2012 NFL Mock Draft: Who Each GM Must Take to Greatly Improve Roster

It's one of the proverbial tenets of the NFL: Build up through the draft and sign free agents sparingly to find the perfect fit.

In that mindset, what players out there would be instant upgrades for teams around the NFL?

Pay attention, NFL general managers—I'm here to help.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

If losing Peyton Manning last year was any indication, the Colts are certainly a long way away from fielding a competitive roster.

Bringing in Luck is a huge start in the right direction—the quarterback from Stanford is going to be a stud in the NFL for a long, long time.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor *

Well, talk about giving up a ton for a player—the Redskins gave up three first-round picks to land Griffin.

And I certainly believe he'll be a stud. He better be—the Redskins have essentially mortgaged their future on his right arm.

No pressure or anything, RGIII.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

It won't always be obvious to fans why Kalil improves the roster, but he will. The ability to protect your young quarterback's blind side is always a necessity.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

I don't see Cleveland taking Richardson this high, and I think Blackmon is just overrated enough to not warrant this pick.

But pairing Claiborne with Joe Haden will give the Browns an incredibly stout run defense and allow them to focus on the skill positions later in the draft.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama **

Yes, the Bengals should take a risk and trade their two first-round picks to acquire the services of Richardson.

I've had a good friend tell me he would be so excited about the prospect of Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Jermaine Gresham and Richardson on the same offense, he would become an honorary Bengals fan.

It's hard to disagree with him. Don't be shocked if the Bengals shake up the draft and make this selection.

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

So not only did the Rams land a bounty of draft picks for their future, a player they almost assuredly would have considered drafting with the second pick, Justin Blackmon, falls to them here.

Blackmon will give Sam Bradford the weapon he desperately needs. This pick will be in rather quickly for St. Louis.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick has fallen on some boards due to perceived off-field issues, but he is a top-10 talent and he'll be selected as such.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The question for the Dolphins isn't so much whether they should draft the best right tackle on the board here. The question is who he will be protecting next season—Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn?

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

The Panthers have a lot of options here, but I say they improve the defensive line and pair Coples with Charles Johnson at defensive end.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Another team with a lot of options, the Bills will look to upgrade a rather pedestrian pass rush.

11. Kansas City Chiefs:  Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

He's the most foreboding Poe since Edgar Allan.

Poe impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he is a perfect fit for Kansas City, who needs a replacement at nose tackle for the retiring Kelly Gregg.

Poe represents the perfect blend of upside and positional need for Kansas City.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 

I'm not sure this is the best pick for the Seahawks, but more and more I'm convinced it is the one they will make.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

It isn't sexy, but Martin will be needed to protect whatever quarterback is calling signals for the Cardinals next year.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Well, losing all that cap space probably eliminated whatever chances the team had of acquiring Carl Nicks. DeCastro will be a darn good guard and they certainly won't regret this pick.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

Kuechly is big enough (6'3", 243 pounds), fast enough (4.58 40-yard dash), strong enough (27 bench press reps) and athletic enough (38-inch vertical jump) to thrive in the NFL.

And the Eagles are severely lacking playmakers at the linebacker position.

No, they haven't shown a propensity for drafting linebackers high in drafts before. But this year, the need will match the upside of Kuechly, and the Birds will do the right thing and make the BC product their first round pick.

Or at least they should.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, USC

Upshaw looks like the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the draft. He'll look pretty good in a Jets uniform as well.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama ***

With the addition of Vincent Jackson, the Bucs don't have to worry about selecting a wide receiver. Instead, they look to make a much-needed upgrade to the cornerback position with this pick.

18. San Diego Chargers: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame 

Bye bye, Vincent Jackson. Hello, Michael Floyd.

19. Chicago Bears: Nick Perry, DE, USC

With the reunion of Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler in Chicago, the Bears will turn to adding a rusher alongside Julius Peppers.

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina   

With Cortland Finnegan likely to leave town, Gilmore will step in immediately and fill a big need.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dont'a Hightower, MLB, Alabama****    

The Bucs could also use an upgrade at middle linebacker, and Hightower is a beast against the run in the middle. Bucs fans may not like trading Trent Richardson for Janoris Jenkins and Dont'a Hightower, but the move will seriously improve the defense in Tampa Bay.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

After passing up Richardson earlier in the draft, the Browns will address their lack of offensive playmakers by selecting the explosive Miller.

I think the team will be hesitant to spend another high pick on a wide receiver after taking Greg Little last year, but running back is a big need. Miller will be a fun player to watch, and a big play waiting to happen.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

It's a bit high for a center, but it's also a big need.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers didn't open many eyes at the combine, and I expect the man many pundits consider a top-10 talent to drop because of it.  

Pittsburgh will be waiting with open arms.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

Another great value here, Still will be another anchor on the line for the Broncos.

26. Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

I've had this pick as Kendall Wright for some time now. But I think both of these players will drop and the Texans will snag Jeffery here rather than Wright.

27. New England Patriots: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech *****

The Patriots should take a chance on the highly-skilled Hill.

He's 6'4" and 218 pounds, yet he blistered a 4.36 in his 40-yard dash, has a 39.5-inch vertical jump and looked natural catching passes at combine drills.

He got buried in Georgia Tech's run-first offense and only caught 28 passes, but he turned them into 820 yards and led the nation with 29.3 yards per catch.

And the Patriots could use a field-stretcher at wide receiver in a big way. I think the Patriots take a chance on Hill here.

28. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

This could also be Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State. Either would fill the void left by Cullen Jenkins' departure to the Eagles in 2011.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

A nice, safe pick for Baltimore here.

30. Jamell Fleming, Cornerback, Oklahoma

You can never have enough good corners, and the Niners will stockpile a good one here.

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Mercilus led the NCAA in sacks in 2011 with 16 and would be a good fit for the Patriots at 3-4 outside linebacker.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

The Giants could use an upgrade at outside linebacker. They get an incredibly fast and athletic one.

* The Redskins traded the sixth pick in the first round, along with their second-round pick this year and first-round picks in 2013 and 2014 to St. Louis for the second overall pick.

** The Bengals hypothetically trade the 17th and 21st picks in the first round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth pick in the first round.

*** From Cincinnati (from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade).

**** From Cincinnati.

***** From New Orleans in last year's Mark Ingram trade.

Hit me up on Twitter—all of my tweets are Cinderella stories.