2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Biggest Steals of Round 1

The 2012 NFL draft is just a few hours from kicking off and the excitement over the biggest day of the offseason has fans all over the world talking about football again.

While the mock draft is full of stars, the players italicized will be the biggest steals of the first round.

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts have already informed Luck that he is the No.1 overall pick, and we’re telling you.

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

The RGIII era in Washington will define Mike Shanahan’s NFL legacy.

3. Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

Matt Kalil is the franchise left tackle that Minnesota needs. Enough said.

4. Cleveland Browns—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

*****PREDICTED TRADE*****

Cleveland will go out of their way to get out of this spot, especially after gauging interest in this selection. The Browns know teams want Trent Richardson and will move up to get him, so they must benefit themselves for the long term like last year.

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

Tampa Bay veteran cornerback Ronde Barber’s age shows that drafting his eventual replacement now is an absolute must.

6. St. Louis Rams (via WAS)—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

New Rams head coach Jeff Fisher will try to move back, but if the team stays at No. 6, they will take Justin Blackmon.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars— Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

With the most upside of all the players in this draft, Jacksonville needs to draft Michael Brockers and let him evolve with the team.

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

After an offseason of poor decisions, why not add another?

9. Carolina Panthers—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

With the success of Cam Newton, there is no reason for the Panthers to think they can’t handle another project player. Quinton Coples has the upside to make it worth it.

10. Buffalo Bills—Nick Perry, OLB, Southern California

With the addition of Mario Williams, the Bills will need a complement for their star defensive end. They will find it with USC standout Nick Perry.

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

While there is a certain value that guards aren’t usually thought of above, David DeCastro is arguably the best offensive lineman in the entire draft.

Since he plays guard, DeCastro will fall out of the top en and right into the lap of a team like Kansas City that needs interior help desperately.

With Matt Cassel struggling to find time to throw and the team’s star running back coming of ACL surgery, the need for protection is at an all-time high.

12. Seattle Seahawks—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

An aging offensive line and a new quarterback in Matt Flynn must force Seattle to take a big left tackle like Riley Reiff.

13. Arizona Cardinals—Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

After being destroyed through the middle last season, Arizona needs to make the smart move and draft Luke Kuechly at No. 13.

14. Dallas Cowboys—Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

With serious questions under center and in the running game, adding a big offensive lineman like Cordy Glenn will give the Cowboys no more excuses.

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

While the Philadelphia Eagles run a 4-3 defense that has two amazing ends already, not taking Melvin Ingram if he falls this low is a bad move.

Ingram wouldn’t start right away, but he would see enough time on the field as a defensive tackle on passing downs and as a replacement for Cole and Babin on the plays they take off.

With both Pro Bowl ends getting older, Ingram is a great long-term plan that could pay off huge for Philadelphia.

16. New York Jets—Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

While many have questioned Poe’s abilities, his comparisons to Haloti Ngata will have the Jets falling over themselves to select him at No. 16.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK)—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With AJ Green lighting the world on fire, the Bengals will add Kendall Wright on the other side of the field to alleviate some of the pressure on Andy Dalton and Green.

18. San Diego Chargers—Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The San Diego Chargers need help in their secondary, so taking an undervalued star like Stephon Gilmore at No. 18 is a no-brainer.

While I have two cornerbacks (Janoris Jenkins and Dre Kirkpatrick) ahead of him in terms of talent, Gilmore has the work ethic and brains to be a star in the NFL. All while being an ideal off-field leader to boot.

San Diego needs to add difference makers on the defensive side of the ball, and that all must start with the addition of Gilmore to the secondary.

19. Chicago Bears—Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Mike Martz hated tight ends, but with him out of the picture, the Bears can finally get Jay Cutler the safety valve he has been missing for the past two seasons.

20. Tennessee Titans—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

As good as Kenny Britt has been at times, there is uncertainty around the star’s future in Tennessee. With that said, Michael Floyd may be the perfect long-term replacement.

21. Cincinnati Bengals—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The perfect partner for Leon Hall in the Cincinnati secondary would be Alabama star cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 21.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL)—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami-FL

While the Browns will trade out of the No. 4 spot and away from Trent Richardson, they will get their replacement for Peyton Hillis later in the first round with Lamar Miller.

23. Detroit Lions—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The top priority of a team with an injury-prone quarterback should be to add protection like Ohio State tackle Mike Adams.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Steelers are looking to get younger on the defensive side of the ball, and that should start with Courtney Upshaw taking over the role of outside linebacker.

25. Denver Broncos—Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Broncos head coach John Fox is still in the process of changing the defense over to 4-3, but he will take the best defensive tackle that can fit both schemes. That man is Fletcher Cox.

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

Andre Johnson’s hamstring injury exposed the Texans lack of depth and it’s their duty to find a suitable backup. That’s where Stephen Hill comes in.

27. New England Patriots (via NO)—Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson

After losing the Super Bowl because of a lack of pass rush pressure, the New England Patriots will make sure that isn’t the case this season by adding standout outside linebacker Andre Branch.

28. Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois

While Clay Matthews is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, he needs a player like Whitney Mercilus on the opposite side alleviating some pressure.

29. Baltimore Ravens—Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

With serious questions about Ray Lewis’ age and deteriorating relents, the Ravens will draft the man that will take the helm eventually in Dont’a Hightower.

30. San Francisco 49ers—Peter Konz, OG, Wisconsin

Last season showed the need for more protection in the run game and against the pass rush, so the 49ers will grab versatile guard/center combo Peter Konz.

31. New England Patriots—Kendall Reyes, DE, Connecticut

The pass-push rebuilding process will continue with UConn star 3-4 defensive end Kendall Reyes. Great underrated addition for the Patriots.

32. New York Giants—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

With the departure of Mario Manningham to the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants will snag Alshon Jeffery with the final pick of the first round.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

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