2012 NFL Mock Draft: Big Time Picks That Will Shape the NFL's Future

The NFL draft was once a one-day affair at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Philadelphia, but times have changed since 1936, and now the draft has become a three-day media circus at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Representatives of all 32 National Football League teams will be under the big top on April 26 hoping to make a pick they hope will pay off big time, and here's an updated look at how the first round of this year's draft could play out as teams try to find the NFL stars of tomorrow.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay all but confirmed what we all already knew with his recent tweet, and it's a 99.99 percent certainty that Luck will be the 2012 opening day starter for the Colts.

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

Griffin has visited Washington and Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is already meeting with Griffin to help acclimate him to the Redskins system, so it's pretty safe to say that the Heisman Trophy winner is headed to D.C.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

ESPN's Adam Schefter has joined those who believe the Vikings will pass on Matt Kalil here, which would make it a near certainty that the team would draft the 2011 Thorpe Award winner after the Vikings allowed the most touchdown passes in the NFL last season.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns are desperate for offensive playmakers, lost 2011 starter Peyton Hillis in free agency, and former Colts executive Bill Polian called Richardson one of three "sure things" in this year's draft, so the Browns need to pull the trigger here.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

I'm going to get destroyed for this pick, and the Buccaneers would likely trade down here if they could, but with Claiborne and Richardson both off the board, making 2011 Butkus Award winner Kuechly a top-five pick may not be as crazy as it sounds.

Starting middle linebacker Mason Foster was barely serviceable last year and weakside linebacker Geno Hayes is a free agent, which makes linebacker an area of need that the 6'3" Kuechly would address very well, according to ESPN's Jeffri Chadiha's recent piece about the Eagles star.

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"This guy is as good a playmaker as I've seen," one AFC personnel director said. "He has a nose for the football, great instincts, and he's very productive. You can't block the guy because he recognizes plays so quickly and he's very quick to the ball. He'll get you 15 hits a game just because he's so good at beating people to the block points. He's like having a free runner on defense."

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6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

No team in the NFL allowed more sacks than the Rams last year. St. Louis wouldn't hesitate for a second to improve the pass protection for quarterback Sam Bradford by selecting the draft's top tackle prospect.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert might have a much better chance to succeed if he had someone to throw the ball to. With the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner in the fold, the newly acquired Laurent Robinson could slide into the second receiver role, where's he's much more likely to have success.

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

Although Brian Billick made the comparison of doom regarding Tannehill Thursday, he reportedly looked very impressive at Texas A&M's pro day. The Dolphins are absolutely desperate for a franchise quarterback, and there's a real possibility that the team will trade up if necessary to get Tannehill.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Carolina run defense was among the worst in the NFL in 2011, so upgrading the interior of the defensive line is a priority that the Panthers need to address early in the 2012 draft, making Brockers a nice fit here.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Bills made some big splashes on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, but the loss of tackle Demetress Bell makes improving the offensive front a necessity that the All-Big Ten performer would satisfy.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The Chiefs' additions in free agency afford them a great deal of flexibility in this year's draft, and the 6'2", 265-pound All-American would form a fearsome duo inside with Derrick Johnson.

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

Defensive end Chris Clemons has 11 sacks in each of the past two seasons, but the Seahawks ranked in the bottom half of the league in that category last year, so Seattle needs to get Clemons some help. 

South Carolina defensive end Ingram racked up double-digit sacks during an All-American senior season for the Gamecocks, and the 6'1" 264-pounder brings a lot to the table, according to Russ Lande of The Sporting News. 

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He is explosive off the ball and sudden with his initial movements, which makes it difficult for offensive linemen to sustain their blocks on him. He displayed an excellent variety of pass-rush moves to consistently beat the offensive tackle. He has a rare combination of quickness, agility and power closing

 

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13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Cardinals have needs along the offensive line and at outside linebacker, but the 6'3" Floyd is rocketing up draft boards. With some speculating Floyd is actually the top wideout prospect in the 2012 draft class, the Cardinals would be hard-pressed to pass on him as a playmate for Larry Fitzgerald.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

There has been speculation that Dallas head coach Jason Garrett's presence at Alabama's pro day is a harbinger of the Cowboys selecting a Crimson Tide defender, and Dallas has a need in the secondary even after adding Brandon Carr.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The trade that brought linebacker DeMeco Ryans to Philadelphia helps fix at least some of the Eagles' problems in the middle of their defense. However, the Eagles could still use an upgrade at defensive tackle, and the team is reportedly "drooling" over Cox.

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

Upshaw didn't exactly shine at either the NFL combine or Alabama's pro day. The Jets need pass rush help, though, and there are still miles of tape that demonstrates Upshaw's propensity for chasing down opposing quarterbacks.

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

It's not that often that best player available meets area of need, but in this case the Bengals could use an upgrade at the guard position and DeCastro is widely considered one of the best prospects at the position in years.

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Mercilus had half as many sacks in 13 games last year as the Chargers had as a team in 16 games. There is some concern that Mercilus is a "one-year wonder", but after leading the nation in sacks the Chargers should be willing to roll the dice that he can back his gaudy 2011 numbers up.

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

The Bears re-signed veteran defensive end Israel Idonije after missing out on Mario Williams in free agency, but the team is still looking to upgrade the defensive front opposite Julius Peppers.

North Carolina defensive end Coples has the 6'6", 281-pound frame and athletic ability that scouts drool over. Coples could also kick inside to tackle in obvious passing situations, and ESPN's Kevin Seifert sees an obvious fit for Coples in the Windy City.

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Pass rushers are at such a premium that teams are willing to overlook some flaws to get the kind of presence Coples brings with his 6-foot-6 frame and 81-inch wingspan. It makes you wonder if a team like the Chicago Bears, whose needs at defensive end we have well-discussed, wouldn't be an ideal fit. Coples would have an All-Pro in Julius Peppers to attract most offensive attention, and he would have one of the league's top defensive line mentors in coordinator Rod Marinelli to keep him pushing forward.

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

The departure of Cortland Finnegan to the St. Louis Rams in free agency leaves a hole in the Titans secondary, and NFL draft expert Mike Mayock believes Gilmore is actually the second-best cornerback available in the 2012 NFL draft.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Starter Chris Crocker left in free agency but is no huge loss. However, the draft's top safety prospect would be a significant upgrade for the Bengals secondary after tallying 66 tackles, two interceptions and a sack for the Crimson Tide in 2011.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Browns would be hard-pressed not to continue adding offensive skill players here, but the 345-pound mauling run-blocker could open holes that Trent Richardson could drive a golf cart through.

23. Detroit Lions: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

With Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith both injury risks and Mikel LeShoure an apparent pothead, the Lions suddenly have a need in the offensive backfield that the versatile Martin would fill quite well after rushing for nearly 1,300 yards in 2011.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Poe's draft stock has cooled a bit since his monstrous showing at February's NFL combine, but the 346-pound beefeater is a prototypical 3-4 run stuffer that would be a worthy successor to the 34-year-old Casey Hampton.

25. Denver Broncos: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Pro Football Focus graded starting center J.D. Walton as the worst starter in the NFL at his position by a significant margin, and Peyton Manning ain't taking no snaps from no bum.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Among the Houston Texans' primary needs this offseason is a complementary wide receiver for Andre Johnson, as Kevin Walter is getting older and Jacoby Jones plays like he's wearing mittens.

Baylor wide receiver Wright was ridiculously productive as a senior for the Bears, topping 100 catches and 1,600 receiving yards, and Don Banks of Sports Illustrated agrees the 5'11" speedster would be a good fit in Houston.

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As Wright's draft stock continues to solidify based on his strong pro day showing, I'm coming back around to Houston taking the more proven ex-Baylor Bear over Georgia Tech speedster Stephen Hill. Wright can't stretch a defense as well as Hill, but he'd be a play-making complement receiver opposite Andre Johnson.

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27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

With free agency taking a toll on the Patriots defensive line, the team needs to improve its front seven. Perry is a versatile player who has demonstrated the strength to play defensive end in a 4-3 defense and has the quickness to kick outside to linebacker in the 3-4.

28. Green Bay Packers: Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State

The Packers defense ranked dead last in the NFL a season ago due in large part to the lack of a pass rush, and the 6'3", 260-pound senior was a first-team All-Conference performer after racking up 50 tackles and seven sacks for the Broncos.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State

The Ravens have a reputation for eschewing obvious areas of need to pursue players that they feel fit their system, and the 303-pound 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year would form an imposing trio with Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs.

30. San Francisco 49ers:  Amini Silatolu, OT/OG, Midwestern State

The loss of Adam Snyder in free agency leaves a hole along the offensive front, and while the 311-pound small-school standout played tackle in college he projects better as a guard in the NFL.

31. New England Patriots: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Patriots secondary was eviscerated by opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis last year. Jenkins' checkered past and dismissal from Florida makes him a risky pick, but it's a risk worth taking for the Pats given their dire need at the cornerback position.

32. New York Giants: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie turns 33 in May, and while Martin's stock has been dropping in some expert's eyes he'd be a solid value here that fills a need for the defending champs.

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