2012 NFL Mock Draft: Why 9 Teams Must Draft Defensive Players in Round 1

While many teams should look for defensive help, these teams (listed in italics) absolutely can't draft anything else.

They were all held back by poor defenses a season ago. Unless they want to be stuck in the same boat, these teams will all look exclusively at defense.

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

If this one isn't obvious at this point, where have you been? Luck is the clear top pick this year.

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

Given the trade up to this pick, there is no way that the Redskins won't take RG3. This is about as non-suspenseful a first two picks as there has ever been.

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

Talent is in place in Minnesota, but they can't rely on Christian Ponder's mobility. Kalil is a solid left tackle and will be a pillar of the franchise for the next decade. 

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

Hands down the best receiver in the draft, it only makes sense that the most playmaker-starved team in the NFL would go after him. 

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

Richardson gives a combination of size and speed that is not often seen. No back has been better coming into the NFL since Adrian Peterson, which worked out pretty well.

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

As both a return man and cornerback, Claiborne is as solid a defensive player as there is in this draft. The Rams' secondary need a dramatic overhaul if they are going to get back to playoff contention, so this is a match made in heaven. 

Claiborne will make this team instantly better. As both a special teamer and defensive back, he will make the field position battle a lot better for the Rams. 

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

The Jaguars can use a defensive back, but it's not their only need. Still, Kirkpatrick is the best choice here. No matter what, they're going to have to reach for someone, and he is far less of a reach than any receiver in the draft not named Justin Blackmon. Expect to see some growing pains, but his size will be a tremendous asset in the NFL. 

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

I don't see the Dolphins needing this pick, and the Chargers will have to trade up to bring in a top lineman, which they need. Miami needs the depth that will come with the extra pick (at least a second-rounder, according to Walters Football).

DeCastro is a tough interior lineman who will make life easier for Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas running the ball. 

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

Whatever the Panthers do, they have to get help up the middle on defense. Carolina's defense was abysmal last year, as teams ran all over them too often. 

Still has the most potential of any defensive tackle. With Jon Beason returning, there's no need for a linebacker, but Still will make the whole defense better. He's a monster of a man who can quickly penetrate into the backfield. At the very least, see him as a wall of protection for Beason. 

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

Mario Williams is nice, but he won't be enough. The Bills were 27th in sacks in 2011, so they will need someone else to prevent constant double-teams on Williams.

Coples is the perfect fit here. He's a little raw but will be in great matchups with opposing offenses keyed in on Williams. Buffalo's defense will go from being one of the worst in the league to arguably the most feared. 

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

The Chiefs need to improve up front. Reiff is a solid tackle on the right side who will keep blitzers out of the backfield. 

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

Poe is just too good to pass up here. The Seahawks don't have any real needs to be addressed here, but Poe showed his sick potential at the combine. That is a burst that you just can't pass on.

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

The Cardinals will need to protect whoever their quarterback is moving forward. Martin did a great job letting Andrew Luck thrive in college and has the tools to translate that game to the NFL. 

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

Brandon Carr is nice, but not enough. This is a division with many receivers, and the Cowboys still have a razor-thin secondary. Jenkins has incredible talent, even if his off-field past will leave people nervous. 

This player dominated the SEC while at Florida, playing the best receivers they had to offer incredibly tough. He will make the Dallas defense a lot better. Carr will be best against the other team's top receiver, but Jenkins will lock the other side of the field down.

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

Philadelphia will be a tough place to be if they don't draft a linebacker here. This team couldn't stop a run for anything when they had to. If they are going to get to the playoffs and make noise there, that will have to change.

Kuechly is about as solid as they come. He was college football's best tackler and has good sideline-to-sideline speed, which you want in a middle linebacker. Other than Luck and Griffin, no pick is more obvious than this one. 

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

With Plaxico Burress on his way out, Santonio Holmes will need another receiver to keep defenders away. Floyd will fill a similar role that Burress did, only a little more diverse. 

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

A.J. Green and Kendall Wright together is a scary thought for opponents. They have a diverse enough skill set to bring the best out in each other, leaving the Bengals with a good cornerstone for a long time.

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

The other part of the aforementioned trade, the Dolphins need a quarterback, but won't get one at eight. By trading down, they acquire at least one extra pick and can draft Tannehill in a much more reasonable spot.

He's a good athlete but still a little raw at quarterback. This is why Tannehill is best off being groomed for a while, taking over either late in 2012 or early 2013. 

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

Brockers will make the Bears much more lethal. His size will keep blockers up front, allowing Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs room to run free, making plays. 

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

Only one team sacked the quarterback less than the Titans in 2011. If they are going to compete for a playoff spot again, that will need to get much better. 

Upshaw was as good a defender as the country had to offer while at Alabama. He is a good pass-rusher but can also play back against the run—or even the pass. This is the kind of player that the Titans need. 

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

The Bengals are a corner away from having an elite defense. Gilmore could use some polish, but he's extremely talented, and the Bengals' depth will allow him to be used in the right spots early. 

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

Miller is a strong all-around back who the Browns need. He's mostly a speed guy, but also has the strength to run inside. The Browns lacked a solid running game in 2011, which will keep them toiling in mediocrity if not fixed.

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

Barron was a serious anchor on the Alabama defense. He's a good safety against the pass, but a lethal hitter as well. Teams are going to have a hard time game planning against him in the NFL, as he is incredibly versatile. 

The Lions need the help on the defensive side of the ball. Their offense is solid, but the defense leaves much to be desired. So, bringing in a multi-purpose player like Barron will make this team a lot better. 

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

The Steelers can go a few ways here, but the best fit in this spot is to solidify the offensive line. That's one of the few real weak spots on the team, and Glenn is the kind of player who will change that. 

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

Wilson was an incredibly strong runner at Virginia Tech. While the Broncos relied a lot on the running game, they do need to do more, as Willis McGahee is not a long-term option. This is a solid fit.

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

The Texans don't need a lot, but they do need a receiving option not named Andre Johnson. He went down in 2011, and their unit took a bigger hit than you would have expected. Jeffery is a nice pick in this spot. He has a high upside, but the Texans wouldn't be leaning a lot on him. 

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

The Patriots were plain awful against the pass last year. They should really think about packaging their two picks, but I am not seeing a good trade there. 

Flemming is a good playmaker, which will be nice. Every now and again, you will see a deep ball going over him, but the Patriots offense is good enough to make up for that. 

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

Tied at 27th in the league in sacks was the Packers. That's something that has to improve, or the playoffs are going to be much closer to this season than they were the one before.

Ingram is the kind of player who will fill the void left by Cullen Jenkins' departure. He will bring heavy pressure to the quarterback, making the defense much better. 

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

Konz is a tough center who will open up holes on the line. For a power-running team, that's extremely valuable. 

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

Fleener is a big red-zone target, which the 49ers needed in 2011. On top of that, he knows Jim Harbaugh and the offense well, so this is a good pick for San Francisco. 

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

Brown has versatility, which plays well in Bill Belichick's defense. He rushes the passer and also is solid in coverage. 

The Patriots need all of the defensive help that they can get, as relying on winning shootouts is not a successful formula in the NFL.

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

The Giants need some depth in the secondary, as preseason injuries very nearly cost them. Yes, they won the Super Bowl, but that isn't something that will happen again with a thin secondary.

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