2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Draft Solutions for Every NFL Team

As free agency slows down the needs that the NFL's 32 teams will have to address through the draft have become more clear.

Here is how I think each team could best address the holes on its roster in my latest mock draft. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts need a quarterback to build around and they get the best one I've ever scouted. They picked the right year to be terrible and hit the reset button on the franchise.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

John Beck and Rex Grossman were so bad in 2011 that the Redskins were willing to surrender three first-round picks and a second-rounder in order to secure Griffin, their quarterback of the future.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings have a hole at left tackle and are in the perfect position to secure Kalil, the best offensive lineman to enter the league since Miami made Jake Long the No. 1 overall pick in 2008.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Now that the Browns have decided to stick with Colt McCoy under center, they need to surround him with talent. Richardson has the stuff to be a dominant NFL running back.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Bucs signed Eric Wright, but Aqib Talib is unreliable and Ronde Barber is going to return but he'll be retiring soon. Tampa Bay's secondary is a serious need and Claiborne is the best cover corner in the draft. 

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Receiver is the top need for the Rams and Blackmon is the best one in the draft. Sam Bradford will finally have a No. 1 receiver to throw to. 

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

The Jags need help at receiver but Coples is an elite talent. While he is a high-risk, high-reward pick, the UNC product could turn into the next Julius Peppers

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins need a quarterback for the future, but this is too high to take Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill. Adding Reiff will beef up and already strong offensive line that features Jake Long and Mike Pouncey. Running backs Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas will appreciate this selection.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera knows the value of dominant interior lineman and the team almost took Marcell Dareus with the No. 1 overall pick last year. They will land Poe this year, a massive guy who is a once-in-a-generation athlete.

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

I really like Upshaw here for the Bills. I know they signed Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency, but Upshaw could rotate with them to form one of the best pass-rushing trios in the NFL. Upshaw can also stand up to play as an outside linebacker at times. They grab him here because of his value.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

The Chiefs would love Poe to fall to them, but in this projection he's gone. They'll consider Stanford guard David DeCastro before grabbing Kuechly to fill a hole at the middle of their defense.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Seahawks need a pass rusher for their 4-3 look and while Ingram is a bit of a 'tweener but he was a big-time playmaker at South Carolina and he should be able to get to the quarterback at the next level.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Despite re-signing Levi Brown to a five-year contract, the Cardinals need another offensive tackle badly. Martin has tremendous upside and could play on either side of the line.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Cowboys addressed some of their needs along the offensive line in free agency, so they'll pass on DeCastro. Dallas needs help along the defensive line and Cox is a versatile guy who will fit Rob Ryan's defense perfectly.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Eagles needed to improve the middle of their defense and they started that process by trading for linebacker DeMeco Ryans. They continue that process by nabbing Barron, who is phenomenal in run support and has the range to get deep in coverage.

16. New York Jets: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The Jets badly need to get better on the edge defensively and Perry is the best pure pass rusher in this draft class. I've watched hours of film on the USC product and I don't think I've ever seen someone get held as much as he did over the past two seasons. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

This might be a little high for Miller but his upside trumps that of every running back but Richardson. He will combine with BenJarvus Green-Ellis to create a formidable rushing duo.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Chargers lost a Pro Bowler at left guard when Kris Dielman retired. They replace him here with a future Pro Bowler at the same position.

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The addition of Brandon Marshall helped the team's receiving corps, but snagging Floyd here would give the Bears three solid targets for quarterback Jay Cutler.

20. Tennessee Titans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

I really am not sure where the Titans will go with this pick, but Fleener is by far the best tight end in the draft. Getting him on board would give Jake Locker a reliable target to grow with. Fleener is big enough and athletic enough to have a Rob Gronkowski-like impact on Tennessee's offense. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a big, physical corner and he has the instincts and toughness of a top-10 pick. An arrest for marijuana possession has hurt his stock, but the kid can play and the Bengals will get rewarded for gambling on him.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

In this scenario the Browns added a running back in Richard and they continue to add pieces around McCoy by getting the versatile Glenn on board. He could step in and start immediately at either guard spot or right tackle for Cleveland.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

I've always liked the idea of pairing an elite center with a franchise quarterback. Konz is that kind of elite center (though he could also play guard) and his ability to read defenses will help quarterback Matthew Stafford's continued development. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Steelers need some youth along the defensive line with Casey Hampton aging. Of all the defensive linemen in the draft, Still has the best film and was a constant disruption for offenses in 2011. 

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

It would be a shock if Brockers lasts this far, but if he does the Broncos will snag him quickly. At 6'5" and 323 pounds he quite literally fills Denver's biggest need.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Texans need a legitimate No. 2 receiver to take some pressure off of No. 1 wideout Andre Johnson. In Wright they get a big-play threat who can stretch the field.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

The Patriots need an infusion of youth and talent to their front seven. Jones can play end or outside linebacker and, while he's extremely raw, he has a ton of upside. Bill Belichick will grab him and mold the Syracuse product into his next big-time edge rusher.

28. Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Packers will wait patiently hoping a good pass rusher falls to them and will be richly rewarded. Lining Mercilus on the other side of the defense from Clay Matthews will create one of the best edge rushing tandems in the NFL.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama 

Ray Lewis isn't going to play forever and the Ravens need to draft his successor soon. Hightower can learn from Lewis for a year or two, then step in and take over in what should be a smooth transition.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The 49ers need receiving help and Hill is a big-play threat who averaged 29.3 yards per catch on 28 receptions in 2011. He's raw but could develop into a stud.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

New England will continue rebuilding their front seven with the versatile Reyes who can play all over the defensive line. He's another guy Belichick will grab and develop into the exact kind of player he loves to have.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

The Giants have other needs but at this point Brown will be the best value. He is an elite athlete who is incredibly fast and fits New York's 4-3 scheme perfectly.