2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Round 1's Most Important Picks

In this 2012 NFL mock draft, I highlighted a number of the most important picks in the first round. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

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

In terms of importance, no two picks in the 2012 NFL draft will be as important as Luck and Griffin III at the top. Luck will be tasked with starting a new era in Indianapolis, and Griffin III is the savior at quarterback people in Washington have been waiting on for a long, long time. Top picks in a draft are always important, but these two have a lot riding on their shoulders. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings aren't likely to find a trade worth making here. They'll get Kalil at No. 3, which is one of the safest picks in this draft. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns look to have four realistic options: Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Ryan Tannehill or Justin Blackmon. The path Cleveland ultimately decides will alter the rest of the top 10. Claiborne makes sense as a combo with Joe Haden, Tannehill certainly has the potential to overtake Colt McCoy, and Blackmon fills a huge hole at receiver. However, Richardson gives the Browns the most bang for the buck. He'll be the face of that offense for years.

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

Richardson might be the player head coach Greg Schiano wants most here, but with the running back off the board, Tampa Bay gets Claiborne to stabilize the secondary.

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

The Rams desperately need to get quarterback Sam Bradford some offensive weapons. 

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

The knees on defensive end Aaron Kampman simply will not allow him to be the kind of impact player he was. Ingram is the natural replacement. 

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

Tannehill's selection is important because of the ramifications further down the draft. While the Panthers have a franchise quarterback in Cam Newton, five of the next six teams after Carolina could have an interest in Tannehill. The Bills remain unlikely but possible, and the Chiefs, Seahawks, Cardinals and Eagles would have to take a long look. We give Miami Tannehill at No. 8 only because the Dolphins' offseason looks mighty confusing without adding a long-term option at quarterback. 

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

Taking Dontari Poe here would be a big mistake. Cox is the better player and a better fit for Carolina's front four. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

The Bills could shake up the draft by taking Michael Floyd here, but the prospect of bringing in a starting left tackle is too much to pass on. 

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

The Chiefs seem dead-set on upgrading their running game for 2012. No pick in the first round would have the same impact in that area than drafting DeCastro. 

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

The value of inside linebackers have dropped in recent years, but Kuechly appears to be one of those players who you can count on top-level production from right away.

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

Perry fits as a versatile pass-rusher that Arizona could team with O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho.   

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

As long as the Cowboys feel comfortable with Barron's recovery from a double hernia surgery, the Alabama safety makes a lot of sense here.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

It will be interesting to see how the Eagles approach the first round. That front office could certainly be looking at a move up, which could throw a big wrench into projecting the first 15 picks if completed. While I don't think Poe is a top-15 talent, he fits here if the Eagles stay put.  

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

Rex Ryan won't have a problem on signing off on this pick. 

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

Talk is heating up about Gilmore going in the top 15. Without finding a really good fit, Gilmore falls to the Bengals at No. 17. 

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

The Browns can afford to get aggressive in a move up here. Jumping four spots wouldn't cost a ransom, and the prize at the end is more than worth the mid-round picks they would have to give up. Floyd can be a game-changing receiver, especially when you team him with a running back like Richardson. If you're Cleveland, getting Floyd and Richardson in the first round is a dream scenario. 

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

The motor issues with Coples could cause him to fall. The Bears won't mind stopping his fall and placing him opposite of Julius Peppers.

20. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Titans haven't been able to sign a veteran free-agent center. Instead of giving up on the position, Tennessee pulls the trigger on the draft's top center.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia 

A versatile offensive lineman who can play guard and right tackle right away, Glenn represents good value here.

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

The player who protected Andrew Luck's blind side for three years at Stanford can move to the right side to replace Jeromey Clary in San Diego. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

The Lions will find it difficult to let a pass-rusher get by them at No. 23, but Kirkpatrick is too good of value at a position with a much bigger need.

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

Captain of one of the college football's best ever defenses, Hightower brings versatility and youth to the Steelers' interior linebacker collection. 

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

Still isn't a flashy pick, especially after signing Peyton Manning this offseason, but he's a good value this late in the first round and fills a spot vacated by departed free agent Brodrick Bunkley. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

Defensive coordinators in the AFC South would have nightmares trying to stop the Texans' offense with Wright on board.

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

McClellin is the kind of versatile prospect Bill Belichick craves. He also fills a need in New England as a pass-rusher. 

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

The Packers may be one or two pass-rushers away from another Super Bowl appearance. Getting Mercilus, a legitimate outside linebacker prospect, is one piece of that puzzle.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson 

Branch is kind of a one-trick pony as a speed-rusher, but Baltimore could find a way to make him productive.  

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

Several teams will take a long look at Brockers in the first round, but you're taking the mammoth defensive tackle on potential alone. The production wasn't always there at LSU. That could cause him to fall, but the 49ers won't mind taking the raw disrupter at No. 30 overall. 

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

New England is always looking to move down from the first round. With the draft's top tight end left on the board, Chicago makes a bold move back into the top 32 to grab Fleener.

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

Adams has bust potential, but he could also be the Giants' long-term answer at left tackle.