2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Landing Spots for Elite Prospects

With the start of the NFL draft just 15 days away, the Internet is abuzz with speculation about how the draft will shake out.  

Unlike some years, there's little debate surrounding the top two picks, as Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III look certain to be charged with quarterbacking the rebuilding projects in Indianapolis and Washington. 

Those are just two in a long list of prospects likely to make an immediate impact in the NFL, as this draft boasts a long list of ready-made starters prepared to fill roster gaps for each of the 32 franchises. 

But rather than diving into a first-round mock draft, I am going to examine 10 of the elite prospects not named Luck or Griffin and prognosticate on where they will end up and how they will fit with their future employers.  

Keep in mind, this list isn't just the 10 prospects I expect to fall in line after the pair of quarterbacks, but a sampling of players who figure to fit somewhere in the first round. 

Off we go.

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Projection: No. 4 overall to Cleveland

I'm buying into the notion that Miami will trade up to the third overall pick and to land QB Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M, leaving the Browns to decide between a trio of prospects with the fourth overall selection—Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne and Trent Richardson.

Ultimately, the team will recognize that no matter who they have under center is going to need weapons and finding a serviceable running back later in the draft is more easily accomplished than finding a wide out.  

With that in mind, Blackmon becomes the guy for Cleveland, and he'll immediately assume the role of the No. 1 target for Colt McCoy (the presumptive starting quarterback in Cleveland for 2012).  

Despite the fact that many are hopping aboard the Michael Floyd bandwagon, as he's the top receiver in this year's draft class, I stand by Blackmon as the superior prospect. He may not be the biggest or fastest receiver available, but I'd argue he's the smartest and most refined.  

Those type of players typically make the smoothest transition to the NFL level. 

Other Possibilities: No. 6 overall to St. Louis

Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Projection: No. 5 overall to Tampa Bay

Debate will continue to ensue over whether it's sensible to draft a running back in the first round, much less within the first five picks. Players like Arian Foster, Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew and LeSean McCoy all were selected after the first round and have burst onto the NFL scene and rank amongst the league's elite.  

Moreover, the shelf life of a running back has proven to be shorter than other premium positions, enhancing the risk involved with taking one this high.

Nonetheless, Richardson is a knockout prospect, and Tampa Bay has a certain need for an injection of talent in its backfield. LeGarrette Blount is a nice power back, but Richardson has dynamic ability as a power runner, quick hitter, pass catcher and a supremely reliable blocker.  

New Bucs head coach Greg Schiano took in the sights of Richardson's recent pro day and had to be impressed with what he saw, despite the fact Richardson was still recovering from a broken foot.  

This is an ideal first-round match.

Other possibilities: No. 4 overall to Cleveland, No. 6 overall to St. Louis 

Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

Projection: No. 7 overall to Jacksonville

When it comes to sheer physical abilities, Coples is downright scary.  He's 6'6", close to 290 pounds and has the speed of a guy who should weight about 50 pounds less.

Jacksonville struggled getting after the passer in 2011, managing just 31 sacks and relying more upon scheme and effort.  

Jeremy Mincey led the way with eight sacks, but he remains more dependent upon hard work and pursuit than speed, quickness or an arsenal of moves.  Pairing him with Coples would free up space for Mincey to work and provide the Jaguars with a four-man defensive line capable of becoming a force in 2012.

Coples may appear to some as a boom or bust prospect, and that's not something I'd entirely disagree with. But with a ceiling as high as his and a need for beefed-up pass rushing in Jacksonville, he's worth the investment at pick number seven.

Other Possibilities: No. 12 overall to Seattle, No. 13 overall to Arizona 

Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Projection: No. 9 overall to Carolina

This might be the most intriguing guy in the draft to me, as Poe could rise or fall dramatically on draft day. 

If you haven't kept up with the pre-draft process, here's the skinny on Poe.

He's a freakishly powerful athlete who didn't produce much in the stats department while playing at Memphis. He also owned the combine and now finds himself squarely in the conversation as an early pick.

Carolina, for all of their improvements in 2011, was still dreadful stopping the run, and although the return of defensive tackle Ron Edwards—who missed 2011 due to injury—will help, this team still needs pieces in place to build the wall.

Poe has enough explosiveness to create havoc as a gap-shooting run stuffer and is strong enough to hold up at the point of attack.  

While a risk, Poe could also prove to be the instant antidote to Carolina's run-defending woes.

Other Possibilities: No. 11 overall to Kansas City, No. 15 overall to Philadelphia 

Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

Projection: No. 10 overall to Buffalo

Not exactly the biggest leap of faith to assume this one will happen. Buffalo is in need of a left tackle, and Reiff strikes most as a fringe top 10 draft pick.

In Reiff, the Bills would acquire a solid-if-not-unspectacular left tackle with the toughness, smarts, instincts and athleticism to both protect Ryan Fitzpatrick's blindside and pave the way for running backs CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson.

The primary concern that I have for Reiff is the length of his arms—they're just 33.25 inches—a less than ideal figure for a position that requires using length to leverage quicker defenders. 

Despite that fact, the Bills need a player like Reiff, because we saw what happened in 2011 when Buffalo played without starting left tackle Demetress Bell. They lost seven-of-nine games.

Other possibilities: No. 13 overall to Arizona

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College

Projection: No. 11 overall to Kansas City

This is a pick I've long foreseen for Kansas City. The Chiefs could stand for an upgrade at the "mike" linebacker position in Romeo Crennel's 3-4 scheme, and Kuechly doesn't just fit the bill. He's a slam dunk prospect.

The "mike" backer must be a leader who can handle the responsibility of communicating the defense to teammates—something Kuechly did at Boston College—as well as have the ability to stack and shed blockers near the line of scrimmage to free up space for the "will" linebacker.

Kuechly has the size, strength, athleticism and poise to do just that, and he's a tackling machine to boot.  He led the nation in tackles in 2011 by a mile and has the makeup to assume a leadership role.  

While Peyton Manning makes Denver a strong threat to win the AFC West in 2012, don't discount the Chiefs in the division either. Kuechly has the ability to make their linebacking group special.

Other possibilities: No. 12 overall to Seattle 

Nick Perry, Defensive End, USC

Projection: No. 12 overall to Seattle

Perry has not generated the hype of fellow pass rushers Quinton Coples or Melvin Ingram, but this guy has the ability to become a force in Seattle for his former college coach Pete Carroll.

When evaluating a player based purely on potential, Perry stacks up with most defensive players in this year's class. He possesses a lighting-quick first step and the ability to dip his shoulder and get around the edge in passing situations.

He's also athletic enough to move around the defensive front and can be used in a variety of ways in sub packages.  Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller doesn't just like Perry, he's infatuated by him and views the USC product as a top 3-4 prospect in this draft. 

Don't be surprised to see Perry steadily generate more chatter in the coming weeks, and make note of the versatility he affords as both a stand-up outside linebacker in the 3-4 and a rush-end in a 4-3.

Other possibilities: No. 16 to the New York Jets, No. 18 to San Diego, No. 19 to Chicago

Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, South Carolina

Projection: No. 13 Overall to Arizona

Ingram is often lumped into the same conversation as Quinton Coples, because both scream double-digit sack potential and the ability to become an edge-rushing force.  

But don't confuse the two as the same package.Ingram brings a different mix to the table than Coples.

For starters, he's a more compact, powerful type than Coples and offers unique versatility.  He reminds me of Lamarr Woodley from the Steelers, a player who has blossomed as a 3-4 outside linebacker after playing with a hand in the dirt in college.

Arizona has a need for an impact defender in the front seven, and Ingram could assume the snaps that Joey Porter has been taking in the past two seasons.  Porter's effectiveness fell far short of his salary, and Ingram would immediately boost the Arizona defense. 

He's a crafty rusher who doesn't have top-end speed or burst but knows how to get to the passer nonetheless. He would pose tremendous value at pick 13.

Other possibilities: No. 7 overall to Jacksonville, No. 12 overall to Seattle

Cordy Glenn, Guard/Tackle, Georgia

Projection: No. 17 to Cincinnati (via Oakland)

The Bengals are on the cusp of becoming a powerhouse in the AFC, but one area of need is the interior offensive line.  

Bobbie Williams remains a free agent and Nate Livings signed with Dallas, leaving Cincinnati with a void at the guard position that Glenn could immediately fill.

Glenn is the size of a small mountain at 6'5" and 345 pounds and plays as powerful as you'd expect from a guy that size. He's also a high-character guy who made 50 career starts in college and was elected a team captain during his senior year at Georgia.  

Due to the brilliance of the Carson Palmer trade to Oakland, the Bengals have a pair of opportunities to pad their roster with young talent in the first round.  While the team has other holes to consider along the way, adding Glenn would boost an already impressive offensive nucleus.

Other possibilities: No. 22 overall to Cleveland (via Atlanta), No. 24 overall to Pittsburgh

Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

Projection: No. 25 overall to Denver

Not to make an obvious comparison because of their shared alma mater, but Brockers' pre-draft hype reminds me a lot of Kansas City defensive end Tyson Jackson's in 2009.

Like Jackson, Brockers' traits are what will win him over—not his production.  Part of that is due to the fact that LSU is so stacked defensively there are simply not enough sacks and tackles for loss to go around. 

But unlike Jackson, I don't foresee Brockers making a late surge up the draft boards and into the top half of the first round. (Jackson was actually drafted third overall.) 

Brockers' strengths lie in his power and ability to disrupt on the interior, and that's precisely what the Broncos need with the departure of Broderick Bunkley to New Orleans via free agency.  He's a good mix of value and need at pick 25 and should start right away for Denver.

Other possibilities: No. 27 overall to New England