2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That'll Have to Make Up for 1st-Round Blunders

As good as every first-round prospect has looked during the lead up to the NFL Draft, it's inevitable that a good portion of them will be busts. It's difficult to say for sure which exact players won't pan out, but you can look back at any past draft and easily identify at least half of the first round falling short of expectations.

Teams obviously can't worry about that while making picks and simply have to focus on taking the players that they like, but plenty of teams will have to do well in the draft's other six rounds because there are going to be some first-round whiffs.

Along with a full, first-round mock draft, here are some teams that will have to play catch up in the ensuing rounds in order to make up for a poor decision on the opening night of the draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

We can pretend like there are other options all we want, but the only reason the Colts released Peyton Manning was to select Luck first overall.

2. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via STL)

Just like the Colts, it's clear what the Redskins are going to do. They gave up a king's ransom in hopes of RG3 being as good as advertised.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings have their pick of the litter in terms of non-quarterbacks, and they'll take someone who can protect the quarterback in Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Taking a running back this high isn't great value, but Richardson seems like a sure thing and the Browns need a replacement for Peyton Hillis.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Buccaneers have made a lot of moves in free agency to strengthen their team, and drafting Claiborne will go a long way in rebuilding the defense.

6. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (via WAS)

It's tough to make a better trade than the Rams did as they picked up three first rounders and will still get their choice in Blackmon despite moving down four spots.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Jacksonville probably won't get a new face of the franchise at this spot, but Coples could be the dominant pass rusher they have always lacked.

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins have had a tough offseason as they have traded Brandon Marshall and missed out on Peyton Manning, but Reiff would really solidify the offensive line.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

After selecting quarterback Cam Newton No. 1 overall last season, things are looking up for the Carolina Panthers. Although their record didn't improve in a big way, they were a threat in most games last season. In this year's draft they will be picking ninth overall and will need to do everything they can to continue to build on the progress they made last season.

While a top-10 pick is generally considered to be a good thing, the Panthers are kind of in no man's land as they can go in a number of different directions here. One area in which they really need help is along the defensive line. Carolina was torched by opposing running games last season and that has to be rectified.

There probably isn't a great run stopper worth taking here, but I expect the Panthers to reach for LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers. While Brockers is an excellent athlete and has great size at 6'6" and 306 lbs., there is reason to be pessimistic. I am always wary of a player who is a one-year wonder and that is the case with Brockers as he only had one good season at LSU. He could use more seasoning and I ultimately believe that will work against him.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills shocked everyone by signing defensive end Mario Williams in free agency, and they will continue their rapid improvement by drafting Floyd.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Kansas City is fairly strong at almost every position, but the offensive line could use some work and Martin looks like a safe bet to be a long-term solution at tackle.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

There are differing opinions as to who the best defensive end in the draft is aside from Quinton Coples, but I like Ingram and suspect the Seahawks will as well.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Defense has been the Cardinals' biggest issue over the past couple years, but Kuechly would give that unit a completely different look in the middle.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys just can't seem to get over the hump, but Kirkpatrick could be a major upgrade to a secondary that was burned often last season.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Most of the Eagles' problems stem from the defense, and while there isn't a 4-3 linebacker worth taking here, Barron could be the presence they have missed in the secondary since Brian Dawkins departed.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Jets were an all-around mess last year and that includes the defense. A 3-4 pass rusher like Upshaw is a big-time need at this point.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Cincinnati has a pretty well-rounded team, but quarterback Andy Dalton would love a deep threat like Wright to take some of the attention away from A.J. Green.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chargers have quite a few holes to fill, but the loss of retired guard Kris Dielman has to be addressed immediately by selecting DeCastro.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Chicago's offensive line was in disarray last season without long-time center Olin Kreutz, so it's integral to find a replacement like Konz.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Tennessee Titans haven't really had a great pass rusher at the defensive end position since Jevon Kearse. Jason Babin was excellent two seasons ago, but it was short lived as he he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Titans recently lost another defensive end as Jason Jones signed with the Seattle Seahawks, so they need to find an answer at that spot.

There are several defensive ends that are likely to go in the first round, but it's tough to say which ones will pan out and which will bust. Tennessee will likely gamble on USC defensive end Nick Perry and hope that he can develop into the pass rusher they desperately need. I don't see Perry ever becoming anything more than a complementary pass rusher, though.

In his three-year career at USC Perry did have seasons of 8.5 and nine sacks, but he also had a year with only four sacks. He is far too inconsistent to be relied upon as the anchor of a defensive line and that is what the Titans would be expecting of him if they take him at No. 20. Perry figures to be the latest in a long line of mediocre defensive linemen the Titans have taken in the early rounds.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

With Leon Hall recovering from an Achilles injury, the Bengals need to take a player like Jenkins in order to keep the secondary afloat.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Although Joe Thomas has the left side of the Browns' offensive line locked down, a guy like Adams is needed to strengthen the lackluster right side.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

It became very apparent in the last two weeks of last season that the Lions' secondary was a joke, so a corner like Dennard is a must.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Current nose tackle Casey Hampton appears to be on his last legs with the Steelers, so I expect them to find a new defensive anchor in Poe.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The Broncos signed Joel Dreessen to be Peyton Manning's tight end, but he needs more of a pure receiver at the position, such as Fleener.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

There has been a lot of turnover in Houston this off season as the Texans were against the cap and unable to keep all of their free agents. Not only did they lose defensive end Mario Williams, but a couple starters on the offensive line walked as well. Despite all of that, there is one position that the Texans must finally breakdown and address in the draft.

For the past several years Houston has gotten away with Andre Johnson and not much else in the receiving corps. That can't be the case any longer, though, as Johnson needs a complementary receiver who can draw some coverage. With that in mind, the Texans figure to finally go after a No. 2 target for quarterback Matt Schaub.

They have a few options, but the most popular seems to be South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery. It wasn't long ago that he was considered a top-10 pick, but a rough 2011 season knocked him down most draft boards. Jeffery is a big, physical pass catcher who has potential, but he has bust written all over him as he wasn't able to come close to replicating his great 2010 performance.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Patriots lost Mark Anderson in free agency and Andre Carter is injured, so a rush linebacker in the form of Mercilus should be the pick.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Devon Still, DL, Penn State

Green Bay's defense was a sieve last year as it failed to get to the quarterback. Still will take on blockers and open up space for Clay Matthews.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Ravens can afford to take the best player available at this juncture, and that happens to be Hightower, who could be the next great Baltimore linebacker.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The 49ers have addressed almost all of their biggest needs, and they can cap a successful off season by solidifying the right side of the offensive line with Glenn.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

The Pats have a severe lack of depth along their 3-4 defensive front, so it makes sense to take a versatile lineman like Cox.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

There aren't a lot of holes on the defending Super Bowl champions' roster, but adding a tight end like Allen is a must with both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum injured.