2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Who Will Fit Right in on New Teams

Some players are drafted and expected to assimilate to their new teams. Others are drafted and it is pretty clear they will not need much assimilation. They are already in the mold. 

This mock draft is going to focus on the latter part of those scenarios. In my full first-round mock below, I will pay special attention to the players that were custom made for their new team. 

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Despite a growing buzz around Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck is still a lock to be the first pick. 

2.  Washington Redskins via St. Louis: Robert Griffin III 

The Redskins will be more than happy to take the QB that the Colts pass on. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil has every skill a player needs to be a dominant left tackle, and the Vikings definitely need line help. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Why Richardson will fit right in with the Browns:

Richardson will be a nice fit with any team. He has a good attitude and can do everything any team would want a back to do. 

He is good in short-yardage situations. He is explosive enough to bust off long runs. He has great hands coming out of the backfield. He can block. 

Beyond all that, he will fit in with the Browns because they are desperate for offensive help and have a gaping hole at running back. They will put to good use all of the various talents Richardson brings to the field. 

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

The Bucs have so many holes, they need to focus on taking the best player available, and Claiborne will be that guy. 

6. St. Louis Rams via Washington: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams will be thrilled beyond words when the draft unfolds like this and they get a chance to draft Blackmon. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The Jaguars have a decent D, but lack a true pass-rusher. Coples is the best pass-rusher in this draft. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Why Martin will fit right in with the Dolphins:

Jonathan Martin is a dominant run-blocker. He will excel in this area right off the bat in the NFL, though his pass blocking will be more of a work in progress. 

Martin must work on his footwork and lateral movement to block the faster pass-rushers in the NFL. This leaves him better suited, at least initially, for right tackle. He will not face nearly as many elite pass-rushers on that side. 

This makes Martin a perfect fit for the Dolphins. There won't be any pressure for him to play left tackle, as they already have Jake Long, and Martin's mashing ways will fit the hard-nosed mentality of this line. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

The Panthers need to go with a DT here. Still is their best bet. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Buffalo's defense will start to round into form with a potential shutdown corner. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

The Chiefs need to restock their offensive line. DeCastro is a gifted run-blocker. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Seattle's defense would be potentially dominant with a stud DT.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Cardinals whiffed on landing a QB in free agency. They will find one in the draft.  

14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Cowboys need a consistent tackler with a nose for the ball. Kuechly is the perfect fit. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff will be an instant upgrade on a line in need of help. 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram's speed, pass-rush threat and ability to take down RBs on the edge is exactly what the Jets need. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals via OAK: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Cincinnati needs a workhorse back. Miller is a hard runner and fierce competitor.  

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois 

The Chargers need a pass-rusher coming off the edge. Mercilus has the athleticism to dominate. 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Chicago would be infinitely foolish to pass on Konz. It must upgrade at center.  

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Titans need a safety, and they are in the perfect spot to select the best one in this draft. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins has talent and character issues—sounds perfect for the Bengals. 

22. Cleveland Browns via ATL: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Browns budding defense could use a well-rounded LB like Brown. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn is a monster of a man that is surprisingly sprite on the move. The Lions will love his run-blocking ability.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Steelers must upgrade their offensive line. Adams has some red flags, but he also has big potential. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Denver is shockingly thin at defensive tackle. It'll be overjoyed if Cox is available. 

26. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd is another player with character issues, but his talent definitely makes him worth a pick here. 

27. New England Patriots via NO: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Why Upshaw will fit right in with the Patriots:

The Patriots have been getting good sack numbers from guys with less-than-elite talent. For example, Mark Anderson had 10 sacks last year. Anderson is a fine player, he is just not a guy that you'd expect to get 10 sacks, but Bill Belichick puts his defenders in a position to maximize their talents.

Imagine what he'll be able to do with a pass-rushing talent like Upshaw.

Upshaw should have no problems picking up the Patriots defense. He came from a pro-style 3-4 defense at Alabama. He also has the heart, attitude and talent to become an instant defensive mainstay. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Green Bay must bolster its defense. Perry will give the Packers a nice complement to Clay Matthews. 

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

Hightower will bring youth and a Baltimore type of skill set to the Ravens LB corps.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The 49ers will continue to upgrade their WRs with their first selection. 

31. New England Patriots: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Branch and Upshaw will instantly give the Patriots a fierce front seven. 

32. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Hey, why not? The Giants love their defensive linemen, and it pays off.