2012 NFL Mock Draft: Sorting out the First Wave of Free Agency

We're less than 24 hours into free agency and already the plate tectonics of the NFL draft are in motion.

Let's take a stab at what the first round looks like now.

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Same as it ever was...

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

For those asking "What if Indianapolis took RG3 instead of Luck?"—Washington would be elated.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings will look to trade down, but if they stay home, this is a no-brainer.

4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama - Richardson is probably the rarest quality prospect at his position, just like the next two picks.

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

Aqib Talib will be a free agent next year, and new signing Eric Wright is not a No. 1 corner. Claiborne is.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams will probably to listen to offers, but Blackmon would be a sweet consolation prize.

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

If the Jaguars landed a potential No. 1 receiver in free agency, they could pass on Floyd or Blackmon here. Instead, they are one of many teams pursuing Laurent Robinson, a complementary receiver.

8. Miami Dolphins - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Dolphins would love to have a No 1 receiver fall to this pick because they dealt away their top pass-catcher to the Bears yesterday, but the Rams and Jaguars need one just as badly as they do. Cox is the most talented and safest interior defensive lineman in this class.

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

While defensive tackle bulk is a need, the chance to get Coples to have a look similar to the Giants "NASCAR" package on third round with the Panthers' already-talented pair of defensive ends, Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy, is too good to pass up. The team had Coples in for an official visit earlier this week. 

10. Buffalo Bills - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

This officially hinges on their ability to get a deal done with Mario Williams, who made his first free-agency visit to the city on Tuesday. He hasn't left as of this moment. If he signs elsewhere, pass-rushers are back in play here.

11. Kansas City Chiefs - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

It appears Tannehill will get past Miami with their focus on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn at QB in free agency. Romeo Crennel does not seem sold on Matt Cassel in the least bit.

12. Seattle Seahawks - Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Seattle gets a gift as the best all-around pass rusher in the draft falls to them.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff may not be a natural fit at left tackle, but the Cardinals have holes on both sides of their offensive line.

14. Dallas Cowboys - Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

With the release of Terence Newman yesterday, cornerback becomes a huge immediate need.

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

Some believed the Eagles would make a play for ILB Dan Connor early in free agency, but with his being still unsigned, Kuechly would be an outstanding use of the team's first-round pick.

16. New York Jets - Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia

Eric Winston was a surprise addition to free agency earlier this week, but if the Jets can't land him, Glenn would be a nice consolation at right tackle.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Bengals fans do a jig as the elite player at a position of need falls into their team's lap.

18. San Diego Chargers - Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis

The Chargers draft Poe to do what BJ Raji does for the Green Bay Packers.

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

Back-to-back firsts spent on offensive tackles to hopefully give Jay Cutler time to find his new/old No. 1 receiver Brandon Marshall.

20. Tennessee Titans - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Mercilus is in play to go higher, but if he's there when the Titans are on the clock, they'll pounce.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bengals are going to get two very nice players at Nos. 17 and 21 no matter how the other 19 picks shake out.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

An infusion of deep speed at wide receiver, but will the Browns have a quarterback with an arm that can harness it?

23. Detroit Lions - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Lions take a calculated risk on Jenkins' character because he is a first-round talent as a cover corner.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The amount of buzz around this combination has been too strong to ignore.

25. Denver Broncos - Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The Broncos could go a lot of directions here, and a player who can generate pressure from the interior defensive line is one of them.

26. Houston Texans - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Texans get a break as they land even more strength at a key position. Upshaw could even play inside in their scheme.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) - Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The Patriots get the sorely needed deep speed at wide receiver.

28. Green Bay Packers - Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Another mock where the Packers somehow get a great player at a position of great need.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Assuming his ankle checks out medically, this just makes too much sense.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The richest defense has all 11 starters back, and they have the luxury of adding some very talented depth.

31. New England Patriots - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Still not buying him as a high first-round pick, but I could be proven wrong.

32. New York Giants - Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

There's an opening for a power back on the Super Bowl champs now that Brandon Jacobs is gone.