2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Definitive, Pre-Combine Workout 1st-Round Mock

2012 NFL draft prospects have descended upon Indianapolis, along with a tremendous amount of media, for the biggest job interview in the world—the NFL Scouting Combine.

Call it "The Underwear Olympics," if you will. Dismiss the 40-yard dash times as meaningless and the bench press numbers as useless, but know that this process still means a lot to the NFL draft process.

The combine is all about confirming or dismissing preconceived notions and breaking ties within positional groupings. Most importantly, it is the first real chance to interview these players under the same conditions as their peers. Teams begin to fall in love with players in Indianapolis and will do just about anything to make sure no one else knows about their infatuations.

So, while knowing the NFL combine could shake up the draft process significantly, here is what the draft should look like if it happened today.

1) Indianapolis Colts, Andrew Luck (QB Stanford)

The Colts don't have a franchise quarterback for the future, and Luck is the most NFL-ready quarterback prospect since the Colts' old quarterback Peyton Manning. The road will be bumpy off the bat for Luck, but that can't be an argument against taking him here.

2) TRADE: Washington Redskins, Robert Griffin III (QB Baylor)

As sure a thing as the Colts-Luck pick is, the "Griffin to whoever trades up for him" pick has become just as sure. Since the Redskins have a history of spending anything they can for whatever they want, this pick should be easy to come by.

3) Minnesota Vikings, Matt Kalil (OT Southern California)

Years ago, I covered the Minnesota Vikings for local radio and predicted the Vikings collapse by watching the ineptitude of Bryant McKinnie and noticing the age of Steve Hutchinson. Matt Kalil isn't at the same level of Joe Thomas or Jake Long, but he is a step above other recent top tackle prospects. The Vikings rebuild begins here.

4) Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson (RB Alabama)

The Browns are as good of a landing spot as any for Matt Flynn, so they shouldn't reach for an inferior quarterback here. Instead, they get a dynamic running back to replace the current load of mediocrity on their roster.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morris Claiborne (CB Louisiana State)

Ron Cooper, the new Bucs defensive back coach, coached Claiborne at LSU and should be up on the table for him when this pick comes around. Normally, I'm against grabbing defensive backs so high in the draft, but the Bucs have invested heavily in the defensive line and need to start getting some returns.

6) TRADE: St. Louis Rams, Justin Blackmon (WR Oklahoma State)

If the Rams stay pat at No. 2, they will probably choose between Kalil and Blackmon. In this scenario, they're able to trade down and still get a player they covet. Blackmon isn't the can't-miss top-five prospect some make him out to be, but he's a legit No. 1 wideout and will greatly improve the Rams' passing offense.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars, Nick Perry (DE Southern California)

The Jaguars need a pass rush to exist in the AFC South, and Nick Perry has all of the tools to be the best pass-rusher in the draft and a frame that could easily add 10-15 pounds of muscle. Perry has the ability to become the most fearsome member of the Jaguars defense immediately.

8) Miami Dolphins, Quinton Coples (DE North Carolina)

Coples could easily go one spot higher, but I legitimately think he's a reach here. Coples has all the ability in the world and should've been a stud at North Carolina. While he flashed at times, he was hardly the world-beater he could've been. Miami is switching defenses and needs to take a chance on an elite edge rusher.

9) Carolina Panthers, Michael Brockers (DT Louisiana State)

The run on defensive linemen continues as the Panthers find their elite tackle to go alongside Charles Johnson. Brockers is long, lean and has a solid amount of pass-rushing ability while also able to hold the point of attack.

10) Buffalo Bills, Riley Reiff (OT Iowa)

The Bills have a fine interior line, but going with "good enough" on the perimeter is keeping them back in the AFC East. Reiff is the one player sure to help both the run and the pass game, two areas in which the Bills are average but don't stand out.

11) TRADE: Dallas Cowboys, Dre Kirkpatrick (CB Alabama)

When Dre Kirkpatrick drops out of the top 10, expect a few teams to get antsy and one of them, Dallas here, to pull the trigger. Kirkpatrick is pretty topped out from a ceiling standpoint but has a ton of experience in a defense that looks very similar to the Cowboys'. He should help immediately.

12) Seattle Seahawks, Mike Adams (OT Ohio State)

On the surface, this pick doesn't make a ton of sense because the Seahawks have drafted Russell Okung and James Carpenter in recent years. However, injuries to both have made them unreliable long-term. At worst, Adams provides a tremendous amount of stability the Seahawks have not had. At best, he allows Carpenter to slide inside and play guard, giving the Hawks a tremendous offensive line.

13) Arizona Cardinals, David DeCastro (OG Stanford)

The Cardinals swung and missed at the offensive line in the past and have largely ignored it in recent years. Because of that, much of the offensive problems have nothing to do with who is under center. DeCastro is a top-five player who falls here because of the position he plays. The Cardinals would be wise to grab him.

14) TRADE: Kansas City Chiefs, Jonathan Martin (OT Stanford)

With a few offensive linemen coming off the board, the Chiefs are lucky to grab the last first-tier lineman available. The Chiefs have a really young team that was decimated by injury last year. By solidifying their offensive line, they could be in line for a playoff berth in 2012.

15) Philadelphia Eagles, Kendall Wright (WR Baylor)

The Eagles have a high-octane offense but don't really have a guy that can be a steadying influence. Wright is a better all-around receiver than anyone the Eagles have had in recent memory and still has that deep-threat ability that makes him a perfect fit.

16) New York Jets, Courtney Upshaw (DE/OLB Alabama) 

Five years ago, Upshaw would've been a "tweener" and may have fallen even farther than this. Here, the Jets jump at his positional flexibility and grab a dynamic edge rusher that can immediately help this defense that has a lot of bark and not a lot of bite.

17) Cincinnati Bengals, Zach Brown (LB North Carolina)

The biggest temptation here will be to go all-in on offense to maximize the ability of Andy Dalton, but with two first-round picks, the Bengals can go best player available and help their entire team. Brown is the only elite 4-3 linebacker in the draft and is one of the few players who can match up with the new breed of NFL tight ends.

18) San Diego Chargers, Dontari Poe (DT Memphis)

While the Chargers defense has undergone a bunch of changes in recent years, the biggest was losing Jamal Williams a few years back and not properly replacing him. In a 3-4, the pivot is the most important position, and Poe is the only nose tackle worth grabbing in the first this year.

19) Chicago Bears, Michael Floyd (WR Notre Dame)

This pick is so en vogue that it's almost sure NOT to happen. The Bears haven't had a great quarterback/wide receiver tandem in, well...ever. They think they have the quarterback in Jay Cutler, but still need a No. 1 wideout. Floyd is a local product and has all the tools to be a productive pass-catcher.

20) Tennessee Titans, Devon Still (DT Penn State)

The Titans had a run of success under Jeff Fisher by constantly fielding a tough defensive line. Recently, their line has been under-productive and lacked the ability to create pressure. The Titans have some solid pass-rushers but need to collapse the pocket to give their linebackers room to move.

21) Cincinnati Bengals, Lamar Miller (RB Miami)

With the best player at 17, the Bengals can afford to reach a bit here. Miller might not be the best running back on the board, but he fits everything they want to do. As a true burner, he can be Dalton's safety valve as well as a more explosive rushing threat.

22) Cleveland Browns, Melvin Ingram (DE South Carolina)

The Browns struck gold last year with Jabaal Sheard but still have a pretty impotent defense. Melvin Ingram is a freak athlete and a solid pass-rusher. While defensive end isn't the biggest need for the Browns, this pick should pay immediate dividends.

23) Detroit Lions, Peter Konz (C Wisconsin)

With Jeff Backus a free agent and on the mend, the Lions would love if one of those offensive tackles would fall a little further. Instead, the Lions improve their offensive line another way and grab the best offensive center prospect in a few years and upgrade from Dominic Raiola.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers, Vontaze Burfict (LB Arizona State)

Burfict is a head case, but the Steelers have been known to be a haven for that kind of player in the NFL. Frankly, if the Steelers let Burfict slip past them, they'll have to face him twice a year, as Baltimore will be sure to pick him up. As much of a headache he can be, the former Sun Devil is a player you would rather have on your team than lined up against you.

25) Denver Broncos, Janoris Jenkins (CB South Alabama)

While it would be wise to build around Tim Tebow's strengths, it looks as if the Broncos want to force the square peg into a round hole and turn him into a "real" quarterback. So, instead of propping him up with offensive players he won't be able to take advantage of, the Broncos need to solidify their defense.

26) Houston Texans, Whitney Mercilus (DE Illinois)

The Texans look all but certain to lose Mario Williams this offseason and can't afford to lose a step from a pass-rushing standpoint. Mercilus isn't the player of athlete than Williams is, but he's as good as it gets this late in the first round.

27) New England Patriots, Alshon Jeffery (WR South Carolina)

When Jeffery showed up in Indianapolis much lighter than the erroneously reported 250 lbs, he all but assured that he would go much higher than this. If he runs in the 4.5 range, he could even go top 10.

28) Green Bay Packers, Fletcher Cox (DT/DE Mississippi State)

Yes, the Packers need some help on the offensive line, but their defense was simply horrendous last year. Here, the Packers don't get exactly what they need, but they get a player who can help. Cox can finally replace Cullen Jenkins.

29) Baltimore Ravens, Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama)

Even with Burfict off the board, the Ravens still need a linebacker. Ray Lewis needs help and (eventually) a replacement. Hightower could fall pretty far if 3-4 teams go elsewhere because he's too slow for a pure 4-3. In Baltimore, he could shine.

30) San Francisco 49ers, Chase Minnifield (CB Virginia)

Scouts are pretty well split on Minnifield, but it's hard not to like a guy who is physical, has the size and can stick with receivers in man coverage. The Niners need to re-sign Carlos Rogers no matter what, but adding Minnifield gives him a great pairing.

31) TRADE: Minnesota Vikings, Mohamed Sanu (WR Rutgers)

Another projected trade as the Vikings (again) look to take a bit of a shortcut when it comes to team-building. Sanu is a big-bodied deep threat who will be a solid No. 1 for whoever drafts him. With the night between Rounds 1 and 2, the Vikings need to make sure they get him and trade up to finally get a receiver to replace Sidney Rice.

32) New York Giants, Orson Charles (TE Georgia)

The Giants got great production from their offense in the playoffs but need to capitalize on their success by hitting a home run with this pick. Charles can stretch the field from the Y position for the Giants and leave plenty of room for Victor Cruz on intermediate routes.

Michael Schottey is an NFL Associate Editor for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. He has professionally covered both the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, as well as NFL events like the scouting combine and the Senior Bowl. Follow him on Twitter.