2012 NFL Mock Draft: Picking Every First-Round Lock

While there are plenty of uncertainties heading into any draft, any sport, any year, there are some cases where we know what's going to happen—especially in this year's NFL draft. 

Some players were tailor-made for certain coaches and certain general managers, leaving little doubt about where they will be suiting up when the 2012 season starts. This mock draft takes a look at some of the players whose destinations are pretty much set in stone, even with the draft still several weeks away.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Colts owner Jim Irsay has been coy about whether or not the team plans to select Luck or Robert Griffin with the first-overall pick in the draft—until Tuesday.

Irsay sent out a tweet that pretty much cleared up any question of who the Colts would be taking:

"

Met with A Luck#12 n Indy 2day for 3 hrs;it's easy 2c why the #1 pick n this Stanford phenom has been synonymous with each other 4over 2 yrs

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) April 10, 2012"

Luck, heralded as the best quarterback prospect some scouts have ever seen, belongs in Indianapolis. The Colts dispatched Peyton Manning to make room for someone who could lead the franchise for years to come, and Luck is one of only two prospects with that kind of upside. 

Luck is extremely coachable, intelligent and ranks exceptionally in terms of mental makeup, accuracy and pocket mobility. In 2011, he had a 169.68 rating after throwing for 3,517 yards and 37 touchdowns. He is one of the safest picks in this year's draft, and it will be impossible for the Colts to go wrong by selecting him.

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams) (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins traded up to get the No. 2 selections for one reason: RGIII. For a while, their selection depended on the Colts, but now that Irsay has essentially guaranteed he will take Luck, Griffin falls to the Redskins.

The scouts have been back and forth about whether Luck or Griffin is the top prospect at quarterback, but they are certain that Griffin has an impossibly high NFL ceiling because of his arm strength, accuracy and athleticism. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is intelligent and driven, proving to be one of the most coachable players among this year's crop.

Despite questions about his durability, Griffin is a match made in heaven for a Redskins team that is in dire need of a quarterback who can take the reigns for the next several years to come.

3. Miami Dolphins (from Vikings) (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Dolphins need a quarterback of the future, and Tannehill is their guy. They can't afford to wait and see if he falls to them at No. 8; they need to make a trade to get the Vikings' third pick to ensure they get the player they need.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Concerns about taking a running back this high in the draft shouldn't matter to the Browns when it comes to Richardson. He's the best prospect since Adrian Peterson and is a powerful runner as well as an above-average pass catcher.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Tampa's biggest need is still at corner, and in order to start competing in its division again, it needs to shore up defensively. Claiborne is a safe pick who can give it stability over the long-term.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

There's still a chance Cleveland could take Blackmon at No. 4, but if it opts for Richardson, St. Louis can't pass up the chance to take Blackmon. He's a playmaker who can help Sam Bradford excel.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

With Reiff and Kalil both on the board at this point, Jacksonville will have its pick between the top left tackles in the game, but will ultimately opt for Reiff because of his durability, above-average athleticism and his fit within the system.

8. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil offers Minnesota a long-term replacement for Charlie Johnson, and he has the versatility to play on the right or left side.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is the most talented player left on the board at this point, and despite the fact that Dontari Poe's stock is soaring, he is a safe pick for the Panthers, who desperately need a run-stopper.

Coples is a sack machine who, at 6'6" and 284 pounds, has the size, speed and versatility to make an immediate difference on Carolina's line. Todd McShay ranks him as the top defensive end available in this year's draft, and for good reason: He has never missed a game because of an injury, he's incredibly quick for his size and he does a great job of utilizing his 33.2" arms in blocking schemes.

The UNC product is a safe pick for a Panthers team that can't take a risk on someone who won't pan out. They need someone to step in and dominate now, and Coples—more so than Poe—is able to give them that. Coples can start immediately and overpower linemen, especially in the run game.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills' needs aren't few and far between, but if they want an offensive playmaker, Floyd is a safe bet. He showed off his speed with a 4.40 40-yard dash at the combine and has above-average hand size and arm length for receivers at the last four combines.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

In addition to being a tackling machine, Kuechly's instincts and intelligence bump him up the board, and he silenced questions about his athleticism with a 4.58-40-yard dash and a 6.92 in the three-cone drill at the combine.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, DE, North Carolina

Upshaw can be incredibly effective in the 3-4, but with Poe gaining steam as the draft approaches, it could adversely affect Upshaw, who has battled doubts about his speed. 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram has been called one of the most athletically-gifted prospects on the board this year and gives the Cardinals a serious playmaker.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron, the best safety in the draft, can immediately make an impact on Dallas' secondary with his ability to read routes and defend the run.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe could easily climb into the top 10 after an explosive performance at the combine (he ran a 4.98-second 40). If he falls to the Eagles, he immediately fulfills their need for a dominant presence on the line.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Chandler Jones, OLB, Syracuse

He has the versatility to transition from defensive end to linebacker, and he offers the Jets a solid character guy as someone who's been described as hardworking, accountable and well-respected.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

One of the Bengals' primary needs is help on the pass-rush, and after a few years of development, DeCastro could easily become one of the league's better guards. He didn't miss a single game in the last three seasons and is hard-working and tough.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Still looking to fill a need at right tackle, the Chargers can't go wrong with Glenn, who is versatile and offers solid pocket protection for Philip Rivers.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Though he's not on the same level as Kalil or Reiff, Martin could develop into a top left tackle after a few seasons of experience because of his above-average quickness and intelligence.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The biggest selling point for Kirkpatrick is his size. At nearly 6'2", he has the versatility to cover tight ends and wide receivers, so he can offer the Titans an instantaneous upgrade in the secondary.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

He's the second-ranked cornerback prospect in the draft and has the instincts and coverage skills to fill a big hole in the Bengals secondary.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) (4-12): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright gives the Browns a playmaker on offense, and as the third-best wide receiver available, he will combine with Richardson to give this offense a serious upgrade.  

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Though he only started for one year at Illinois, Mercilus is fast, athletic and good off the snap, and he has the perfect frame for a defensive end in a 4-3.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

There are few defensive prospects who fit the Steelers' needs better than Hightower, someone who can be an impact player at the line of scrimmage and a very physical inside presence.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers fills a huge need for the Broncos inside with his ability to play a variety of different roles depending on the scheme, and he has a strong work ethic and passion for football.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

He gives Houston a playmaker next to Andre Johnson, and his big-play ability—he had a 29.3-yard average on 28 receptions—makes him a safe bet.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) (13-3): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

New England needs to shore up a defense that was disappointing last year, and Cox is a raw athlete and a dangerous pass-rusher with a lot of upside who could excel under Bill Belichick's guidance.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Nick Perry, DE/LB, USC

Perry, as the sixth-ranked defensive end available, could fall out of the first round, but he'd be a great addition on Green Bay's line because of his work ethic and his core strength.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

He's the only center who could be worth a first-round pick, but there are big concerns about his durability—he was diagnosed with a blood clot in each lung at the end of the 2009 season and has had ankle problems in 2010 and 2011. Still, center is a need Baltimore must fill sooner rather than later.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

He has an average combination of height (about 6'4"), weight (314 pounds) and speed for an offensive guard prospect, but his above-average instincts and football IQ could push him up into the first round.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Bill Belichick loves smart players with a lot of upside, and Reyes has that kind of potential. He has a great work ethic, and he's quick for his size.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

New York needs a tight end because of injuries, and Fleener is one of very few college tight ends who has the potential to quickly move into a starting role in the NFL.