2012 NFL Draft: Nigel Bradham and Notable Defenders to Look for After Round 1

It's no secret that pro football is a pass-happy league, where offenses want to burn the scoreboard every week.

For defenses to close the gap and keep up with the Joneses, the best way is to upgrade the front seven.

There's plenty of talent to go around for applying quarterback pressure and stopping the run/intermediate passing game in the 2012 NFL draft, and here's a look at those not expected to go in Round 1.

Still, the following players are prospects who can have a major impact as rookies next fall.

(Round 2) St. Louis Rams (From WASH): Vinny Curry, Marshall

The past two seasons, Marshall's Vinny Curry has recorded 23 sacks, 171 tackles, forced nine fumbles (seven in 2011) and has 24 additional quarterback hurries.

The St. Louis Rams last season recorded 39 sacks, however 13 were from Chris Long, who had more than doubled the next two sack leaders after him on the team. Also, the Rams ranked No. 31 against the run by allowing over 150 rush yards per game.

Curry is not only an excellent complement opposite of Long, but he will significantly assist in the improvement of stopping the run. And this must happen for St. Louis, especially since the NFC West presents two stud running offenses in San Francisco and Seattle.

Plus, the Arizona Cardinals aren't too bad in their own right.

Therefore, the addition of Curry will slow the ground game and allow the Rams to get much more pressure on the quarterback in clutch situations. Provided that St. Louis can get LSU corner Morris Claiborne in Round 1, coach Jeff Fisher's defense is making big improvements this offseason.

(Round 2) Cincinnati Bengals: Shea McClellin, Boise State

In 2011, the Cincinnati Bengals finished with a top-10 defense and allowed just 316.3 total yards per game. They also recorded 45 sacks and forced 20 fumbles en route to another playoff berth under coach Marvin Lewis.

That being said, the Bengals lost defensive end Frostee Rucker to the Browns through free agency, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Last season, Rucker had recorded four sacks and 44 tackles: It was the best season of his career and the first in which he appeared in all 16 games. So, look for the Bengals to replace him in Round 2 with Boise State's Shea McClellin.

McClellin is a bit undersized at 6'3", 260 pounds to play defensive end, but his 15.5 sacks and 79 tackles the past two seasons is worth noting. He'll likely play more at outside linebacker, however, in a limited role to begin.

Nonetheless, Cincinnati needs to replenish with another solid pass-rusher, because that's how the Bengals defense will get on Pittsburgh's and Baltimore's level. And in strict passing situations, McClellin is a viable option at defensive end, as his initial quickness and agility will get fast pressure.

In turn, that takes pressure off those in coverage on critical third downs.

(Round 3) Chicago Bears: Nigel Bradham, Florida State

With the NFC North being run by high-powered offenses in Green Bay and Detroit, the Chicago Bears' best opportunity to close the gap is by upgrading the defense.

Also, the Bears are expected to be much more explosive in 2012 with the addition of receiver Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler's former teammate in Denver. Marshall will make Chicago's offense more balanced, and more importantly, take pressure off Matt Forte and the running game.

So, the Bears add a promising linebacker in Nigel Bradham from Florida State. In his final three seasons, Bradham recorded 276 tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions and 14 defended passes.

Chicago was unfortunately struck by the injury plague last season that ultimately cost them a playoff spot, but the Monsters of the Midway also ranked No. 28 against the pass and recorded just 33 sacks.

Bradham gives Chicago the luxury of running a 4-3 or 3-4 front, and he can apply quarterback pressure off the edge and is a solid man-coverage defender against running backs and tight ends.

If anything, Bradham's speed will consistently wall off the intermediate passing game in zone schemes and take away screens and draws. The Bears are very close to a Super Bowl as evidence by their 2010 season and 7-3 start last season.

With an enhanced offense, upgrading the defense is the next step to ousting the Packers and Lions.

(Round 4) Houston Texans: Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy

As we all know, Mario Williams signed with the Buffalo Bills instead of remaining with the Houston Texans. 

And for as great as the Texans defense performed without Williams during the majority of 2011, adding some serious depth must happen for Houston to remain elite. Therefore, look no further than Troy's Jonathan Massaquoi, who recorded 18.5 sacks and 128 sacks the past two seasons.

Massaquoi also has 12 additional quarterback hurries and possesses the attitude at pressuring a quarterback. Now, his contributions will be limited, as the Texans have a stout front seven with Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed and J.J. Watt to shut down anything an offense tries to run.

But, as a raw pass-rusher and edge run-stopper, Massaquoi's field awareness, play recognition skills and lateral agility will get him time in specific down-and-distance situations.

Houston finished 2011 with the No. 2 overall defense and collected 44 sacks in 2011, but with the loss of Williams to Buffalo, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs to replace that role with a reliable pass-rusher.

Massaquoi fits that mold well and will, at the very least, provide a restricted presence off the edge.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Cincinnati Bengals (From OAK): Janoris Jenkins, CB (Northern Alabama)
2. Washington Redskins: (From STL): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)	18. San Diego Chargers: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. Chicago Bears: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)
4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	20. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
6. St. Louis Rams (From WAS): Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	22. Cleveland Browns (From ATL): Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)	23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)
8. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)	24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)
9. Carolina Panthers: Melvin Ingram, LB (South Carolina)	25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT (Mississippi State)
10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)	27. New England Patriots (From NO): Whitney Mercilus, DE (Illinois)
12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)	28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE (USC)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)	29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)
16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	32. New York Giants: Dwayne Allen, TE (Clemson)

John Rozum on Twitter.