2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Will Make Boneheaded Picks in First Round

With the 2012 NFL draft just over the horizon and free agency kicking off, the board as we know it will be shifting greatly as the biggest names slide up and down the first round.

As much as the best showed their talent at the NFL Scouting Combine, there are still questions left unanswered. With that said, certain teams will make flat-out boneheaded calls on draft day.

1.  Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There is no question here. Andrew Luck all the way.

2.  Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

After trading away several first-round draft picks and other pieces to the St. Louis Rams for the right to select at No. 2, the Washington Redskins have gone all-in on Robert Griffin III.

With Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan’s lack of success with quarterbacks over his career, there is no reason to believe that a product as rough as RG3 will be a serious impact over time.

When this deal is looked back on and teams see what Washington gave up for an unproven commodity, NFL teachers and scouts will use this deal as an example for how not to do a deal.

3.  Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If the Vikings want Christian Ponder to have success, they must protect him with franchise left tackle Matt Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

With the Browns missing out on RG3, they will have to help their current QB Colt McCoy by giving him a real weapon in the slot.

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

With Ronde Barber on the verge of retirement, Morris Claiborne is an easy choice as his successor.

6. St. Louis Rams: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa (via trade with Washington Redskins)

With St. Louis moving back, Jeff Fisher and crew will know how important it is to protect their young QB. That’s where Riley Reiff comes in.

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The defensive rebuilding process in Jacksonville starts in the trenches with raw defensive tackle product Michael Brockers.

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

Ron Rivera needs a serious pass rusher from the edge, and he will find that with defensive end Quinton Coples from North Carolina.

9.  Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

With Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn on the radar, an offensive lineman here is not even a question.

10.  Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Buffalo Bill need serious help rushing the passer, but it will be filled by Alabama standout linebacker Courtney Upshaw.

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

A possible Jamaal Charles/Trent Richardson duo is insane.

12.  Seattle Seahawks: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Seattle’s need in the secondary is greater than the troubles Kirkpatrick will arrive with.

13.  Arizona Cardinals: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

With serious needs on the offensive line, quarterback and linebacker, it makes sense for the Arizona Cardinals to take…wide receiver Alshon Jefffery.

The Cardinals have always been known for taking the best player available, but if there was ever a time for them to abandon that strategy, it would be when Jeffery is the next highest on the board.

The team will be looking to add a weapon opposite Larry Fitzgerald, but No. 13 in the draft is not the place. That is unless they get Peyton Manning.

14.  Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The only thing consistent about the Dallas Cowboys run defense was its inconsistency, so the team will take the best middle linebacker in the draft, Luke Kuechly.

15.  Philadelphia Eagles: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Philadelphia Eagles will draft defensive line prospect and project Melvin Ingram. They may look to turn him into a tackle.

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

Rex Ryan will find his missing pass rush when he drafts USC standout outside linebacker Nick Perry.

17.  Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t met a troubled cornerback they didn't fall in love with.

18.  San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Philip Rivers needs time in the pocket to be effective, so David DeCastro is a perfect solution at guard.

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

With more Mike Adams and less Mike Martz, Jay Cutler may actually have a productive season.

20.  Tennessee Titans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

While their pursuit of Peyton Manning continues, the odds of them taking a wide receiver to become the No. 1 for whoever is under center have gone through the roof.

If Michael Floyd falls to No. 20 because of injury concerns and overall durability, the Tennessee Titans will jump on that grenade like the lives of their team depends on it.

Floyd is a solid red-zone target that can make big catches, but drops and a lack of elite speed will damn him in the NFL. This is a mistake Tennessee can’t afford to make.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

With Cedric Benson on his way to free agency, the Bengals will take running back Lamar Miller.

22.  Cleveland Browns: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Cleveland Browns need a dual-threat pass-rusher/run stopper, and they will get that with UNC outside linebacker Zach Brown.

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

The Detroit Lions will address their biggest need by drafting cornerback Stephon Gilmore to bolster their secondary.

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

If Ben wants to make it through the season alive, he needs to implore the people in charge to get him Cordy Glenn for protection.

25.  Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

When the Broncos miss out on Peyton Manning, they will try and draft another QB to take over the spot from Tim Tebow. Denver really doesn’t want Tebow.

26.  Houston Texans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

If the Texans can draft Mark Barron, their already revamped defense will take a step into the top tier.

27.  New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Devon Still is very raw, but Bill Belichick will have him playing like Vince Wilfork in three seasons.

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

Green Bay has to fix their defense and fast. That starts on the offensive line with Whitney Mercilus.

29.  Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

With Joe Flacco and Ray Rice needing more protection, the Ravens will go to the well again for another solid offensive prospect in Peter Konz.

30.  San Francisco 49ers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Alex Smith working on a long-term deal, it’s time to give him weapons he can’t handle. Enjoy 9-7, 49ers fans.

31.  New England Patriots: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

New England needs a superior route runner and pass catcher. Mohamed Sanu fills that bill.

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

It doesn’t feel fair for the Super Bowl Champions to fill their biggest needs with a serious prospect. I call shenanigans.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

Follow @Donald_Wood

With the 2012 NFL draft just over the horizon and free agency kicking off, the board as we know it will be shifting greatly as the biggest names slide up and down the first round.

As much as the best showed their talent at the NFL Scouting Combine, there are still questions left unanswered. With that said, certain teams will make flat-out boneheaded calls on draft day.

1.  Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There is no question here. Andrew Luck all the way.

2.  Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

After trading away several first-round draft picks and other pieces to the St. Louis Rams for the right to select at No. 2, the Washington Redskins have gone all-in on Robert Griffin III.

With Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan’s lack of success with quarterbacks over his career, there is no reason to believe that a product as rough as RG3 will be a serious impact over time.

When this deal is looked back on and teams see what Washington gave up for an unproven commodity, NFL teachers and scouts will use this deal as an example for how not to do a deal.

3.  Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If the Vikings want Christian Ponder to have success, they must protect him with franchise left tackle Matt Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

With the Browns missing out on RG3, they will have to help their current QB Colt McCoy by giving him a real weapon in the slot.

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

With Ronde Barber on the verge of retirement, Morris Claiborne is an easy choice as his successor.

6. St. Louis Rams: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa (via trade with Washington Redskins)

With St. Louis moving back, Jeff Fisher and crew will know how important it is to protect their young QB. That’s where Riley Reiff comes in.

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The defensive rebuilding process in Jacksonville starts in the trenches with raw defensive tackle product Michael Brockers.

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

Ron Rivera needs a serious pass rusher from the edge, and he will find that with defensive end Quinton Coples from North Carolina.

9.  Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

With Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn on the radar, an offensive lineman here is not even a question.

10.  Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Buffalo Bill need serious help rushing the passer, but it will be filled by Alabama standout linebacker Courtney Upshaw.

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

A possible Jamaal Charles/Trent Richardson duo is insane.

12.  Seattle Seahawks: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Seattle’s need in the secondary is greater than the troubles Kirkpatrick will arrive with.

13.  Arizona Cardinals: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

With serious needs on the offensive line, quarterback and linebacker, it makes sense for the Arizona Cardinals to take…wide receiver Alshon Jefffery.

The Cardinals have always been known for taking the best player available, but if there was ever a time for them to abandon that strategy, it would be when Jeffery is the next highest on the board.

The team will be looking to add a weapon opposite Larry Fitzgerald, but No. 13 in the draft is not the place. That is unless they get Peyton Manning.

14.  Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The only thing consistent about the Dallas Cowboys run defense was its inconsistency, so the team will take the best middle linebacker in the draft, Luke Kuechly.

15.  Philadelphia Eagles: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Philadelphia Eagles will draft defensive line prospect and project Melvin Ingram. They may look to turn him into a tackle.

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

Rex Ryan will find his missing pass rush when he drafts USC standout outside linebacker Nick Perry.

17.  Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t met a troubled cornerback they didn't fall in love with.

18.  San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Philip Rivers needs time in the pocket to be effective, so David DeCastro is a perfect solution at guard.

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

With more Mike Adams and less Mike Martz, Jay Cutler may actually have a productive season.

20.  Tennessee Titans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

While their pursuit of Peyton Manning continues, the odds of them taking a wide receiver to become the No. 1 for whoever is under center have gone through the roof.

If Michael Floyd falls to No. 20 because of injury concerns and overall durability, the Tennessee Titans will jump on that grenade like the lives of their team depends on it.

Floyd is a solid red-zone target that can make big catches, but drops and a lack of elite speed will damn him in the NFL. This is a mistake Tennessee can’t afford to make.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

With Cedric Benson on his way to free agency, the Bengals will take running back Lamar Miller.

22.  Cleveland Browns: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Cleveland Browns need a dual-threat pass-rusher/run stopper, and they will get that with UNC outside linebacker Zach Brown.

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

The Detroit Lions will address their biggest need by drafting cornerback Stephon Gilmore to bolster their secondary.

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

If Ben wants to make it through the season alive, he needs to implore the people in charge to get him Cordy Glenn for protection.

25.  Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

When the Broncos miss out on Peyton Manning, they will try and draft another QB to take over the spot from Tim Tebow. Denver really doesn’t want Tebow.

26.  Houston Texans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

If the Texans can draft Mark Barron, their already revamped defense will take a step into the top tier.

27.  New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Devon Still is very raw, but Bill Belichick will have him playing like Vince Wilfork in three seasons.

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

Green Bay has to fix their defense and fast. That starts on the offensive line with Whitney Mercilus.

29.  Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

With Joe Flacco and Ray Rice needing more protection, the Ravens will go to the well again for another solid offensive prospect in Peter Konz.

30.  San Francisco 49ers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Alex Smith working on a long-term deal, it’s time to give him weapons he can’t handle. Enjoy 9-7, 49ers fans.

31.  New England Patriots: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

New England needs a superior route runner and pass catcher. Mohamed Sanu fills that bill.

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

It doesn’t feel fair for the Super Bowl Champions to fill their biggest needs with a serious prospect. I call shenanigans.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

Follow @Donald_Wood