2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mocking the First Three Rounds

Dis-information. Subterfuge. Espionage. No, I am not giving you the plot synopsis for Matt Damon's next spy flick. We're talking about April and the NFL Draft.

After trying to sift out which sources are telling the truth and which are merely blowing smoke, here is my prediction for the first three rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Picks 1-8

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Forget all the Robert Griffin talk. Andrew Luck is already getting sized for his horseshoe.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 

Griffin is already learning the Redskins offense - there is no doubt that he will be a Redskin by the end of April.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OL, USC

Unless there is a surprise trade up for Ryan Tannehill here, the Vikings will pick the best left tackle in the draft—Matt Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is by far the safest pick for the Browns here. They could take a gamble on Ryan Tannehill here, but taking a stud running back might just be too easy.

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

After losing out on Richardson, taking the best cover corner in the draft is a pretty nice consolation prize.

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

I imagine that the Rams will probably try and trade this pick as well, but if they don't, it makes sense for them to pick the best offensive weapon the board.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Blackmon and Floyd are pretty close on many people's draft boards. The Jaguars really need to land one of the two.

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

Tannehill is not a project. He could use some development, but I'm confident he could start by the middle of this season.

Picks 9-16

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

If the Panthers want help for their front seven, they need not look further than Chapel Hill. Coples is going to be a force in the NFL.

10. Buffalo Bills: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

A lot of Bills fans won't like this pick, but Buddy Nix will. Glenn will give the Bills the versatility they need at all four non-center positions.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

Cox, who will turn 21 this September, may ultimately be the best defensive prospect from the 2012 NFL Draft. Scott Pioli will not be able to pass him up.

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

Kuechly just likes to tackle people. He is athletic enough to get the job done in the NFL and his instincts and football IQ are second to none.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OL, Iowa

If the Cardinals don't pick Reiff here, there should be a congressional inquiry. They need offensive line help in the worst way.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis

I'm not sure Jerry Jones can pass up the athletic Poe here, even though adding Peter Konz or Mark Barron might make more sense initially.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: .Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

If there is a team that can help Ingram be successful in the NFL—I have my doubts—it is the Eagles. They can play him in space and see if he can win consistently.

16. New York Jets: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The safety play from the Jets last year was pretty abysmal. Adding Barron—who is much more than just an in-the-box strong safety—is a no-brainer.

Picks 17-24

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore has the size, speed and skill combination to really make a huge impact as a rookie. It wouldn't surprise me to see him go even higher.

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw is the hard-nosed football player that the Chargers need in their front seven. He's not a workout warrior, he is a warrior on Sundays.

19. Chicago Bears: David DeCastro, OL, Stanford

DeCastro is probably the safest pick in the entire draft. Even though the Bears probably want an OT or WR, they might not be able to pass on him.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Tapping Kirkpatrick to replace Cortland Finnegan makes a lot of sense. He can play the run, in zone and is improving in man coverage.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz is easily the best center in the draft, but his injury problems are a concern. If the Bengals are comfortable with Konz medically, he will be the pick.

22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Whether Wright plays the slot, outside, or both, I would be shocked if he wasn't a very productive receiver as a rookie.

23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OL, Stanford

I'm not as high on Martin as others, but he certainly has made things easier for Andrew Luck these last few years.

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

The Steelers seem to gravitate toward these physical, versatile defenders. Hightower has a chance to be just as good as current Steelers Lawrence Timmons, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

Picks 25-32

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

They just don't make enough people as big as Brockers to go around. Whether he plays 3-4 DE or 4-3 DT, Brockers could make a "big" difference.

26. Houston Texans: Mike Adams, OL, Ohio State

The Texans will be tempted to reach for a receiver here, but addressing the right tackle position makes sense. The draft is loader with talented receivers.

27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans): Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley is a ball-hawking corner that isn't afraid to throw himself in the run game. He would instantly upgrade the Patriots secondary.

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

I love Nick Perry's skill-set. Playing the 3-4 OLB position opposite Clay Matthews, Perry is going to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The Ravens have a lot of needs other places, but adding Stephen Hill to what they have in Torrey Smith and company could open things up even more for Ray Rice.

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

It rarely works out that way, but a reunion of Coach Harbaugh and Fleener makes sense both on and off the field.

31. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State

This is a classic Patriots "reach" pick. McClellin fits what they want to do so well, they may very well just overpay and get the guy they want.

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

Brown is a sideline-to-sideline guy that is just beginning to tap his unreal potential.

Second Round

33. St. Louis Rams: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

34. Indianapolis Colts: Devon Still, DL, Penn State

35. Minnesota Vikings: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

37. Cleveland Browns: Kelechi Osemele, OL, Iowa State

38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

39. St. Louis Rams (via WAS): Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

40. Carolina Panthers: Reuben Randle, WR, LSU

41. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

42. Miami Dolphins: Kevin Zeitler, OL, Wisconsin

43. Seattle Seahawks: Trumaine Johnson, CB/FS, Montana

44. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida

45. Dallas Cowboys: Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame

46. Philadelphia Eagles: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt

47. New York Jets: Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall

48. New England Patriots (via OAK): Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

49. San Diego Chargers: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

50. Chicago Bears: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

51. Philadelphia Eagles (via ARZ): Jerel Worthy, DL, Michigan State

52. Tennessee Titans: Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson

53. Cincinnati Bengals: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

54. Detroit Lions: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

55. Atlanta Falcons: Ladarius Green, TE, Lousiana-Lafayette

56. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss

57. Denver Broncos: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

58. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

59. Green Bay Packers: Kendall Reyes, DL, UConn

60. Baltimore Ravens: Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

61. San Francisco 49ers: George Iloka, FS, Boise State

62. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

63. New York Giants: Mitchell Schwartz, OL, Cal

Third Round

64. Indianapolis Colts: Amini Silatolu, OL, Midwestern State

65. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

66. Minnesota Vikings: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

67. Cleveland Browns: Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

68. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Philip Blake, C, Baylor

69. Washington Redskins: Matt McCants, OL, Baylor

70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson

71. Buffalo Bills: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State

72. Miami Dolphins: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa

73. Miami Dolphins (CAR-CHI): Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

74. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Taylor, SS, LSU

75. Seattle Seahawks: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

76. Houston Texans (PHI): Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

77. New York Jets: Josh Champan, DL, Alabama

78. San Diego Chargers: Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas

79. Chicago Bears: Mychal Kendricks, LB, Cal

80. Arizona Cardinals: Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple

81. Dallas Cowboys: Jarius Wright, WR, Arkanasas

82. Tennessee Titans: Marvin Jones, WR, California

83. Cincinnati Bengals: Brandon Brooks, OL, Miami (OH)

84. Atlanta Falcons: Jeff Allen, OL, Illinois

85. Detroit Lions: Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State

86. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alamaeda Ta'amu, DL, Washington

87. Denver Broncos: T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International

88. Philadelphia Eagles (HOU): Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

89. New Orleans Saints: James-Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada

90. Green Bay Packers: Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

91. Baltimore Ravens: Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, Virginia

92. San Francisco 49ers: LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

93. New England Patriots: Ron Brooks, CB/S, LSU

94. New York Giants: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati

95. Oakland Raiders (Compensatory): Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee