2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Player Targets for Every GM

On April 26, the first round of the NFL draft will take place, and 29 general managers will be making very important decisions for the futures of their franchises on that fateful Thursday evening (the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have no first-round pick this season).

With that in mind here's a look at who those general managers could be targeting with those first-round picks, as well as a bit of insight as to what may motivate that player's selection and the talents they will be taking to their new homes.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

If history is any indication, either Luck or Griffin will be a bust in the National Football League, and while Luck may not possess Griffin's raw athletic upside, he also seems much more ready to play at the professional level.

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

With that said, the Redskins appear to be doing everything in their power to minimize the chances that Griffin flops as a pro, as offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is already meeting with Griffin to help acclimate him to Washington's offense.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

ESPN's Adam Schefter recently joined those who believe the Vikings will pass on Matt Kalil here, which would make it very likely that the team would draft the 2011 Thorpe Award winner after Minnesota surrendered the most touchdown passes in the NFL last season.

4. Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Quarterbacks carry a heavy premium in today's National Football League, so even though he has less than 20 career starts Texas A&M signal-caller Ryan Tannehill is a hot commodity after throwing for over 4,700 yards in 2011.

Tannehill's lack of experience and relatively high turnover totals are cause for concern, but the Browns apparently think enough of Tannehill that team president Mike Holmgren is reportedly seriously considering making the reach at No. 4, although it may well turn out to be an ill-advised one.

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I heard different things over the weekend from people I trust. GM Tom Heckert loves Blackmon and that would be his pick; president Mike Holmgren is still trying to decide with finality if Tannehill is the franchise quarterback worth taking here.

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Plus, Cleveland is duty-bound (apparently) to torture the fanbase as much as possible, so there you go.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Buccaneers

New Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano loves to pound the rock. This pick may not be popular with some Buccaneers players, but the 228-pound junior would be a big boost to the Tampa ground game after topping 2,000 total yards last season.

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

The Rams were dead last in the National Football League in sacks allowed last year. St. Louis wouldn't hesitate for a moment to upgrade the pass protection for quarterback Sam Bradford by drafting the top offensive line prospect this year.

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

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert might have a better chance at success in the NFL 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 wideout role, and the Jaguars will have improved their receiving corps by leaps and bounds.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

After missing out yet again on their quarterback of the future, team owner Stepen Ross will probably be apoplectic, but the All Big-Ten tackle would be a massive improvement over the woeful Marc Colombo on the right side.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Carolina run defense ranked in the NFL in 2011 and was soft up the gut, so upgrading the interior of the defensive line is a priority that the Panthers need to address early in the 2012 draft. Michael Brockers would be a nice fit here given the athleticism he displays despite his 322-pound frame.

10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills made some big splashes on the defensive side of the ball in free agency and have a need at offensive tackle after losing Demetress Bell. However, with Reiff gone, the Bills will look to improve the offensive skill spots by adding the fast-rising Floyd, who reeled in 100 passes for the Fighting Irish in 2011.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe

As Peter King of Sports Illustrated reported Monday, no player is as all over the place among the opinions of draftniks, as Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, who has seen his draft stock cool considerably in some eyes after an outstanding showing at the NFL combine.

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Is the Memphis defensive tackle the next Haloti Ngata, or just another winner of the underwear Olympics known as the Scouting Combine? The 6-3 ½, 346-pound Poe ran a tight-end-like 4.9-second 40 at the combine and benched 225 pounds 44 times, which are all-time incongruous. But for a guy with such athletic talent, I heard more comments like, "I see no production,'' or "The guy just disappears in games.'' But one AFC personnel man did compare him to Ngata and said, "He could be one of the most versatile tackles in our league. Ngata didn't come into the league without questions either.''

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The Kansas City Chiefs have a need at nose tackle with Kelly Gregg a free agent and considering retirement, and the 346-pound beefeater is the prototypical 3-4 run stuffer, so if the Chiefs are willing to take the risk, Poe could pay off big time.

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

Defensive end Chris Clemons has 22 sacks over the past two seasons, but the Seahawks ranked in the bottom half of the league in that category last year. Seattle needs to get Clemons some help, which the 264-pound Ingram should provide after tallying 10 sacks in 2011.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Arizona Cardinals need to improve the pass protection for quarterback Kevin Kolb, and given the choice between DeCastro and teammate Jonathan Martin, the team would reportedly prefer the 316-pound two-time All-American guard.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Even after adding cornerback Brandon Carr, the Cowboys could still use another upgrade at the position. Stephon Gilmore's stock is on the rise after an excellent showing at South Carolina's pro day, and several experts now feel that Gilmore is the draft's second-best cornerback prospect.

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

The trade that brought linebacker DeMeco Ryans to Philadelphia helps remedy at least some of the Eagles' problems in the middle of their defense. However, the Eagles could still use an boost at defensive tackle, and the team is reportedly "drooling" over the agile and powerful 298-pound Cox.

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

Upshaw didn't impress at either the NFL combine or Alabama's pro day. However, there are still miles of tape that demonstrates Upshaw's propensity for chasing down opposing quarterbacks, and the All-American's experience in the 3-4 would be an added benefit for New York.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bengals need to find a cornerback to pair with Leon Hall, as 31-year-old Nate Clements is better suited to the slot at this point in career. The 6'2" Kirkpatrick was a second team All-American last year, and his capbility in run support would be greatly appreciated in the smashmouth AFC North.

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

The San Diego Chargers managed only 32 sacks as a team last year, with no player besides linebacker Antwan Barnes tallying more than four, so it's imperative that the Bolts look to improve the pass-rush in the draft.

Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus led all FBS players with 16 sacks in 2011, and while some question whether the All-American was a one-year wonder, Mike Tanier of Yahoo! Sports believes that Mercilus can make an impact right away.

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Mercilus is a cut above the Andre Branch-style pass rush prospect because he has an inside dimension to his game and has learned to be an effective hand fighter. His upside is very high, and his effort and hustle are exemplary. He can step into a situational pass rush role as a rookie and will probably be a handful.

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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, and the 6'6", 281-pounder's athletic skills are tempting despite questions about his motor.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Only one team in the National Football League notched fewer sacks than the Tennessee Titans a season ago, and while the team would likely grumble about missing out on Coples, getting the Pac-12 sack champion from 2011 wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Guard play was a problem for the Bengals in 2011, and while 345-pound Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn played tackle as a senior, the mauling run blocker projects as a guard at the professional level.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

At this point in the draft, Browns management will probably be ducking rocks and bottles after the Tannehill pick, and given the team's lack of offensive firepower, they almost have to draft a back or receiver. David Wilson topped 1,700 rushing yards last year for the Hokies and gained more yardage after contact that any ball-carrier in the country.

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

The Lions need help at cornerback but have also developed quite a bit of uncertainty in the offensive backfield. Doug Martin topped 1,300 rushing yards last year for the Broncos, and while the blue turf bellcow isn't eye-popping in any one facet of the game, the 5'9", 223-pounder is rock-solid in most of them.

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

Dont'a Hightower is a 265-pound thumper that appears talior-made to play SILB in the NFL, a position at which the Steelers just so happen to have a need after the departure of James Farrior. That makes this one of those picks that almost makes too much sense.

25. Denver Broncos: Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati

The run defense was the Achilles' heel of the Denver defense a season ago, and so-so play from the defensive tackle spots was a big part of the problem, making addressing the middle of the defensive line important for Denver early in the draft.

Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe was the Big East defensive player of the year after tallying 70 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season, and ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper believes that Wolfe is an under-the-radar value.

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I love the versatility he can bring. I projected Wolfe as a surprise first-round pick because a scheme-versatile team can use a guy like him, who can be a one-gap guy in a 3-4 or easily flip to a 4-3 DT, up front. I've seen him on some boards as low as the third round. He should go higher.

 

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26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Among the Houston Texans' biggest needs this offseason is a complementary wide receiver for Andre Johnson, and Kendall Wright is a blazing speedster who was wildly productive at Baylor and can also help the Texans in the return game.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Patriots need to upgrade the front seven, but their defensive backfield is also a mess, and with Barron easily being the top safety prospect in this year's draft class, the 213-pound All-American may be too good a value to pass up this late in the first round.

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 consistent pass rush. McClellin, a 6'3", 260-pound senior, was a first-team All-Conference performer after racking up 50 tackles and seven sacks for the Broncos, and the Broncos standout has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Anquan Boldin looked like a shell of his former self last year in Baltimore, and Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the triple option offense the Yellow Jackets employ actually helps wideouts get ready for the pros.

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 and may need a bit of a seasoning, Silatolu is a powerful blocker that projects better as a guard in the NFL.

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

The Patriots secondary was dead last in the AFC last year and was embarrassed by opposing signal-callers on a regular basis. Jenkins' checkered past and expulsion from Florida makes him a risky pick, but it's a gamble worth taking for the Pats given their need at the cornerback position.

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

Starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie turns 33 in May, and his play tailed off badly last season. Martin's stock has been dropping in some experts' eyes, but he'd be a solid value at the end of the first round that fills a need for the reigning champs.

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