2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Most Surprising Picks of Round 1

You put in the work, do your research and come the NFL draft, you think you've nailed your mock draft and know pretty much how the first round will go.

And then one team surprises everyone, and the draft gets all crazy.

I've identified a few picks that I think could send the draft down a strange path. From recent chatter to a few teams that might not be able to resist some high-upside players, get ready for a few picks that will shake up the draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

No shaking here—this one is locked and loaded.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)*

If the Redskins don't draft RGIII after the crazy trade they made, our nation's capital will begin a witch hunt for Dan Snyder.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

I've thought for months that this pick was locked and loaded as Matt Kalil. But Morris Claiborne has been rumored a lot as of late, and if the Vikings have him graded higher than Kalil, the pick makes sense.

They could really use an upgrade at corner, after all, and Claiborne would provide that. Remember this pick—it will cause another big surprise rather shortly.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)  

The Browns need a running back, they need offensive playmakers and they need a marketable player to sell to fans. In one fell swoop, they can take care of all three needs.

5. Buffalo Bills (from Tampa Bay) Matt Kalil, OT (USC) 

That's right; we've got ourselves a draft-day trade. The Bills, needing a left tackle badly, will offer a nice package of picks including this year's first and second-round picks to move up to No. 5 to pick Kalil when he was still on the board here.

It makes sense for Tampa Bay as well, as the two players they seemed to be most interested in, Claiborne and Richardson, were taken before they could pick.

I know, it's a crazy scenario, but it isn't outside the realm of possibility. And it sure would shake things up.

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

If he's here, he's the pick. Sanity is restored at No. 6.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

It could also be a cornerback, or potentially Michael Floyd. But this team needs some punch in the pass-rush, and they'll get it from Ingram.

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

I think the Dolphins are going to take the gamble on Tannehill here. They need a quarterback for the future, and Tannehill could be that guy.

9. Carolina Panthers: Luke Kuechly, MLB (Boston College)

The Panthers have bigger needs, but all indications are that they really like this guy, and a lot of folks have bumped him into the top-10 on their draft charts.

Who am I to disagree?

In all honesty, though, Kuechly has excellent instincts, athleticism and is the rare interior linebacker who can stay on the field for three downs. He'll be a playmaker, plain and simple.

Those types of players can be hard to find. The Panthers won't let him slip past them.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

Gilmore has been shooting up boards, and the Bucs will make him a top-10 pick to fill out a big need for the team.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, NT (Memphis)

If Poe isn't taken here, he could face a serious slide. But with a glaring need at nose tackle, the Chiefs will have a hard time passing up the massive, potential-laden Poe.

12. Seattle Seahawks:  Quinton Coples, DE 9North Carolina)

With Kuechly off the board, the Seahawks will turn to a major need at the defensive end position.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

The Cardinals could use a solid left tackle. Done and done.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

This will either be guard David DeCastro or Barron, both excellent players at need positions. The buzz seems to be that Barron will be the Cowboys guy, even if I would have them draft DeCastro.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT (Mississippi State)

The Eagles would love to see Barron drop to them—and I wouldn't be shocked if they traded up to land him—but Cox is an excellent consolation prize.

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

A pass rusher might be a slightly larger need, but a playmaker like Floyd will be too hard for the Jets to pass up. Plus, with the possibility of the team eventually ditching trouble-maker Santonio Holmes, Floyd would also provide some stability at the wide receiver position.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford) ** 

The Bengals may end up with the steal of the draft here, as DeCastro is as good as they get at the guard position. His drop is the Bengals' gain.

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry, OLB (USC) 

His athleticism and game experience should make him an instant contributor for the Chargers next year.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)

The Bears need to improve the offensive line, and they can afford to take the best offensive lineman on the board. Glenn should start at guard immediately.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

Needing an upgrade at corner, the Titans will be quite pleased Kirkpatrick drops to them.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

A draft of DeCastro and Wright will make this offense very scary indeed heading into next season. They could also go with either Stephen Hill or perhaps even Alshon Jeffery depending on how they have players ranked.

22. Cleveland Browns: Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)***

Richardson and Hill—suddenly, the Browns will be fun to watch again.

23. Detroit Lions:  Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)

It's a risk, but he has top-10 talent. The Lions desperately need help in the secondary—they'll take a chance on Jenkins.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)

They just seem like they belong together, like peanut butter and jelly.

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

Brockers could end up being the best defensive lineman of this draft. The Broncos will take that level of production for their pick.

26. Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus, OLB (Illinois)

Mario Williams who? OK, OK, so Mercilus won't replace Williams. But he's an excellent pass-rusher, and he'll make an already stout defense that much better.

27. New England Patriots: Chandler Jones, DE (Syracuse)****

The Patriots need to improve the pass-rush and the secondary. They handle the first part with this pick.

28. Green Bay Packers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Packers need to add a pass-rusher opposite to Clay Mathews III, and Upshaw not only provides that, but is an underrated player against the run as well. He'll be a good fit in Green Bay.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)

Martin has a lot of talent, and if he gets stronger, he'll could be a steal this late for the Ravens.

30. San Francisco 49ers:  Reuben Randle, WR, LSU

Randy Moss or not, this team still needs an infusion of young talent at the wide receiver position.

31. New England Patriots: Andre Branch, OLB (Clemson)

With no one worthy of selecting for the secondary here, the Patriots will either trade down or stockpile another edge rusher.

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

Sure, go ahead and give Eli Manning another weapon. Good luck stopping him again this year, NFL defenses.

*The Redskins traded the sixth pick in the first round, along with their second-round pick this year and first-round picks in 2013 and 2014 to St. Louis for 2012's second-overall pick.

**From Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade.

***From Atlanta in last year's Julio Jones draft day trade.

****From New Orleans in last year's Mark Ingram draft day trade.

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