2012 NFL Mock Draft: Simple Solutions to Every Team's Draft Needs

Filling needs is the purpose of the NFL Draft, and this year, there are simple solutions to the holes on each team's roster. 

Here is my latest mock draft, in which each team addresses a pressing need.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts need a quarterback to center their rebuilding project around. Luck is the best signal-caller to enter the league in a decade. 

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

After watching John Beck and Rex Grossman prove that anyone can be an NFL quarterback, the Redskins decided to finally go out and get a franchise-caliber player under center. Griffin is that guy and will be their pick.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings need to protect young quarterback Christian Ponder's blind side and Kalil is the best offensive lineman to enter the NFL since the Miami Dolphins made Jake Long the No. 1 overall pick in 2008. This is a natural fit and there is no need for the Vikings to overthink this and go in another direction.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Receiver or running back will be the pick here, and Richardson will have more of an immediate impact than Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon. The Alabama back will take a ton of pressure off quarterback Colt McCoy.

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

The Bucs added Eric Wright in free agency, but Aqib Talib's future is a big question mark, and Ronde Barber will be entering his 16th season. Claiborne fills a need and will develop into a lock-down corner.

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

A no-brainer here, St. Louis needs a receiver and Blackmon is the best one in this year's draft class.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is a risk this high, but his upside is tremendous, and the Jaguars need to add a defensive end early in this draft. Receiver is another option, but plenty of wideouts will be available in the later rounds.

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

Tannehill's stock has been soaring ever since he aced his pro day, and he has solidified himself as a top-10 pick. The Dolphins need a quarterback to build around after missing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn this offseason. They can't pass on Tannehill here.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

At the combine, Poe showed himself to be a once-in-a-decade athlete. The Panthers need to get better up front defensively, and Poe should give head coach Ron Rivera a playmaker on the inside of his defensive line.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo's top need is offensive tackle and they get lucky here as Reiff—the draft's second-best tackle—falls to them.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Kansas City would love to land Poe, but Kuechly is a nice consolation prize. The Boston College product will give the Chiefs a rock to help improve the middle of their defense.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Seahawks need a 4-3 defensive end, and Ingram is probably the most versatile future end in this draft. He was a big-time playmaker at South Carolina and should fit perfectly in Seattle.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals desperately need an offensive tackle despite re-signing Levi Brown this offseason. Martin has a lot of upside, though he lacks polish in pass protection. He'll be a major upgrade for Arizona.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox will fit perfectly along Rob Ryan's defensive front, and the Cowboys' biggest need is a 3-4 defensive lineman.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

After trading for linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles have started fixing the middle of their defense. Drafting a versatile safety line, Barron will continue that process.

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

The Jets have to get an edge rusher here and Upshaw is the kind of physical player Rex Ryan loves on the perimeter of his defense. The Alabama product has explosiveness and power against both the run and pass. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is a top-10 talent whose stock has dropped thanks to an arrest for marijuana possession. Cincinnati's biggest need is at corner and I don't think they can pass on an elite talent here.

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

San Diego's offensive line was a mess in 2011, and now with Kris Dielman retired, DeCastro would fit in perfectly at left guard. 

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

The Bears also need help along the offensive line, and Glenn is a guy who could step in and immediately start at either guard spot or right tackle. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

By signing Kamerion Wimbley, the Titans filled their need for a pass rusher. With Cortland Finnegan gone, Gilmore will give them a big, physical corner who can match up with the NFL's top wideouts and help against the run.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

With BenJarvus Green-Ellis on the roster, the Bengals now need a home run threat at running back. Miller has the most upside of any back in the draft other than Trent Richardson. 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With Richardson already taken earlier in the first round, adding Floyd would continue the process of giving Colt McCoy some weapons to work with. 

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Current center Dominic Raiola is terrible and the Lions need an upgrade there. Konz is a smart, physical guy who will help quarterback Matthew Stafford's development.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Casey Hampton is aging and the Steelers need to take someone who can be a force in the middle of their defense, then eventually take over for their long-time nose tackle.

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Denver's biggest need is to get better up front defensively. At 6'5" and 323 pounds, Brockers is a force who should immediately upgrade the team's defense. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, but he needs help. Wright is a legitimate deep threat and will be a solid No. 2 option for quarterback Matt Schaub.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Patriots must get better and younger along their front seven. Mercilus will give them an outstanding edge rusher who should have no problem switching from defensive line to linebacker in the NFL.

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

Green Bay will take a pass rusher here, it just matters which one falls to them. Perry is the best pure rusher in this draft and would give Clay Matthews someone to take the pressure off him and help get to the quarterback.

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

The Ravens need to eventually draft Ray Lewis' successor and there is no better time than now. Hightower is a stud who will fill Lewis' shoes admirably after a year or two of learning from the master.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Hill has elite size, and his ability to get deep is a sight to behold. The 49ers need a deep threat badly and will be willing to wait for him to develop.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes is a versatile lineman who could play any spot along New England's hybrid 3-4/4-3 front. His selection will continue the Patriots' commitment to rebuilding their front seven.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

With no offensive tackles worth the pick available here, the Giants will look to upgrade the perimeter of their defense. The team's outside linebackers were just average in 2011; Brown has the speed and nose for the ball to be a stud in the NFL.