2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Rounders Better Served for Day 2

There are always a couple prospects who get drafted earlier than they might deserve because teams are looking to fill a hole or love the player's upside. This year will be certainly no different as playoff contenders attempt to find the missing piece.

Here's a complete mock draft of the first round that features prospects who are better served being taken on day two, but will sneak into Round 1.

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

After watching Peyton Manning tear apart defenses for more than a decade, the Colts are fortunate to land another franchise QB like Luck.

2. Washington Redskins (via STL 2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins paid a hefty price to move up four spots, but when you consider the impact Griffin will have, it's well worth the investment.

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

While Christian Ponder showed glimpses of potential during his first run as the starter, he'll need better protection to succeed.

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

Cleveland must focus almost solely on adding offensive skill position players during the draft. Richardson is a good start.

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

The Buccaneers took a step in the wrong direction last season, but Claiborne will help them get back on track toward the playoffs.

6. St. Louis Rams (via WAS 5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

After trying to thread the needle to lackluster targets for a few years, Sam Bradford will benefit greatly from adding Blackmon to the offense.

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

Coples' stock has seemed to stabilize in recent weeks after fluctuating quite a bit since the college season ended. The Jaguars are a good fit.

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

The Dolphins are down two strikes after missing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn. The front office hopes Tannehill isn't strike three.

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

Brockers will need more time than other prospects to reach his ceiling, but he has all the tools to become a dominant force.

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

Buffalo added Mario Williams and Mark Anderson to form one of the best defensive lines in football. Now it must add some skill to the offensive line.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Chiefs lack a player who can consistently get after the quarterback. After a standout career at Alabama, Upshaw should be ready to fill that role.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

After Martin gets selected the offensive tackle crop drops off quite a bit, so the Seahawks would be wise to snag him while they have a chance.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Even though they weren't able to land Manning, the Cardinals are moving in the right direction. Floyd will provide relief for Larry Fitzgerald.

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

Kirkpatrick has athletic ability that's off the charts and he isn't afraid to play physical. That's exactly the type of cornerback Dallas needs.

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

The Eagles made a late charge last season before falling short of the playoffs. Kuechly will shore up the defense to put them back into the postseason.

16. New York Jets (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Getting back to a ground-and-pound mentality will be key for the Jets, especially with Tim Tebow in town to take some snaps.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

If teams were evaluating draft prospects purely based on skill level, Jenkins would likely be inside the top 10. Franchises have to take everything into account, however, especially when it comes to the all-important first-rounder.

Jenkins has some off-field red flags, so whichever team decides to draft him will be taking a risk. If he stays out of Roger Goodell's office, he'll turn into a steal. If he doesn't, the pick will have been a complete waste.

That's why he's better off going in the second round, where the pressure to succeed remains far less. Teams swing and miss in Round 2 all the time and nobody makes a fuss, but if they have a history of busts with their first pick—like Jenkins could be—that gets noticed.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

San Diego has been seeking a reliable outside linebacker who isn't one-dimensional for awhile. Ingram will finally fill the void.

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

Not a ton of centers get drafted in the first round, but Konz has earned it. The Bears need to bulk up the interior of their line, making him a good fit.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Tennessee struggled to stop the run last season, allowing nearly 130 yards per game. Still will help the Titans eliminate that weakness.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

It's another draft rich with defensive tackles. If the Bengals don't reach for a running back here, Cox should provide premium value.

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

If the Browns can walk away from the first round with Wright and Richardson, Colt McCoy would go to sleep with a smile on his face.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Matthew Stafford was sacked 36 times last season, which obviously isn't an ideal scenario for a young quarterback with a history of injury problems. That makes this pick by Detroit one of necessity and not overall value.

Adams has dealt with some injury issues of his own while at Ohio State. That's a major concern because the lack of tackle depth throughout the league means if your starter goes down, things tend to get real sketchy in terms of backups.

There are really only three offensive tackles worth drafting in the first round and all of them will be off the board well before the Lions pick. So, unless they attempt to trade up, they'll have to settle for Adams even though day two would be more fitting for him.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Ben Roethlisberger takes far too many hits for a franchise quarterback, which will lead the Steelers to take the class's best guard.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The Broncos offense should be just fine now that Manning is on board, so turning the defense into an elite unit becomes the top priority.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Hill was never really given a chance to display his full range of abilities at Georgia Tech, but the combine proved he's a top-notch prospect.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Patriots were one stop away from winning another Super Bowl and their secondary let them down. They must fix it this offseason.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Having a high-powered offense wins regular-season games, but Green Bay needs to improve its defense to survive in the playoffs.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The Ravens must start looking toward the future on defense pretty soon as veterans like Ray Lewis begin to near the end. Hightower is a solid prospect, but taking him in the first round would be overshooting his worth.

His biggest problem at the next level will be speed. He doesn't have enough quickness to keep up with running backs or elite tight ends, which means he'll be a liability on passing downs. First-rounders shouldn't have such a glaring weakness.

Even though there's plenty to like about Hightower, including his ability to stop the run, he'd certainly be considered a reach on the first day. Baltimore sits in a good enough position that it shouldn't go out of its way just to land a young linebacker.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

San Francisco's front office has done a nice job of addressing the offensive issues, so it can now shift focus to defense in the draft.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Barron should be able to make an immediate impact for the Patriots. Adding two defensive backs in the first round is their best option.

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

It took awhile, but Fleener has finally separated himself from fellow tight end Dwayne Allen and would be a nice addition to the Giants' passing game.