2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Impact Players in the First Round

The 2012 NFL draft is drawing near, and soon Radio City Music Hall in New York City will be abuzz with activity as all 32 teams gather to try to add players to their squads that will help push them into the postseason.

As the big night gets closer, here's an updated look at how the first round of the 2012 draft could shake out as every team with a first-round choice selects a player that they hope will make a big impact in his first season in the NFL.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts traveled to Palo Alto earlier this week to watch Luck work out at Stanford, and it's become about as close to an absolute lock as you can get that Luck will be the first overall selection.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Meanwhile, Griffin reportedly declined an invitation to work out for the Colts, which leads me to believe that he's as aware as we are that he's going to Washington with the No. 2 pick.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings could trade down here if the Dolphins make them a "godfather" offer, but if that doesn't occur Minnesota will look to upgrade an offensive line that gave up the fifth-most sacks in the NFL last year.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns are in dire need of offensive playmakers, and as beat reporter Tony Grossi recently reported Cleveland head coach Pat Shurmur is well aware that the Browns need to improve the ground game this season.

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“You need not remind me,” Shurmur replied. “But I do know that’s a critical position, and the quarterback has to have confidence that he can turn around and hand the ball off and get yards, or drop back and know (the back’s) going to protect properly, or drop back and throw it to him. That’s an important confidence to have.”

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Alabama running back Trent Richardson gained over 2,000 total yards last season and is believed by some to be the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. The 5'10", 228-pound bell cow would be a huge boost to the Cleveland offense.

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

Ronde Barber is 36 years old and Aqib Talib is facing jail time for assault, so the Buccaneers would be well advised to look at upgrading their secondary by selecting the draft's top cornerback prospect.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The two-time Biletnikoff winner was likely one of the Rams primary draft targets all along, so landing Blackmon plus the extra picks from the Redskins is a huge coup for St. Louis.

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

The Jaguars pass rush ranked ranked 25th in the NFL last year in sacks. Ingram would provide a much-needed complement to Jeremy Mincey on the defensive front after racking up 10 sacks for the Gamecocks in 2011.

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

The Dolphins are desperate for a franchise quarterback after failing to acquire Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn in free agency, and the team has reportedly zeroed in on the Texas A&M gunslinger now.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Carolina defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL against the run in 2011, and the 322-pound Brockers has the potential to be a mainstay in the middle of the Panthers defense for many years.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Now that tackle Demetress Bell is off to Philadelphia the Bills suddenly have a huge hole on the offensive line, which could easily steer the team towards the All Big-Ten performer.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Chiefs were able to fill needs at cornerback and right tackle in free agency, but with 2011 starter Kelly Gregg, a 35-year-old free agent, the team still needs to address the nose tackle spot.

At 6'4" and 346-pounds Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe possesses the prototypical bulk that 3-4 teams look for in a tackle, and as ESPN's Ashley Fox recently pointed out Poe's ridiculous showing at the combine is still very fresh in many teams' minds.

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Poe vaulted up draft experts' boards because of an explosive combine performance and his unique combination of size, speed and flexibility, not really because of anything he did during his three seasons playing for the University of Memphis.

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12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Chris Clemons has become a solid pass-rusher for Seattle, but the team needs to add a player to bookend Clemons with. That's a role that the athletically gifted Coples, who oozes potential, could fill quite well.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David Decastro, OG, Stanford

The Cardinals need to improve the pass protection for quarterback Kevin Kolb, and the team reportedly prefers DeCastro, who is widely considered the best guard prospect in years, to former Stanford teammate Jonathan Martin.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Alabama strong safety Mark Barron was an All-American after posting 66 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in 2011. A large Dallas contingent at Alabama's recent pro day may have tipped the Cowboys' draft day hand.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The signing of Demetress Bell alleviates the team's need on the offensive line, so the Eagles may look to strengthen the middle of the defense by adding the All-SEC defensive tackle.

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

One of the deficiencies that hindered the New York offense last year was the lack of a viable second receiver, and the 6'3" Floyd would be a big upgrade after catching 100 passes last year for the Fighting Irish.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders):  Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Bengals badly need to bolster the interior of their offensive line, and the 6'5" 345-pound Glenn is a mauling run-blocker that could step into a starting role from day one.

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

Outside of linebacker Antwan Barnes, no player for the San Diego Chargers had more than four sacks in 2011, and the team finished with a measly 32 sacks for the season.

Meanwhile, All-American Whitney Mercilus had 16 sacks for the Fighting Illini in 2011, and while some question whether Mercilus is a one-year wonder, Lance Zierlein of the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Mercilus' draft stock is on the rise.

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Looking for a player flying up draft boards?  Look no further than Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus will be taken inside the first 20 picks and now I’m hearing rumors about a couple of teams who are interested in trading up for Mercilus.  Mercilus is very raw but has all the tools a team wants.  He can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 (OLB), but teams are banking on projecting his talent more than on his production on the college level.

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19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Now that the Bears have upgraded the weaponry at quarterback Jay Cutler's disposal, Chicago now needs to address the issue of keeping Cutler upright, an area in which Martin should be of assistance.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

After losing top cornerback Cortland Finnegan to free agency the Titans have a hole in the secondary, and the 6'2" Kirkpatrick is similarly stout in run support.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

There are a number of directions that the Bengals could go with this pick, but reports circulated Thursday that claim the Cincinnati front office has their sights on the Crimson Tide standout after Upshaw tallied 9.5 sacks last year.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

After improving the ground game by picking Trent Richardson, the Browns would be advised to upgrade the aerial attack with the 6'4", 215-pound Hill, who has jumped into first-round consideration after posting one of the best workouts by any wideout at February's NFL combine.

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Lions had a need in the secondary even before losing Eric Wright to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, and the 6'0", 190-pound junior would help fill the void left by his departure.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The release of longtime defensive stalwart James Farrior leaves a hole in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, and Hightower is a hard hitter with the sort of no-nonsense attitude that would fit like a glove with the Steelers.

25. Denver Broncos: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

Nate Irving has been a disappointment to this point in his brief NFL career and D.J. Williams is facing a six game suspension, so the Broncos may look to address the linebacker position in the first round of the draft.

Boston College middle linebacker Luke Kuechly won the Butkus award after leading college football with 191 tackles a year ago, and Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe recently reported that Kuechly carried over his outstanding combine showing to the Eagles' pro day.

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The run to the draft for former Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly took another step Wednesday as he put together an impressive performance at the school’s pro day in front of scouts.

“A lot of stuff I had done before, so it wasn’t anything too new,’’ Kuechly said. “I think overall it went pretty smoothly.’’

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26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Baylor wideout Kendall Wright was ridiculously productive as a senior in Waco, topping 1,600 receiving yards, and Wright would finally provide the Texans with the receiver to complement Andre Johnson that they have been seeking.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Patriots secondary was horrendous last year, and although Jenkins' past troubles make him a risky pick it's worth the gamble for New England given their glaring need at the cornerback position.

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

The Packers defense ranked dead last in the National Football League a season ago due in large part to their lack of a pass rush. The versatile 271-pound Perry would be a substantial upgrade after leading the Pac-12 in sacks as a junior.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Amini Silatolu, OT/OG, Midwestern State

The Ravens lost starting left guard Ben Grubbs to free agency, and while Silatolu may take some time to adjust to the NFL after playing at the Division II level the talent is there waiting to be developed.

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

A big showing at Stanford's pro day has propelled Stanford's Coby Fleener to the front of the line where this year's tight end class is concerned. Fleener's old college coach may have designs on pairing Fleener and Vernon Davis together in order to give opposing defenses matchup fits.

31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Patriots need to improve in just about every area of their defense, and the 303-pound 2011 Big Ten defensive player of the year has the versatility and quickness to play both 3-4 end and 4-3 tackle in head coach Bill Belichick's multiple fronts defense.

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

With Brandon Jacobs no longer with the team, Andre Brown looking at a four-game suspension, and Ahmad Bradshaw already receiving injections for his chronically worrisome foot the Giants are suddenly staring at an urgent need to upgrade their depth at the running back position..

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