2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams Sure to Find Pleasant Surprises in First Round

Being surprised during NFL draft week means one of two things.

Either you just picked the next big bust or you hit the jackpot. Naturally, we tend to think on the bright side with the draft less than a week away.

For a variety of reasons, a player will supreme talent will get stuck in the green room for much longer than when experts thought he would go.

As we go through the latest mock draft, the focus is on teams that are going to be all smiles by this time next week knowing they just snagged one of the best picks of the first round.  

(Biggest surprises in italics)

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No surprises with Luck.

He has everything you could ask for in a QB. He is quite possibly the best pro prospect in the last decade.

2. Washington Redskins (via St. Louis Rams) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The expectations for RGIII may even big higher than Luck in 2012 considering the Redskins have all of the pieces to be a contender aside from QB.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Don’t believe the current smokescreens out there, the Vikings are going with Kalil and that’s the end of the story.

4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns are in desperate need of a franchise player they can market and Richardson can be that guy.

Richardson can’t fix the offensive woes by himself, but he’s going to instantly provide them with balance. This is the weapon Colt McCoy desperately needs.

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

The Bucs have to beef up their secondary with Aquib Talib likely heading to jail, Ronde Barber on his last legs and Eric Wright’s overall crappiness.

Claiborne can start from the get-go as the No. 1 defensive prospect on the board.

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

There is no doubt who the best wide receiver in this draft is.

At 6’1’’, Blackmon has the size to be a deadly threat in the end zone, in addition to having the speed to burn even the fastest corner.

Can’t find a negative thing to say about this guy.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Jags are short on depth at the position and Cox has slowly emerged as the top defensive tackle on the board. He has the ability to start right off the bat for an already strong defense.

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

Tannehill is certainly not a shoe-in for NFL success, but the Dolphins have to take the risk.

Pro Football Talk has recently reported that owner Stephen Ross is pushing to land the former Texas A&M star, in a move that would likely drum up some sort of excitement for a franchise that is in desperate need of making a splash.

9. Carolina Panthers - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Can the combine all-star consistently compete against the elite players of the game?

I’m not comfortable answering that question with a re-sounding “yes.”

He played in the Conference USA and struggled at times in the All-Star games of the past few months. Being athletically gifted can only get you so far in the NFL.

10. Buffalo Bills - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Bills have to get more protection for Ryan Fitzpatrick and shoring up the interior of their line for the next decade with this pick would be the smartest choice.

11. Kansas City Chiefs- Nick Perry, DE, Stanford 

Perry’s persistent motor allows him to consistently get penetration on the line of scrimmage and he has the stats to back it up. In only three years, Perry registered 21.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for losses.

He has the potential to make multiple appearances in the Pro Bowl and will have the opportunity to play right away for a Chiefs team that really needs him.

Perry is going to be a sackmaster right off the bat and may end up as the top rookie on the defensive side of the ball.

12. Seattle Seahawks - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Seahawks are quietly not that far away from being a contender in the NFC West. Beefing up the O-Line with Reiff will make them a much more complete team on offense.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

When a prospect essentially admits to not trying his hardest during his senior season, there is a huge problem.

How is Coples going to stay motivated after being set financially for the rest of his life?

14. Dallas Cowboys - Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is an elite talent that has aced the past four months.

After registering standout performances at the combine and at pro day, scouts are connived he can help a team instantly.

Playing for a glamour team like the Cowboys, Gilmore is going to get much more attention than most rookies will. His ball skills and incredible athleticism will instantly translate to NFL success.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

The Eagles may be trading up, but if not then they settle for Ingram, who has loads of potential and is quite versatile.

16. New York Jets - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd is going to be a hit from Day 1.

With the right team and opportunity, Floyd has the ability to notch a 1,000-yard season in 2012. He is as polished a player as anyone in this year’s class.

His route-running skills and technique are jaw-dropping. As one of the best wide receivers in Notre Dame history, nabbing him at No. 16 is an absolute steal.

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

With the Keith Rivers trade the Bengals need to address linebacker early, and are going to strike it big if Upshaw is still on the board at No. 17.

He was the leader of a defense that will go down in history as one of the all-time greats in college football. His on-field discipline and knowledge of the game are incredible. He has the frame to start right away and you can expect to see the tackling-machine be one of the leaders of the Bengals in a hurry.

18. San Diego Chargers - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

I don't believe Wright should be drafted this high, but scouts rave about his speed and he can replace Vincent Jackson as Phillip Rivers’ go-to receiver.

19. Chicago Bears - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Sometimes you need to plan for the future and that’s exactly what the Bears are doing here. Kirkpatrick can learn under the tutelage of Charles Tillman until he is good enough to replace him.

20. Tennessee Titans - Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

This guy is  6’6’’ and 345 pounds.

‘Nuff said.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Bengals have to use one of their first-round pick’s to help the secondary in Round 1 and Barron is the best safety on the board.

22. Cleveland Browns - Luke Kuechly, OLB, Boston College

The ceiling on Kuechly isn’t very high, but he can play right away and possesses the sort of heart and grit that is necessary to survive in the meat cooker that is the NFL.

It’s a safe pick.

23. Detroit Lions - Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Jahvid Best can’t be trusted with his injury history and drafting another speedy, yet more compact and sturdy back is the right move.

With only two years of logging consistent collegiate carries, Miller has fresh legs and the ability to contribute instantly on a team that is ready to make the next jump.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Did you see the way Ike Taylor got abused in the playoffs last January? He’s washed up at this point and drafting his replacement has to happen now.

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

Still used his bulk to stand out in college, but can he become anything more than an average player at the next level?

Yet, it’s hard to ignore his production in college and the Broncos have a clear need at the position.

26. Houston Texans - Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

This would be the biggest steal of the entire draft. Jeffery can become an elite player if he stays focused and doesn’t allow his fiery personality to get the best of him. 

27. New England Patriots - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Pats historically go with bland positions in the early rounds and there is nothing telling us it won’t happen yet again.

But Martin is capable of making a huge impact right off the bat. His quick feet and long arms make him one of the best prospects at tackle. For some reason he has fallen to the back of Round 1 in virtually every mock draft of late, but the Pats won’t be fooled.

They get an absolute steal that’s going to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the first round.

28. Green Bay Packers - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Packers need to clog up the middle of the line and landing Brockers would cure what ails them. While Brockers is a bit of a project, Green Bay can afford to let him develop without sacrificing their season.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Ravens need a center and Konz is the best to come along in a while. This would be one of the smartest picks of the first round.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Rueben Randle, WR, LSU 

While he may not be as polished of a route-runner as Stephen Hill, he is more valuable because of his ability to return punts/kicks.

He can take over those duties instantly on a 49ers team that is on the cusp of greatness.

Anything he does as a receiver in 2012 is going to be icing on the cake. Randle is a serious sleeper candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

31. New England Patriots - Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State

McClellin hasn’t been talked about very much, but he’s just the sort of player the Patriots love. He fills a need and is a very cerebral player.

He can make an instant impact for a team like the Pats.

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

The recent marijuana admission hurts, but it’s not enough to drop him completely out of the first round. He is versatile, plays well against top notch completion and the Giants could desperately use him.

A sound fit.

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter.