2012 NFL Draft: Breaking Down the Best and Worst of Peter King's Mock Draft

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, one of the NFL's most widely respected reporters, posted his 2012 NFL mock draft Tuesday. Like any mock draft, it has strong and weak points. 

Below, we break down the best and worst of King's mock.

BEST

Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox to the Carolina Panthers (No. 9)

After seeing Dontari Poe mocked to Carolina for so long after the combine, it's refreshing to see Cox here. Poe certainly did his stock well at the Underwear Olympics, but there isn't enough on tape for a team to take him in the Top 10.

Cox, on the other hand, showed more than enough at Mississippi State to think he can be a disruptor along the Panthers defensive line.

Stanford OG David DeCastro to the Arizona Cardinals (No. 13)

The Cardinals have needs at the pass-rusher and offensive tackle positions, but this is an easy pick to applaud. DeCastro is far and away the draft's best guard, with some comparing him to long-time All-Pro Steve Hutchinson. Any way you slice it, that's high praise. 

In the end, DeCastro is as close to a sure thing on the offensive line as you're going to get here. The Cardinals need that kind of player in the first round. 

Alabama OLB/DE Courtney Upshaw to the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17)

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer doesn't get enough credit for the work he does in Cincinnati, and a versatile player like Upshaw could give Zimmer the tool he needs to turn the Bengals into a top defense.

Upshaw can rush the passer with his hand in the dirt at defensive end, while also standing up and playing the edge well from a linebacker position. He's a complete defender, and I'm positive that Zimmer could eventually make him into a star.

Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower to the Baltimore Ravens (No. 23, from Detroit Lions)

Trades are almost impossible to project, but it's hard not to like this one. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome has to know that the Steelers need a player like Hightower inside, and he also sees a gaping hole waiting to open on his own defense once Ray Lewis calls it a career. 

Instead of crossing his fingers and hoping that Hightower will fall, Newsome aggressively moves up to get him. It would be a smart trade from one of the game's best general managers. 

WORST

Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd to the Buffalo Bills (No. 10)

I understand the temptation of placing Floyd in Buffalo, but there's a hole on the left side of the offensive line that cannot be ignored.

While Floyd would certainly give Ryan Fitzpatrick another dynamic pass-catching threat, it might be hard for the Bills quarterback to deliver the football from the seat of his pants. Given how Buffalo struggled to protect Fitzpatrick last season, I can't see it passing on a left tackle prospect in the first round.   

Memphis NT Dontari Poe to the New York Jets (No. 16)

If Rex Ryan really thinks Poe can be the next Haloti Ngata, then by all means, the Jets should take him here.

But I struggle to see how that comparison holds any weight.

Poe's college film lacked production, and he only became this surefire first-round pick after blowing away the combine. The history of the NFL draft is littered with teams who overreacted to combine workouts and wound up drafting guys who couldn't play.

Notre Dame S Harrison Smith to the New York Giants (No. 32)

Giants GM Jerry Reese isn't one to handcuff himself by needs at the draft. But taking a safety at the end of the first round is somewhat of a head-scratcher, especially considering that King mentions Smith's special teams ability as a driving force for the pick.

No matter how much you love a guy, I'm not sure you want to be taking special teams studs in the first round. There seem to be better fits at No. 32 overall.