2012 NFL Mock Draft: Shocking Draft-Day Slides No One Will See Coming

Every year, players slide down the NFL draft, and 2012 won't be any different. There will be reaches, busts and players who are taken later than expected.

Just another example of why we love the draft so much.

Here are three players that will surprisingly fall towards the bottom part of the first round.

Those players will have a (*) next to their school.

 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

Indianapolis drafting Andrew Luck seems like it's all but done. Without Peyton Manning, the Colts need a quarterback to turn to.

Insert Luck.

2. Washington Redskins (From 2-14 St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

Washington didn't trade up to get Matt Kalil; they traded up to get Robert Griffin III. He will be the pick here.
 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT (USC)

Minnesota could draft a cornerback with this pick, but I think they address a need plus get one of the best players in the draft in Matt Kalil.

 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)

Colt McCoy needs wide receivers and a dominating running back. They have a chance to draft the best position player at those positions, but I think they go with running back Trent Richardson.
 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

Who cares about the Wonderlic test? Morris Claiborne is a beast on the football field, and that's all that should matter.
 

6. St. Louis Rams (from 5-11 Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

Sam Bradford needs a wide receiver to work with, and they will see the best player in Justin Blackmon still on the table.

I think they gobble him up here.   

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

Jacksonville should draft a cornerback to help its secondary. The overall defense is solid but they need help at that position. Dre Kirkpatrick would be a nice addition.   

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB (Texas A&M)

Ryan Tannehill is benefiting most from Miami's misfortunes in the offseason. They can't land Peyton Manning, then they can't land Matt Flynn.

Congratulations on your top-10 pick, Ryan.
 

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

I still like Devon Still with the No. 9 pick in the draft. What he did at Penn State was fantastic and bodes well for his future success in the NFL.   

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

Now that the Buffalo Bills secured its defensive end need, it's time to look at the other side of the ball. Riley Reiff will land with the Bills with the 10th pick.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)

Kansas City needs an offensive lineman, and Martin will be the next best available.  
 

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

Matt Flynn needs to be protected in order to have a successful career in Seattle. David DeCastro would be a solid addition here.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Alabama)

Courtney Upshaw should be looked at heavily by the Cardinals with the No. 13 pick. I think they give him a chance to produce.

 
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Tony Romo was in a world of trouble last season with his offensive line. An upgrade needs to happen, and Wisconsin's Peter Konz needs to be the selection.
 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

Philadelphia needs to address defense in the first round of the NFL draft. Adding Mark Barron, who will be a great NFL player, would be a very wise selection in the middle of the first round.
 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

New York needs receivers to help Mark Sanchez, and Michael Floyd is the second-best receiver in the 2012 draft class.

Floyd would give the Jets another option outside. He's a star ready to shine if put in the right situation.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from 8-8 Oakland): Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)

There's always a few surprises in the NFL draft, and I think Cincinnati will provide one with a major reach of Alfonzo Dennard from Nebraska.

Cincinnati doesn't want to bring in Janoris Jenkins and his off-the-field issues. They are done with that era of Bengals football. That's why a reach will happen.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)

Janoris Jenkins has loads of talent. He's a good enough pick to be in the top-15, but I see him falling to the Chargers at pick 18.

 

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB (Illinois)

Assuming that Floyd is off the table, the Bears should look closely at Whitney Mercilus of Illinois. He could play multiple positions, and he could really learn from an aging Julius Peppers.

 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina) *

Character issues with Coples mixed in with a lack of production last year at North Carolina has him sliding down the first round of the draft.

His talent is clearly there, but the character issues are a major concern in my mind. Some have questioned his effort level, and that's not a player I would bring into my organization.

But, teams will overlook most character issues if the talent is there. Coples will get his opportunity, but it will be further down than he expected.

 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Cordy Glenn, G (Georgia)

Cordy Glenn would be a nice addition with the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

22. Cleveland Browns (from 10-6 Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

Kendall Wright will be a very good slot receiver in the NFL. I don't see a No. 1 receiver, but I do see a quality player for the Browns if they decide to go that route.

 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

With Janoris Jenkins off the board, the Lions will look to add the next cornerback on their big board. That will be Stephon Gilmore from South Carolina.

 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis) *

Memphis' Dontari Poe will have a great NFL career if he lands in the right situation. Landing with the Steelers would be a great situation because Pittsburgh doesn't miss on first-round picks.

However, Poe will drop in the draft because teams will like Devon Still a little bit more.

Playing at Memphis and Penn State are completely different situations, and that's why I value Still more than I do Poe.

 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT (LSU) *

Some love Michael Brockers from LSU, and some, like me, think that he's a latter half of the first round type of prospect.

Given the needs of the teams ahead of the 25th pick, Brockers will fall this far in the draft. Also, there are two defensive tackles (Devon Still and Dontari Poe) that I believe are better.

Brockers will be good player in the NFL, but I see him slipping down to the 25th pick.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)

Maybe this is a reach here, but Alshon Jeffery to the Houston Texans would be an intriguing possibility. Jeffery has talent, but has been sliding down big boards across the league.

Houston needs a wide receiver, so the fit makes sense.

 

27. New England Patriots (from 13-3 New Orleans): Nick Perry, DE (USC)

Nick Perry could play multiple positions in New England if need be. I like the value here at No. 27.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chase Minnifield, CB (Virginia)

Chase Minnifield would be a solid addition with the Green Bay Packers.  

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Mohamed Sanu, WR (Rutgers)

Maybe this is a reach here, but Joe Flacco needs weapons outside. Baltimore could have used a set of hands in the AFC Championship Game last season.

Mohamed Sanu would be able to spread the defense.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler, G (Wisconsin)

San Francisco will be looking to address its offensive line. They will reach for a need with this selection.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)

Adding secondary help is always a good idea, especially if you were awful the year before in pass coverage.

Jayron Hosley may be a slight reach, but the Patriots should use a pick, not trade out of the first round.

32. New York Giants (9-7): David Wilson, RB (Virginia Tech)

New York won the Super Bowl with a lackluster run game. With Brandon Jacobs moving to San Francisco, it would be a good idea to draft Virginia Tech running back David Wilson with this pick.