2012 NFL Mock Draft: 5 Most Valuable Prospects in 1st Round

Finding value in the NFL draft is what every scout and GM who has a job is trying to do.

If they do it well, their franchise will flourish and they will be rewarded with a talented player. Should they fail to find value, they suffer the consequences of wasted cap room and a missed opportunity.

Here’s a look at the most current mock with a focus on five guys who are guaranteed to become prized assets for their team.

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

Luck’s pro day went excellent and the guy showed he can do everything necessary to become an elite NFL QB.

Even as the No. 1 pick, he represents an incredible value as a special talent who is easily the best QB prospect since Peyton Manning.

It’s fitting he will replace the longtime Colts signal caller.

 

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

Washington has been searching for a franchise quarterback for years and finally may have found one by trading up with St. Louis to grab the No. 2 pick.

RGIII is a once-in-a-generation athlete and he will help revolutionize the QB position.

 

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

Kalil is a freakish left tackle who promises to have a lengthy career fending off would-be tacklers from Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder.

Minnesota will have a rock solid anchor on their line for a long time if they make this pick.

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

Cleveland won’t get the most value out of Richardson, but there is no QB worth selecting here and he will become an elite player for their offense.

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

Morris Claiborne is the best defensive prospect in the draft and Tampa would be stupid to let him slip past.

If they pair him up with Aqib Talib in the secondary, it’s going to be mighty tough for anyone to throw on the Bucs.

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

St. Louis’ defense was bad last year, but they weren’t any better on the other side of the ball either. Blackmon represents the best chance to improve the latter.

He’s one of the most complete receivers to come out of college in a long while and will instantly make Sam Bradford look like an elite QB again while rejuvenating this stagnant offense.

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

Coples is a freakish athlete, but his production was never up to the level expected in college. He’s still worth a gamble for a desperate team like the Jags.

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

This stupid pick will be made by an organization rife with turmoil and they will come to regret it.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Carolina could use any help they could get on defense and Ingram is the best available player here for their needs.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is a beastly OT prospect and deserves to be the second one off the board after Kalil.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis 

Poe was the darling of the NFL draft combine and his speed, size and strength make him a perfect NFL D-tackle worthy of this lofty selection.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw will help address Seattle’s problem of getting to the opposing QB.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin had a less-than-stellar pro day after failing to work out at the combine due to illness, but his film and potential still keep him high in the first round and the Cardinals could use someone to protect Kevin Kolb and open lanes for Beanie Wells.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro is, by far, the best guard in the class and will fit perfectly in Dallas.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College 

The BC linebacker proved much more athletic than originally thought at the combine and is a great value for Philly in the middle portion of the first round.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn will help the Jets get back to the power running game that they want to establish with Tim Tebow now in town.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama  

The ‘Bama corner is a top-10 talent whose arrest has him sliding down many big boards. He’ll prove the doubters wrong.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry is a risky prospect but a freakish athlete and SD should role the dice.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Chicago made a trade for Brandon Marshall, but he may be facing a suspension for an off-the-field incident.

Floyd would be a good insurance policy and should eventually become an elite NFL receiver himself. Lord knows Jay Cutler needs more weapons.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is the definition of a versatile and can play almost anywhere on the D-line. He’d be a solid fit in Tennessee, a team that traditionally prides itself on attacking QBs and stuffing the run.

Cox has a ton of versatility and can play multiple positions for the Titans.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller has the potential to be an excellent change-of-pace back to the newly-signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright was RGIII’s favorite receiver for a reason and would soon become a top target for Colt McCoy or whoever the Browns use at quarterback.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Detroit cannot afford more injuries to Jahvid Best or Matthew Stafford, making an OL player like Konz is a perfect pick.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The fearsome Crimson Tide linebacker would be an instant fit in the Steel City.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still is perhaps the most NFL-ready DT in the class and fits with the Broncos' goal of winning now with Peyton Manning.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The best safety in the 2012 class would be an immense help to a quickly improving secondary in Houston.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is a developmental project that the Patriots would love to groom.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The all-around skillful cornerback would help improve a Packers secondary that gave up a lot of yards in 2011-12.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

If Jenkins didn’t have a lot of off-the-field issues, he’d be a top-10 pick.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery has the size and athleticism to be an elite NFL WR, but his desire is questionable.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes’ great combine vaulted him into the first round.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Fleener ran a blazing sub-4.5 40-yard dash at his pro day and looks like a lock to go Day 1.

*Rams trade No. 2 overall pick to Redskins for 2012, 2013, 2014 first-round picks and 2012 second-round pick.