2012 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Prospects Teams Should Pass on

A few years from now when the 2012 NFL Draft is being truly assessed, there will be a few teams that weren't happy with what they took. These are those teams.

At the very best, these players (in italics) are going to be project picks. At the worst, they will be flat-out busts. 

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

A lot of things have changed, but this one has been constant all year. Andrew Luck is the No. 1 pick that the Colts need to build their team around for the next decade or so. He is ready to go, a great overall athlete and will be strong immediately. 

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

No way in the world this is anyone but Griffin. The Redskins did not give up everything it took to get this pick to take anyone but RG3. 

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

The bottom line is that they need to be sure that Christian Ponder is given time. With a cornerstone left tackle, the Vikings will have a lot to build their offense on for a long time.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

This team will have a hard time getting better on offense without a good weapon for whoever the quarterback is to throw to. Justin Blackmon is hands down the best receiver in this draft, and they can't afford to let him go. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)

I haven't seen a better running back come in to the draft since Adrian Peterson in 2007. That turned out well, and the Bucs will do well to follow the path that Minnesota did in 2007.

6. St. Louis Rams: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

The Rams secondary is pitiful, and Claiborne is the best defender in the draft. He is a fundamentally sound defensive back and also an explosive playmaker in special teams. The Rams will be a much better team immediately after making this pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

The Jaguars need to be more fundamentally sound against the pass to have a strong defense. They don't have great defensive backs, but none really make sense in this spot. A great way to negate that problem is to find a guy that gets to the quarterback. 

8. San Diego Chargers (Projected Trade with Dolphins): David DeCastro, G (Stanford)**

The Chargers need a lineman and the Dolphins really need to add the depth. According to Walters' Football, it would cost the Chargers a first and second to get this pick, which would be worth it. 

DeCastro is a diverse lineman, capable of blocking well against the run and pass. Stanford's line was as good as any in the country, and DeCastro was a big reason for that. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

What a combine this guy had; it's going to make him a top-10 pick. With Jon Beason back, the Panthers will have part of their problem up the middle fixed. They need a big guy to keep the blockers off of Beason, and Poe will fill that need for sure. 

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

It's between Reiff and Jonathan Martin. Reiff is the safer pick; Martin is more capable of playing left tackle. Ultimately, Reiff's dependability gives him the edge. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been locked up to a big deal and needs to be protected. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)

The Chiefs will have an excellent defense next year, but still need a little bit of work up the middle. Kuechly is a standout tackler with good sideline-to-sideline speed. They will not regret this move. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

Still has a great upside, which is why the Seahawks won't let him go here. There is bust potential, as he's been a fairly inconsistent player throughout his career. 

The problem is that if he's inconsistent in college, it's going to translate to even more inconsistency in the pros. The players are better, and the adjustment is too great. I don't like Still as a first-round talent, but he'll go there and will be a high pick. 

 

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

The Cardinals need to protect the quarterback better, or next season is going to be an awful lot like 2011 was. Martin is ready to step in and be a good tackle, giving the Cardinals a chance in a division with some of the best pass-rushers in the NFL.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)

The Cowboys are still thin at defensive back, and in a division with good receivers. Jenkins is an elite talent with some past character issues, but Dallas can't afford to let him go. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)

Philadelphia has a good middle linebacker now in DeMeco Ryans, but they are still thin on the outside at linebacker. Brown is an all-around good player, not doing any one thing great, but also not doing any thing bad. He will make the defense better.

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

Floyd will be a good replacement for Plaxico Burress in the red zone, and also much better in the rest of the game.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

A.J. Green is a good target, but the Bengals rely too much on him. Putting a burner like Wright on the other side of the field will make this a tough offense to depend for a long time. 

18. Miami Dolphins (Projected trade with Chargers): Ryan Tannehill, QB (Texas A&M)**

This move isn't as bad if it goes through like this, with the Dolphins trading down, but it's still a desperate move. Tannehill is too raw for the quarterback position in the NFL, at least when it comes to the first round. 

In the second round, it would make more sense to draft him and allow him to be groomed. Now, I can't see a way that Miami won't take him, and Tannehill is just destined to be a bust. For their sake, let's hope they at least trade down and get extra picks, like they would here. 

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

There's an element of raw here, like Still, but the Bears can afford to take the gamble. Brockers has a high upside, but also hasn't enjoyed a great offseason. Fortunately, the Bears defense is good enough to groom him, playing Brockers in good spots and letting his overall game develop. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

Ingram is a rock-solid pass-rusher. The Titans need to build more of a defense if they are going to become real contenders. Having a strong rusher is a good way to start. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)

A marijuana arrest isn't going to help his cause, but the Bengals are a corner away from being a shutdown defense. Kirkpatrick is a big, physical player made for the AFC North's style of bruising play.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB (Miami)

The Browns lack a real running back to take most of the carries and make big plays. Miller has great explosiveness and can also run inside when needed. With Blackmon and Miller, Cleveland would have offensive weapons that they haven't had in a long time. 

23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

Barron reminds me a lot of the 49ers safeties, only he's a lot better in coverage. The Lions need help against both the run and pass, and Barron fills both needs at the safety position. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, G (Georgia)

The Steelers line needs to be rebuilt, and Glenn is a big man to do that. He will improve their ability to run inside, which was lacking in 2011. 

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

Peyton Manning likes tight ends—ask Dallas Clark. The Broncos didn't really have that big presence in 2011, and that needs to be improved. Fleener is high and as we saw at Stanford's pro day, he can run pretty well. 

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

On the one hand, putting someone on the other side of Andre Johnson is a must, and Jeffery will be the best receiver here. The problem is that I just don't see the overall consistency, especially when it comes to being in shape. 

Jeffery has bust written all over him. The tools are there, but I don't see the dedication. That is going to lead to some rough early times. 

27. New England Patriots: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

No, I am not beating up on the South Carolina football team, but I don't see Gilmore as a first-rounder. Gilmore was nowhere near good enough in the college game to think that he'll be ready for the NFL, but the Patriots have to go with a corner. 

The big-play potential is there, which will make things a little better. Still, I can't see this going down as a good pick, especially for a win-now team.

28. Green Bay Packers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)

He's officially a linebacker, but will be a defensive end in Green Bay's system. Upshaw can get to the quarterback, and that's what the Packers need more than anything. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Konz is an NFL-ready player, and the fact that he plays on the interior line will make him exceptionally valuable player to their power style. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen HIll, WR (Georgia Tech)

The 49ers have signed some receivers this year, but no real stretch-the-field guys. Hill is that kind of player, and also has the size to be a good red-zone target when the field shrinks. 

31. New England Patriots: David Wilson, RB (Virginia Tech)

The loss of BenJarvus Green-Ellis will leave the Patriots with a bit of a hole in the backfield. Wilson gives them a burst that New England hasn't enjoyed as a running back in far too long.

32. New York Giants: Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)

I have actually had this pick for a while, but it's especially timely now with Aaron Ross' departure. Hosley would add depth to a secondary that was good enough last year, but far from good. 

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