2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Most Important Moves of First Round

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, we highlight the first-round selections (with asterisks) that will prove to be the most important in shaping the landscape of the future of the league. 

*1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

*2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)

The first two picks in the 2012 NFL draft will shape the entire class. Luck, a classic drop-back passer whom many consider the top college quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning, and Griffin, an electric playmaker with 4.4 speed and a polished set of passing skills, represent a combination of quarterbacks that can completely remake the landscape in both the AFC and NFC.

Luck could restabilize a Colts franchise that is bridging the gap after Manning, and Griffin gives the Redskins their first true franchise quarterback in years. No two picks can even approach the importance of No. 1 and 2 in the 2012 NFL draft.   

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil gives the Vikings the left tackle they need to protect Christian Ponder for 2012 and beyond. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Colt McCoy needs playmakers around him if he's going to hold the Browns' quarterback job past next season.

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

Signing Eric Wright can't mask the problems Tampa Bay still has at the cornerback position.

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

As the draft draws near, I'm becoming less and less convinced that the Rams will go receiver with their first pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Michael Floyd makes a lot of sense here, but pass-rushers are infinitely more valuable these days.

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

The Dolphins need to hit on this pick in the worst way. Another swing-and-miss could send the franchise into a more dizzying free fall than its already in.

But here's the kicker: Taking Tannehill won't pay off right away.

It probably wouldn't pay off until 2013. So while the Dolphins certainly need to do something at the quarterback position (David Garrard isn't it), don't expect big payouts on Tannehill next season. Give him a year to get his feet wet and then see what he can do in turning around a franchise stuck in the mud. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

A penetrating defensive tackle, Cox is exactly what the Panthers need inside.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

There's a reason the Bills let Demetress Bell walk out the door without much resistance. The team is ready to move on at left tackle, a position Reiff fills well. 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College (TRADE w/ Kansas City)

Kuechly would likely be a much better player than Barrett Ruud, whom the Seahawks signed last week. 

*12. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford (TRADE w/ Seattle) 

DeCastro wouldn't be the sexiest first-round pick, and interior offensive linemen rarely go as high as No. 12 overall. But plugging in DeCastro after adding Eric Winston at right tackle allows the Chiefs to go back to the power running game that propelled them into the 2010 playoffs. Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis could run for big numbers behind an offensive line with that kind of improvement. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Perry, OLB/DE, USC

Teaming Perry with Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield would allow the Cardinals to get creative with their pressure packages next season.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron gives the Cowboys a player with better all-around safety skills than former big hitter Roy Williams. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Adding Poe to a defense that has already upgraded with middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans gives the Eagles a solid chance at turning around that side of the football.

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

I find it hard to believe that Rex Ryan would pass up on a player like Upshaw, who can do so many different things well defensively, especially given the Jets' need for such a presence at outside linebacker.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Drafting Gilmore allows the Bengals to ease back Leon Hall, who suffered a devastating Achilles' injury in 2011.

*18. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame (TRADE w/ San Diego)

After sitting put and taking Richardson at No. 4 overall, the Browns move up a couple of spots into the late teens to get the playmaking receiver Cleveland desperately needs. Taking Floyd and Richardson in the first round gives McCoy no more excuses in the "playmaker" department.

A jump of four spots—from No. 22 to 18—wouldn't cost a lot. The reward could be significant.   

19. Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Plugging in Coples opposite Julius Peppers gives the Bears one of the NFL's top pass-rushing duos. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Titans might be enamored with Michael Brockers—a player similar to Albert Haynesworth in size and ability—but Konz is the center they've been looking for frantically in free agency.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

A massive man with the ability to play several offensive line positions, Glenn represents good value here for Cincinnati. 

22. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (TRADE w/ Cleveland)

The Chargers are fine moving down a few slots and picking up a pick or two. Martin would immediately take over for the frustratingly ineffective Jeromey Clary.

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

The Lions struggled late last season after a lack of depth at cornerback was exposed. Adding Kirkpatrick helps in that area and represents a potential upgrade over Eric Wright.   

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

James Farrior was let go and Larry Foote has a limited shelf life remaining. Hightower would be a natural replacement for both. 

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Broncos needed to look at interior defensive line even before free agent Broderick Bunkley signed with the New Orleans Saints.  

*26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

There's a chance some team could pull the trigger on Wright earlier in the first round, but the Texans would be a fine landing spot if he fell this far. Already a complete offense, Houston would get a big boost in both the slot and vertical passing game by taking Wright. He could be the second coming off Mike Wallace, which is scary considering he'd be lining up opposite of Andre Johnson as a rookie. 

27. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, OLB/DE, Boise State

The Patriots see the Packers sitting one spot after at No. 28 and decide to take the versatile McClellin, who can play at outside and inside linebacker and defensive end. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois 

He's raw as a pass-rusher, but the Packers are desperate for help opposite Clay Matthews. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson 

The Ravens are never shy about stock-piling pass-rushers, especially ones with as much untapped talent as Branch.  

30. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is a perfect fit for the 49ers, who spent most of the offseason upgrading the offense through free agency.

*31. Chicago Bears: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford (TRADE w/ New England) 

The Patriots are always looking to trade out of the first round with one of their annual pair of top-32 selections. Chicago looks like a team that could be interested in moving up, and it does so here to get the draft's top tight end.

Fleener and recently acquired receiver Brandon Marshall gives Jay Culter and the Bears' offense two players that can cause big matchup problems. 

*32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

GM Jerry Reese is never handcuffed in the draft by need, but Adams is good value at No. 32 overall.