2012 NFL Mock Draft: Forecasting the Entire First Round

After months of speculation, workouts and analysis, the NFL draft is finally here. With things starting to come into focus, we are going to take a look at the entire first round and what you can expect. 

One of the best things about the NFL draft is the unknown. Indianapolis took some of the drama away by reportedly telling Andrew Luck he will be the No. 1 pick, though that is hardly a surprise. 

Here is a look at all 32 first-round picks in our latest mock draft to get you ready for what to expect on Thursday. 

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No surprise here, but the Colts don't need to try shocking people. Luck is their future and they are going to start building around him right away. 

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

The Redskins have put all their eggs in the Robert Griffin basket. He is going to be their best quarterback prospect in at least the last 30 years. 

Whether that upside turns into actual performance remains to be seen, but it would be foolish to bet against him. 

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Despite some uncertainty about what the Vikings will do, there is no doubt that they need to add Kalil to their offensive line. 

The USC product is NFL-ready right now, showing incredible athleticism and strength. He is going to be in charge of protecting Christian Ponder's blind side for a long time. 

4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

While running back might not be their most pressing need, the Browns need to go after the best available player instead of worrying about filling a hole. 

Richardson is the best running back to come out of college since Adrian Peterson five years ago. He is going to be a superstar from day one. 

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

A new regime in Tampa Bay is going to bring big changes and a new attitude. This franchise needs to get its swagger back after the mess that was last season. 

The best way to build your confidence is to prevent teams from being able to throw on you. Claiborne is the best pure cover cornerback in this draft, with the size and strength rarely found at the position. 

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

While I may not be sold on Blackmon as a potential star, the Rams are going to fill their biggest hole and put the weapons around Sam Bradford to make him the best possible quarterback. 

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

While there could be a temptation to reach for a player like they have in the past, the Jaguars need to rebuild the whole system in order to get back in contention. 

Ingram is the best pure pass-rusher available in this draft. His speed and footwork off the edge is a rare thing to find. He should be the anchor of the defensive line for years. 

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

As much as fans might disagree, Tannehill is the right choice for the Dolphins. He has the upside all teams look for in a top-10 pick and this franchise has been searching for a quarterback since Dan Marino retired in 1999. 

9. Carolina Panthers - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

It doesn't matter who it is, the Panthers are going to take a defensive tackle at this spot. Poe presents the most upside to me, and when you are picking this early, you have to go after upside and ceiling as much as immediate need. 

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

A pick I am unsure of, I see the Bills trying to upgrade their offense in the first round before focusing on the defense. 

Floyd is the best red-zone receiver in this draft, with great hands and leaping ability. He will make a nice complement to Stevie Johnson on the other side. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro is the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft. He can play four different positions at a high level. The Chiefs need to bolster their offensive line to make sure they get back to their power running style that worked so well in 2010. 

12. Seattle Seahawks - Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Adding Kuechly to the middle of an already-stout young defense only makes Pete Carroll's team that much more dangerous. This franchise is headed in the right direction. They just have to keep Sidney Rice healthy on offense. 

13. Arizona Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Speaking of keeping someone healthy, the Cardinals have to make vast improvements on the offensive line if they want to keep Kevin Kolb on the field. 

Reiff is more of a solid prospect than a high-ceiling player, but the Cardinals need someone who can play right away. 

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

The Cowboys were happy to see a cornerback elevate his stock to the point where he wouldn't be gone before they pick but would be worthy of being taken with the No. 14 selection. Gilmore is a better man-to-man defender than Kirkpatrick. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

With the Eagles fixing their linebackers corps in recent weeks, it is obvious that defensive tackle is the area they will target in the draft. 

Brockers is a monster in the middle, with the speed and power to break through a double-team and get after the quarterback. 

16. New York Jets - Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The Jets need to get speed and youth back on their defensive line if they want to get back to being the most feared defense in the NFL. 

Coples has incredible upside, but he has to prove that his drop in production last season was just a fluke and not a sign of some bigger problems. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders) - Mark Barron, SS, Alabama 

The Bengals secondary needs an infusion of youth and hard hitters. Barron fills both needs even though he is not a great coverage safety. He relies on instincts and intimidation to make plays, rather than reading the quarterback or receiver. 

18. San Diego Chargers - Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Chargers need speed and versatility on the defensive line. Mercilus is a pass-rushing specialist who can play defensive end in a 4-3 scheme or outside linebacker in a 3-4. 

19. Chicago Bears - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

While the Bears do have skill positions they could upgrade with this pick, the offensive line still remains the biggest problem. 

Martin is not as versatile as his Stanford teammate David DeCastro, but he has great footwork and hands up front to give Jay Cutler someone he can trust. 

20. Tennessee Titans - Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State

The Titans made strides last season, but they can't afford to take their foot off the gas pedal. Cox has made quite an impression in workouts and his highlight reel proves that he is far more than just an effective player in shorts and a T-shirt. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

It is rare where a team will go after one specific area with two first-round picks, but the Bengals' biggest area of need, as mentioned earlier, is finding youth in the secondary. 

Kirkpatrick has a lot of work to do before we can declare him a potential star in the NFL. He doesn't look comfortable in man-to-man coverage, instead hoping to use his instincts to make plays happen. 

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

It is time for the Browns to start fixing their wide receiving corps. Colt McCoy has shown flashes of becoming a good NFL quarterback, he just has to get help on the outside. 

Wright did not run as fast as teams were hoping to see, but he showed better-than-expected hands and his route-running is second to none in this class. 

23. Detroit Lions - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

While I think the Lions will want to fix their offensive line if the right player is available, Jenkins provides them with the kind of high-upside defensive back they have been missing for the last two years. 

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

Hightower will give the Steelers that speed in the middle of the defense they need to neutralize the fast offenses in the AFC. 

25. Denver Broncos - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

While the Broncos would love to see a defensive tackle get to them at this spot, Upshaw can give them a run-stopper at the linebacker position. 

26. Houston Texans - Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State 

I have no idea what the Texans are thinking. They do need to get bigger up front, and at 6'7", 330 pounds, Adams certainly fills that need. As long as he dedicates himself to the game, he will be a steal at this spot. 

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints) - Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State

The Patriots love to find first-round talents that seem to fly under the radar. McClellin will bring power and instincts to the linebacker position that they need. 

28. Green Bay Packers - Nick Perry, OLB, USC

It became apparent late in the season that the Packers defense was not the same group we saw when they won the Super Bowl. They didn't have that depth in the secondary and at linebacker we all thought they did. 

Perry's stock has slid some due to solid-but-unspectacular workouts. He still has a great feel for the game, as well as speed that will play perfectly alongside Clay Matthews. 

29. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

It is time for the Ravens to start searching for Matt Birk's successor. The fact that Konz is close to NFL-ready and would be able to learn behind one of the best centers in the business makes him a perfect fit. 

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

Regardless of what they have done so far this offseason, the 49ers are still searching for a long-term answer at the wide receiver position. 

Hill is a project because he didn't have to run routes at Georgia Tech, but he is the best home run threat in this draft. 

31. New England Patriots - Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame

One of the things the Patriots used to be great at was finding players to plug into their secondary who could contribute right away. Smith isn't a prototypical first-round selection, but he hits hard and will give this team that swagger it used to have in the early-2000s. 

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

The only thing that Eli Manning didn't have last year was a reliable tight end who could help him out in the red zone. 

Fleener will solve all of those problems with his 6'6", 240-pound frame. He is too big for cornerbacks and too fast for linebackers to contain in one-on-one coverage. The Giants offense is going to be lethal next season. 

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