2012 NFL Mock Draft: 5 Teams That Could Draft Boston College LB Luke Kuechly

After the Dontari Poe show was over during the morning portion of defensive linemen drills, it was time for the linebackers to take control of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.

With most eyes on Alabama's Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, Luke Kuechly of Boston College emerged as the linebacker who put on the most impressive display during the afternoon session.

Any questions about Kuechly's athletic ability, which has been one of his biggest red flags throughout the draft process, were quickly quieted when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and had a vertical leap of 38 inches. Each number ranked Kuechly third among linebackers, which blew away many of the projections draftniks had for BC's former tackling machine. 

Now that Kuechly has paired together his impressive game film with an athletic showing at the combine, he should almost certainly be a first-round pick. But which teams have the need and value to pull the trigger on Kuechly in the first 32 picks?

Let's take a look at five teams that could take Kuechly in the first round:

Kansas City Chiefs

I'm not sure there's value in taking Kuechly before the No. 11 pick, so we'll put the Chiefs as the first team that could take him off the board. Kuechly and 2011 All-Pro Derrick Johnson would form a solid inside linebacking tandem.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals clearly have bigger needs than inside linebacker. But would Kuechly be an upgrade over Stewart Bradley or Daryl Washington or Paris Lenon? Arizona would have to weigh that fit with the value of picking Kuechly at No. 13.

Philadelphia Eagles

Most mocks have made this connection for a while at No. 15. The need and value for Philadelphia make this pick one of those no-brainer selections, which probably means it won't happen.

New York Jets

Bart Scott might be on his way out of New York, which opens up at hole at inside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 defense. Kuechly and David Harris could combine to form an elite duo at an important position in Rex Ryan's front seven.   

Detroit Lions

This is only an option if somehow free agent middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch walks from Detroit. Considering his relationship with head coach Jim Schwartz, and how well he played in 2011, the Lions should want him back. But if Tulloch slips through the cracks and somehow Kuechly gets this far, the Lions could get a steal here.

2012 NFL Mock Draft 

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  Cleveland Browns – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (via trade with Cleveland Browns)

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6.  Washington Redskins – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

8.  Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

9.  Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10.  Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14.  Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16.  New York Jets – Nick Perry, OLB, USC

17.  Cincinnati Bengals – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

18.  San Diego Chargers – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

19.  Chicago Bears – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

20.  Tennessee Titans – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia 

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  St. Louis Rams – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 

23.  Detroit Lions – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

25.  Denver Broncos – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

26.  Houston Texans – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

27.  New England Patriots – Mark Barron, S, Alabama

28.  Green Bay Packers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

29.  Baltimore Ravens – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30.  San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31.  New England Patriots – Devon Still, DT, Penn State

32.  New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama