2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Post-Peyton Manning First-Round Landscape

The biggest question of the 2012 offseason has been answered. As reported by Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Peyton Manning has chosen Denver to be his new home. How could the first round shake out now that Manning has made a decision?

1. Indianapolis: Stanford QB Andrew Luck

In case you were wondering: No, the Colts do not play the Broncos this season.

2. Washington (from St. Louis): Baylor QB Robert Griffin III

No suspense here.

3. Minnesota: USC OT Matt Kalil

None here either unless the Vikings find a trade-down partner.

4. Cleveland: Alabama RB Trent Richardson

There is an argument for LSU CB Morris Claiborne here, and the Browns were also present in full force at Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon's pro day. Still, Richardson makes the most sense to me.

Rating the three prospects against each other makes it easy to see why the Rams were comfortable trading down to No. 6.

5. Tampa Bay: LSU CB Morris Claiborne

Still think Aqib Talib's overall volatility and expiring contract in 2013 make this an easy call even after the signing of CB Eric Wright.

6. St. Louis: Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon

The Rams will be pleased to scoop up whoever is left of Richardson, Claiborne and Blackmon.

7. Jacksonville: North Carolina DE Quinton Coples

The Jags' best bang for their buck will be taking the top pass-rusher on the board. Coples has the highest ceiling and fits best in their 4-3 defense.

8. Miami: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill

Unless Jim Harbaugh has really turned Smith off to his future in the Bay Area, Tannehill reuniting with his college coach Mike Sherman in Miami seems highly likely.

9. Carolina: LSU DT Michael Brockers

It might be a reach based on unrealized potential, but Carolina bringing Brockers in for a pre-draft visit can't be ignored (according to agent Albert Elias, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). A trade down is very possible here.

10. Buffalo: Stanford OT Jonathan Martin

Until the Bills make a move to re-sign Demetrius Bell, this remains one of the easier first-round picks to project.

11. Kansas City: Memphis DT Dontari Poe

Scott Pioli gives Romeo Crennel a chance at another Vince Wilfork.

12. Seattle: South Carolina DE/OLB Melvin Ingram

If I'm a Seahawks fan, this is the name I want to see fall to their pick.

13. Arizona: Iowa OT Riley Reiff

Hard to argue against offensive line help at the Cardinals' pick.

14. Dallas: Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox

With Nate Livings in town, the Cowboys can zero in on defensive line help in the first.

15. Philadelphia: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly

Seattle and Arizona could use Kuechly, but better values at positions of bigger need will probably be there. This pick is looking more likely by the day.

16. New York Jets: Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd

The Jets have a surprising number of holes for a team that was this close to the Super Bowl two years ago. Floyd would fill one of them.

17. Cincinnati (from Oakland): Stanford OG David DeCastro

Even with Travelle Wharton signed, this team needs more help on the interior offensive line. DeCastro is a massive value here.

18. San Diego: Georgia OG/OT Cordy Glenn

Signing Jared Gaither to play left tackle was a good start, but this offensive line needs more work.

19. Chicago: Ohio State OT Mike Adams

I continue to feel this pairing with Gabe Carimi coming back. The Bears can't count on Chris Williams showing he can play left tackle again.

20. Tennessee: Illinois DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus

The Titans will be keeping their fingers crossed that they don't hear Mercilus' name called before their pick.

21. Cincinnati: Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick

Newly signed Jason Allen is a band-aid.

22. Cleveland (from Atlanta): South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore

Part of the reason the Browns can pass on Morris Claiborne at No. 4 is the likelihood of a corner of Gilmore's or Kirkpatrick's caliber being there at their second first-round pick.

23. Detroit: Alabama SS Mark Barron

Great value here because of his double hernia surgery. He would be terrific pairing with Louis Delmas.

24. Pittsburgh: Alabama LB Dont'a Hightower

As a Western Pa. native and Steelers diehard, I wish I could deviate from this pairing, but I just can't.

25. Denver: Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy

The Broncos can exploit a big advantage if they can create pressure up the gut...if they don't sacrifice their first to get Mike Wallace.

26. Houston: Baylor WR Kendall Wright

A dream scenario for the Texans. Wright could probably start from day one.

27. New England (from New Orleans): Penn State DT Devon Still

The Patriots lack an impact interior defensive lineman to play next to Vince Wilfork, and Still could be that guy.

28. Green Bay: USC DE/OLB Nick Perry

It's going to be hard to mock a position other than OLB to the Packers with the likely value there in just about any scenario.

29. Baltimore: Wisconsin C Peter Konz

Even with Matt Birk back, Konz can start at left guard until Birk rides into the sunset.

30. San Francisco: Wisconsin OG Kevin Zeitler

Like his collegiate teammate, Zeitler could be an immediate answer for a team that just lost a starting guard in free agency.

31. New England: Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw

The Patriots are rarely predictable in the first, but it's hard to picture them passing on Upshaw twice.

32. New York Giants: Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill

Who needs Mario Manningham when Hill can threaten safeties with his deep speed?