NFL Draft 2012: Prospects the NFL's Elite Should Target in the First-Round

While the majority of the 2012 NFL draft focus is on the Indianapolis Colts and the multitude of other rebuilding clubs, why not shift that focus to the team's that are already elite? 

You know, the teams that are one or two players away from competing for the Super Bowl or in the New York Giants' case, winning another title. 

Let's look at the conference championship game participants and decide the positions and prospects they should be targeting in the first round. 

New York Giants 

After Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard were both lost to leg injuries in the Super Bowl, many believed the Giants should target a tight end at the end of the first round. Georgia's Orson Charles or Stanford's Coby Fleener were listed as possibilities. 

Charles followed up a disappointing showing at the combine with a DUI arrest while Fleener's dealing with an ankle injury. 

In free agency, the team grabbed huge target Martellus Bennett away from the Dallas Cowboys. There's a chance they'll look at a tight end in the draft, but it won't be in Round 1. 

They should address their offensive line. 

Offensive line staple Kareem McKenzie will not be a part of the team's 2012 plans, as New York is likely to pencil in 2011 fourth-round pick James Brewer as the right tackle for next season. 

David Diehl will be 32 this year. Chris Snee's 30. A player like Kelechi Osemele from Iowa State would inject youth to the offensive front and give the G-Men more flexibility in the future. 

There's a chance they'll look to fill the void left by the departed Mario Manningham, but the wide receiver position is deep in this year's class. 

Going offensive line in Round 1 is the way to go for the Giants. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers addressed their need at wide receiver during free agency, signing Randy Moss and Manningham, so it's unlikely that they'll grab another wideout in the first round. 

They'd love to fill the hole left by right guard Adam Snyder to completely fortify their offensive front. They'll look to find a premier guard in Round 1. 

Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler isn't a sexy pick, but his overpowering style of play and experience in a run-heavy, pro-style system make him a perfect fit. 

With Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Zeitler and Anthony Davis, San Fran would have won of the younger and more talented offensive lines in football. 

New England Patriots 

The Patriots have two first-round picks (No. 27 and No. 31 overall) and it's obvious what they need to grab—quality defenders. 

Brandon Lloyd is the No. 1 receiver they wanted and we know about the danger Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez bring to the field. 

Any cornerback would be ideal at No. 27 and a pass-rusher makes a ton of sense at No. 31. In my most current mock draft, I have them selecting Alfonzo Dennard from Nebraska and Whitney Mercilus from Illinois. 

Who am I kidding? Bill Belichick will trade away these picks. 

Baltimore Ravens 

The Ravens will see plenty of turnover next season, as underrated yet important defensive players like Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding bolted in free agency. 

Because of that, they need to add depth along their defensive front. 

Chandler Jones, the defensive end from Syracuse, is loaded with upside and should work well in the Ravens' battled-tested and ultra aggressive defensive system. 

Even players like Mercilus or Vinny Curry would give Terrell Suggs a complementary pass-rusher. 

There's a chance they look for a future Matt Birk replacement, but with the iconic center returning for another year, that's not a pressing need at this point. 

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