2012 NFL Mock Draft: Final First Round Mock with Trades

We are almost there.  April 26th is now right around the corner.  The players have been poked and prodded, timed and tested.  We are all ready for the 2012 NFL draft, and no one wants to wait.  We all have our favorite players that we want our teams to take, and we will know very soon.

We are looking at the first round of the draft here, trying to determine what cities the players will go to and at what point in the draft they will get selected.  There are lots of things to consider; team needs and best player available are most important among them.  Let's take a look at the first round of the draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Andrew Luck is going to be the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft.  There are many reasons that Luck will be going first overall.  First and foremost is that he is a rare talent, the best quarterback prospect to come out in quite some time.

When you throw in the social factors and the cultural reason to select him and how perfectly he fits the Indianapolis fanbase, it becomes a no-brainer.

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

Rarely is a team willing to give up so much to put themselves in a position to go and get their guy.  Washington has done that by making the pre-draft day trade with the St. Louis Rams. 

The Redskins gave up their first-round pick this year (ultimately a swap) which was originally the sixth pick overall and their second-round pick this year.  They also gave up two future first round selections, one in 2013 and one in 2014.

Griffin III is a superstar in the making, and he fits the Redskins and their fanbase perfectly.  He is an electric athlete who instantly adds great playmaking ability to their offense.  He also instantly sparks interest in the Redskins as a team.  Can you imagine how many Redskins jerseys will be sold with his name on the back?

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is far from a finished product at 6' 6-1/2" and 306 pounds.  He has the ability to be a monster down the road because he has the frame to add some bulk to get bigger.  He is athletic enough and shouldn't lose any of his ability to move while adding muscle mass to his frame.

Kalil will be joining a Vikings team in rebuild mode especially on the offensive line.  He will be key to the start of that rebuild.  Taking into account the division that the Vikings play in, he will be a critical piece for Minnesota as they try to develop quarterback Christian Ponder.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Trent Richardson can do so many things well, and he is simply too valuable for the Browns to pass on him.  He is widely considered to be the best running back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson.

The Browns are evaluating Colt McCoy, trying to determine whether he can be their future franchise quarterback.  To this point there really hasn't been much help for him on their roster.  Adding a running back like Richardson is instant help for McCoy not only in the screen game and in check downs, but in blitz pickup and pass protection as well.

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

Tampa Bay has a gigantic need in the secondary as Aqib Talib is one bad decision away from leaving the NFL for jail.  Claiborne is the perfect mix of best player available, and he fills a huge need.

Claiborne is an excellent football player and a better cover corner than has entered the draft in a few years.  He is a playmaker and fits what the Buccaneers need at this point.  Looking at the NFC South, defending the pass is going to be vital to a team's success.

6. St. Louis Rams: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Michael Brockers is sure to create come controversy here as most have other players going to the Rams.  Brockers is a beast inside and is a difficult player for offenses to handle.  The St. Louis Rams were 31st against the run in 2011, and getting their run defense turned around would be a smart move.

Brockers does things on an NFL level right now, and there is safety in selecting that kind of player.  He will command double-teams, freeing up the players around him to go and get the ball.

He can also stop the run and force an offense to become one-dimensional.  We all know what happens to offenses when they are forced to play the game the defense wants them to play.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd is a big playmaker at the wide receiver position, and he plays at a position that is a priority for the Jaguars.  The Jaguars drafted quarterback Blaine Gabbert early in the first round last year, and they need to put talent and athleticism on the field for him. 

Floyd is a big-time talent and too much for the Jaguars to pass on because they don't have a No. 1 wide receiver.  Floyd instantly gives the Jaguars a legitimate go-to guy and a player that can threaten defenses vertically. 

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

Ryan Tannehill is a raw quarterback prospect having started only 19 games as a quarterback in college.  He has incredible athleticism and very high upside.  Tannehill has great athleticism and displays great footwork and ability to make plays on the move.  

He is a developmental player and a player that needs some time to learn the NFL game.  It would be wise to allow him to sit for a year to give him the best chance at success as an NFL player.

9. Carolina Panthers: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Luke Kuechly has incredible instincts and is a linebacker that will always find himself around the ball.  He is a very solid tackler and a player that won't miss tackles often.  Kuechly can be trusted in coverage and is a difference maker at the position.  He is a playmaker on defense.

Kuechly is a player that can step in and play from day one as an outside linebacker in Carolina's defense.  He won't get exposed in any aspect of the game and will be a productive player for the Panthers.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Riley Reiff is big, strong and understands how to use his body to block defenders.  He has really good footwork and has great balance at the point of attack.  He has a great feel for playing on the offensive line and understands his job against what the defense is trying to do, especially the blitz.

Reiff has prototype NFL tackle size and is effective as both a run-blocker and pass-blocker.  He has long arms and uses them to seal the defender from the play.

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

David DeCastro is a force along the interior of an offensive line.  He can also be pulled from the guard position and dominate players at the second level.  He is a nasty blocker and a player that will finish the play.  He can come in immediately and stabilize and improve the offensive line play.

DeCastro is a physically dominant interior lineman who will help Kansas City’s running game immediately.  He is a good pass-blocker as well, and it is easy to see that the Chiefs offensive line has just gotten a lot better.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Quinton Coples is a physically gifted football player that can get after the quarterback.  He is big and very athletic and can play the run as well.  At 6' 6" and 284 pounds, he can really move as evidenced by the 4.72 40-yard dash he ran at the combine.

The Seahawks will have to find a way to keep Coples engaged.  He is a value pick at this point because of his ability to get after the quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Melvin Ingram is an athletic freak and a player that will certainly get after the quarterback.  He has a great get off and can move around the edge of an offense.  Ingram is an instant upgrade for the Cardinals' defensive attack.  He is a player that is going to make an impact right away in 2012.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Dontari Poe fills the need for the Dallas Cowboys at nose tackle.  He is versatile and can be moved along the defensive line as well.  Poe had a phenomenal NFL Combine and showed how athletic he is.  The Cowboys can use his size and athleticism in their defensive scheme.  Poe fits a need and is a value at this point in the draft.

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

Fletcher Cox is a one-gap penetrator and a player that can apply pressure on the quarterback from the tackle position along the interior of a defense.

He looks his best shooting a gap and making the offense adjust to him as he is very disruptive and can be a handful when teams don't double-team him.  Cox will step into the interior of the Eagles defense and make plays in the opposition's backfield.

16. New York Jets: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Whitney Mercilus is a pass-rusher and an elite one at that.  He can really get to the quarterback as shown by his 2011 stat line at Illinois.  He registered 16.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 22.5 tackles for loss.

He has prototype size to play defensive end in a 4-3 or as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 base defense.  He is versatile and can really get into the opposition's backfield to make plays.

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

Stephon Gilmore is a very capable cornerback, and he has great athletic ability.  He ran a great 40 time (4.40 seconds) at the NFL Combine.

The NFL is becoming such a pass-heavy league that teams are going to have to account for it, and Gilmore is a playmaker that the Bengals could really use.  Gilmore is moving up draft boards everywhere, and at this point he is a value for the Cincinnati Bengals.

18. San Diego Chargers: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Mark Barron has really good size for a physical safety.  He is 6'1" and 213 pounds, and he can really move to the ball.

He is a sure tackler and a player that can really deliver a punishing hit from the strong safety position.  The NFL has gone pass-happy, and the Chargers play in a division where the ball is going to get thrown around quite a bit.  Barron offers good coverage skills and will step up and defend the run as well.

19. Chicago Bears: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon gives the Bears a weapon that they have really been lacking.  Blackmon gives quarterback Jay Cutler a nice, solid wide receiver to throw the ball to.

There are questions about how vertically threatening Blackmon will be, but he has great hands and can really make great things happen after the catch.  Look for the Bears offense to trend upwards in a big way with Blackmon on board.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Tennessee Titans are in desperate need of a play-making cornerback, and Kirkpatrick certainly fills that need.  Kirkpatrick has great size for the position, and he can really make plays on the ball.

He has a great combination of running and jumping ability and is a proven winner having won two national championships.  Kirkpatrick brings a winning attitude to the Titans.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Kendall Wright is an explosive athlete and a player that can make great things happen down the field.  He is a vertical threat each and every play, and the combination of A.J. Green and Kendall Wright could be lethal.

Certainly it would make the Cincinnati Bengals offense very powerful as quarterback Andy Dalton could pick teams apart with his accuracy.  The addition of Wright makes the Bengals offense potentially elite, especially a few years down the road. 

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (trade with Cleveland)

The Eagles do well here with the addition of Jonathan Martin to play tackle for them.  He stabilizes the offensive line from the left side, and it gives them a nice combination of interior players in the first round.  Martin is a quality offensive lineman and a player who should play for some time.  Trading up to get their left tackle is a good move for the Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles give up their second-round (pick No. 56), third-round (pick No. 90) and a sixth-round (pick No. 174) in 2012.  The Cleveland Browns give up pick No. 22.

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Lions get some much needed offensive line help here with the addition of versatile lineman Cordy Glenn.

He can play now for the Lions, and he gives them a much needed shot in the arm at the position.  He instantly gives the Lions some push up front, and he is versatile enough to be moved to other positions along the offensive line.  This is a value pick for the Lions.

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

The Pittsburgh Steelers run a 3-4 base defense, and Hightower is the perfect fit for the system they run.  He is big at about 6'2" and 265 pounds and fits the mold of a "Steeler" linebacker.  Hightower can run really well and is a threat to get to the quarterback, and he will thrive in the Pittsburgh Steelers system.  Hightower is a value pick at this point in the draft.

25. Denver Broncos: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

The Denver Broncos add a playmaker to their offense with the addition of Doug Martin.  Martin is a great running back and a player that adds multiple threats to an offense that now features quarterback Peyton Manning.

Martin is a good player on third downs and will be a huge asset for the Broncos in the check-down game.  Martin is a solid runner, a powerful running back who has the potential to be a really good running back for the Denver Broncos.

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The Houston Texans finally add that player to line up opposite wide receiver Andre Johnson in Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill.

Hill will pull coverage away from Andre Johnson and create open space for everyone on the Texans offense.  Matt Schaub gets another weapon, and the Texans get to be much more explosive on offense. 

Hill is big at about 6'3" and 215 pounds, but he can fly as evidenced by his 4.3 40-yard dash time.  He is raw but he is extremely athletic, and he will make an impact on the Texans offense immediately.

27. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin (Via Trade with New England)

The Detroit Lions add an elite center in Peter Konz.  He can pull and get to the second level, and he will anchor the Lions' offensive line for many years.

He is the kind of player that is an incredible value at this point in the draft because most teams don't have center as a need.  The Lions' offensive line gets a lot better with the addition of Konz.

The Lions give up their second-round pick (No. 54), fourth-round pick (No. 117) and a future fourth-round pick (2013).  The Patriots give up pick No. 27.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Green Bay Packers struggled in 2011 to get to the opposing quarterback, and it put pressure on their secondary, and the Packers suffered because of it.

Perry is a natural pass-rusher and a player that fits the 3-4 system that the Packers use.  He is big at 6'3" and 271 pounds.  He can move very well and has the potential to be a devastating player off of the edge opposite Clay Mathews. 

The Packers came into the 2012 NFL draft looking for ways to improve their ability to get to the quarterback, and they accomplish it with the addition of Perry.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Baltimore Ravens seem to add premier talent every draft, and it is no different this time around.  They get to add Courtney Upshaw, a very good football player coming from a great defensive team at Alabama.

Upshaw does not have elite measurables, but he is a solid football player that fits the scheme that Baltimore runs.  He is a grinder, a player that plays better than his numbers show, and he will be very productive for the Ravens.  He can set the edge, get after the quarterback and defend the run well.

30. San Francisco 49'ers: Chandler Jones, OLB/DE, Syracuse

The San Francisco 49'ers have a great defense, and they get to add a player that can make a significant difference for them in Chandler Jones.

Jones will play outside linebacker in the 49'ers' 3-4 defense.  He is just scratching the surface as a football player, and at 6'5", he can surely add some bulk and finish around 265 pounds.  He will make this defense even better and is a player that can make a difference for the 49'ers right now.

31. New England Patriots: Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama

The New England Patriots love their defensive tackles to be big and impossible to move.  They add another one here with the addition of Josh Chapman.  He is massive and as tough as it gets.  He tore his ACL and meniscus early in the 2011 season and played the last eight games of his senior season on his bad knee. 

Chapman has been cleared to run and will be ready for training camp.  He is rising on all draft boards as his health appears to be good, and there are no questions about his abilities on the football field.  The Patriots get a steal here.

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The New York Giants are desperate for a play-making tight end, and they get their man here with the selection of Coby Fleener.

Fleener is a playmaker and a player that can make things happen in the vertical passing game and down the seam.  He will be a mismatch for defenses at 6'6" and 247 pounds.  The Giants are in a great position here to get a player that will instantly make their offense better.