2012 NFL Mock Draft: Current Projections for Every First Round Selection

Every NFL team has a handful of holes to fill in the 2012 draft, and I've got the most ideal first-round fits below. 

After Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, what will occur on April 26th?

2012 NFL Mock Draft (Final Pre-Draft Update)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

Luck's a special talent and he plays the most important position on the field. The Stanford product is the ideal signal-caller for the post-Peyton Manning Colts. 

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

Griffin III's athletic ability and world-class speed are highly publicized, but he's a ridiculously pinpoint pocket passer. 

In the high-profile NFC East, the Redskins get the ideal fit at QB. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

Kalil's the safest offensive lineman in the class, with the size you want in a franchise left tackle with good footwork and strength.

The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder last year, so they get his blindside protector this time around.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The direction in which the Browns should go with this pick has been a hot topic for the entirety of the pre-draft process. When Cleveland goes on the clock, Richardson will ultimately be the selection. He's the best overall prospect at this juncture and is the ideal type of player to make his living in the AFC North. 

The Browns get their franchise player and alleviate pressure from Colt McCoy with a 25-carry-a-game back. 

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

Claiborne is the best cornerback in the class, with good size, speed and instincts. The Bucs play in a division with Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan. 

How can this not be the pick?

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

This is just a hunch, but something tells me Jeff Fisher wants that Albert Haynesworth-type defensive tackle to build his defense around. 

Poe needs some coaching, but he's a mountain of a man and exudes athleticism. 

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

Blackmon is desperately needed in Jacksonville. Period. There's no way of knowing how good Blaine Gabbert can be if he doesn't have legitimate NFL receivers at his disposal. 

That's precisely what Blackmon is. He's ready to take on No. 1 duties in the NFL, but he's not the next Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson.

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

Tannehill has been another highly debated prospect over the last few weeks. He's become the most overvalued player in this draft class, but he's athletic, has a good size and a great arm. You may have read it before, but I'll say it again. If anyone can mold him into a respectable starter down the road, it's his college coach Mike Sherman, who's now the Dolphins offensive coordinator. 

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

Michael Floyd would be the sexiest pick, but remember, the Panthers allowed 4.6 yards per rush in 2011. They need more bulk on their defensive front. 

Cox is skilled and can play many different positions. 

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

Stevie Johnson is a good receiver, but is he No. 1 material? I'm not so sure. Floyd has the size and skill set to become a go-to target. 

To get the most out of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills need to give him a supremely talented wideout. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

For a sub-.500 team, the Chiefs don't have many holes on their roster. Kuechly and Derrick Johnson formulate quite the rangy linebacker tandem in KC. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

Perry played under Pete Carroll at USC, and after Carroll's departure for the NFL, the 6'3'', 270-pound became one of the best defensive ends in the nation. 

He and Red Bryant will give offensive lines nightmares in the foreseeable future. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

DeCastro should be picked just to aid left tackle Levi Brown, who has struggled mightily over the last few season. In 2010 and 2011 combined, the Cardinals allowed an unheard of 104 sacks.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

With Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin in their division, it's impossible for the Cowboys to have too many sound cornerbacks. 

Kirkpatrick and Brandon Flowers sound like quite the duo to me.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

The Eagles have to get more physical up front on defense, especially in the middle of their line. Brockers is a huge individual that moves well for his size. He's got room to grow and has the potential to be the anchor of the defense for many years to come. 

16. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

There's a chance the Jets jump on Ingram, but adding a better right tackle is far more important at this stage of the game—Wayne Hunter simply cannot be trusted to protect Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow next season. 

Reiff is a well-rounded tackle prospect, who's solid against the edge rush and by adding strength can become a sound run blocker. 

The Jets must become more consistent on offense in 2012.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB South Carolina

Ingram is a special talent. At 6'1'' and 265 pounds he moves like running back. Ingram adds another piece to one of the more underrated yet talented defensive units in the league. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB Alabama 

Upshaw isn't necessarily a overly explosive athlete, but he's a capable pass-rusher, and isn't a liability against the run. 

He and Shaun Phillips will create a great defensive end tandem for the Chargers.

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

Julius Peppers is an absolute monster on the outside of the Bears 4-3 front. He needs help, though. Coples has All-Pro talent, he'll just need to get motivated at the next level. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Browns is the fastest sideline-to-sideline linebacker in the draft. While he's not an especially fine tackler, his speed will be welcomed by a Titans team that must deal with Arian Foster and Maurice Jones-Drew each season. 

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

The Bengals would like cornerback insurance with Leon Hall returning from an Achilles injury in 2012. Gilmore is big, physical and a competitive player. 

Perfect for Mike Zimmer's defense. 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Browns offense was sad last season. They scored only 13.6 yards per game. Wright will help change that. His on-field speed is unprecedented and he'll finally add a dangerous dynamic to Cleveland's offense.

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Matt Stafford quietly threw for 5,000 yards last season. Now that the Lions' front office saw what he's capable of, they realize how important it is to protect him. 

At 6'5'' and 345, Glenn represents great value here. 

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

The Steelers recently cut James Farrior. Although they have Larry Foote to fill his vacancy, they'd love to pair Hightower with Lawrence Timmons in the middle of their vaunted defense. 

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT Penn State

Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller are menacing aspects of the Broncos' defense. Imagine the damage they could do with a beefy nose tackle on their defensive line? 

Still can vanish for stretches, but when he's at 100%, he can be disruptive.

26. Houston Texans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

A complementary wideout to Andre Johnson is logical, but really, the Texans would significantly benefit from a big target down the seam to squeeze in the safeties. 

Fleener's that guy. 

He's 6'6'' and nearly 250 pounds and runs like a wideout with superb athleticism for his size. He was Andrew Luck's favorite target at Stanford and demonstrated fantastic hands in Palo Alto. Matt Schaub and Johnson will love him. 

So will Texans fans. 

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

The Patriots cornerbacks aren't bad, but outside of Patrick Chung, they need more skill at safety. Barron's a fine overall prospect who's solid in coverage and really "lays the lumber" against the run.

28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson

Last year made it obvious—the Packers need a secondary pass-rusher to Clay Matthews. Branch has a explosive burst off the snap and good size to set the edge. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

With Corey Redding and Jarret Johnson gone, the Ravens need more talent on their defensive line. Jones is a bit raw, but he's upside is through the roof. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State

This could be Kevin Zeitler, but Silatolu's innate nasty streak and immense power translate wonderfully to the power-running scheme in Jim Harbaugh's offense. Silatolu and Mike Iupati pulling to the second level in 2012?

Look out. 

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Andre Carter's a free-agent at the twilight of his career. Mark Anderson's now a member of the Buffalo Bills. In order to give its secondary a chance, New England has to find a edge-rushing specialist. 

I give to you Whitney Mercilus, the nation's sack leader in 2011. 

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

Kareem McKenzie doesn't represent the future on the right side of the Giants' offensive line. Although Eli Manning was amazing facing pressure last season, he must be protected. 

Martin's a great option to play on the right side in year one. 

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