2012 NFL Mock Draft: Safest Plays for Every First Round Team

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, we run down the safest plays for each of the 32 first-round picks. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Looking for a safe pick at No. 1 overall? Tough to beat a quarterback who many think is the top college prospect since Peyton Manning in 1998. The son of a former NFL quarterback, Luck is all but guaranteed to be the Colts' pick here.

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

If you argue Luck is a safe pick at No. 1, it'd be hard to turn around and say Griffin III wasn't one spot later. In most drafts, Griffin III would be the No. 1 pick with little argument. But the Redskins won't mind having the second safe choice here, as few teams need a jump-start quite like the one that calls the nation's capital home. 

 3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

With the two top quarterbacks off the board, a team looking for help at the position could trade up here to get Ryan Tannehill. But if such a team doesn't materialize, the Vikings have as safe a pick in Kalil as you could ask for at No. 3 overall. He'll be the team's starting left tackle for the next 10-12 years. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns would be hard-pressed to find a safer pick than Richardson, a workhorse back with 1,200-yard potential who could give quarterback Colt McCoy a big-time helper. Drafting a quarterback here is a big risk, as someone like Ryan Tannehill might not carry an instant impact. Richardson, on the other hand, could put up Adrian Peterson like numbers in his rookie season.

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

With Aqib Talib facing legal troubles and Ronde Barber on his last NFL legs, Claiborne makes sense in both positional need and value.  

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

The Rams don't have to go receiver with their first pick, but Blackmon is the No. 1 receiver that Sam Bradford desperately needs. 

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

Receiver should be in play here for Jacksonville, even after signing Laurent Robinson to a big deal this offseason. But getting a pass-rusher—another big need for the Jaguars—is a better top-10 value. 

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

Taking Tannehill is far from a safe pick. The Dolphins get him here with the idea that he'll eventually take over as the team's much-needed franchise quarterback. 

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

The Panthers could have an interest in Michael Floyd here, but locking up Steve Smith gives the position some stability. Cox helps fill a big hole on the defensive line.  

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

The Bills are another team that makes sense for Floyd, but the safer pick is certainly at left tackle. Reiff can immediately step in for the departed Demetress Bell. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford 

Taking a guard this high is rare, but putting DeCastro on the Chiefs' rebuilt offensive line would ensure the running game in Kansas City gets back into the top five.

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

The Seahawks can't really be planning on starting Barrett Ruud at middle linebacker, can they? Kuechly is a huge upgrade. 

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

The Cardinals have young, intriguing pass-rushers in Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield, but the Giants have shown that you can never have enough guys that can get to the quarterback. Arizona takes the safe route and adds the slippery USC defensive end/outside linebacker. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron represents a player who could start immediately in the Cowboys' secondary. Given Dallas ranked in the bottom third of the NFL against the pass last season, adding a starter at safety seems like a no-brainer move.  

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The New England Patriots played more 4-3 last season, and Vince Wilfork was still an effective player. That's the kind of impact Poe could have as a disrupter along the Eagles' four-man front.  

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

I struggle to see why some are dropping Upshaw to the end of the first round. Why? Few players have the kind of tape that Upshaw put out during his time at Alabama. I'd expect Rex Ryan to recognize that, too, leading him to take the scheme-versatile Upshaw here at No. 16. He'll turn out to be a safe pick when Ryan figures out the best way to use him in the Jets' front seven.  

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

Don't think for a second that the signing of Terrence Newman solves the worries Cincinnati has at cornerback.   

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

Instead of sitting back and hoping Floyd falls all the way to No. 22 overall (he won't), Cleveland moves up four spots to get the draft's No. 2 receiver. 

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

The worries with Coples' motor could drop him down some boards. If he gets to No. 19, however, I doubt Lovie Smith lets the former Tar Heel fall any further. Coples would then team with fellow UNC alum Julius Peppers to create a tough 1-2 punch at defensive end. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Michael Brockers makes sense here as an Albert Haynesworth type, but the Titans have been trying to fill center since free agency began. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Glenn gives the Bengals a monster offensive lineman who can play both guard and tackle.  

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

The Chargers don't mind moving back four spots, as Martin remains on the board at No. 22 overall. The former Stanford left tackle stays in California, where he'll take over for Jeromey Clary at right tackle, while also giving the Chargers an insurance policy on the left side. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

Taking Kirkpatrick gives the Lions their first first-round cornerback since Terry Fair in 1998. 

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

Hightower likely wouldn't start right away, but Larry Foote wouldn't be able to hold off this former Alabama defensive captain for 16 games in 2012. 

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

Drafting Still would help the Broncos replace Broderick Bunkley, who left for New Orleans in free agency. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

The Texans have a lot of options at No. 26, but few picks would bring as much instant impact as Kendall Wright. A DeSean Jackson/Mike Wallace type of receiver, Wright would be a handful for teams that want to double-team Andre Johnson on the outside. He'd terrorize defensive coordinators in the Texans' offense. 

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

McClellin can play several positions, won't be confined to a 4-3 or 3-4 defense and is a value pick at the end of the first round. What more do you want in a Patriots draft pick?  

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

An explosive athlete off the edge, Mercilus would give the Packers the pass-rusher they need to team with Clay Matthews.  

29. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson 

Jarret Johnson bolted for San Diego this offseason, but Branch can help fill his spot on the depth chart while also giving more pass-rush than Johnson ever provided in Baltimore.   

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

Love this pick for the 49ers. Brockers is raw, but he won't be expected to start right away in San Francisco's defense. He can learn behind a guy like Justin Smith, while playing rotational snaps early on. Late in the season, Brockers could emerge as another big-time pass rusher inside.

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

The Patriots are always looking to trade back, and the Bears give them that opportunity when they come calling about the No. 31 pick. Chicago makes the deal, drafts the top tight end in the class and then unleashes a brand new looking offense in 2012.  

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

At the end of the first round, New York can address a big need at left tackle. Adams is a monster tackle prospect with a big ceiling who the Giants hope can eventually hold down the left side.