2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Post-Peyton Manning Deal Projection

It's official. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday afternoon that the Peytonmania has come to an end, with the future Hall of Fame quarterback choosing the Denver Broncos.

The deal is worth $95 million over five years, but the details are still being worked out. He and the Broncos are still working on the structure of the contract, with guaranteed money and different protections for them in the case that Manning has another neck injury that causes him to miss more games.

But the fact is, this makes the argument as the biggest offseason deal and it clears a big path for what the NFL draft will look like in April.

Based on player scouting, team needs and multiple credited big boards, here is my newest version for the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.


Follow this reporter on Twitter: @Tyler_Waddell

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Were you expecting something else?

It's almost 100 percent certain that the Indianapolis Colts will draft Luck with their No. 1 overall pick. He's the guy that will take over from the Manning era, and the rebuilding project will be structured around him.

The re-signing of wide receiver Reggie Wayne is huge for the development of Luck, and the Colts can continue to add talent in the draft.

2. Washington Redskins (via St. Louis)

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Like Luck to the Colts, this pick is a sure lock.

The Redskins are desperate for a quarterback, and Griffin's explosiveness through the air and on the ground (a mirror of Michael Vick?) is the perfect fit for Mike Shanahan's offensive taste buds.

Washington has already added WRs Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan in hopes to make RG3's first season as an NFL quarterback a successful one.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

For Christian Ponder to succeed as the Vikings' quarterback, he needs protection. Minnesota recently released guards Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera, meaning Charlie Johnson will likely make the transition to right guard.

This leaves a huge hole at left tackle. One that the Vikings have been preparing for the moment they found out they were getting the No. 3 overall pick.

Kalil has the strength, IQ and athleticism to be the answer for Minnesota and would start Week 1.

4. Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Like I've said a billion times before, the Browns will not draft a quarterback here. I apologize to the Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden bandwagon fans, but this is one mistake Cleveland will not make.

At least not with the No. 4 pick.

The Brownies missed out on RG3 and apparently "weren't interested" in Matt Flynn (good for him), so Richardson is the likely selection here, especially with Peyton Hillis now in Kansas City.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Tampa Bay headed into free agency with numerous needs, but none more glaring than the cornerback position.

It made a dent by signing Eric Wright, but he only solves half the problem. Drafting Claiborne from Death Valley would take care of it in whole.

6. St. Louis Rams (via Washington)

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

I've been back-and-forth with Blackmon to the Rams, but after the first two weeks of the free-agency period in the books, I think I'm finally settled.

Multiple reports said that coach Jeff Fisher is not a Justin Blackmon fan, but after watching Brandon Lloyd depart to New England and still not make any moves to snag a receiver, he has no choice but to start liking the 6'1", 215-pound touchdown machine (40 TDs with Oklahoma State).

As of today, the starters would be Brandon Gibson and restricted free agent Danny Amendola. If the Rams want to do better than their league-low 12.1 points per game last season, they have to draft a playmaker with the No. 6 pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Jaguars went out and signed free-agent quarterback Chad Henne last week, ensuring the fate of Blaine Gabbert as a backup. However, Henne needs somebody to throw the ball to.

Jacksonville's starting receivers—Jarett Dillard and Mike Thomas—are an underwhelming 5'10" and 5'8", respectively. The Jags signed former Cowboys' one-year wonder Laurent Robinson to a five-year contract on March 14, bringing in some size (6'2"), but not enough.

At 6'3", 225 pounds, Michael Floyd brings the perfect attributes to give Henne a decent set of weaponry to make some noise on the offensive end. And boy, it would sure take a load off Maurice Jones-Drew.

8. Miami Dolphins

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Does anyone know what's going on in Miami? Because I sure don't.

After landing Joe Philbin from the Packers, I expected the Dolphins to sign Matt Flynn as their new franchise quarterback. But apparently he cost too much for the greedy sea mammals.

Now they're stuck with Matt Moore and their latest acquisition, David Garrard, who missed the entire 2011 season due to injury. There's still the possibility of Tim Tebow (oh, the irony) or maybe they'll get lucky and sign the disgruntled Alex Smith, although he'd dip into GM Jeff Ireland's bank account a bit more than Flynn would have.

And after sending Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall to Chicago for a mere two third-round picks, Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are left as the starters.

Miami needs a potential playmaker like Jeffery to replace what's been lost and to avoid a rebuilding stage (among other things).

9. Carolina Panthers

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Before Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers can even think about making a trip to the playoffs, they need to fix their defensive line.

Michael Brockers from LSU is the best tackle in the draft and would make an immediate impact plugging holes on the NFL's worst run defense from a year ago. He'd become an easy target for double-teams, allowing Charles Johnson more room to work at right end.

10. Buffalo Bills

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

With Mario Williams signing a monstrous six-year, $100 million ($50 mil guaranteed), the Bills have taken care of their biggest offseason priority.

Now on to the next.

Riley Reiff is the top tackle in the draft and he could be the replacement (and upgrade) for OT Demetrius Bell, who is currently a free agent.

It is unlikely that Buffalo will re-sign Bell, who has been plagued with inconsistency and injuries throughout his three-year career. Reiff could be the go-to-guy in this situation and would provide a great deal of relief for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Believe it or not, but the Chiefs don't have as many holes to fill as their 2011 record shows. They return injured starters Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, Tony Moeaki and Eric Berry, have placed the franchise tag on Dwayne Bowe, and have signed Peyton Hillis, Kevin Boss and Eric Winston.

In order for Kansas City to challenge Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos for the AFC West, it needs to continue rebuilding its offensive line. Winston is a solid pickup at right tackle, but the Chiefs still need a strong guard.

DeCastro is an outstanding run blocker (perfect for KC) and is an NFL-ready starter.

12. Seattle Seahawks

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Seahawks made former Packers backup QB Matt Flynn their guy, completing their biggest task of the offseason. However, there is still plenty of work to be done.

With Flynn now in Seattle and Marshawn Lynch re-signing to a multiyear deal, the next objective in line is to add a pass-rusher.

Defensive end Red Bryant agreed to sign through 2016, but is more of a run-stopper (1.0 sacks in 2011). Quinton Coples would gives the Seahawks the edge on defense they need to make some noise in the NFC West.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

This may come as a surprise to some, but true Cardinals fans know they need help in the secondary. The loss of Richard Marshall in free agency combined with injuries to Greg Toler and Crezdon Butler makes finding a starting cornerback a top priority in the draft.

Jenkins has a rough background, but is arguably the top cornerback in his class. His big-play ability, along with his toughness, gives him the edge to thrive in Arizona's attack-style defense.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Cowboys did an outstanding job in signing cornerback Brandon Carr from the free-agency pool, but need to continue improving the secondary to prevent opposing quarterbacks to pass for nearly 250 yards per game.

Signing Brodney Pool all but takes care of the safety situation, and it would become more of a security blanket deal if Barron—who has faced a few injuries in his career—is drafted.

Barron is the most NFL-ready safety in the draft class, as he totaled 68 tackles (43 solo) with five passes broken up, five tackles for a loss, one sack and two interceptions in his senior season with the Crimson Tide.

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Philadelphia went ahead and re-signed defensive tackle Antonio Dixon to a one-year deal after losing Derek Landri to free agency, but it's nowhere near enough to wipe away the problems it faced in the middle.

The Eagles' young linebackers have been the ones blamed for the struggles against the run, but the inability to control the interior triangle was due to inconsistency at defensive tackle. After a dominant performance at the NFL combine, Dontari Poe is in the best position to take care of this issue.

16. New York Jets

Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Jets have legitimate needs at running back, wide receiver, right tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker and safety. They have a need at quarterback, too, but I don't think that issue will be resolved any time soon after the baffling contract extension with Mark Sanchez.

Rex Ryan can literally draw a name from a hat and it would be a good fit to help his team. In this case, I believe South Carolina's Melvin Ingram is the best available.

New York struggled to contain the outside on run plays and did not get to the QB very often. Ingram could be the guy to change that; he did both with the Gamecocks.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland)

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Leon Hall can’t do it all, Nate Clements is 32 years old, and Pacman Jones is now a free agent after his latest run-in with the law.

Needless to say, cornerback is a big need for the Bengals. Gilmore is an aggressive player who has the ability to attack the ball in the air and has the potential to do great things for Cincinnati.

18. San Diego Chargers

Nick Perry, DE, USC

San Diego finished the 2011 campaign with a total of 30 sacks, which ranked 25th in the NFL. It needs to upgrade at the defensive end position, where both Corey Liuget and Vaughn Martin have struggled to do anything in the 3-4.

Nick Perry's athleticism and burst off the edge will give the Chargers' defense the pass rush it didn't have last year.

19. Chicago Bears

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

For Chicago, having Jonathan Martin fall to the No. 19 overall pick is a dream come true. His athleticism and football intelligence makes him a Day 1 starter for the Bears, who are desperate for a left tackle.

Adding Martin would give Jay Cutler the offensive line he's been waiting for since he was traded to Chicago in 2009.

20. Tennessee Titans

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

After deciding to forgo all plans to try and reel in Mario Williams in hopes to land Peyton Manning, the Titans find themselves back to square one and in need of a pass-rusher.

Tennessee would be killing two birds with one stone, as Upshaw is a versatile defender that can play on the defensive line or at linebacker.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (Fla.)

Cincinnati would be in a great position to draft offensive guard Cordy Glenn right here, but after signing free agent and former Panther Travelle Wharton to a three-year contract, it'll likely look elsewhere.

Like running back.

Cedric Benson has underachieved the last two seasons and has hit the market. The Bengals have brought in Michael Bush and BenJarvus Green-Ellis for visits, but neither has been signed.

The best-case scenario for the cardiac cats is to take Miami's Lamar Miller, who possesses a type of speed that is unheard of for a RB in the hard-nosed AFC North.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta)

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

You're not supposed to draft a wide receiver based on 40-yard dash time, especially coming from a team that ran a triple-option offense, but when the receiver runs a 4.30-second 40-yard dash and stands at 6'4", it's hard to pass him up.

Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech amazed scouts at the combine last month, flourishing in every drill and having his stock skyrocket.

He's still a risk, but knowing that Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas came from the same offense, I'm sure the Browns—who desperately need to give Colt McCoy some sort of option in the passing game—are OK with it.

23. Detroit Lions

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Not only do the Lions have a hard time protecting Matthew Stafford, they also need a more productive run game, too. Offensive line was a big issue that needed to be address heading into the offseason, and so far, Detroit hasn't made a single move.

Cordy Glenn is the best available at his position and Detroit—which has needs all across the offensive line—cannot pass him up.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Kuechly's athleticism and outstanding knowledge for the game makes him a perfect fit on the aging Pittsburgh Steelers defense. It's unlikely he'll start right away, but he could be a big factor on special teams and would ultimately replace James Farrior upon retirement.

25. Denver Broncos

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

John Elway did what he thought was best for the organization and figured grabbing Peyton Manning was the quickest route to winning a Super Bowl. Sorry, Tebow, but you took too long to "develop."

Now for the next stage: building the team around Manning.

I really, REALLY want to say that the Broncos will draft Kendall Wright with their first pick, giving Peyton a fun playmaker to accompany Eric Decker and DeMaryius Thomas. However, I'm going to go with the most realistic plan and get some help for the defensive line that finished 22nd against the run.

Cox could fill the penetrating three-technique role for the Broncos and would be a great one-two punch with linebacker Von Miller.

26. Houston Texans

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Texans are one big-time receiver away from making a very possible Super Bowl run. If the Broncos pass up on Kendall Wright, Houston will gladly select him and keep him in Texas.

However, if Denver does end up snatching Wright, Houston would likely pick up DE/OLB Vinny Curry in hopes to fill the void of Mario Williams' departure.

27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans)

Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall

New England took care of two evident needs this week by signing safety Steve Gregory and receivers Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Gonzalez and Donte' Stallworth.

No. 3 would be a pass-rusher, and that is Vinny Curry of the Thundering Herd.

The 6'5", 240-pound versatile defender played end for Marshall, but will likely be utilized at outside linebacker for the Patriots' composite 4-3 theme.

28. Green Bay Packers

Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State

The Packers finished with just 29 sacks as a team last year, which ended up being a big factor against their last-ranked pass defense (299.8 yards per game).

Still has very good agility for the five-technique spot across from the more stout Ryan Pickett or B.J. Raji in Green Bay's system. His versatility makes him capable of playing multiple positions along the front, and his pass-rushing skills will help Clay Matthews get more isolated matchups on the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens

Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

I had Baltimore taking center Peter Konz with its first pick just two weeks ago with the likelihood of Ben Grubbs hitting the market.

He did, and the Saints picked him up.

However, the Ravens have signed Matt Birk to a three-year deal, so Konz is no longer an ideal selection. The blackbirds can focus on their aging defense, mainly with Ray Lewis' future replacement.

Hightower is a natural leader—much like Lewis—with a multifaceted skill set that brings an added dimension to the Ravens' 3-4.

30. San Francisco 49ers

Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

Other than ticking off their franchise quarterback and potentially sending him to the AFC, ultimately being forced to start the unfinished project of Colin Kaepernick and becoming the punch line of near future Tim Tebow trade talks, the 49ers have had a great offseason.

Breathe out.

San Francisco added some much needed depth at in the secondary with multiple cornerbacks and have solved the receiver issue by signing the new-and-improved Randy Moss and Super Bowl XLVI savior Mario Manningham.

It lost offensive guard Adam Snyder in the process, which is probably a good thing in the long run. Osemele is an experienced lineman with very long arms, considerable strength and is an outstanding run blocker. At 6'5", 330 pounds, he's very durable and could be a long-term answer at left guard.

31. New England Patriots

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Dan Koppen is a free agent, as is his backup, and Konz is clearly the best center in this draft class. He is an invaluable part of the offensive line and could be a 12-year starter from Day 1 for the Patriots.

32. New York Giants

Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Many predictions of the Giants selecting a tight end with their first-round pick were shot down when they signed Martellus Bennett early last week.

New York didn't surprise anyone when it cut Brandon Jacobs. Drafting Polk here would make a lot of sense, as his strong legs and durability would make a nice complement to Ahmad Bradshaw.