2012 NFL Mock Draft: Draft Day Decisions Each Team Must Avoid

Ever find yourself staring disaster in the face, but wind up jumping into its midst anyway?

Yeah, so has just about every GM and scout, with the 2012 NFL draft coming up like a freight train to bring back painful memories of past mistakes and create opportunities for new ones.

This year's crop of potential first-round picks is replete with opportunities to screw the pooch, as you'll see below...and on Thursday, when the draft kicks off in New York City.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The chance to pick up another once-in-a-generation at quarterback isn't something the Colts should steer clear of, to say the least.

Taking RGIII wouldn't be a bad decision, per se, though Luck still fits the bill of "top prospect" best of anyone in this draft class.

Must Avoid: Whiffing on Luck

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

The 'Skins aren't about to dodge RGIII after shelling out a boatload of picks to move up in the draft. So long as they don't drop this pick on Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon, they should be fine.

Must Avoid: A non-RGIII knee-jerk reaction

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The only thing the Vikes should avoid at this point is the urge to pass on Matt Kalil for a running back to fill in for Adrian Peterson.

Ball carriers are a dime-a-dozen. Minny could do worse than springing for a corner (i.e. Mo Claiborne), but left tackles are tough to find, particularly ones with as much room for growth as Kalil.

Must Avoid: Looking elsewhere for a left tackle

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Mike Holmgren's penchant for avoiding running backs this early in the draft is certainly understandable. After all, ball carriers are a dime a dozen and all too easily injured, due in large part to the punishment they absorb from week to week.

Still, the Browns' backfield of Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya is certainly bad enough to warrant spending the No. 4 pick on a 'back, especially one as gifted as Trent Richardson. Let's just hope, for the sake of long-suffering fans in Cleveland, that Holmgren's hesitation doesn't win out and that the Browns do the right thing.

Must Avoid: The heavy hand of Holmgren

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

Now that Ronde Barber's moving to safety, the Bucs would be unseasonably stupid to pass on Mo Claiborne, his terrible Wonderlic score be damned.

Tampa has plenty of holes to fill elsewhere and could spend this pick on Justin Blackmon as a result, though he's hardly a better prospect than Claiborne.

Must Avoid: Justin Blackmon...or anyone who doesn't play in the defensive backfield

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

The Rams might not love Justin Blackmon, but they desperately need a wide receiver for Sam Bradford, and the Oklahoma State star is the best of the bunch this year.

Folks in St. Louis can only hope their team doesn't sour on Blackmon and instead spring for a defensive tackle like Fletcher Cox, Michael Brockers or Dontari Poe, at the expense of Bradford's quarterbacking career.

Must Avoid: Any player without a strong set of hands, Dontari Poe included

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

The Jags could put themselves in a hole here by gambling on either Quinton Coples or Michael Floyd. Chances are, though, that GM Gene Smith will go the safe route and take Melvin Ingram.

Must Avoid: Opting for risky business with Quinton Coples

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

Any association between a new prospect and JaMarcus Russell, even in passing, is not to be taken lightly.

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick didn't seem to mince his words when comparing Ryan Tannehill to Jam Jam with Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio earlier this month.

That's not to say that Tannehill is necessarily doomed to be one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. Rather, the Texas A&M product wouldn't wind up this high in the order if it weren't for the likes of Matt Barkley and Landry Jones staying in school.

In other words, Tannehill's a reach, one that the 'Fins might soon regret.

Must Avoid: The next JaMarcus Russell

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Panthers could get frisky (and risky) here with Dontari Poe or Quinton Coples, though they could just as easily go with talent and upside of Michael Brockers.

Must Avoid: Coples and the allure of adding another Tar Heel/potential Julius Peppers clone

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Tackle is an area of glaring need for the Bills, and Riley Reiff is the best of the bunch at this point in the draft.

There are some murmurs about, though, that Buffalo might opt for a defensive tackle, Ryan Fitzpatrick's well-being be damned.

Must Avoid: Mixing up which tackle is which

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

The Chiefs don't have many glaring needs, per se, though a pairing of Luke Kuechly and Derrick Johnson at linebacker would be a lovely way to kick off the first full season of the Romeo Crennel era.

If Scott Pioli is truly intent to gamble away KC's future, he'll drop this pick on Dontari Poe, the Combine Kid.

Must Avoid: Edgar Allen...err, Dontari Poe

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

Quinton Coples might just be too tempting for the Seahawks to pass up at this point in the draft. He's big, he's strong, he's athletic...and he's got "BUST" written all over him.

The North Carolina product may look like the next Julius Peppers in his Tar Heel blue, but his inconsistent effort and lack of a strong track record in college lends some credence to the notion that Coples may be more specimen than superstar in the making.

Must Avoid: Overlooking Coples' flaws in favor of his physical tools 

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Cards have too much money invested in Kevin Kolb to not upgrade the offense around him. Whether that means shoring up the offensive line with a guy like David DeCastro or upgrading their shallow receiving corps with Michael Floyd remains to be seen.

Though, with Larry Fitzgerald already on staff, you'd think Floyd wouldn't be quite as big a need-filler...

Must Avoid: The temptation to double up on wide receivers (i.e. Michael Floyd) and leave Kolb unprotected

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Cowboys' renaissance in the secondary is on, and Mark Barron's about to kick it into overdrive.

That is, unless Jerry Jones once again gets cold feet in his pursuit of a defensive back and winds up with Poe or Floyd instead.

Must Avoid: Dontari Poe or Michael Floyd...or anyone who doesn't play defensive back 

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

If the Eagles are smart, they'll pass on Poe the Combine Wonder and pick up Fletcher Cox.

Keyword: if.

Must Avoid: Poe, again

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

The Jets could spring a surprise here and opt for Chandler Jones, though snapping up the versatile Courtney Upshaw would work wonders for Rex Ryan's paltry pass-rush.

Michael Floyd, on the other hand, doesn't play defense and isn't particularly privy to rushing the passer.

Must Avoid: Pretty Boy Floyd

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Raiders): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Bengals seem to have a thing for damaged goods. Janoris Jenkins, with his multiple run-ins with the law at Florida and his partying ways at North Alabama, should fit in with the team's culture just fine.

South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore would be the safer pick at corner here, though Jenkins' top-10 talent and bad boy attitude may well be enough to sway team owner Mike Brown in a more dangerous direction.

Must Avoid: Another misfit, Jenkins included

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The Bolts wouldn't mind upgrading their pass-rush with a southern Californian of Nick Perry's caliber. On the other hand, reaching for a wide receiver (i.e. Kendall Wright or Stephen Hill) wouldn't likely do San Diego that much good right away.

Must Avoid: Springing for a wide receiver this early

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Wide receiver isn't quite the glaring need it used to be for the Bears now that Brandon Marshall's in town. Still, they love Michael Floyd, and won't pass him up if he falls this far, Marshall be damned.

Even though a top-notch corner like Stephon Gilmore would pay huge dividends in the pass-happy NFC North.

Must Avoid: Falling in love with Floyd

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

The Titans could go risky with Dre Kirkpatrick here, but figure to go for Stephon Gilmore, who's plenty gifted himself and doesn't have a track record of dabbling in greenery (or getting caught for it, anyway).

Must Avoid: Kirkpatrick and his Dr. Dre-like habits

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Andy Dalton will jump for joy when the Bengals bolster the interior of their offensive line with Cordy Glenn.

That is, if a knuckleheaded miscreant doesn't fall into Cincy's lap instead.

Must Avoid: Jenkins, if he winds up here, or any other misfit they might be tempted to take

22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Kendall Wright would add a much-needed dose of explosiveness to the Browns' moribund offense.

Unless, of course, Cleveland finds reason to shove Colt McCoy out the door and (gulf) reach down for Brandon Weeden or Brock Osweiler.

Must Avoid: Reaching for Weeden or Osweiler

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Lions could certainly do worse that upgrade at corner with the 6'3" Dre Kirkpatrick, assuming they're smart enough not to roll the dice on Mike Adams instead.

Must Avoid: Guys who share names with MLB relief pitchers

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

The Steelers would like nothing more than for Dont'a Hightower to fall into their collective lap.

But if the thought of seeing Ben Roethlisberger on his back, down after down, becomes too much to bear, they might just take the plunge with Adams.

Must Avoid: Mike Adams, also

25. Denver Broncos: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Defensive tackle is a serious area of need for the Broncos, even though Peyton Manning might prefer adding a wide receiver (i.e. Stephen Hill). Denver would likely prefer Michael Brockers or Fletcher Cox if either one were to slip to this pick, or could reach a smidgen for Jerel Worthy.

But Dontari Poe's combine numbers may well prove to be eye-popping enough to get John Elway and company to overlook his subpar game tape and spend a first-round pick on him.

Because, you know, he's got tools and whatever.

Must Avoid: Mo' Poe

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Kendall Wright would be a natural fit for the Texans. With the Baylor product off the board, they probably won't mind settling for the speedy Stephen Hill.

Again, Adams comes into the picture as a potential replacement for Eric Winston.

Must Avoid: An unwise fill-in for Winston

27. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Get the Pats some help in the pass-rush. Quickly.

And if they don't...then, Peter Konz?

Must Avoid: Anyone who doesn't play defense, Peter Konz included

28. Green Bay Packers: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Clay Matthews can't pursue quarterbacks all by his lonesome. Chandler Jones should help considerably in that endeavor.

Clemson's Andre Branch sports a similar profile, though his game film has raised some red flags of late.

Must Avoid: Lesser defensive ends from orange-clad schools, like Andre Branch

29. Baltimore Ravens: Harrison Smith, FS, Notre Dame

Ed Reed can't play forever. Harrison Smith should be an able understudy to the future Hall of Famer's throne in Baltimore's defensive backfield.

A successor to Ray Lewis at linebacker (i.e. Shea McClellin) would be a worthwhile pick. Patching up the offensive line, though, with Peter Konz or Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin, could stand to wait while the Ravens reinforce their identity.

Must Avoid: Springing for 'Sconsin linemen 

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

The Niners would love to add Stephen Hill to their corps of Mario Manningham and Randy Moss, but with the Georgia Tech product off the board, Rueben Randle becomes the next best option.

So long as San Fran doesn't trade out of this spot, the team should wind up with a pretty good player here.

Must Avoid: Getting discouraged by what's left

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

Again, defense is key for New England. As such, the Pats would seem comfortable putting Shea McClellin on the payroll.

Or, they could do what they always do and trade out of the first round.

Must Avoid: Waiting til' next year...again

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

How does a 6'7" behemoth and two-time all-conference performer at a premium position wind up as merely a borderline first-round pick?

Well, when you're Mike Adams and you have a reputation for inconsistent performance off the field...and you test positive for marijuana at the combine, a drop of that sort becomes a lot easier to believe.

He fills a need at tackle for Big Blue, albeit at a considerable risk, given his particular reputation.

Must Avoid: You guessed it...Adams, but not Samuel or John or John Quincy

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