2012 NFL Mock Draft: Smartest Plays for Every First-Round GM

In the NFL, general managers' careers are often made or broken by the decisions they make on draft day. 

The 2012 NFL draft class is loaded with talent, so it's even more imperative that those in charge of the league's front offices do their homework and make smart selections.

The following mock draft considers what the general manager of every team with a first round pick should do.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Ryan Grigson is in his first year as general manager for the Colts, and he needs to start his tenure off with a bang. Getting Luck, the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft in a decade, is a good place to start.

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

Bruce Allen and the Redskins rolled the dice to move up to No. 2 and earn the right to select Griffin here. After surrendering two future first-rounders and the team's second-round pick this year, Griffin better turn out to be worth it.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Rick Spielman shouldn't overthink this one. While Morris Claiborne will be an excellent cornerback, Kalil is the best offensive-line prospect to come around in years. The Vikings have a hole at left tackle, and the USC product can fill it at a Pro Bowl level.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Tom Heckert and the Browns have two first-round picks this year and need to fill several gaping holes. The first order of business should be drafting Richardson, the rare elite talent at running back who is well worth a selection this high. He will be one of the NFL's best backs in a very short time.

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

Mark Dominik tried to improve the team's secondary by signing Eric Wright. That won't be enough as Ronde Barber will play his 16th season in 2012, and Aqib Talib's future is in doubt. Claiborne fills a huge need for the Bucs and could develop into a perennial Pro Bowler. 

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

Les Snead and the Rams made some nice moves in free agency and filled needs at center with Scott Wells and at cornerback with Cortland Finnegan. Now he needs to find a No. 1 receiver for franchise quarterback Sam Bradford. Blackmon is the only wideout in this draft that projects as a legitimate top target. Hopefully he and Bradford can get over any Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry issues they might have. 

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

Gene Smith has rolled the dice before—Blaine Gabbert for example—and he'll do it again by taking Coples. The North Carolina product is easily one of the most talented players in this year's draft, and at nearly 6'6" and 285 pounds, he has the elite size and athleticism to be a force in the NFL. With proper motivation, Coples could turn into the next Julius Pepper.

Of course, there is always the chance he will end up as a complete bust. Stay tuned on this one.

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

Jeff Ireland and team owner Stephen Ross missed out on quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith in free agency. The Dolphins desperately need a franchise-type guy under center, and Tannehill will give them that down the road. Ireland and Ross can't let another signal-caller slip through their fingers. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

General manager Marty Hurney and head coach Ron Rivera contemplated drafting Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus with the No. 1 pick last year. They passed and went with Cam Newton instead, but both men know the importance of having a stud along the interior of the defensive line.

Poe's combine workout was phenomenal, and it helped establish him as one of the best defenders in this draft. At 6'4" and 346 pounds, he has elite size and incredible strength, quickness, and athleticism for a defensive tackle. Carolina will grab him here to fill its biggest need.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buddy Nix did a great job addressing his defensive line through free agency this offseason, adding Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Now he'll turn his attention to the offensive line, snagging Reiff to fill the team's biggest need: a solid offensive tackle. 

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

Scott Pioli added some nice pieces this offseason, and the Chiefs would really love it if Poe landed here. But that won't happen, so they'll take Kuechly, a tackling machine who will vastly upgrade the middle of the team's defense. 

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

John Schneider and Pete Carroll need to land a pass-rusher here, and Ingram is one of the best playmakers in this draft. At 6'1" and 264 pounds, he may be a bit undersized for a 4-3 defensive end, but he'll make it work and bring the Seahawks someone who can get after the quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Rod Graves made a questionable move by re-signing Levi Brown, and he is certainly not a franchise-type left tackle. The Cardinals need another tackle, and at this point, Martin is the best one available. The Stanford product can play on either side of the line, and his upside is tremendous.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys would love to land Poe, but that's not going to happen unless they trade up. Dallas elects to go with the smart pick here. Cox is a versatile defensive lineman who could line up all over Rob Ryan's 3-4 front. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Howie Roseman traded for DeMeco Ryans in a move that greatly improved Philadelphia's weak linebacking corps. Adding the versatile Barron here will improve the team's defense even more. The Alabama product's ability to defend the run and make plays in coverage will make everyone around him better. 

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

Mike Tannenbaum has made some questionable moves as the Jets' general manager, but even he knows his team needs an edge rusher.

Upshaw is the kind of tough, rugged outside linebacker Rex Ryans seems to love having around, and he'll fit the bombastic coach's system perfectly.

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

Mike Brown has never been afraid of going after guys with "character issues," and Kirkpatrick will be no exception. He is an elite talent whose stock has dropped because of an arrest for marijuana possession. 

Kirkpatrick has answered questions about his character throughout the draft process, and he could make an immediate impact for the Bengals. 

How about three Alabama defenders being drafted in a row here? It shouldn't surprise anyone though; that defense was incredible. 

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

If the Chargers don't do some incredible things in 2012, general manager A.J. Smith will likely be out of a job. Luckily, he has done a great job improving the roster through free agency and will land a big-time upgrade here.

The Bolts need help along the offensive line, and DeCastro will step in and take over for the retired Kris Dielman at left guard. 

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

Phil Emery was brought in at the end of the 2011 season after Jerry Angelo's firing, and he needs to do some serious work. He traded for Brandon Marshall to improve the team's receiving corps. Now he needs to work on the offensive line.

He'll grab Cordy Glenn here to start that process. Glenn is a versatile lineman who could come in and start at both guard spots or right tackle immediately.

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

Ruston Webster and the Titans allowed Cortland Finnegan to walk away in free agency. Now they need to replace him.

Gilmore is a big, physical corner with excellent ball skills who could develop into a Pro Bowler in time. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Mike Brown loves reaches and attempting to outsmart everyone, and that's why I think he'll take Miller. The Bengals signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis in free agency, but he is a one-speed, between-the-tackles back, and that is all he will ever be.

Miller is a home-run threat who has tremendous upside. He isn't polished at this point, but he would be a great complement for Green-Ellis, and the two can split carries in the short-term.

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

Heckert continues to stockpile offensive talent around quarterback Colt McCoy by grabbing Floyd here. The Notre Dame product has the makings of a very good No. 2 receiver, and the upside of a middle-tier No. 1. That's a massive upgrade over what the Browns currently have at that position. 

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Martin Mayhew could go in a number of directions here, but I think he'll go for value and replace current center Dominic Raiola, who is terrible.

Konz is a stud, and his ability to read defenses will make things much easier for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

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

Kevin Colbert's team has other needs, but the Steelers need to prepare for the eventual retirement of aging nose tackle Casey Hampton. Still can line up next to Hampton while learning what it takes to play nose tackle in the NFL before eventually taking over the spot.

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brian Xanders will look to improve his defense after landing Peyton Manning to help Denver's offense. The Broncos badly need to upgrade the interior of their defensive line, and LSU's Michael Brockers can certainly provide some help.

At 6'5" and 323 pounds, Brockers is a big, strong tackle who will make the Broncos better immediately. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Rick Smith's Texans persevered through tons of injuries last season and still made the playoffs. This year, they need to take the next step. 

Andre Johnson is one of the NFL's best receivers, but he needs help. Adding Wright, a legitimate No. 2 receiver, will certainly go a long way towards improving the team's offense. Wright is a big-play threat who will help stretch the field and open up things underneath for quarterback Matt Schaub.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

Bill Belichick knows his front seven must get better. The Patriots will take Jones here, a raw, defensive end who could also play linebacker in the team's 3-4/4-3 hybrid defense. 

Jones is an underrated prospect who should develop well under Belichick's watch. He's a hard worker who will fit right in with the Patriots. 

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

Ted Thompson has been quiet this offseason, but he and the Packers need to add an edge rusher at some point. Perry is the best pure pass-rusher in this draft, and he would fit in perfectly across the field from Clay Matthews.

The pair of USC products should give quarterbacks and offensive coordinators nightmares. 

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

Ozzie Newsome would love it if Konz fell here—but he's gone—so the Ravens will go with the best player available.

At some point, Baltimore needs to draft Ray Lewis' replacement, and Hightower will eventually turn into a worthy successor to the future Hall of Famer. 

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

Trent Baalke picked up Randy Moss and Mario Manningham in free agency, but the 49ers still need a deep threat. At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Hill has the elite size and speed that makes him this draft's best deep threat. 

Hill is incredibly raw and will take a while to develop, but he could end up being worth the risk.

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

Belichick will continue to rebuild his defensive front here. Reyes is a scheme-versatile defensive lineman who will be able to man multiple spots in the team's 4-3/3-4 hybrid scheme.

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

The Giants have bigger needs, but Jerry Reese will take the best player available here. Brown will fit perfectly in the team's 4-3 defense, and is a big improvement over the team's current outside linebackers.