2012 NFL Mock Draft: Ryan Tannehill and Players That Will Be Drafted Too Early

Best player available or best available at a position of need?

It's a dilemma that many teams will face in the 2012 NFL draft, and there is no right answer. It changes depending on the team and players under consideration.

If a team is in a situation that sees itself set at QB, for example, if the best player available is a signal-caller, it would be best advised to draft the best player at a position at which it isn't as strong.

If a team has multiple needs, drafting the best player available makes the most sense.

Here are a few players that will be in that situation in this draft, and a full first-round mock. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No dilemma here, Luck all the way.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis)

Ditto from the top selection. The Skins mortgaged the future for RG3, he's their man.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

There are a few places the Vikes could go, but Kalil is the safest pick and a lock at this point.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama

Trent Richardson is a solid running back. In fact—he's the best back in the draft. But I'm just one of those people that believes you never draft a RB this high. That is especially the case when your team has as many holes as the Browns do.

Richardson is not going to drastically change the fortunes of the Browns franchise. In my opinion, at No. 4, that is the type of player you're looking for.

As solid as Richardson is, he doesn't address the team's major issues. Those are: stretching the field vertically, dependable receivers or solidifying the QB spot.

Nonetheless, I fully expect to hear Richardson's name called here.

It's not a knock on him; it's just too high for this team—and this position. 

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

Claiborne is the best playmaker of any prospect at DB.

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

Blackmon landing with St. Louis should make Sam Bradford very excited.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Jags will jump at the chance to land this potentially explosive pass-rusher.

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

Tannehill is a solid QB prospect, but he isn't a player that I believe will be ready to play on the NFL level in year one. At this point, the expectations for franchise QBs have changed.

When a QB is selected in the top 10, there is an expectation that the player can help the team sooner rather than later. I don't think Tannehill is ready to do that.

He began his collegiate career as a WR, and yes, he is a great athlete. He threw for 3,744 yards in his senior season with 29 TDs and 15 INT.

That INT total on a collegiate level is worrisome to me. Early on, that number in the NFL will likely be much higher.

Don't get me wrong, I like Tannehill as a prospect, but I think he's a talent better suited for the later rounds.

9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Adding Coples on the other side of Charles Johnson could solidify the Panthers' pass rush.

10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd will give Stevie Johnson an awesome counterpart in the Bills' receiving corps.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, Memphis

Boom or bust?

The Chiefs may soon find out with this combine freak. Sure, Poe looked like a potential dominant force on the line of scrimmage at the combine, but can we solely depend on that in an evaluation?

Should we completely disregard his performance at Memphis?

He had 33 tackles, one sack and eight tackles for a loss in 2011. Those are so-so numbers, but certainly not dominant.

Even in watching tapes of him, Poe rarely seemed to dominate his man at the line of scrimmage. 

What gives?

Did a scheme play that much of a part in limiting him?

It remains to be seen, but with so little to go on—on the field, this is a bit of a stretch for Poe.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

Seattle has its QB, now it's time they shore up the middle of their defense. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is one solid offensive tackle. In the end, he may end up being the best of this year's class. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The troubled Jenkins is immensely talented, and I'm hoping he has matured. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi State

The Eagles are building the middle of their defense, and Cox would be a solid selection.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE Alabama

The Jets need a pass-rusher in the worst way, and Upshaw definitely has that skill set.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is versatile and a solid replacement for Cedric Benson.

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

DeCastro could be a future Pro Bowl guard landing in San Diego.  

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Taking Martin makes sense, even though the Bears could go receiver here.

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Glenn is a solid and safe pick. His presence augments the Titans' strong run game.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Corner is a huge need for Cincinnati, and Kirkpatrick has the size and talent to succeed.

22. Cleveland Browns: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The Browns certainly need weapons, and this pick could definitely work out—but, Hill has so little experience and game action to reference. Like Poe, he was a freak at the combine, but he played in an offense without a solid QB, and his numbers were modest, to say the least.

He had only 28 receptions for 820 yards. I know he didn't play in an offense that focused on the pass, nor did he play with a solid QB, but there are tons of variables involved here.

With so much unknown, it seems difficult to take him in the first round. But because of his freakish combine performance, he will be among the first 32 players selected.

We'll see how it pans out.

23. Detroit Lions: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley has great speed, and that will be an asset in the Lions' secondary.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

Lewis would be in a great situation to be James Harrison's understudy.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still is a solid and safe pick after Denver has been anything but this offseason.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright will be the player in this draft teams regret passing on the most. The lack of impressive combine speed numbers are masking a game-changer.

27. New England Patriots: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Big, physical and athletic, Gilmore may actually move up, but if he doesn't, the Pats would love to have him.

28. Green Bay Packers: Chase Minnifield CB, Virginia

Very solid athlete whose dad played in the NFL (Frank Minnifield).

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

Hightower should replace Ray Lewis in two years. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Fleener and Vernon Davis may be the biggest reason the Niners are headed to the Super Bowl.

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois

Another solid pick for the Pats. Mercilus could be the pass-rusher to replace Andre Davis.

32. New York Giants: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

It is time for the G-Men to upgrade the RB position.