2012 NFL Mock Draft: Desperate Teams Ready to Reach for Players

The 2012 NFL draft is fast approaching and there are some teams getting ready to make huge mistakes by taking players well above their true value. 

We see it every year: teams take big gambles reaching for players out of desperation to fill a need on their roster.

This mock draft will highlight the teams who will make such a leap (teams that will reach are italicized).

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter via Twitter, this is a done deal.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

With Luck's position as the draft's No. 1 overall pick, the Redskins don't even have to think on draft day.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

The Vikings have talked about trading this pick, but in the end they'll be content to take the best offensive tackle in the draft to protect Christian Ponder's blind side.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Blackmon will give the Browns a great complementary weapon to pair with Greg Little on the outside.

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

The Bucs have expressed some desire to take Trent Richardson, but they'll ultimately decide LeGarrette Blount is good enough for them this year and take the best defender off the board.

6. St. Louis Rams: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Stephen Jackson is banged up and slow these days, and it's time for a fresh pair of legs to pound the rock for the Rams.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

The Jaguars need a game-breaking wide receiver more than they need a defensive lineman, so they will bypass Melvin Ingram and take Floyd to give Blaine Gabbert a fighting chance.

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

The Dolphins are going to be the first team to reach for a player when they take Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick.

Tannehill should be a late first-round pick. Though he has an NFL arm, he only played one full year at Texas A&M and struggles with accuracy. 

ESPN's Mel Kiper agrees:

"

I love Tannehill's upside, and I think he has a great shot to be a good starter, but the market on him has gotten a little out of hand in some respects. Remember, if Matt Barkley, Landry Jones and perhaps Tyler Wilson were in this draft, we're talking about a likelier bet for late-first or second round for Tannehill. Again, he can be a good one, but a lot of it is projecting, because while his physical abilities are so impressive there is much work to be done.

"

NFL.com's Brian Billick goes even further, comparing him to JaMarcus Russell in an interview with ESPN's Mike and Mike show via their Twitter account:

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Wow...@CoachBillick on our show: Ryan Tannehill reminds me of JaMarcus Russell. Both shot up draft boards based on how they looked in shorts

"

"— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) April 12, 2012"

That comparison may be a bit harsh, but the fact remains that the Dolphins will be taking a huge risk by taking him so high.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State

Cox has emerged as the best overall defensive tackle of the draft, and he'll give the Panthers much-needed help plugging up the middle against the run.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

The Bills will be happy to take the draft's second-best offensive tackle to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick from harm.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

After plucking Eric Winston away from the Houston Texans, the Chiefs can now turn their attention inside and secure the future of their offensive line.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, Middle Linebacker, Boston College

The Seahawks are desperate to find a replacement for middle linebacker David Hawthorne, their leading tackler the past couple of years.

As a result, they will reach for Kuechly in the hopes of filling that void.

Kuechly isn't even the best middle linebacker on my board, and Dont'a Hightower will end up being a better pro in the long run.

One of the things that troubles me is that Kuechly doesn't make many tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Too often you find him making tackles four to five yards from the line. 

He is fast in shorts, as his combine performance clearly showed, but I don't see him playing quite as fast when he's on the field. 

In the end, Kuechly will end up being the latest in a long line of first-round failures for the Seahawks at the linebacker position, and they'll likely have to go back to the drawing board in a couple of years.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Tackle, Georgia

The Cardinals need help on their offensive line. Glenn is a solid option here, and he could end up being the best tackle in the draft by the time it's all said and done.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

The Cowboys are thrilled to see Poe fall to them, and he'll be a terror on their defensive line for years to come.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

The Eagles' first priority in this draft should be to secure their porous defensive line. Brockers will be perfect for their scheme, as he loves to penetrate the gaps and disrupts plays before they start.

16. New York Jets: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

The Jets still need safety help despite the fact that they signed LaRon Landry via free agency. Barron is the kind of diverse player Rex Ryan loves, and he'll be an instant starter.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

The Bengals will be happy to take the second-best running back of the draft here to solidify their burgeoning offense.

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, Outside Linebacker, Illinois

The Chargers are going to make a big leap here and an even bigger mistake by selecting Mercilus to help out their anemic pass rush.

Mercilus was a terror last year in college, leading the nation in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (nine). So why is he a reach?

Mercilus doesn't have the kind of moves to fool NFL offensive tackles. He isn't particularly strong and doesn't use his hands well to dominate his opponent. Furthermore, many of his sacks last year came against weak linemen that fell for his subpar swim move.

When I watch him play, Mercilus reminds me of two players: Manny Lawson and Aaron Maybin. Both players were hyped to become elite pass-rushers in the league but both failed to produce. 

Mercilus will be a bust in the NFL.

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

The Bears are not going to compete in the NFC north unless they can protect Jay Cutler. Martin may be a bit of a reach here, but not by much. He'll immediately improve their porous offensive line and should start from day one.

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

Gilmore will instantly start in place of Cortland Finnegan. He's one of the true gems of the first round and will be good for a long time.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

After taking Miller earlier in the draft, the Bengals will continue to improve their offense by taking one of the best wide receivers in the draft to pair with A.J. Green.

22. Cleveland Browns: Kevin Zeitler, Offensive Guard, Wisconsin

The Browns let Eric Steinbach go to purge his inflated salary, but they won't miss much with Zeitler. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

The Lions need to try and cover the myriad of talented receivers in the NFC north, and Kirkpatrick is the highest rated cornerback left on the board.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, Middle Linebacker, Alabama

The Steelers desperately need an offensive tackle, but Mike Adams failed his drug test at the scouting combine and they don't have any patience for guys like that. Instead, they'll be happy to take the best middle linebacker in the draft.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Jon Fox loves big defensive tackles, and the Broncos need one. Still is their man.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

The Texans are looking for someone to pair with Andre Johnson. Wright will have a huge year as a rookie in their explosive offense.

27. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Alabama

Upshaw is not going to be good in coverage, but his versatility as a pass-rusher in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme is perfect for the Patriots' multiple-scheme defense.

28. Green Bay Packers: Quinton Coples, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina

The Packers will be thrilled to see Coples still sitting on the board. They need another pass-rushing outside linebacker, and Coples will give them the heat they need.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

With Matt Birk playing on borrowed time, the Ravens would be smart to land the best center of the draft and plan for the future.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford

The 49ers don't really need another tight end, but with Delanie Walker's contract running out after 2012, they will be smart to draft this year's best tight end.

31. New England Patriots: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

The Patriots will take a bit of a risk for the potential reward of landing one of this year's most talented cornerbacks—a true need.

32. New York Giants: Nick Perry, Defensive End, USC

The Giants will run to the podium to put Perry's name in the hand of Roger Goodell. He is going to be a fantastic pass-rusher and will give them leverage against Osi Umenyiora's contract demands.

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