2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Selection from Each Major Conference

It’s always impressive when a conference boasts a number of top picks in the first round of the NFL draft.

This year, it seems like the SEC, Big 12 and, surprisingly, even the Pac-12 are going to have a high volume of players being selected in the first 32 picks.

Let’s take a look at who the best player from each conference is, with the exception of the Big East, which has no surefire first-round picks in this mock.

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

The Pac-12’s best player is easily the finest prospect in the entire class.

Luck has everything a team wants in a QB, and it would be insane for him not to go No. 1 overall, even after Robert Griffin III’s remarkable combine showing.

The Stanford standout is going to need to prepare for a change of scenery, going from Palo Alto to Indianapolis, but it’s certainly worth the paycheck.

2. St. Louis Rams (4-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is the best receiver in this draft, but his skill is trumped by another Big 12 standout.

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

Kalil is easily the best tackle in the draft and the Pac-12.

4. Cleveland Browns (2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RGIII won the Heisman and was therefore named the best player in college football for the 2011 season.

That, along with his incredible skill and athleticism, makes him the best player coming out of the Big 12 this season.

Look for him to go No. 2 overall when all is said and done, as the St. Louis Rams are highly interested in trading out of the spot to the highest bidder.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is big, strong, fast and mean.

He’s the epitome of SEC football, and it’s no surprise he’s the best offensive player that is eligible to be selected this year.

He’s the rare running back who is actually worth a top-five or even top-10 pick.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

This pick is a huge reach for a desperate team.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Since the Big East doesn’t have an eligible first-round player, we’ll highlight Mo Claiborne, the best defensive player in this draft.

He’s destroying it at the combine and has all the physical tools and intangibles a team looks for when drafting a franchise corner.

The LSU product would go much higher if the teams at the top of the 2012 draft weren’t so anemic offensively.

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

Reiff is a classic tackle prospect that who instantly contribute and be a stalwart on an NFL line for a long, long time.

He’s the best prospect the Big Ten has to offer, and it just makes sense that it’s a 6’6”, 300-pound corn-fed lineman from South Dakota.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples has a ton of upside, but he hasn’t shown it on the field.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw is an uncanny pass-rusher with all the tools needed to succeed.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is super instinctive and is more athletic than people thought before the combine.

He simply racks up tackles and has a nose for the ball.

He’s by the best prospect the ACC has to offer and one of the best LBs to enter the draft in years.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Seattle must address their pass rush. This is an obvious pick.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin will help jump start the Cardinals' running game.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro is the best interior lineman, and he fits right in with the Cowboys.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd is a wonderful fit as a big receiver if Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson are around in 2012-13.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Jets need to get serious about pounding the rock if they want to get back to into the playoffs, and Glenn helps that.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Extremely athletic freak that should go earlier, but he has character concerns.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Another pure athlete who could go much earlier based on his awesome combine.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Chicago’s offensive line stinks, and Adams helps fix that.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is the definition of a project, but his potential is through the roof.

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

Miller is a speedster who could change games in Cincy.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

If Cleveland wants to start winning games, they need to overhaul their backfield.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins has a top-10 skill, he just has too many off-the-field issues to deal with.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still is a bargain here, and the Steelers wont pass it up.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is the versatile DL player that the Broncos need.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Massive steal at No. 26 for the Texans.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Has the potential to be the No. 1 receiver the Pats have lacked since Randy Moss left New England.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard isn’t great in coverage, but his ability to jam a receiver at the line will help the Pack.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Baltimore can always use more linemen.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

May fall out of the first round because of his inability to create space between himself and his defender.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Reach, but Smith is an upgrade in the NE secondary.

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

Allen could be the TE that New York needs.