2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams Most Likely to Draft Skill Position Studs

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, we identify the teams that are most likely to draft top skill position players in the first round.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts have an easy choice in taking the most polished college quarterback since Peyton Manning.

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

Washington didn't spend a historical amount of draft picks to take anyone but Griffin here. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Minnesota will entertain trade offers, but taking Kalil is the safest bet at No. 3 overall.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Few teams need as much help at the skill positions than the Browns. While receiver is a big issue, there's no way Cleveland can go into 2012 with its current running back stable.

Taking Richardson solves that problem immediately. He's a three-down back that could produce 1,500 yards or more in total offense next season.

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

Claiborne would be a starting cornerback immediately in Tampa Bay.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (trade w/ Washington)

The Rams have done very little to give quarterback Sam Bradford the kind of offensive weapons he needs since taking him No. 1 overall in 2010. That should change in this draft.

St. Louis should be in the market for a receiver and running back, and Blackmon makes a lot of sense here at No. 6 overall. 

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

The Jaguars have to upgrade the pass rush with Aaron Kampman fading.

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

The Dolphins' offseason doesn't make much sense without finding a long-term quarterback option.

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

Combine All-Star Dontari Poe would be a big mistake here. Cox is a better player. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

There's a hole on the left side of the Bills' offensive line that needs filling.  

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

If the Chiefs want to get back to a power running game on offense, taking DeCastro is another step in the right direction.

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

Barrett Ruud was picked up to help replace David Hawthorne, but Kuechly would beat him out in camp.

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

O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho are good pressure players, but Perry can add another element as a versatile edge-rusher.  

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron would fill a big hole at the back end of the Cowboys secondary.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Eagles may be movers in this draft, but Poe makes sense here if they decide to stay put.

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

New York certainly needs defensive help, especially at outside linebacker (hence the Upshaw pick). However, there is also a need at receiver, which could mean Notre Dame's Michael Floyd is an option at No. 16 overall.

I still assume Rex Ryan will go defense, but Floyd would be a big addition to a team lacking on the receiver depth chart. 

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

The Bengals shouldn't be looking at a running back in the first round, but receiver is certainly an option with one of Cincinnati's two top-25 picks. Finding a complement to 2011 first-round pick A.J. Green would help accelerate the progression of the Bengals' offense under Andy Dalton. 

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

We've already touched on the Browns' need for skill position players, and they got a good one in Richardson at No. 4 overall. With receiver still a glaring need, however, the Browns move up a couple of spots to snag Floyd.

Considered to be the No. 2 overall receiver by some, Floyd would give Colt McCoy an explosive target and legitimate No. 1 receiver. 

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

Teaming Coples with Julius Peppers has to be tempting for GM Phil Emery. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Titans struck out on a center in free agency, so they get the draft's best player at the position in Konz. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia 

A versatile and talented offensive lineman, Glenn could play both guard and right tackle early on in his NFL career.  

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

The Chargers won't pass up on the value of Martin, who can immediately start at right tackle in San Diego next season. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

The Lions have to be happy that a talented cornerback falls into their lap at No. 23 overall. 

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

A captain of one of college football's best ever defenses, Hightower might be a perfect fit in Pittsburgh. 

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

The Broncos have a big need inside after Brodrick Bunkley left in free agency.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

It's a secret no one has really discussed: Texans receiver Andre Johnson is over 30 years old and now has an injury history over the last couple of seasons.

He's far from done, but Houston would do well to give him some help in this draft. Houston doesn't have a solid option as a No. 2 receiver, anyway.  

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

With his pass-rushing skills and versatility, McClellin looks like a perfect Patriots pick at No. 27.  

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

The Packers might only need a pass-rusher or two to get their defense back to 2010 levels.   

29. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson 

Branch is far from a complete prospect, but the Ravens are never shy about stockpiling pass-rushers through the draft.

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

While raw, Brockers gives the 49ers a long-term option behind Justin Smith and Ray McDonald.

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

The Patriots rarely make two first-round picks, so trading them out of this spot makes sense. The Bears appear to be a team that would think about making the move up, as tight end is a huge hole on their roster.

Fleener is far and away the best player at that position in this draft and worth moving up this many spots to take. 

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

Left tackle needs to be addressed by the Giants sometime in this draft.