2012 NFL Mock Draft: Likeliest Decisions for Every First-Round GM

The Browns need a skill position stud. The Colts, regardless of what Jim Irsay may or may not tweet, know exactly who they need to rebuild their franchise and if New England wants to get back to the Super Bowl, and fare better, they are going to have to master the art of stopping an offense. 

The decisions are many for a first-round GM but the answers are plain as day. Here's a look at every team in the first round and where they are likely to go with their first-round pick. 

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

Jim Irsay has been locked on Luck since before he waved goodbye to Peyton Manning. You can forget the speculation that RG3 might make the better pro, too. None of that will matter on April 26. Luck is going first, and that’s all there is to it. 

Irsay knows that he’s got a chance to draft the surest QB prospect since Manning and seeing how much Manning did for the Colts and the city of Indianapolis, there is no question he’ll make the smartest and easiest choice on the board. 

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

If you can’t make the easiest choice on the board, you might want to take the second easiest choice. While Luck is a sure thing, Griffin might be the best athlete at the position in this year's draft. With Shanahan’s offense, Griffin will make the most of Washington’s limited weapons and his ability to move out of the pocket will make him another legit weapon in his own right.

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

The safest pick in the draft. Kalil has a world of talent and will provide great protection for Christian Ponder and clear the way for Adrian Peterson.

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

The Browns find themselves in the worst position in the draft for what they need. They need a quarterback, but No. 4 is way too late to pick up RGIII or Luck. So the Browns have to think smart. 

They could go after a cornerback like Claiborne or a wide receiver like Blackmon, but the Browns are in need of skill-position talent, and Blackmon won’t do them any good if they don’t feel like McCoy is the right guy at the QB position. 

This leaves Trent Richardson. There hasn’t been a more complete back to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson.

With a solid running game, the Browns can open up the pass and find out just what McCoy is made of. Even if McCoy confirms their doubts, they’ll still have a nice piece in place for the next QB to come through Cleveland. 

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Bucs defense was a big problem last year. One of many problems. Claiborne is a special talent and the Bucs would do right picking him up here. 

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

What Sam Bradford needs is a stud to draw double coverage and be a premiere red-zone WR. Blackmon can be that guy. The Rams may have made the shrewdest move in the draft by trading their No. 2 picks. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The Jags have to play it smart here. No special skill-set talent will be left, and their defense must get stronger. Coples is a force and one that should terrorize QB's for years. 

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

It seems like the Dolphins rarely make the right move. They were shut out of the Manning sweepstakes and they are nowhere near in position to draft a top two QB. Still, the Dolphins are so desperate for a QB that they have to gamble.

No piece they can get at the No. 8 spot will be worth passing up on a prospect that has great physical tools to be play the position. If he tanks, it will have been worth the gamble, because if he lives up to the hype he’s been receiving as of late, he’ll be the Dolphins QB for the next decade. 

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

In a word, the Panthers defense was “awful” last season. They ranked 24th and 25th in passing and rushing yards allowed, respectively. Poe is a top-notch DT who can stuff the run and get after the QB. If the Panthers want to be playoff contenders, then he’s an easy choice at No. 9. 

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff has good size and strength. For a Bills team with plenty of needs, he makes as much sense as anyone. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chiefs need protection on the O-line. In a deep draft class for offensive linemen, he’s the best guard available. He’s a safe choice, but a good one. 

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram is a solid choice, as the Seahawks can use the upgrade on their defensive line, but make no mistake that if Tannehill isn’t picked up by the Dolphins, he could find himself in a Seahawks uniform.

Seattle whiffed hard on Manning and they have no faith in their current crop of potential QB’s. Tannehill, as I mentioned earlier, is heading to the Dolphins most likely, but Seattle would have to nab him if he fell to No. 12.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Arizona needs help defensively. Patrick Peterson was a great return man for the Cards, but his work in the secondary left something to be desired. Kuechly doesn’t have all-world talent, but he’s a lock to provide consistent production year after year.

The Cardinals need to make a smart choice and go with a safe defender to help them in both the run game and someone who can drop back in coverage.  

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

Cowboys will add to their defensive secondary in a big way with the one truly promising talent at the safety position. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Eagles are a good bet to trade down, but with a Top 15 pick, they would be best off trying to grab an exceptional talent like Michael Floyd. 

Michael Vick struggled last season, and the Eagles know that the best thing they can do to help Vick is to put enough weapons around him to take the focus off his ability to escape the pocket.

If Floyd blossoms into what scouts are predicting, he’ll add to the trio of weapons the Eagles already possess in the passing game. That will give Vick room to breathe, create and excite. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

No game changers at the No. 16 position. Upshaw is a solid talent who will only help an already Top 5 defense. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Things are coming together for the Bengals on the offensive side of the ball. Where they need help is their secondary, and Kirkpatrick has All-Pro potential. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry had a great combine, and it upped his stock in the eyes of many scouts. The Chargers need help on their defensive line, and Perry has the highest ceiling of any defensive lineman who will be left at this position.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

If Floyd is still left at No. 19, you can bet the Bears will take a long hard look at him, but with Floyd heading to Philly, the Bears will have to take a much harder look at their offensive line.

They’ve swung and missed in the last couple of years on offensive linemen, but Glenn is a very solid prospect, and the Bears are in need of a sure thing. Glenn will be the closest they’ll find on the offensive line. 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Drafting Cox isn’t about what he is, but what he could be. He’s an early entry, so he’s got time to develop. Tennessee is in rebuilding mode, and Cox is a nice piece to add to that process. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

One word to sum up Wright: Speed. The wide receiver is small, but fast. Since drafting a stud wideout isn’t a top priority this year, the Bengals have the luxury of taking a bit of a chance on Wright.

If he pans out, he could be a serious deep threat, much like Steve Smith. The fact that he won’t be a primary target in Cincinnati should leave him plenty of room to develop without the immense pressure of trying to carry their passing attack. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Nabbing Trent Richardson and Jonathan Martin in the same round will help take some of the sting out of not grabbing a QB. 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is the pick here. The Lions need to make every effort to tighten up that secondary if they want to make noise in the playoffs. 

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

That Steelers defense isn’t getting any younger, and they need to start looking toward the future. Hightower’s a great prospect and one who will work well in the Steelers system, as he’ll have plenty of time to develop. 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Just because Manning has the kind of skill to put up 30 points a game doesn’t mean you’ll want to count on it. Getting help on the D-line makes the most sense here. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

A big physical receiver that the Texans will hope turns into the Andre Johnson, but with Jeffery, that’s no guaranteed. 

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

If the Patriots can add another big stud to play alongside Wilfork in that 4-3, they could get back to playing championship-caliber defense. 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

The Packers, much like the Patriots, need help keeping points off the board, not putting them there. Branch has great physical skills and he’s got a mean streak. These are both things that the Packers need on the edge. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Solid prospect and will continue to provide depth and youth to a Ravens defense that is in dire need of both. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Randy Moss was a nice pickup, but he’s no sure thing and still on the downside of his career. Hill is a solid talent and one the 49ers need to develop now while they have Moss in the mix. 

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

The defending AFC champs are nowhere near a perfect team. While their offensive is a lock to put up big numbers it’s on the defensive side of the ball they have struggled.

The Pats were 31st in opponents' passing yards and they were 17th in rushing yards allowed. Translation: they need to find a way to dominate the line of scrimmage. 

Reyes is big player who knows how to use his body to fight off double teams and attack. He’s got great technique so he can get to the quarterback.

If New England doesn’t learn to apply pressure to the QB, they can expect to continue their winless drought in the Super Bowl. 

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

What do you give the Super Bowl champs? A tight end who can help open up your running, and passing game.

*Rams trade No. 2 overall pick to Redskins for 2012, 2013, 2014 first-round picks and 2012 second-round pick.