2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting First-Round Locks

For a franchise to have an opportunity to select a lock in Round 1 of the NFL draft, it's a can't-miss chance to really make significant strides toward the upcoming season.

With that, here's what's in store for the entire first round at the end of the month.

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

As if we need any more evidence about why the Andrew Luck is considered college football's top prospect. He's coming from a pro-style offense and the quarterback remains the more dire need for Indianapolis.

Not to mention, but Luck was arguably the top prospect of the 2011 NFL draft and last season only solidified his resume even more. Perhaps the most impressive tangible attribute is Luck's ability to read defenses pre-snap. He sees the field better than anyone else and has second-to-none mechanics and instincts.

The Colts desperately need his quick learning curve as that will make for a fast transition. And the quicker Luck gets acclimated to pro football, the quicker Indianapolis rebuilds and becomes AFC contenders once again.

2. Washington Redskins: (From STL): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

Washington has upgraded the receiving corps for 2012 and getting Robert Griffin III will quickly pay dividends.

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

To become a balanced offense, Minnesota needs Matt Kalil for pass protection. This makes setting up play-action a lot easier.

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

It's a much deeper draft at receiver than running back. Trent Richardson is the kind of player the Browns can build around.

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

Needing all kinds of help on defense, Morris Claiborne will lock down half the field and play up to the run.

6. St. Louis Rams (From WAS): Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

With the No. 30-ranked passing offense backing him, Steven Jackson still ran for over 1,000 yards. Just imagine his production with Justin Blackmon lined up out wide.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

Jacksonville needs pass protection and a lineman who can keep up with Maurice Jones-Drew. Riley Reiff possesses the athleticism to give the Jaguars a balanced offense.

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

Matt Moore proved himself in 2011, but the addition of Ryan Tannehill will create a quarterback competition. Moore needs to take his game to another level if he wants to remain the starter.

9. Carolina Panthers: Melvin Ingram, LB/DE (South Carolina)

With the opportunity to select the most versatile and complete defender in the draft, the Carolina Panthers quickly turn around their defense by adding Melvin Ingram.

Ingram is an explosive player who goes all out on every snap and simply has a knack for finding the ball. He can provide a pass rush on the outside or inside, sink into coverage and track down ball-carriers from all over.

He fits as a 4-3 defensive end or outside linebacker and gives the Panthers the option of running a 3-4, 3-3-5 or 4-2-5 in strict passing situations. Ingram can move to the interior on long downs and use his quickness to apply fast pressure in one-on-one situations.

Last season the Panthers ranked No. 24 against the pass, No. 25 against the run and No. 28 overall, so adding a complete player like Ingram that will produce from anywhere will certainly make Carolina postseason contenders.

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

A complete defender, Dre Kirkpatrick will dominate in the secondary as Buffalo's front seven shuts down the run and gets consistent quarterback pressure.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

Michael Brockers is the missing piece to Kansas City's defense. He can draw double-teams to free up the linebackers and read plays quickly to help stop the run.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)

The Seahawks must get Chris Clemons some help in the front seven. Luke Kuechly will control the interior against the run and shield off the middle against the intermediate passing game.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

If Arizona wants to compete in the NFC West, getting David DeCastro will build a multidimensional offense. He's a consistent run-blocker and will provide a safer pocket in the passing game.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

As we saw with the New York Giants in 2011, having that consistent pass rush throughout the course of a season is the main answer to keeping the defense dangerous.

The Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, wouldn't have a mediocre pass rush without DeMarcus Ware, and even with him, Big D struggles with consistency elsewhere in the front seven. Now, the Cowboys have a improved secondary with Brandon Carr and just need to get a complement for Ware.

Quinton Coples is the prime option as his freakish athleticism will dominate when blocked one-on-one. Coples provides impressive strength and quickness off the ball and will force the running back in pass protection to the perimeter of the pocket.

Doing so will allow Ware to apply more pressure from the blind side and/or force the quarterback to throw sooner than expected. In turn, middle 'backer Sean Lee will increase production against the pass and the Cowboys become even tougher when defending the run.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)

For the Eagles to contend in the NFC East, providing pocket protection and reliability on the perimeter ground game is needed. Jonathan Martin has the size and agility to seal the edge and allow coach Andy Reid to open up the playbook.

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

The Jets are a run-first offense and Michael Floyd provides the size, strength and speed to take on bigger defensive backs and linebackers. He's also an excellent receiver that will stretch a defense downfield.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (From OAK): Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

Stephon Gilmore is a prospect with top-notch awareness that sees the field quite well. He'll fit right in as a corner, but could also play safety if needed.

18. San Diego Chargers: Fletcher Cox, DT/DE (Mississippi State)

San Diego needs a reliable pass-rusher and run-defender. Fletcher Cox can get into the backfield from all over and consistently make plays against the run.

19. Chicago Bears: Nick Perry, DE (USC)

In the pass-happy NFC North, the Bears need a young pass-rusher that also reads well against the run. Nick Perry is a complete player who can dissect plays quickly and improve the Chicago front seven.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

Tennessee needs to improve at the line of scrimmage on both sides. Defensively, Dontari Poe will plug gaps and free up the linebackers to limit the production of AFC South ball-carriers Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

The inability to defend well against the better rushing offenses cost Cincinnati in 2011. Devon Still will cause havoc in the backfield and split double-teams to make plays and control the line of scrimmage.

22. Cleveland Browns (From ATL): Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)

Cleveland's defense needs one more piece to have elite potential. Courtney Upshaw provides a pass rush opposite Jabaal Sheard and will control the outside, while D'Qwell Jackson works the interior.

23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)

With a solid front four, the Lions need a fast linebacker to make plays on the perimeter and against the pass. Zach Brown is a dynamic playmaker that causes turnovers and possesses game-changing awareness.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)

Much like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh failed to shutdown the stellar rushing offenses in 2011. So, Dont'a Hightower comes in at No. 24 to control the middle of the front seven while James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley dominate the outside.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)

The one major area that hurt the Denver Broncos in 2011 was the interior running game. With Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil on the outside, offenses neglected to challenge Denver's speed and worked between the tackles instead.

Also, the Broncos rarely got any interior pass rush as 21 of their 41 sacks came from Miller and Dumervil. Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, on the other hand, will completely crush inside as he did for the Spartans.

In three seasons, Worthy recorded 27.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. The Broncos have D.J. Williams and Wesley Woodyard at the second level and Worthy will either draw double-teams or be a constant menace in the backfield.

His pass-rushing ability will free up Miller and Dumervil on the outside and take pressure off the pass defense. Denver has a near complete defense by adding Worthy to the mix and becomes even stronger AFC title contenders.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

Arguably the fastest player in the draft, Kendall Wright's acceleration alone will stretch a defense enough to take pressure off Arian Foster and Andre Johnson. Houston's offense is now complete.

27. New England Patriots (From NO): Whitney Mercilus, DE (Illinois)

New England must keep the pass rush alive, and the addition of Whitney Mercilus does just that. Although he has just one legit season under his belt, Mercilus has excellent potential to develop.

28. Green Bay Packers: Vinny Curry, DE (Marshall)

Linebacker Clay Matthews needs a pass-rushing presence opposite him in Green Bay. Well, Vinny Curry not only produces sacks, but he's great at forcing turnovers and defending against the run.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Cordy Glenn, OG/OT (Georgia)

AFC North defenses will continue to zero in on Ray Rice. Selecting Cordy Glenn will match that as he can play guard or tackle, wall off the edge and pull inside or outside to lengthen the running lanes. Play-action pass then becomes the Ravens' most dangerous play.

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

Stephen Hill may have played in a run-heavy offense, but he averaged almost 30 yards per reception and is the complete package at receiver. San Francisco is perfect as the 49ers love to run the rock and now have the capability of going downfield.

31. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, SS (Alabama)

Durability flags drop Mark Barron to the end of Round 1. Still, his knack for finding the ball is just what the Pats' defense needs. Barron can sit back in zone or roll down in man as well as help defend the run.

32. New York Giants: Doug Martin, RB (Boise State)

Doug Martin is an agile running back that will bowl over would-be tacklers and make them miss in the open field. The Giants take him at the end of Round 1 to keep their reliable two-back system alive with Ahmad Bradshaw.

John Rozum on Twitter.