2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the First Pick for All 32 Teams

We’re less than a month away from a highly anticipated NFL draft, and unanimous selections Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin will presumably be the first two picks selected.

Over the past three years, top quarterbacks have been the subject of much scrutiny, whether it was Matthew Stafford’s inaccuracy problems, Sam Bradford’s injury woes or Cam Newton’s unorthodox way of playing the position, but it appears that just about everyone has fallen in love with both of these high-potential quarterbacks.

The NFL is adapting, especially offensively. More passing plays are drawn up for almost every franchise, so it will be interesting to see how teams can either add on to that style of play or find a way to counter it.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see if there are any trades—nothing as substantial as what the Redskins gave up for the second overall pick, but there could be some surprises, especially if a team really likes Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

I know I’m like the millionth person to come up with a mock draft and I know it’s unrealistic to think that I’m going to predict every team correctly, but it’s worth a shot.  Yes, I do aspire to be Mel Kiper Jr. one day, just one of my many faulty expectations.

The Indianapolis Colts Select: Quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford

When push comes to shove, this is who the Colts organization will go with. Robert Griffin III is an exceptional player, but I would be very surprised if the Colts pass on Luck. Called the best quarterback prospect since Elway, according to draft guru Mel Kiper, Andrew Luck will immediately be penciled in as the starter.

My opinion of the difference between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III is that Andrew Luck is the safer pick. RG3’s biggest hurdle going into the NFL may be adjusting to an NFL style offense, where Luck’s transition will be easier. His athleticism is incredibly underrated and he's able to make any throw.

In addition to that, I would like to say that the Colts are the luckiest franchise of the last two decades. They have two miserable seasons in a span of over 15 years and receive the number one selection in the draft in both years. By some miracle, the Colts select a quarterback that we’ve never seen before (Peyton Manning), and now they have the opportunity to get a quarterback of equal or more value (Luck). Not fair.

The Washington Redskins Select: Quarterback Robert Griffin III, Baylor

The Redskins had to take the aggressive route. They saw the former Heisman winner shine in just about every aspect, so they had to do whatever it takes.

They certainly gave up a lot in a trade with the St. Louis Rams last month, but RG3 seems to have the talent to make it worthwhile.

Robert Griffin III is bound for greatness, but Washington isn’t the easiest place to play. It will be very interesting to see if Mike Shanahan still has it in him. I’m excited to see him play come September.

If the Colts do in fact pull a fast one and select the former Baylor quarterback, I can imagine the Redskins will be more than happy with Andrew Luck.

The Minnesota Vikings Select: Offensive Tackle Matt Kalil, USC

Just about everyone was surprised to see Christian Ponder selected 12^th overall. For better or for worse, the Vikings are stuck with Ponder, at least for the foreseeable future.

I don’t care how talented the quarterback is, he will need to be protected. It can be argued that left tackle is the second most important position on the offense (assuming the quarterback is right-handed).

Matt Kalil is the best available tackle in the draft. Selecting him starts to build a youthful foundation, which is where the Vikings appear to be headed.

The Cleveland Browns Select: Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

How is Colt McCoy or any quarterback going to maximize their talent will so little around them? Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi did not pan out.

Justin Blackmon, along with emerging second-year receiver Greg Little, gives the Browns a formidable pass attack. Blackmon is the highest rated wide receiver in this year’s draft class. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he can run just about every route and has tremendous hands.

The Browns also have a late first-round pick which they can use to address their other needs.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select: Running Back Trent Richardson, Alabama

By all means, I think Richardson is going to have a great rookie season, and he actually wouldn’t surprise me if he’s rookie of the year.

However, there are not many running backs in the league that can remain in elite status for more than five years. Are the Bucs willing to select Trent Richardson when his running style may derail his career after just a few years?

It’s a huge gamble. I would like to assume that when a franchise selects someone in the top five they envision this player being a Pro Bowler for the next decade. Drafting Trent Richardson may not be the safest pick.

All that considered, I still believe Tampa Bay will pull the trigger on the former Alabama running back. He will immediately produce and could potentially solidify their young offense.

The St. Louis Rams Select: Offensive Tackle Riley Reiff, Iowa

Reiff may not be the best available, but he fulfills a need that the Rams are desperate for. Going back to my earlier point, Sam Bradford will not produce without being protected.

Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold are not the answers at left tackle. Reiff, out of Iowa, appears to be the next in line after Kalil.

The Rams already addressed their need at receiver by signing former Giant and Eagle Steve Smith, and Danny Amendola is also returning from injury.

The Jacksonville Jaguars Select: Defensive End Quinton Coples, North Carolina

The Jaguars are in desperate need of receivers to help their terrible passing attack, but they would be reaching for Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd at this position.

Quinton Coples provides another answer they need. Coples will fit naturally in a 4-3 defensive scheme, where he can become the team’s primary pass rusher, as well as a run stopper.

Jeremy Mincey had a nice season for the Jaguars last year, but that was about it. Quinton Coples is a great value.

The Miami Dolphins Select: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin will be opening game starters. Although talented, Tannehill is not ready yet. He’s a very good athlete and his arm has been impressive, however, he has little experience under his belt at Texas A&M.

The Dolphins already have Matt Moore and David Garrard on the roster, so Tannehill can redshirt for the first year or two as he develops into a starting quarterback.

Not to mention his former college head coach Mike Sherman is now the offensive coordinator in Miami, thus making the transition easier.

Before the success of quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, rookie quarterbacks typically rode the bench for their first year. Matt Moore is a solid quarterback and I see no problem with Tannehill waiting a year.

The Carolina Panthers Select: Cornerback Morris Clairborne, LSU

Cornerback is not Carolina’s biggest need. Help along the defensive front is a huge need, but if Morris Claiborne falls in their laps at the 9^th overall pick, it will be hard to pass up on a guy who looks like a shutdown corner.

LSU’s most popular player was Tyrann Mathieu, aka “The Honey Badger,” but Morris Claiborne was arguably their best defender.

The NFL has transitioned to a pass-happy offense, thus the need for quality cornerbacks will be emphasized.

Lastly, the Panthers have to play the Saints and Falcons twice a year, both of which have potent passing attacks. Morris Claiborne will help combat that.

The Buffalo Bills Select: Wide Receiver Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

The big spenders of free agency, the Bills have suddenly climbed up the power rankings as they have formed the best defensive line on paper.

For the first time, the Bills don’t have a lot of holes. Ryan Fitzpatrick is their quarterback (at least they are paying him like a franchise one), Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller have a hold on the running back position and they were able to retain the enigmatic Stevie Johnson.

I would say offensive tackle is their biggest need, but Jonathan Martin isn’t worth a top-10 pick. Michael Floyd out of Notre Dame would make sense here. Other than Johnson, the Bills don’t have a lot of passing threats and could potentially form a very impressive young duo.

The Kansas City Chiefs Select: Nose Tackle Dontari Poe, Memphis

Teams that run a 3-4 will salivate over a future nose tackle like the 345-pound Dontari Poe.

He had the best combine performance out of all the participants by running the 40-yard dash in under five seconds and 44 reps of 225 pounds on the bench.

Physically, he has everything you look for in a prototypical nose tackle and then some. Coming from a smaller school, Poe might need some time adjusting, but the Chiefs will get the best available here at a major need.

The Seattle Seahawks Select: Inside Linebacker Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Barring the Seahawks deciding not to bring back David Hawthorne, Luke Kuechly would be a fit. He’s your standard inside linebacker. He is a tackling machine, a great leader and seems to be in on every play.

Similar to Poe, the Seahawks are getting the best available here. I would expect Kuechly to transition to the NFL with relative ease.

The Arizona Cardinals Select: Outside Linebacker Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

The Cardinals need help generating a pass rush, Melvin Ingram seems best suited to fulfill that outside linebacker role opposite of Sam Acho.

This is the best position for Ingram, he’s a bit undersized in a 4-3 scheme and has the athleticism to play outside in the Cardinals 3-4 system. Another solid selection.

The Dallas Cowboys Select: Offensive Guard David DeCastro, Stanford

Cornerback, safety and defensive line all will be given a look, but David DeCastro is too good to pass up. Although the Cowboys will go consecutive first-round picks on offensive lineman (Tyron Smith last year), DeCastro seems like the safe pick.

Interior offensive lineman tend to transition to the NFL easier than tackles and DeCastro is the highest rated at that position.

The Philadelphia Eagles Select: Safety Mark Barron, Alabama

The Eagles don’t have a lot of holes. Their problem last year wasn’t personnel, but a lack of chemistry between players and coaches for that matter.

While Philadelphia was stacked at cornerback, they had a less-than-mediocre safety tandem. Mark Barron will fill that void, most likely at strong safety.

Nick Saban grooms his defensive players for the NFL and Barron is the only safety that’s worth a first-round pick.

The New York Jets Select: Outside Linebacker Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Since Rex Ryan has been the head coach, his defenses have always been considered very good—well, aside from a slight resurgence from Aaron Maybin, their pass rush has been less than stellar.

Similar to Ingram, Upshaw is best suited for the outside linebacker role. Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas are past their prime and will need an energetic and versatile talent like Upshaw.

The Cincinnati Bengals Select: Defensive End Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

Prior to the start of last season, I thought the Bengals were in trouble: Carson Palmer refusing to play, Jonathan Joseph going to Houston and the flamboyant Chad Ochocinco finally departing.

Well, Marvin Lewis did an amazing job and second-round pick Andy Dalton was beyond impressive. Defensively, Geno Atkins turned some heads on the defensive line, but they were lacking in overall sacks.

Whitney Mercilus is certainly a stretch, but the Bengals are going for someone who fits, rather than best available. Mercilus led the nation in sacks last year and should eventually fortify that defensive front in Cincinnati.

The San Diego Chargers Select: Offensive Tackle/Guard Cordy Glenn, Georgia

Offensive line woes killed the Chargers last year. The versatile lineman from Georgia will give Philip Rivers what he desperately needs.

Kris Dielman abruptly retired and Marcus McNeil is still a free agent. Whether the Chargers prefer Cordy Glenn at guard or tackle, they have options that will best fit the rookie.

The Chicago Bears Select: Tight End Coby Fleener, Stanford

The Bears made a huge splash in acquiring Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, but the more help Jay Cutler gets, the better.

Former offensive coordinator Mike Martz rarely used tight ends. Now that he has left, Jay Cutler could use another pass catcher.

Coby Fleener is the best available tight end in the draft. He had a very impressive pro day at Stanford and is coming from a pro-style offense.

The selection of a great tight end can turn this Chicago offense from good to great—they are a team that is definitely under the radar.

The Tennessee Titans Select: Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

Cortland Finnegan was a big loss in Tennessee. Dre Kirkpatrick will be penciled in to replace him.

He has great size for a corner and just like his other Alabama teammates, he will transition to the Titans defense.

Tennessee could take a look at defensive line here, but cornerback appears to be their biggest need at the moment.

The Cincinnati Bengals Select: Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

With the potential selection of Gilmore and Mercilus, the Bengals are getting two starting quality defenders to make an immediate impact. Thank you Raiders organization for giving up way too much for Carson Palmer.

Dre Kirkpatrick and Gilmore seem to go hand in hand, but giving the advantage to Kirkpatrick as of now. Gilmore is another physical cornerback that can replace the void that needs to be filled when Jonathan Joseph went to Houston last year.

The Cleveland Browns Select: Offensive Tackle Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The Browns already have one of the best left tackles in the NFL (Joe Thomas). Jonathan Martin will complete the bookend, which is needed for any successful offense.

This is a safe pick; Martin appears to fit best at right tackle and once again will provide much needed help for Colt McCoy.

The Detroit Lions Select: Cornerback Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

The Lions are picking in the late first round...this is weird. If Janoris Jenkins didn’t finish his collegiate career at North Alabama (originally played at Florida), then he would probably be picked earlier in the first round.

He’s a pure cover corner, which is the biggest need for Detroit this offseason. The Lions were fun to watch last year, but they were also surrendering a lot of passing yards. (Matt Flynn should personally thank them for his new contract.)

The Pittsburgh Steelers Select: Nose Tackle Michael Brockers, LSU

This would be an absolute steal if Brockers falls to Pittsburgh. Regardless if you hate Pittsburgh or not, they run a great organization and get a lot of out of their draft picks.

Casey Hampton is nearing the end of his career, and Michael Brockers will eventually transition as the starting nose tackle.

The Denver Broncos Select: Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

This is another great value pick, Cox fulfills Denver’s biggest need along the interior defensive line and seems versatile enough to play anywhere on the front four.

The Broncos already have a very good defense—it’s what took them to the playoffs, not Tebow. (Sorry I’m not sorry.)

Brodrick Bunkley leaving to New Orleans could have hurt Denver, but they will get equal value out of Fletcher Cox eventually.

The Houston Texans Select: Wide Receiver Kendall Wright, Baylor

The Texans have a lot of talent on offense: Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, Matt Schaub just to name a few, in particular Andre Johnson, who has been considered an elite receiver for many years.

Imagine what the Texans offense could look like with another receiving threat, especially a downfield one like Kendall Wright.

They are the team to beat in the AFC South, and Kendall Wright would only increase the Texans already potent offense.

The New England Patriots Select: Safety Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

Regardless if New England runs a 4-3 or 3-4, they need help defensively. Sure, Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater were good stories, but they should not have a major role in the defense.

Harrison Smith has been climbing up the draft charts after impressive workouts and I’m sure Bill Belichik can find a role for him, whether it’s at free or strong safety.

The Green Bay Packers Select: Outside Linebacker Andre Branch, Clemson

Clay Matthews may be a very popular player in the NFL, but he needs a lot of help, or just the defense in general.

Other than that, running back is another need for Green Bay, but there is no other player worth a first-round pick.

Andre Branch just looks like an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme and will potentially limit Clay Matthews from getting double teamed every time.

The Baltimore Ravens Select: Inside Linebacker Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

He might not start right away, but Hightower is in good hands in Baltimore. The Ravens organization also takes care of their rookies and will ease the former Alabama linebacker into the starting role.

He may need to cut some weight, but I’m sure he is willing to do whatever Ray Lewis and company tell him to do.

Offensive guard could be given a look, but I don’t see any prospects that could be appealing to them. Hightower is their best option and could be the heir apparent to Ray Lewis one day.

The San Francisco 49ers Select: Defensive End Kendall Reyes, UConn

The 49ers don’t need a lot of help. Wide receiver was taken care of with Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. They are sticking with Alex Smith, and top free-agents Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson were taken care of.

Kendall Reyes may not be the starter, but he will provide depth along the defensive front. Justin Smith is one of the best at his position, but he doesn’t have a lot of years left in him.

Three-man defensive fronts take a serious beating, thus increasing the likelihood of injuries. Reyes seems to be a great value pick for San Francisco.

The New England Patriots Select: Center Peter Konz, Wisconsin

Predicting the Patriots' draft strategy is harder than Chinese algebra. That being said, for the sake of my mock draft, I’ll give it a shot.

The Patriots will need depth along the interior offensive line that could be used in a starting role. Peter Konz is the best available center in the draft and could be a trusted starter for years to come.

The New York Giants Select: Offensive Tackle Mike Adams, Ohio State

I went back and forth with this one. Their offensive tackles are getting up there in age, but they also need some outside linebackers.

Mike Adams may not be ready to start Week 1, but he has all the physical aspects you look for in a tackle. If Adams slips to the Giants, it will be too hard for them to pass up.