2012 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Landing Spots for Most Buzzed About Stars

Pre-draft buzz is crucial for players to move up draft boards and ultimately be selected higher than many initially believed. 

This is where the most talked about prospects in the 2012 NFL draft class will land on April 26th. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft (Final Pre-Draft Update)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

Come on, this one's obvious. Luck is the ideal candidate to be at the base of the Colts' rebuilding process. Robert Griffin III might be a bit more clean in the pocket with slightly better accuracy, but Luck mastered a complex pro-style offense over the last three years. He's got the potential to be Peyton Manning-esque at the line in the future. 

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

Griffin III has Cam Newton-like upside and is a deadly passer when standing between the tackles. The Redskins have needed a franchise quarterback for a very, very long time. 

Perfect. 

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

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns could look at Justin Blackmon here, but overall, Richardson is the better prospect and can bring more to the team's offense this season. 

I'm not necessarily a staunch Colt McCoy backer, but his life will be made much more comfortable with Richardson carrying the ball 25-30 times in the foreseeable future. 

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

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

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

After a disastrous rookie campaign, Blaine Gabbert needs more offensive weapons around him. Blackmon's stock has been dropping of late, so this imposing wideout will have be out to prove the critics wrong. 

No, he doesn't separate from cornerbacks with ease, but he's athletic with strong hands and terrific yards-after-the-catch ability. 

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

Tannehill's got to go here. Sure, he's this year's most overvalued and over-hyped player, but he has tools that can be molded and exudes athleticism. 

Was he less impressive in college than Christian Ponder was, a guy who went No. 12 overall in 2011? Definitely not. 

His college coach Mike Sherman is now the Dolphins offensive coordinator.

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

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

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

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

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Browns get their star runner at No. 4, now they add a dynamic speed guy at No. 22. Wright hasn't been talked about during the pre-draft process as much as he was during the college football season due to a slower than expected 40-yard dash at the combine, but he's a Steve Smith-esque prospect. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

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

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT Penn State

26. Houston Texans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

After his pro day, the buzz around Coby Fleener really began. At 6'6'' and nearly 250 pounds, he's the ideal seam complement to Andre Johnson. 

He was Andrew Luck's favorite target at Stanford and he'll quickly become a go-to guy for Matt Schaub in Houston. 

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

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

29. Baltimore Ravens: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

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

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

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

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