Green Bay's defense, even a reach of Smith's extent may be well in order.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

Without baggage, Vontaze Burfict would be an early first-round pick. With it, he's still a worthy first-rounder and a perfect fit to eventually replace Ray Lewis in Baltimore.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

If Alex Smith is going to succeed in San Francisco for years to come, he'll need someone other than Vernon Davis to throw to. The Braylon Edwards experiment is over, so the time is ripe for the Niners to upgrade at wide receiver, with Rueben Randle as the top prospect available.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Vinny Curry, OLB/DE

Who's Vinny Curry, you ask? A fast-rising pass rusher out of Marshall who'd fit quite well into the Pats' system as either a defensive end in a 4-3 or a rush linebacker in the 3-4.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum both suffered ACL tears during the Super Bowl, leaving GM Jerry Reese with little choice but to seek a healthy body at tight end.

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