2012 NFL Mock Draft: Smartest Moves for Every First-Round Team

There is a perfect selection out there for every team. This mock draft outlines it. These are the picks that fit a need and they are the players that will produce. 

So, in the below mock of perfect picks, there are a few that make so much sense, and are so perfect, that not even an NFL team can screw them up. Those picks will be highlighted with extra attention. 

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Drafting Andrew Luck is so obvious it can't even be considered smart. 

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

There is little suspense with the second pick in this year's draft.  

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is a left tackle prototype and will be an instant upgrade on the Vikings offensive line. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns must find an every-down running back, and Richardson is exactly that. 

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

Claiborne will give the Bucs a shutdown corner they desperately need. 

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

The Rams need a receiver, and Blackmon is the best one in this draft. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Why Coples is the Smartest Pick for the Jaguars

The Jaguars only sacked opposing QBs 31 times last year. This was the 25th-worst number in the league. They must improve the pass rush. 

Coples is this draft's premier pass-rusher. Coples' senior year raised some doubts. His production fell off as he faced a barrage of double teams while he was on a bad defense. However, he erased those concerns in the Senior Bowl. Going against NFL-caliber linemen, Coples was unblockable. He made a permanent home in the opposition's backfield. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Marin has the potential to be a great LT. He is already prepared to be a good RT, and that is exactly what the Dolphins need. 

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

The Panthers need to build a solid defensive line. Still will be a nice start. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Buffalo must fill out a thin secondary, and Kirkpatrick is a nice fit for its scheme. 

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

The Chiefs must return to an elite rushing team. DeCastro will help them with that. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe would give the Seahawks a DT to help keep their run defense strong and help them get pressure on the QB. 

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

Somehow, somewhere the Cardinals must find a QB. The draft is their last realistic chance. 

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

Kuechly will bring consistency and instincts to the Cowboys' LB corps. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Eagles must improve their offensive line. Reiff is a pro-ready lineman.

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

Why Ingram is the Smartest Pick

After a run of having an impenetrable defense, the Jets showed some weaknesses last year. This is still a solid group, but they have gotten old and slow in the front seven. They finished 13th in rushing defense. They were still stout up the middle, but were gouged on the edge as backs blew past the defense. 

Ingram will help seal that edge. He has the speed to extend backs and not let them turn the corner. He is also going to bring a nice pass rush, which is desperately needed in New York. Last season, the Jets didn't have one player record more than five sacks.

Ingram can beat that as a rookie. 

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

The Bengals have to get a running back somewhere, and their first pick is a good place to start. Miller could erase the Bengals' RB need for a long time. 

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

The Chargers need a dominant athlete to hold down the edge. Mercilus will fit perfectly. 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Why Konz is the Smartest Pick

The Bears' offensive line is terrible—so awful in pass protection to the point where they had to adjust the play-calling last season so Jay Cutler wouldn't get pummeled out of the season, and he got knocked out anyway. 

They must improve that line in the draft, and center is the best place to start. Incumbent starter Roberto Garza is terrible. It is time for him to become a backup. And Konz is definitely capable of sending him to the bench. 

Konz is easily the best center in this draft. He has good feet and awareness and should have an accelerated learning curve. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is an easy pick for the Titans. They need a safety and he is the best in this class.  

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

Jenkins has character issues and talent. The Bengals will gamble because of the talent. 

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

Brown is a versatile and well-rounded LB. He will bring added consistency to the Browns' LBs. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Detroit needs to find a bruising running game to draw in the safeties. Glenn is a beast of guard that will help the Lions plow straight ahead. 

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

After missing out on the top tackles, the Steelers will take a flyer on a guy with big potential. 

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

The Broncos have to add DTs in this draft. They would be well-served to do that with their first pick. 

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

Floyd has big-time talent and is a perfect complement to Andre Johnson. 

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

The Patriots need to add some fierce athletes to the defensive side of the ball. 

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

Perry will give the Packers the two-headed pass rush their defense needs. 

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

Hightower is a versatile LB that can play outside, and later slide inside when Ray Lewis retires. 

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

San Francisco is serious about upgrading its WR corps. It will keep that trend going with its first pick. 

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

More defense for the Patriots. This will help them complete their front seven. 

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

The Giants can never have enough defensive linemen. Worthy will add some beef to the interior.