2012 NFL Mock Draft: Brilliant Moves for Every NFL Franchise

Every April, as the NFL draft approaches, NFL teams and their fans are filled with hope, brimming with optimism that when the first round rolls around, their squad will make the sort of brilliant move that will help propel their team to the playoffs.

This year is certainly no different, so here's a look at the moves each first-round team will make on April 26 as an effort to pull a rabbit out of their proverbial hats.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: Colts owner Jim Irsay recently said that while anything's possible, "things have always pointed towards Luck," so the first-overall pick seems to be as about as done as deals get.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: Luck is also visiting Washington, but Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is visiting Griffin in the hopes of better preparing the Heisman Trophy winner for the jump to the NFL. You don't do that for a player you're not planning on drafting.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC: The Vikings could easily trade down here if a solid offer comes along, but if that doesn't happen, Minnesota will look to bolster an offensive line that gave up the fifth-most sacks in the league last year by adding an upgrade over the woeful Charlie Johnson.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: The Browns are in dire need of offensive playmakers, and beat reporter Tony Grossi recently reported Cleveland head coach Pat Shurmur is aware that the Browns need to improve the ground game this season. That said, Richardson, who topped 2,000 total yards for the Crimson Tide in 2011, would seem an ideal choice.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: Ronde Barber is nearing the end of the line and Aqib Talib is facing assault charges, so the Buccaneers would be well-advised to look at upgrading a pass defense that ranked 21st in the NFL last year.

Even after reports surfaced earlier this week that LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne scored a four on the Wonderlic test, the 5'11", 188-pounder is still widely considered the top player at his position in this year's class, and the NFL Newtork's Charlie Casserly isn't concerned about Claiborne's ability to excel in the NFL.

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In the case of Claiborne, I watched five games on tape and did not see him make any mental errors. In researching him, he seems to handle his off-field affairs without any issues. The reportedly low test score certainly has not affected his play. I do not see this impacting his draft status. I expect him to come off the board between No. 3 and No. 6. He is the best defensive player in this draft and the Wonderlic score would not affect my thinking in the least.

 

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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, and Blackmon's addition will give Sam Bradford a much-needed top target in the passing game.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: The 6'3" Fighting Irish standout caught 100 passes last year, and the Jaguars might have a better shot at developing Blaine Gabbert if he had someone to throw to.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: The Dolphins are hell-bent on acquiring a franchise quarterback after failing to land Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn in free agency, and the team has reportedly set their sights now on the Aggies star.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: The Panthers defense was woeful against the run in 2011, ranking 25th in the NFL. Michael Brockers was a force in the middle last year for the Tigers, and the 322-pound youngster still has plenty of room to improve.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: Now that tackle Demetress Bell is off to Philadelphia, the Bills suddenly have a gaping hole along the offensive front, and the 313-pound All Big Ten performer could fill that hole quite well. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis: 2011 starter Kelly Gregg is a 35-year-old free agent, and the Chiefs need to address the nose tackle spot. At 6'4" and 346 pounds, Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe is a prototypical 3-4 behemoth, and Poe lit up the NFL scouting combine.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina: Chris Clemons has become a solid pass-rusher for Seattle, but the team needs improve a pass-rush that ranked 19th in the NFL in sacks last season, and Ingram was an All-American after racking up 10 sacks for the Gamecocks in 2011.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford: The Cardinals badly need to upgrade the pass protection for quarterback Kevin Kolb after surrendering 54 sacks last year, the second-most in the NFL.

Stanford guard David Decastro was a two-time consensus All-American, and the 6'4", 316-pound Cardinal standout is a favorite of Russ Lande, who lauded DeCasrtro's versatility in The Sporting News:

"DeCastro's exceptional size, athleticism and strength give him the versatility to play center, guard or right tackle."

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: Alabama strong safety Mark Barron was an All-American in 2011. The Cowboys are in dire need of secondary help, and the large number of Dallas staffers on hand 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 tackle Demetress Bell makes the Eagles need on the offensive line less urgent, so Philadelphia may look to address the middle of the defensive front opposite Cullen Jenkins.

16.  New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama: Upshaw's unremarkable pro day and combine aside, there are miles of game tape that show the All-American's ability to get after the quarterback, the Jets need pass-rush help, and Upshaw's 9.5 sacks in 2011 don't lie.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: The Bengals need to upgrade at cornerback opposite Leon Hall, and NFL draft expert Mike Mayock believes that Gilmore is the second-best cornerback available in the 2012 NFL draft. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois: The San Diego Chargers struggled mightily getting after the quarterback last year. All American Whitney Mercilus, who led all FBS players in sacks last season, had half as many sacks last season individually as the Bolts did as a team.

19. Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: The Bears re-signed veteran Israel Idonije after missing out on Mario Williams in free agency, but the 6'6", 281-pound Coples has a tantalizing combination of size and speed that would add youth to Da Bears defensive front.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE/OLB: The signing of Kamerion Wimbley will help a Titans pass-rush that managed a minuscule 28 sacks in 2011, but the Tennessee defensive line could still use some work.

USC defensive end Nick Perry paced the Pac-12 with 8.5 sacks in 2011, and Dominique Blanton of Chicago Now recently raved about Perry's combination of speed and power, predicting that it could mean big things for Perry at the professional level.

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Perry played at 6-3 and 250 pounds last season for USC, but came into the combine 20 pounds heavier. Perry was even more explosive and stronger at his new size running a 4.50 40 and bench pressing 225 35 times. Perry has all the potential in the world to be a special DE at the next level. The athleticism, explosion off the snap, measurables, and understanding of the game is there,

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21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia: The Bengals badly need to upgrade at the guard position, and the 345-pound beef-eating Bulldog is a mauling run-blocker who would be a day one starter and instant improvement.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Reuben Randle, WR, LSU: There's no denying that the Browns need offensive firepower in the worst way, and the 6'3" Randle is climbing up the draft board of NFL Films draft expert Greg Cosell.

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: The Lions had a hole in the secondary even before Eric Wright departed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. The 6'2", 186-pound second-team All-American would go a long way towards strengthening Detroit's defensive backfield and is also a more-than-capable run defender.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: After years manning the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, the release of linebacker James Farrior leaves a hole at linebacker in Pittsburgh, and the tough-nosed Crimson Tide standout appears to be a perfect fit.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State: The Denver Broncos ranked 22nd in the National Football League against the run against the season, and the 303-pound Big Ten defensive player of the year would go a long way towards strengthening the middle of Denver's defensive line.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: Baylor wideout Kendall Wright put up ridiculous numbers as a senior in Waco, topping 100 catches and 1,600 receiving yards. The speedster with sure hands would finally provide the Texans with a consistent threat at receiver across from Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State: The Patriots have a number of issues on defense, including the attrition that has hit the defensive line with Mark Anderson and Andre Carter both casualties of free agency.

Boise State defensive end Shea McClellin has been rising on draft boards after a strong combine and pro day, and ESPN's Mel Kiper also has the 6'3", 260-pound All-MWC performer heading to the Patriots, saying:

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A player who has moved up boards during the draft process, he played with a hand on the ground at Boise State, but has enough athleticism and the smarts to transition to standing up on the edge in this type of a system. The Patriots have to work on the front seven in the draft, and McClellin is the type of heady player Bill Belichick can work with.

 

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28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson: The Packers defense ranked dead last in the National Football League a season ago due in large part to their inability to rush the quarterback. The athletic 6'4", 259-pound Branch would be an immediate upgrade in that area after tallying 9.5 sacks a year ago.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech: Anquan Boldin had his lowest touchdown total since 2004 last year for the Ravens, and the 6'4" Hill would be a big target in the passing game for Joe Flacco after Hill tore up February's combine with a  4.36 second 40-yard dash.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford: An outrageous showing at Stanford's pro day shot Coby Fleener to the top of the heap where this year's tight end class is concerned. Fleener's old college coach may have designs on pairing the athletic pass-catcher, who averaged nearly 20 yards a reception last year, and Vernon Davis together in order to give opposing defenses matchup problems.

31. New England Patriots: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: Inside linebacker isn't really an area of need for the Patriots, but Bill Belichick isn't the type to pass on value, and getting the reigning Butkus award winner and college football's leading tackler in 2011 this late in the first round is the definition of value.

32. New York Giants: Amini Silatolu, OT/OG, Midwestern State: The Super Bowl champs aren't getting any younger up front, and Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl both struggled at times last year. The 311-pound small-school standout could provide a badly-needed infusion of depth and youth on the the G-Men's offensive line.

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