2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Possible Options for Every Team

Teams love to reach for talent in the NFL draft, but more often than not the smart, the safe pick is the way to go. 

Here is my latest mock draft, considering what each team with a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft should do to fill their biggest needs.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

We've all known Luck would be the No. 1 pick in this draft for well over a year now. The Colts start their rebuilding project with the best quarterback to enter the NFL in more than a decade. 

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

The Redskins made a bold move to trade up to this spot, and they knew Griffin would be their guy. He'll jump in right away and start from day one.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings may still be open about who to take here, but they shouldn't be. Kalil is the best offensive lineman to enter the NFL since the Miami Dolphins made Jake Long the No. 1 overall pick back in 2008. Minnesota has a hole at left tackle, and they can fill it here.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

I can't believe the Browns are even debating who to take here. Richardson will have the most immediate impact of anyone in this class during his rookie year. The Browns don't currently have a starting quality running back on their roster, and the Alabama product is the most complete back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

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

Eric Wright was added in the offseason, but Aqib Talib's future is in doubt and Ronde Barber will be playing his 16th season in 2012. Claiborne is the last remaining elite player on the board, and he fills a need for the Bucs. 

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Quarterback Sam Bradford needs a No. 1 target, and Blackmon will give him that immediately. The two should flourish together.

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

The Jaguars need to upgrade their pass rush, and Ingram is the best option for their defense at this point in the draft. He is a versatile defender who has a knack for making big plays and should develop into a fine defensive end in the team's 4-3 defense. 

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

The Dolphins missed out on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith this offseason, and they can't let another quarterback pass them by. Tannehill will have to sit for at least a year, but his upside is undeniable. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Panthers are weak up the middle defensively, and Poe is the strongest player in this year's draft. It's a perfect fit, as head coach Ron Rivera knows the importance of having a big, physical force in the middle of his defensive line.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Offensive tackle is the Bills' biggest need, and they will fill that with Reiff, the second-best tackle in this draft. 

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

Poe would be the pick if he fell this far, but Kuechly is a nice consolation prize who will fill a big need at inside linebacker.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

There are questions about his desire and motor, but no one can question Coples' raw ability. If he somehow harnesses his talent, he could be the next Mario Williams or Julius Peppers.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Some have Michael Floyd pegged here, but the smart move would be for the Cardinals to upgrade their weak offensive line. Martin's ceiling is incredibly high, and he would immediately be the team's best tackle.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Cowboys will make a smart pick here, as Cox is a versatile player who could play any spot along the team's three-man defensive front. Rob Ryan will love him.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

After trading for DeMeco Ryans to upgrade their linebacking corps, Barron is the perfect guy to add to the secondary. He is physical enough to help in run support but has the range and ball skills to be an asset in coverage.

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

Based on pure talent, there are better options available, but Upshaw is one of those guys experts refer to as a "football player." He is tough, rugged and has enough strength off the edge to defend the run while still having enough quickness to get after the quarterback. He is certainly a Rex Ryan-type of player.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Michael Floyd

There are other needs for Cincinnati here, but the chance to grab Floyd and line him up across from A.J. Green is too tempting to pass up here.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Somehow DeCastro falls this far, and he steps right in and replaces the retired Kris Dielman at left guard. The Stanford product profiles as a future perennial Pro Bowler. 

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

The Bears really need to upgrade their atrocious offensive line. In Glenn, they'll get a versatile prospect who could start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

With Cortland Finnegan gone, the Titans have a hole to fill at corner. Gilmore is a big, physical defender with excellent ball skills. He'll step in and play right away.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bengals need to upgrade their cornerback rotation, and while Kirkpatrick is more comfortable in zone sets, I think he'll develop into a fine man-to-man defender.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Browns need to add to their weak offensive line, and Adams is the best guy available here. He has the size and natural gifts to be a monster in the NFL. He just needs to focus his energy on football.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

This is a surprise pick, but current center Dominic Raiola is terrible and Konz would be a major upgrade.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

At 6'5" and 323 pounds, Brockers has the size to eventually replace Casey Hampton at nose tackle. He'll play all along the defensive line until then.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Denver has a terrible defensive tackle rotation right now, and that is certainly the team's biggest need in this draft. They'll get a tough, hard-nosed guy in Worthy, who has one of the most impressive motors in this class at any position.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Houston has a stacked roster, but the only thing missing is a legitimate No. 2 receiver. They satisfy that need with Wright, a big-play threat who should open up the field for the rest of the offense. 

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

Jones is raw, but Bill Belichick needs to upgrade his front seven, and he could mold the Syracuse product into the perfect edge rusher for New England's hybrid 3-4/4-3 scheme.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry is the best pure pass-rusher in this draft, and the Packers are in need of someone to help Clay Matthews get after the quarterback. The tandem of Perry and Matthews could be deadly.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Hightower's stock is on the rise, but he'll fall here and the Ravens will gladly take him off the board. He can play on the outside until Ray Lewis retires, at which time he will replace the future Hall of Famer on the inside.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The 49ers need a deep threat for their offense. At 6'4" and 215 pounds with elite speed, Hill is probably this draft's best field-stretcher.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes is versatile enough to line up anywhere along the Patriots' 3-4/4-3 hybrid defensive line, and he's smart enough to adapt to any scheme. He is a perfect pick to continue the rebuild of New England's front seven.

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

All of the top offensive tackles will be gone here, so the Giants will take the best player on their board. That will be Fleener, who is a big, athletic target who should contribute from day one.