2012 NFL Mock Draft: Landing Places for Courtney Upshaw and Lethal Pass-Rushers

The 2012 NFL Draft is just over a month away and as it nears, more and more lethal pass-rushers are emerging as potential first-round gems. 

Alabama's Courtney Upshaw is one of the elite defensive players available this spring and should go rather early in the first round given his incredible football IQ and ability to get after the quarterback.

So where will the other dominant pass rushers wind up? Join Bleacher Report as we mock up the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. 

No. 1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB

The Colts are all set to make Luck the No. 1 overall pick in 2012.

No. 2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams 2-14): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

Washington didn't trade all those draft picks just to move up four spots, they have their sights set on Robert Griffin III.

No. 3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, USC, OT

Hands down the best offensive lineman available this spring, USC's Matt Kalil will go in the top five to some team in need of help up front. 

No. 4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

The Browns lack any significant wide receiving threat and need to bolster their arsenal outside. 

No. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

The Honey Badger has to go back to school for at least another year, so his partner in dominant defense, Morris Claiborne will come out and likely go in the top five. 

No. 6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins 5-11): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

Trading their pick to the Redskins might end the Rams' hopes of picking Matt Kalil, but Riley Reiff should be there on the board at No. 6.

No. 7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

UNC's Quinton Coples will be the first dominant pass-rusher off the board in the 2012 NFL Draft. Coples can bring heat off the edge and play sound defense in the running game as well. The Jags will have done their research and like what they have seen by April.

No. 8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

With the quarterback situation likely being solved through free agency, Joe Philbin and the Dolphins can take the best player left on the board with the No. 8 pick.

No. 9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, DE

South Carolina's defensive wrecking ball has Pro Bowl written all over him, and for good reason. Ingram was a sack master in 2011 and was present in nearly every great play made by the Gamecocks defensive unit.

No. 10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

The Bills want to bolster their defense so that they can contend with Tom Brady and the rest of the AFC East in 2012. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly is a strong pick to round out the top 10. Kuechly can join Mario Williams in what should be a formidable defensive group.

No. 11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

A beastly wall up front on the defensive line, Michael Brockers has the potential to terrorize NFL quarterbacks with his athletic rushing ability and strength coming through the middle of the line. 

No. 12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB

Courtney Upshaw, the eyes and ears of the Alabama Crimson Tide defense over the years, will be one of the more underrated first-round picks of 2012, but his ability to rush the passer and lead a defense cannot be overlooked. 

No. 13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

The Cardinals need to protect the quarterback much better than they have been doing as of late, allowing more than 50 sacks in each of the past two seasons.

No. 14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

Janoris Jenkins might be a risky pick, but the Cowboys secondary has been ailing and his play-making strengths will likely be requested in Big D.

No. 15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DT

Another massive defensive tackle capable of plugging gaps and bringing down the quarterback on occasion, Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox promises to provide first-round talent and an acceptable motor.

No. 16. New York Jets (8-8): David Wilson, Virginia Tech, RB

The Jets are lacking speed in their back field and in order to take some pressure off of Mark Sanchez and the struggling passing game, New York will look to Virginia Tech speedster David Wilson to carry the ball.

No. 17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders 8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

For as good as the Bengals defense was in 2011, they still lack the cohesiveness and talent in the secondary to shut down the AFC's best passing attacks. Alabama's Mark Barron is a quality pickup at safety to help retooling.

No. 18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers went down time and again last season, sparking an upgrade at guard in 2012 for the underachieving ball club.

No. 19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Brandon Marshall will likely see a plethora of double coverage in Chicago, and that's why the Bears will add another big target to their roster before the season starts. 

No. 20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

Glenn is a massive blocker who can make a worthy addition to any NFL offensive line.

No. 21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, Miami, RB

Andy Dalton can't do it all under center for the Bengals. He'll need some help at running back, and that's where Miami's Lamar Miller comes into play. Miller is quick, strong and extremely elusive.

No. 22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons 10-6): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

Yet another capable pass-rusher that should have his name called in the first round this April is Clemson's Andre Branch. The Browns have plenty of talent in the middle of the defensive line, but lack pressure off the edge. 

No. 23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

Detroit was picked apart by the Saints offense in the NFC Wild Card last season and to avoid more of the same in 2012, they would be wise to get younger and better with Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick.

No. 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

Ben Roethlisberger is going to need someone to throw the ball to next season under Todd Haley and his newly-implemented offense. 

No. 25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Devon Still, Penn State, DT

The Broncos defense was improved during the later half of the 2011 season, but it has ways to go before it can lead Denver to a Super Bowl, as evidenced against the Patriots in the playoffs last January.

No. 26. Houston Texans (10-6): Brandon Thompson, Clemson, DT

Clemson's Brandon Thompson can bring even more physicality to the Houston Texans increasingly dominant defensive front.

No. 27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints (13-3): Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB

The Patriots defense was Super Bowl-caliber in 2011, despite what the numbers would lead you to believe, and the addition of an experienced college linebacker like Dont'a Hightower is a respectable way to open a draft. 

No. 28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chandler Jones, Syracuse, DE

The Packers were missing an edge rushing tandem last season as Clay Matthews struggled with double teams. Syracuse's Chandler Jones has tremendous potential and could be nearly as lethal as Matthews rushing passers around the outside. 

No. 29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, Wisconsin, C

The Ravens pay plenty of attention to the defense, but the offensive line must be taken care of if Ray Rice is to remain an incredible rushing talent year after year.

No. 30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, OT

It never hurts to draft a big guy to protect the quarterback from defenders who want to hurt him. Florida State's Zebrie Sanders can help San Francisco's offensive line transition from one year to the next.

No. 31. New England Patriots (13-3): Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, WR

Alshon Jeffery has size, can leap and has good size hands. That's just what the Patriots need alongside Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. Deion Branch is getting older and its time for an actual upgrade at the WR position for New England. 

No. 32. New York Giants (9-7): Mike Adams, Ohio State, OT

The defending Super Bowl champions need to get better up front. They nearly missed the playoffs last season and had sporadic play in front of Eli Manning. Ohio State's Mike Adams was below average at the combine, but his physical traits cannot be denied in the first round.