2012 NFL Mock Draft: Desperate Teams Are Ready to Make Big Splashes

The NFL season is long gone. The NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone. Now come roughly two months of pro days and rumors linking various teams to various prospects.

One reality that has been a constant and will remain a constant is the fact that there are quite a few teams around the NFL that will be looking to make a huge splash in the NFL draft. These teams are desperate for a change, and some of them are desperate for a completely new direction.

A handful of these teams will succeed in making franchise-changing picks, and I think I know who they are (in Italics).

Let's take a look.

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

Peyton Manning is no longer a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Their partnership ended in an emotional press conference in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

With Manning out of the picture, the Colts will draft Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. Count on it.

In Luck, the Colts are looking at a prospect not unlike the one they were looking at way back in 1998. Like Manning, Luck is a once-in-a-generation quarterback prospect who will usher in a new era of Colts football.

Are the Colts desperate for a new direction? Yes—so much so that they don't have a choice but to move the team in a new direction.

Luck's the man for the job.

 2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

The Rams are going to trade this pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In the event that the Rams do stay put at No. 2, I have them taking Michael Brockers. They need a wide receiver, but they also need a force in the middle of their defense.

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

I've been mocking Matt Kalil to the Vikings for months. I have yet to see or hear of a good reason to stop.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

This is a huge draft for the Browns. The team has been largely irrelevant ever since they reappeared on the NFL landscape, and a lack of a franchise quarterback has been the team's primary problem.

It's time for the Browns to change that, and they can do that by drafting Robert Griffin III.

There are two trains of thought when it comes to the Browns. One is to pass on RG3, draft somebody else and, thus, give Colt McCoy more time to develop. The other is to go for broke with RG3.

Going for broke with RG3 is the right move. His ceiling is way, way higher than McCoy's. It's not even close.

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

If the Browns draft RG3, they'll be passing on Trent Richardson.

If that happens, the Bucs shoudn't hesitate to draft Richardson.

With all due respect to LeGarrette Blount, he doesn't have superstar potential. Richardson does.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

If the Redskins miss out on RG3, they'll have to find a quarterback in free agency.

(Gee, I wonder who they'll go after.)

Whoever they find is going to need a stud wide receiver. Justin Blackmon is not an elite talent, but he's easily the best receiver in this year's draft class.

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

It will be very tempting for the Jaguars to take a pass-rusher here, but passing up Morris Claiborne would be idiotic. 

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

This is another pick I'm committed to. The Dolphins need offensive line help, especially seeing as how they too are looking at bringing in a free-agent quarterback.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, DL (North Carolina)

This is a risky pick, but Quinton Coples is a versatile defensive lineman the Panthers could use. I worry about Coples' motor, but maybe being on a young team on the rise will motivate him.

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

The Bills need a true impact player along their front seven. Melvin Ingram has pretty well established himself as the most dynamic front-seven player in the 2012 draft class. He can do it all.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Dontari Poe, NT (Memphis)

Nose tackle is an area of concern for the Chiefs, as the word from The Oklahoman is that Kelly Gregg is planning on retiring. The Chiefs won't find a better replacement than Dontari Poe, who shot up big boards everywhere with his dominant showing at the combine.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

The Seahawks have options at offensive guard, but no great ones. David DeCastro is a great value pick here, and the Seahawks will be glad they drafted him in the long run.

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

The Cardinals need an upgrade at left tackle. Jonathan Martin is that upgrade.

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

I'm tempted to call the Cowboys a desperate franchise, but that sounds like something ESPN would say.

Truth is, the Cowboys are in pretty good shape as far as 2012 is concerned. They just need another cornerback, and Janoris Jenkins' character concerns won't scare them.

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

Are the Eagles a desperate franchise? Not really. They're built around a solid core, and they should be much better in 2012 than they were in 2011.

But are they desperate for a stud inside linebacker? Believe it.

Rush defense was a huge problem for the Eagles last season, in large part because they just didn't have a middle linebacker who could clean up once runners got through the trenches. It was way too easy for runners facing the Eagles last season.

Luke Kuechly is a great fit for Philadelphia. He piled up tackles at Boston College, and he revealed himself to be far more athletic than he was getting credit for at the combine.

He would be a godsend for Philly's defense.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Chris Polk, RB (Washington)

The Jets are most definitely a desperate franchise. Their locker room was in chaos at the end of the season, and we're already starting to hear talk about the team moving on from Mark Sanchez.

Peyton Manning has been linked to the Jets, and the New York Daily News reported that at least one Jets player really wants him.

But what nobody should forget is that the Jets are a team built around the run, and that was a huge problem in 2011. The Jets couldn't run the ball.

It became apparent that part of the problem is the fact that the team doesn't have a stud running back. They need one, and Chris Polk is a perfect fit for them. He's a tough runner, but he's also more versatile than your garden-variety running back. He'd be a great pick.

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

Dre Kirkpatrick's draft stock is not as high as it once was, but he's still very much a first-rounder. He fits with the Bengals because their improving defense needs at least one more cornerback.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

The Chargers chose not to franchise Vincent Jackson, and my hunch is he's not going to be back.

Michael Floyd would be a capable replacement.

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

The Bears need a big, sturdy wide receiver, but my guess is they'll go out and sign one. Goodness knows there are options.

Instead, they'll draft some much-needed offensive line help in the form of Mike Adams.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

The Titans chose not to franchise Cortland Finnegan, and indications are they're through with one another.

The Titans have other needs, but they can't afford not to draft a corner if this is indeed the end for them and Finnegan. Stephon Gilmore would be, by far, the best guy on the board at this spot.

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

This is another pick I've mocked so many times, I'm thinking about changing it just for kicks. But I just can't do it.

Running back is a need for the Bengals, and Lamar Miller is a talented player who would fix their rushing issues.

22. Cleveland Browns (via 10-6 Atlanta Falcons): Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

I've already focused on the Browns, and I'm going to focus on them again.

If the Browns choose to go with Robert Griffin III earlier in the draft, they should spend the rest of the draft acquiring pieces to build a team around RG3.

That includes drafting a wide receiver.

And who better than the guy who shared in so much of RG3's success in 2011?

Kendall Wright did not have a great showing at the combine, running a lot slower than people expected, but I'm not too worried about it. Wright's straight-line speed may be suspect, but he's a guy who plays fast and runs very smooth deep routes. He also moves to the ball like a magnet, making tough catches look way too easy.

Beyond that, the Browns know he and RG3 would be on the same page.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Peter Konz is already being mentioned as a potential fit for the Lions on the team's official website.

I'm not about to disagree. He'd be a great pick.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Alabama)

This is the lowest I've ever had Courtney Upshaw in a mock draft, and it's not necessarily a knock on him.

His stock is trending slightly in the wrong direction, but I have him falling to the Steelers mainly because of how the rest of the draft shakes out in this mock. As it is, he'd be a great value pick for the Steelers, who have some age concerns within their linebacking corps.

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

The Broncos need help at defensive tackle—badly. Fletcher Cox would be the easiest pick.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)

This is the first time I've mocked Stephen Hill in the first round. He's a bit of a reach, but the Texans need a speedy wide receiver, and Hill showed off very impressive speed at the combine.

27. New England Patriots (via 13-3 New Orleans Saints): Devon Still, DT/DE (Penn State)

Yet another pick I've mocked more than enough times.

Devon Still just strikes me as a good fit for a defensive line that needs an upgrade.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Nick Perry, DE/OLB (USC)

Clay Matthews is a beast, but he doesn't have a whole lot of support in Green Bay's linebacking corps. Fellow USC alum Nick Perry is the help he needs.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Cordy Glenn, G/T (Georgia)

Cordy Glenn could go to the Steelers if they don't feel like grabbing Upshaw as a value pick. If he doesn't, he'll go to the Ravens. They need O-line help too.

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

It's possible that Alshon Jeffery will go much higher than this, but his stock is trending in the other direction.

The 49ers need a wide receiver, however, and they can afford take a chance on Jeffery.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Jamell Fleming, CB (Oklahoma)

The Pats need help on their D-line, and they definitely need help in their secondary. Jamell Fleming is the best guy on the board at this point.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Orson Charles, TE (Georgia)

Orson Charles didn't have a very good showing at his pro day, but it sounds like the conditions were far from ideal. I'll give him a pass based on his talent on tape, and he's a good fit for a Giants team that could use an upgrade at tight end.