2012 NFL Mock Draft: Complete First Round with Best Trade Scenarios

Mock drafts rarely take trades into account, but this one is going to break the mold. There are always draft-day trades that shake up the NFL draft and this year will be no different. 

Right now I see two spots that are almost certain to have trades happen. In the following projection I suggest hypothetical deals that could benefit both teams. 

So here is my latest mock draft with trades considered.

All trades are noted with an asterisk.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Despite recent speculation that Robert Griffin III moving up and maybe threatening Luck at this spot, don't believe it. Luck will be the pick and has been for quite some time now.

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

Washington traded up to make this pick and they will stick to their guns, getting a franchise quarterback by selecting Griffin.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil has to be the pick here, since the Vikings need a left tackle to protect the blind side of young quarterback Christian Ponder.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns won't get enough of an offer to entice them to move this pick. They will stay put and grab Richardson, who is the best running back to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

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

Tampa Bay will get some offers here too, but won't move the pick. They'll grab a legitimate shutdown cornerback in Claiborne instead.

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

The Rams will have a long day on April 26, praying that Blackmon falls to them. He will and Sam Bradford will finally get a No. 1 receiver to throw to.  

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

The Jaguars need a pass rusher and Coples has the elite size and talent to be the next Julius Peppers. There is also a serious chance he goes bust, but at No. 7 he'll be worth the risk.

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

The Dolphins must get a quarterback to build around and Tannehill has the upside of a franchise signal-caller. He will need a few years to develop but could be a very good NFL quarterback.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe's Combine workout was incredible, showing the size, strength and quickness to be an elite defensive tackle in the NFL. The Panthers badly need an upgrade at that spot and will take him without thinking twice.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is the second-best tackle in this draft and the Bills will be happy to grab the blue-collar kid from Iowa here.

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

The Chiefs would love to land Poe and will probably get a few trade offers at this spot. But in the end they'll be content to stay put and take Kuechly who will vastly improve their linebacking corps. 

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

The Seahawks are said to be looking to trade down, but they won't get enough of an offer to move off this spot. In that case they'll take Ingram, who is the best pass rusher available at this point.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Levi Brown re-signed to return to Arizona but Martin can play either tackle spot and has tremendous upside. He'll step in and start at one tackle spot immediately. 

*14. (Dallas Cowboys TRADE Pick To) San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Cowboys could stay put and go with a number of players, but they would like to trade out and stockpile some extra picks. With Kris Dielman retired and the team's offensive line even more of a weak spot, the Chargers won't mind surrendering a few extra picks (likely second and third-rounders) to move up a few spots and ensure they get DeCastro.

He would step in at left guard right away and replace the Dielman who was a perennial Pro Bowler.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

By adding DeMeco Ryans the Eagles improved the middle of their defense, by drafting Barron they will continue that process.

*16. (New York Jets TRADE pick to) Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, G/OT, Georgia

The Jets want to take an edge rusher but there are plenty available, so they'll trade down a few spots with the Bears who badly need help along the offensive line.

Chicago had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year and by moving up slightly and grabbing Glenn they'll get a versatile guy who could start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately.

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

The Bengals would like to get DeCastro, but he's gone here as the Chargers traded up to get him. That means they'll grab an elite talent in Kirkpatrick and hope he can fill the hold left when Jonathan Joseph bolted for the Houston Texans last offseason.

*18. (San Diego Chargers TRADE pick to) Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Cowboys traded back and will end up landing the guy they wanted anyway in Cox. He is a versatile defensive lineman who could fit in any of the spots along Rob Ryan's 3-4 formation.

*19. (Chicago Bears TRADE pick to) New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Jets want to get an edge rusher and after trading down they'll still have their pick of a few guys. Upshaw is the kind of rugged, tough edge player that Rex Ryan seems to love. 

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

After losing Cortland Finnegan to free agency, the Titans will replace him with Gilmore, a big, physical corner who doesn't shy away from any challenges. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Bengals could trade out here, but with so much talent available at the back end of the first round, teams won't be willing to surrender much to move up. So Cincinnati will take Miller, a home run threat at running back who will form a solid duo with BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

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

After drafting Richardson, Cleveland's top need is receiver and they'll fill that here with Floyd.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Detroit's current center, Dominic Raiola, is terrible and Konz is the best in this year's draft. Adding the Wisconsin product and his exceptional ability to diagnose defenses, will make things much easier on quarterback Matthew Stafford.

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

Casey Hampton is getting old and Still could play next to him while learning how to be an elite nose tackle prospect when Hampton retires.

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 will give them a huge improvement at defensive tackle.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is one of the NFL's best receivers, but he needs help. Wright is a legitimate deep threat who will fit perfectly as the team's No. 2 receiver.

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

New England must rebuilt its front seven and that process will start here by selecting Mercilus, a sack master who should have no problem playing as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. 

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

Green Bay will take an outside linebacker here, and in this scenario they land Perry, the draft's best pure pass rusher.

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

The Ravens have other needs but Hightower will be the pick with an eye towards replacing Ray Lewis eventually.

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

The 49ers need a legitimate deep threat and at 6'4" and 215 pounds, Hill has great size and speed. He's raw and will take a few years to develop but he could be a good one down the road.

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

The Patriots seem to always trade one of their first-round picks but they'll resist that urge here and take Reyes. He's a scheme versatile defensive lineman who will be able to slot in anywhere along the team's front. 

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

The Giants could reach for an offensive lineman or a running back, but instead they'll go for value and grab Brown whose speed and playmaking ability will be a huge upgrade at outside linebacker.