2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Picks Your Team Must Make

With the NFL Scouting Combine coming to a close on Tuesday, we now have a much better read on which players are rising and falling. The first round is starting to come into focus, though a lot of Pro Days still have to take place. 

Of all the potential changes in the draft, the only thing that hasn't changed—and won't—is the No. 1 pick to the Indianapolis Colts. Andrew Luck is their future, and the franchise desperately needs him to take over the reins. 

Here is my latest first-round mock draft with all the picks that your favorite team has to make. 

No. 1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB

There are rarely sure things in the NFL draft, but Luck is a lock to be the top player taken. This franchise is entering the next chapter of its life, one that doesn't include Peyton Manning. 

Despite the love and affection that Jim Irsay and the people in Indianapolis have for Manning, it is time to move on. 

Teams never get the chance to go from one true franchise quarterback to another that has as much potential as Luck. Even if Manning stays in Indianapolis for next season, the writing is on the wall for him and this franchise. 

No. 2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Even though I expect the Rams to move down, Blackmon is the jewel of their eye wherever they pick. 

No. 3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

An impressive combine workout added to his already sterling reputation in college makes Kalil look like the pick for the Vikings. 

No. 4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

The Browns could be looking to move up, only fueling the speculation that the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is the object of their desire. 

No. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

A new coaching regime is going to bring with it big changes to the Buccaneers. This franchise was lost at the end of last season, but things will begin anew next year. 

Claiborne will be a perfect addition for this secondary, which is starting to get a little long in the tooth. He is head and shoulders above every other defensive back in this class. He has game-changing ability on defense and special teams. 

Don't be shocked if he makes the kind of impact for the Bucs that Patrick Peterson did for Arizona last year. 

No. 6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

While quarterback is a more pressing need, the Redskins need to get someone with explosive, big-play ability on offense. Richardson is as safe a bet as anyone in this draft. 

No. 7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

An aggressive pick admittedly, the Jaguars are committed to Blaine Gabbert for the foreseeable future. He is going to need help, and Jeffery has shown he can be a dominant receiver without a great quarterback. 

No. 8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

With rumors about the Dolphins going after Peyton Manning if he becomes available heating up, they must patch up the holes in the offensive line to keep him, or whoever the quarterback is, upright for 16 games. 

No. 9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB

The Panthers are desperate for any kind of speed off the edge. Fortunately for them, Upshaw is the fastest defensive end/linebacker in this year's class. He will be a dominant pass-rushing force right away, needing some time to get acclimated to everything else the league will throw at him. 

One of the few weaknesses that this team has right now is the front seven. Carolina could go any number of directions, but Upshaw is the best pure talent of all the players available. 

No. 10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

With the middle of the defensive line being occupied by last year's first-round pick Marcell Dareus, the Bills have to find players to come off the line that can actually get to the quarterback. Coples might not be the hardest worker, but when he is on there are few players better. 

No. 11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

Romeo Crennel is going to focus on improving the defense. Brockers has exploded onto the scene with his ferocious intensity. He might need time, but he has star potential. 

No. 12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, DE

With Seattle being on the cusp of contention, the one thing the team needs is help up front. Ingram is close to the same level as Upshaw in terms of raw potential as a pass-rusher. 

No. 13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

The best adjective to describe Kuelchy is solid. There is nothing he does that wows you, but he is always around the ball and has shown the ability to lead his teammates. 

No. 14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

While the character concerns will always be there, Jenkins has the talent to be a top-10 pick. He was impressive during the Senior Bowl and just keeps getting better the more you see him on film. 

The Cowboys collapsed at the end of last season because they had no one in the secondary who could cover. 

Cornerback is a deep position in this draft, so the Cowboys could move down and get more picks along the way. Passing on Jenkins would be a decision they would regret for a long time. 

No. 15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DT

For all the free-agent signings, it is baffling that the Eagles continue to ignore the middle of their defensive front. That will change this year. 

No. 16. New York Jets (8-8): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Attitude and swagger are two things the Jets like to pride themselves on. They need Poe to get that back on the defensive side of the ball. 

No. 17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders 8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

Depth and impact in the secondary is the biggest need for the Bengals. Barron needs to get better in coverage, but he knows how to get the ball and can hit as hard as anyone. 

No. 18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

After years of flirting with contention only to fade at the end of the year, the wheels came spinning off the vehicle for the Chargers. 

DeCastro is one of the best offensive linemen in this draft. He possesses size, strength, speed and explosiveness right off the snap. 

Philip Rivers got beat up last season, which led to a lot of his problems. He will love seeing DeCastro blocking in front of him. 

No. 19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Offensive line and wide receiver are the two biggest needs for the Bears. Floyd's size and big-play potential give him the edge. 

No. 20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

Improving the pass rush has to be the Titans' top priority. Burfict is not a pure edge-rusher, but he has the speed and athleticism to get after the quarterback if he has to. He is a project and will need time to develop. 

No. 21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, Miami, RB

Miller is a great all-around running back that will be an upgrade over Cedric Benson. The Bengals' young offensive nucleus will get even better. 

No. 22. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Jerel Worthy, Michigan State, DT

With their future at quarterback set, the defensive line needs an anchor in the middle to help against the run and open holes for the pass-rushers. 

No. 23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

Matthew Stafford finally showed what he can do when he stays healthy for an entire season. The scary thing is, he could get even better if the offensive line gets upgraded. 

Martin is a versatile blocker who is better against the pass than run at this stage of his development. The Lions are on the rise, and when they plug the few holes they have, look out. 

No. 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, OT

Ben Roethlisberger gets hit hard more than any other quarterback in the NFL. Glenn is going to save him a beating when he steps into the offensive line. 

No. 25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Devon Still, Penn State, DT

Still is a fast-rising prospect with the size and agility to be a dominant defensive tackle in the NFL. The Broncos need someone who can plug the middle and take pressure off Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. 

No. 26. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

The Texans are in an interesting position because they don't have any glaring weakness that absolutely has to be fixed. They do need another wide receiver to help Andre Johnson and add some versatility to the offense. 

No. 27. New England Patriots (13-3): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick could go in the top half of the draft, but the Patriots will be happy to pounce on him if he slides down here due to lingering questions about his character. 

No. 28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

One year ago, the Packers had no weaknesses. They were as close to a perfect team as you could find in the NFL, which is why they went on to win the Super Bowl. 

In 2011, they were able to win 15 regular-season games, despite a huge regression on the defensive side of the ball. 

The secondary is getting older and got exposed throughout the year. Dennard is not an elite cornerback, but he is a safe bet to reach his ceiling. 

No. 29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, Wisconsin, C

Matt Birk may or may not retire, which will make the Ravens' pick a lot easier. Konz is going to be the next rock on that offensive line for the next decade. 

No. 30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Rueben Randle, LSU, WR

Randle will be the best wide receiver on the 49ers' roster when he steps on the practice field. 

No. 31. New England Patriots (13-3): Lavonte David, Nebraska, LB

The Patriots are still doing patchwork on the defense. David is an interesting player because he is under the radar, but he will be a star in the right scheme. 

No. 32. New York Giants (9-7): Dwayne Allen, Clemson, TE 

The defending Super Bowl champions have plenty of options on offense, but Allen can make them even more lethal because he is a more consistent pass-catcher than Kevin Boss. He is able to stay healthy. 

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