2012 NFL Mock Draft: Pick-by-Pick Guide to the First Round

NFL fans, it's finally April and the reality of the 2012 draft has only set in a little more. That being said, here is a guide through Round 1 to get ready for the final weekend of the month.

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

The Indianapolis Colts have a vacancy at quarterback and Andrew Luck has been a top NFL prospect since before the 2011 draft.

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

Washington didn't give up all those selections and make receiver upgrades to not draft Robert Griffin III.

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

Christian Ponder has potential, but he won't last without a franchise left tackle. Plus, the Vikings need Matt Kalil to keep the ground game working.

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

Because of the failed Braylon Edwards experiment, it wouldn't be surprising if Cleveland passed on Justin Blackmon. However, Blackmon has more promise and Colt McCoy is much better than Derek Anderson.

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

After gaining over 1,000 yards in 2010, LeGarrette Blount duped down to less than 800 rushing yards in 2011. Also, he compiled just 137 yards in the final five games.

Trent Richardson, on the other hand, averaged over 900 total yards as the backup to Mark Ingram in 2009 and 2010. Then taking the reins in 2011, Richardson accounted for over 2,000 total yards and was easily the best back in college football.

Richardson's presence and consistency is what Tampa needs in the backfield to draw up defenses. Then play-action becomes a weapon to hit Vincent Jackson downfield. As an added bonus, Richardson and Blount make a good, young two-back tandem.

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

The Rams could basically go in any direction to improve. LSU's Morris Claiborne at least provides stability with Cortland Finnegan in the secondary.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

With running back Maurice Jones-Drew remaining a dual threat, the Jaguars need to get an lineman that can get downfield.

Riley Reiff is quite the athlete for his size and is laterally quick. Well, this will benefit Jacksonville when dumping the rock to MJD on screens and check-downs. It's perhaps where Jones-Drew is most dangerous, because he has excellent ball-carrier vision.

As for Reiff, he'll lead the way in taking out linebackers and blitzing defensive backs. The Jaguars offense revolves around MJD and the best way to keep him rolling is to upgrade the blocking. Plus, Jacksonville hasn't had that franchise left tackle since the days of Tony Boselli.

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

At this juncture, it would be surprising if Miami were to pass on Ryan Tannehill. With a new head coach and his former head coach at offensive coordinator, Tannehill at least makes the Dolphins' quarterback situation more interesting.

9. Carolina Panthers: Melvin Ingram, LB/DE (South Carolina)

Carolina is a quickly-rising franchise and the defense is what's holding the Panthers back. Well, Melvin Ingram's versatility makes for a great selection as he has a knack for finding the ball and defending from anywhere in the front seven.

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

The Bills have one of the most impressive front sevens, but can really take to new heights with a stronger secondary. Dre Kirkpatrick has reliable man and press coverage skills, which will provide a blanket behind a great pass rush.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

The missing piece in Kansas City's defense is a defensive tackle who can draw double-teams, while still making plays at the line or in the backfield. Michael Brockers will do just that, as Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson lead the rest of the front seven.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)

Defense is what the Seattle Seahawks must address. The offense has upgraded, so shutting down the potential explosiveness of Arizona and San Francisco is a must.

Luke Kuechly can control the middle of the front seven with ease, while also acting as a reliable intermediate pass defender.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

A balanced offense is what Arizona desperately needs. David DeCastro improves the offensive line to create a more consistent running game and pocket protection for Kevin Kolb.

In turn, Larry Fitzgerald only becomes more dangerous in play-action while having more time to develop routes and beat double coverage.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

DeMarcus Ware needs that reliable sidekick when pass-rushing for Big D's front seven. Quinton Coples is an intimidating presence that only enhances the restoration of the Doomsday Defense.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, Eagles offensive tackle Jason Peters has injured his Achilles tendon. Well, because of this unfortunate occurrence, the Eagles must address the offensive line.

Stanford's Jonathan Martin is an ideal selection, because the NFC East is loaded with pass-rushers. Maintaining a balanced attack is imperative.

Provided Michael Vick remains a scrambling threat and LeSean McCoy a dual threat out of the backfield, Martin's addition only makes Philly that much more dangerous.

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

The Jets need a young and reliable receiver who can quickly takeover the No. 1 slot as their immediate playmaking threat. Michael Floyd was all that and more at Notre Dame, as evidenced by his consistency despite catching passes from three different quarterbacks.

Floyd also possesses the strength and unselfishness to be an effective run-blocker for Shonn Greene and when Tim Tebow scrambles in the Wildcat package. Floyd is also much faster than he's credited for and has the dynamics to go deep, over the middle and get upfield on quick screens.

In the red zone, though, Floyd's leaping ability and explosion will compensate for the inaccuracy of Gang Green's quarterbacks.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (From OAK): Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

If the Bengals begin to prepare now for when Nate Clements can no longer be their No. 1 cornerback, Stephon Gilmore is the perfect selection. Clements will be 33 by the end of next season, so having Gilmore play the No. 2 corner opposite will allow Cincinnati to reload instead of rebuilding down the road.

18. San Diego Chargers: Fletcher Cox, DT/DE (Mississippi State)

Whether it's defensive tackle or end, Fletcher Cox can play anywhere on the line. He's laterally agile, fights through double-teams and can read well against the run. The Chargers need this kind of reliability, especially when playing run-balanced teams in Oakland, Denver and Kansas City.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)

Needing talented youth on the interior offensive line, Chicago has the tools to be a multidimensional offense in 2012. Cordy Glenn will pave the way to improved running lanes and the luxury of pulling on play-action bootlegs.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

Tennessee ranked No. 24 against the run and struggled against run-oriented offenses in Jacksonville and Houston; Dontari Poe can control that as a two-gap defender. This, in turn, allows the linebackers to make plays at the line and in the backfield.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

Cincinnati was a top-10 defense in 2011. Getting a stud cornerback and now Devon Still to upgrade the front four makes the Bengals a top-five defense. The man can apply consistent interior pressure and force running plays to the outside.

22. Cleveland Browns (From ATL): Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)

Cleveland, believe it or not, has a sound defense. The addition of Courtney Upshaw, though, makes the unit near complete. Upshaw will provide an outside presence against the run and as a pass-rusher, therefore allowing D'Qwell Jackson to focus more on the middle and Joe Haden to work as a press cover corner.

The Browns already have a solid pass rush with Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor, but Upshaw makes Cleveland impressive across the board. Having played in the nation's best defense, Courtney reacts well to quick passes and can jam tight ends at the line.

From a coverage perspective, this allows the secondary more time to read the routes and anticipate the pass. In short: more turnovers for the Browns and increased odds at winning the field position battle.

23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)

The Detroit Lions have an impressive defensive front with Ndamukong Suh, Cliff Avril and, provided he gets to 100 percent, Nick Fairley. Zach Brown only helps defend the perimeter running game and intermediate passing game because of his elite linebacker speed and playmaking abilities.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)

Just what Pittsburgh needs: a stud middle linebacker to force interior plays to the outside, where LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison reside. So instead of rebuilding, the Steel Curtain just reloads.

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

The revival of the Orange Crush is nearly complete. Jerel Worthy has a nose for the ball and crashing backfields like it's a party.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

The final piece to the Houston Texans puzzle for ultimate success is getting Andre Johnson a dominant No. 2 receiving threat. Kevin Walter has been solid, no doubt, but Wright has much more potential.

Possessing excellent track speed, body control on routes and reliability over the middle, the Texans become a complete offense. Much like Johnson, Wright can stretch a defense and will also derive attention for Owen Daniel to see a lot of single coverage.

The more important factor, however, results in defenses not stacking the box against Arian Foster. Houston, at its core, is a running team, but the passing game must be effective. Wright provides this luxury and the Texans become immediate Super Bowl contenders.

27. New England Patriots (From NO): Whitney Mercilus, DE (Illinois)

For the Patriots to remain the standard in the AFC, getting a stud pass-rusher is needed. Otherwise, the pass defense will lose its potential and the front seven fails to be consistent.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE (USC)

As long as the Packers go defense for most of the draft, they'll increase expectations for 2012. Having the league's worst defense cannot happen for Titletown to remain elite.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Zeitler, OG (Wisconsin)

Baltimore has the best running back in the AFC North and in order for Ray Rice to keep rolling, replenishing the offensive line is needed—especially against the AFC North defenses.

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

Stephen Hill is a block-first, catch-second receiver. Georgia Tech loved to run the rock and so do San Francisco. It's Hill's downfield playmaking skills that will occur against single coverage with Randy Moss, Vernon Davis and Mario Manningham getting attention as well.

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

Bill Belichick needs a safety who can play all over. Mark Barron can sit back deep in Cover 1, 2 and 3 or roll down to compensate for a blitzing linebacker.

32. New York Giants: Doug Martin, RB (Boise State)

Ahmad Bradshaw needs a complement back to help the Giants win short-yard situations. Doug Martin provides that and the ability to pass protect. In the pass rush-heavy NFC East, it's arguably the most important need so Eli Manning can continue to dice up defenses.

John Rozum on Twitter.