2012 NFL Mock Draft: Last-Minute Picks for Entire First Round

The 2012 NFL draft is rapidly approaching and the closer we get to draft day, the less certain we are about which team is taking which player.

Teams are made and broken through the draft and this year will be no different.

Here's how things will shake out this year.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

It's already been settled and the Colts will take Luck with the first pick in the draft. They will officially make him their franchise quarterback and Luck will be tasked with succeeding Peyton Manning.

Certainly, if there's one player in this draft who could do that, it's Luck.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RG3's athleticism and skill have made him the clear-cut No. 2 pick in this draft for quite some time now. Griffin will be tasked with picking up a bad franchise out of the mud and turning it into a Super Bowl champ.

The Heisman Trophy winner has a lot to live up to, but he can handle it.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OL, USC 

The Vikings haven't been able to make up their mind lately, so I'm going to stick with Kalil at this pick.

Minnesota could use the help for their young quarterback, Christian Ponder, and Kalil has the talent to make a difference for this offense. I know Adrian Peterson could use the help.

This is by no means a surefire pick, so we'll just have to wait and see on this one.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is going to be a star and a stud running back in the NFL one day.

He will make an immediate impact on the Browns' horrid rushing attack and makes all the sense in the world to be the No. 4 pick.

This will be the first of two picks that will bolster the Browns offense in the first round.

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

Holes in the Bucs secondary have them drafting Claiborne at No. 5. He's highly touted as a future shutdown corner and that makes him very valuable at this spot in the draft.

Claiborne's presence on this team will help Tampa back on the road to having a great defensive personality once again.

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

Sam Bradford will need all the help he can get this season after a rough sophomore campaign that saw the young quarterback take a step back.

I know Jeff Fisher loves his defense, but even he must see the need for Blackmon with this pick. Blackmon will give Bradford another option to throw to and help bring out the best in the Rams QB.

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

The Jags will address one of two major needs with their first pick in the draft.

Taking Ingram will give the Jags a pass-rusher they can count on for the future and will help rebuild what was once a feared defense in the NFL.

After this, they can focus on getting their wide receiver, but because of the depth at that position, it becomes possible for Jacksonville to take a defensive end at this spot.

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

Tannehill isn't the right move here and is certainly too risky for the No. 8 overall pick. He has limited experience behind center and will be a project for the Dolphins to work with.

He does have some experience, if not more, at wide receiver, so if he fails, there are other possibilities to get the most out of him. His versatility ups his value, and I think that's why the Dolphins take a chance on him.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

It appears Cam Newton has the Panthers offense under control and has helped build the foundation for his team to have great success next season.

All Newton needs is some help on the other side of the ball to complete Carolina, and that man is Cox. The Panthers would be instantly adding a solid pass-rusher who was the potential to be elite, and that's just what the doctor ordered for this team.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

New contract and all, Ryan Fitzpatrick will be looking to build off a career year in order to take his team to the next level.

One thing that's for certain is that he'll need some help, and Reiff gives him that. Protection is a must for the Bills passing attack and it was evident last season when Fitzpatrick got smacked around a bit.

With their defense shored up by signing Mario Williams, the Bills will look to do the same on the offensive side of the ball. 

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

After a season full of devastating injuries, the Chiefs expect to have their offense back together and ready to do what they expected of it before the 2010-11 season started.

That means they must beef up their defense if they want to complete their team, and that could be helped along by the addition of Kuechly.

One of the top linebacks in this draft, Kuechly gives the Chiefs some ready-made talent with a ton of upside that will help out now and could dominate in the future.

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

Seattle would love to have a quarterback in this spot but that doesn't look like it'll happen, and instead it will continue to build on what looked like a promising defense last season.

Coples gives the Seahawks someone to rush the passer off the end and terrorize opposing defenses for the next several years to come.

Void filled.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Somewhere Kevin Kolb is on his knees begging the football gods for a solid offensive lineman that can give him some time in the pocket.

David DeCastro might be a little undervalued here, but not to a team in desperate need of some offensive line help. The Cards are the perfect candidate and will have DeCastro on their radar as someone whom they can build a solid line around.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

If one of the several teams vying for Barron doesn't pick him off first, expect the Cowboys to be the first takers on the best safety in the draft.

Barron would be a perfect addition with cornerback Brandon Carr as Dallas looks to rebuild its secondary now that the Terence Newman experiment didn't work.

It's the start of something new in Dallas and the Cowboys hope it's a great defense that leads to a Super Bowl.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

This pick is a total tossup for Philly, but if I had to pick, I would say the Eagles will be looking for someone to put pressure on the quarterback.

Poe's stock has risen steadily over these past few months and that has him going as a middle first-rounder in this draft.

He didn't show much on the field in college, but this might be the time in Poe's career where he takes it to the next level. And it couldn't come at a better time for the Memphis product.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

There's been speculation that the Jets might be looking to move up in the draft, but if not, they will certainly be looking defense with their No. 16 pick.

Upshaw will be the best linebacker on the board at that point and makes perfect sense for a team that needs a pass-rusher. When the Jets defense was at its best the past few seasons, it was getting to the quarterback.

It's no surprise that once that stopped, so did the Jets' success. Upshaw will help revitalize Rex Ryan's defense as an impact player.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

With their skill positions and quarterback set, the Bengals will look for some protection for their promising offense and Glenn would be the perfect fit to do just that.

Glenn will be a long-term solution for Cincinnati, and while he can contribute now, his best days are very much ahead of him.

It's only getting better for the future of the Bengals offense. How often can you say that?

18. San Diego Chargers: Chandler Jones, LB/DE, Syracuse

While the Chargers need some help at the safety position, the only safety worthy of being taken in the first round, Mark Barron, will be gone by this time in the draft.

So that leaves a pass-rusher for San Diego to pick and Jones fits that mold. Not what the team wanted, but sometimes that's how the draft goes.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Julius Peppers is a great asset to have on your defensive line as a football team, but not having someone to take advantage of his presence doesn't help the case much.

The Bears have that problem and can solve it by drafting Mercilus with their No. 19 pick.

He will give Chicago someone off the edge that can take advantage of the attention Peppers draws and get to the quarterback as a result. Mercilus will make Chicago's front line a scary thing to face.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

These next two picks could be a tossup, but I have Kirkpatrick getting drafted over Stephon Gilmore.

Kirkpatrick was a big-time corner at LSU, despite having some questionable off-the-field issues to speak of. That certainly doesn't erase the amount of talent he has and his ability to be a shutdown corner in this league.

If character is what the Titans are concerned about, Gilmore has the edge, but it's not significant enough for Tennessee to pass on Kirkpatrick.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Bengals will be on of the major winners in this draft. After shoring up their offensive line with their first of two picks in the first round of the draft, the Bengals will look to their defense and their need at cornerback.

Whether it's Kirkpatrick or Gilmore, the Bengals will be taking a cornerback, and in this case Gilmore is the guy.

22. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Browns are other big winners in this draft if they can land Floyd at No. 22.

With Richardson having already been drafted, the Browns will make another major improvement by drafting the second-best receiver in the 2012 draft.

Together, Richardson and Floyd will give Cleveland a bright future offensively and will greatly help Colt McCoy or whomever it is they have behind center.

23. Detroit Lions: Josh Martin, OT, Stanford.

Martin was once much higher on draft boards but has slowly fallen to a late first-rounder in the 2012 draft.

That's no problem for Detroit, though, which will look to bolster its offensive line in order to build upon what was an elite offensive attack last season. Martin will give quarterback Matthew Stafford the help he desperately needs to avoid getting hit like he did last season.

It's hard to imagine the Lions' passing attack getting any better, but Martin could certainly help accomplish that.

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

There isn't a single franchise that is better than the Steelers at grooming young linebackers, so it would be to the benefit of Hightower to go to Pittsburgh as the No. 24 pick.

Hightower can be the future for the Steelers at linebacker and learn under one of the best defenses in the NFL. He already has the skill to be a great talent in the NFL, but the great defensive prowess of Hightower's future team will take him to another level.

25. Denver Broncos: Cody Fleener, TE, Stanford

Peyton Manning came to the Broncos with a vision of Super Bowls in his head.

To help that vision, Denver will do what it must to put the tools around him to be successful.

With two receivers already in place, the Broncos will look to shore up the tight end position with their first pick and wisely select Fleener.

Fleener could contribute right away, and with an abundance of skill already, catching passes from Manning certainly wouldn't hurt.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is a one-man wrecking crew for the Texans, but that doesn't mean he couldn't use some help. If Houston could find the right complement, it could have two incredible threats to throw to.

Wright would be a great pickup for a team looking for a solid receiver. With the amount of attention Johnson commands, there will be little pressure on Wright and that couldn't be a better fit for a young receiver.

The only thing the Texans didn't do near-perfect last season was throw the ball, and they will help shore that up with this pick.

27. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State

If you asked me what the theme of the Patriots' defense was last season, I could sum it up in one word: Help.

Without a solid pass-rusher, the Pats defense looked flat and forced Tom Brady to put up a ton of points to win.

Drafting McClellin will help New England begin to build a defense it can rely on. This pick will ensure the Pats put pressure on the quarterback next season and don't get beat as bad on the defensive side of the ball.

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

Like the Pats, the Packers need to put some pressure on the quarterback and as good as their offense was, their defense was just as bad.

Building a solid defense would take a lot of pressure off Aaron Rodgers and actually add some balance to this team in the process.

It's scary to think how good Green Bay could be if it were more well-rounded. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

There's nothing the Ravens would like more than to keep Joe Flacco's facial hair neat and clean.

Konz will help Baltimore add to its offensive line that has already resulted in a great rushing attack and a solid passing game as well.

Defense isn't a problem, as usual, so that's why it makes sense that the Ravens try to improve their offense here.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The 49ers are one of those fortunate teams that doesn't have many holes.

Drafting Jenkins would be a nice addition to an already elite defense.

As a rookie, Jenkins won't have to do much in this defense while he learns the game and improves to NFL-ready status. There might be character issues here, but Jenkins is too talented to slide beyond the first round.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

In order to continue building on their biggest need, the Pats will select Reyes with the 31st pick.

Reyes will help strengthen a defensive line in need of some help and give the Pats much-needed depth as well.

If it wants to win it all, New England will have to beef up its defense, and in a successful first round, it will do just that.

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

Eli Manning may be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but even he needs blocking, and the Giants would be happy to oblige.

Drafting Adams gives the Giants a guy who can step in and help them right away while possessing a ton of upside at the position. New York likes consistency from the O-line, and Adams is the answer for that.