2012 NFL Mock Draft: 3 Teams That Must Trade Up for a Receiver

In a passing league, the receiver position is becoming increasingly important. Unfortunately for some teams, the spark isn't quite there, and that needs to change.

These teams aren't currently in position to draft the receivers they need. To make their teams better, they'll need to do some dealing. 

The teams in need are in italics.

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

In no way should anyone other than Luck be taken here. The Colts have a wide-open gap at quarterback. Barring something completely unforeseen, Luck will be the man in Indianapolis in 2012 and beyond.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

This one is just as obvious as the first pick. The Redskins need to find their franchise quarterback. The man to lead this team will be Griffin.

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

Things get a little trickier here, but the Vikings need to keep Christian Ponder on his feet. Kalil is the best tackle in the draft. With him in Minnesota, the Vikings will get a true sense of how good Ponder is. 

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

The Browns have absolutely no threats right now, and haven't had any for a long time. Whoever the quarterback in Cleveland is will need a good receiver to throw to. Blackmon is that guy. 

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

The defense was improved in free agency and Vincent Jackson was brought in at receiver, but this team still needs to be more consistent in the run game. Richardson is the most dominant back to enter the NFL draft since Adrian Peterson in 2007. 

6. St. Louis Rams: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

The Rams' secondary was awful in 2011, which had a lot to do with their poor record. Claiborne is the best corner in this draft by a long ways and also has the ability to return punts. The Rams will do well to get him in the draft. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

Some team has to be the first to reach. The Jaguars will be the ones to do that. Kirkpatrick has a lot of skill but isn't fundamentally sound right now. In time, that will come. Jacksonville's secondary is in shambles, so it will need to gamble on this one. 

8. San Diego Chargers (via trade with Miami): David DeCastro, G (Stanford)**

The Chargers need a quality lineman and can't rely on one being available right here. Thus, they will have to make this trade and draft DeCastro, a tough lineman capable of solid run and pass protection. Stanford has had an incredible line over the last few years, and DeCastro was a big part of that.

9. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

Of all the defensive tackles in the draft, Still has the most potential to be a dominant force in the NFL. The Panthers were awful up the middle last year. That needs to change if they are going to become a true playoff contender. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

Mario Williams doesn't change the need for another pass-rusher. The Bills were dead last in sacks last year, and that needs to change in 2012. Williams will help that, but they'll need someone else on the line to attack the quarterback when Williams is bottled up. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

The Chiefs need to protect the quarterback better if they're going to contend. Reiff is a solid tackle, albeit from the right side.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

Poe showed what a beast he was during the combine. His size and speed give him an advantage against any interior offensive lineman. The Seahawks will take him and not worry about the middle of the field for a long time.

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

Think of Martin like DeCastro, only on the outside. Whoever is under center for the Cardinals in 2012 will need someone protecting him. That is where Martin enters the picture, as he was a fantastic blocker for Andrew Luck while at Stanford. 

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

Similar to the Bills with their pass rush, adding Brandon Carr doesn't make the Cowboys' secondary complete. This is a division with strong receivers on every team, and the Cowboys don't have the secondary to stack up. Bringing in Jenkins will make the defense look a lot better.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)

I would hate to be in Philadelphia if the Eagles use this pick on anyone but a linebacker. They were terrible against the run last year, and Kuechly was the best tackler in college football. This is a match made in heaven. 

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

Floyd has the red-zone presence that the Jets will lose with Plaxico Burress, but also has more of an explosiveness to his game. Mark Sanchez and Floyd will be a good combination for the Jets, helping the offense be a lot more efficient. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

The Bengals need a guy to put on the other side of A.J. Green. Wright is the perfect fit, as the two have different styles of play. This offense will be a force for a while.

18. Miami Dolphins (via trade with San Diego): Ryan Tannehill, QB (Texas A&M)**

The Dolphins need a quarterback but are out of the Andrew Luck/Robert Griffin III sweepstakes. That opens up the door to trade down for Tannehill and also probably acquire a second-rounder from the Chargers (based on Walters Football Chart). 

Tannehill is a good athlete and will be best served being groomed to take over late in 2012 or in 2013. 

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

The Bears are getting older and will need to maximize what they have with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. That means they must draft a big lineman to allow those two to run free. Brockers anchored a fantastic defense at LSU and will be ready to make big plays in Chicago.

20. Tennessee Titans: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)

The Titans need to improve on the defensive side of the ball, and Upshaw gives them the best chance to do that. He is a fierce pass-rusher, but also good going sideline to sideline. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

The Bengals have a solid team but still are vulnerable against the pass. Gilmore has some holes but is also an extremely talented playmaker that will make the Bengals' defense better. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB (Miami)

Drafting a receiver will only fix part of the problem. The Browns also need a solid running back, and Miller is that. He isn't quite as powerful as Richardson, but has an incredible burst and can run inside when called upon. 

23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

Solid against the run and pass, Barron will be one of the best safeties in the league for a long time. It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to go over the middle against this masher. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, G (Georgia)

With Hines Ward gone and Mike Wallace possibly out, Antonio Brown is about to find out what it's like when defenses are focused on him. 

If the Steelers keep this pick, Glenn is the best option here. But really, they need to trade up and look for Michael Floyd. He would give the Steelers the big target, while Brown would be more of the playmaker. This receiving corps might be looking very thin soon, which is not going to lead to great postseason success.

25. Denver Broncos: David Wilson, RB (Virginia Tech)

Wilson is a solid back, and the Broncos need just that. Willis McGahee is certainly not a long-term option. 

If they go with Tim Tebow at quarterback, the run will certainly be heavily featured. However, even with a more traditional quarterback, the Broncos need to add some depth and youth to this position. 

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

Yes, Jeffery is a receiver, but the Texans need to look in another direction here. To do that, they'll have to trade up. 

Kendall Wright is the best receiving fit for them, as he would give a real reason for defenses to not double Andre Johnson. As things stand, we saw the offense take a hit with Johnson out, as it doesn't have a lot of depth at the position. 

27. New England Patriots: Jamell Fleming, CB (Oklahoma)

New England should actually think about trading up for a corner, but the best that will be available here is Flemming. This team was pitiful against the pass in 2011 and if the Patriots have designs on getting back to the Super Bowl, that will have to improve. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

The Packers just couldn't get to the quarterback when they had to. The regular season will be great again this year, but to win the Super Bowl they have to get to the quarterback. Ingram is a fine pass-rusher that fits the system well. 

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

The Ravens play a game that relies heavily on running, which means you need strong interior linemen. Konz is ready to make an impact in the NFL right now. This one is rather obvious. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener, TE (Stanford)

Fleener fits one need in that he's a big red-zone target. Unfortunately for the 49ers, he doesn't stretch the field a lot, which they also need. 

The receivers that best fit their needs are Jeffery and Wright. If the 49ers remain at 30, neither will be available. Jeffery would be ideal because they wouldn't need to trade up as far, and he has a lot of size. So, even if he isn't a vertical threat, they can at least rely on him to fill the need that Fleener would. 

31. New England Patriots: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)

Brown doesn't do anything spectacular, but he doesn't have a real flaw in his game either. One thing that has defined New England's run of success is defensive versatility, which Brown would supply in a big way. 

32. New York Giants: Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)

Returning players will improve the Giants' secondary, but they still need to add some depth in the secondary. They certainly didn't win the Super Bowl because of anything that happened there. Hosley is a project but will be ready to step in when New York needs him.

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