2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Available Picks for Each Franchise

Forget about predictions for a moment here. Trying to figure out exactly how the NFL draft will play out is about as futile a task as, say, attempting to project which college football stars will be productive pros.

(See what I just did there? Okay, I'll stop patting myself on the back now...)

So, rather than trying to read the mind of just about every GM in the league (again), I've decided to look simply at which potential draftee would be the best fit for each team in the first round.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Hmmm...let's see. No more Peyton Manning, but Andrew Luck looks like his second coming. Sounds like a good combo to me, especially now that the Colts have made it clear that they're taking him.

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

RGIII has all the tools and the makeup to be a success in just about any system, though his ability to run a bootleg should suit Mike Shanahan's offense perfectly in DC.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings would prefer to trade down so they can upgrade at tackle and wide receiver, but if they can't find a partner, they'd do well to add Matt Kalil to protect Christian Ponder's blind side.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Now that the Browns have more-or-less committed to Colt McCoy at quarterback for another year, they must surround him with playmakers at all costs. Trent Richardson represents an excellent first step in that direction.

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

The gap between Mo Claiborne and Stephon Gilmore is closing quickly, though the LSU product remains the best corner on the board.

The Bucs would love to take Richardson here if he falls, but with him off the board, Claiborne becomes the obvious choice. He has terrific downfield coverage skills and will come in handy against the likes of Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan in the NFC South, particularly with Ronde Barber moving to safety.

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

Justin Blackmon isn't an elite talent, per se, but the Rams' need at wide receiver is so glaring that they can't really afford to pass on him...

Unless they trade down for another pass catcher.

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

Wide receiver is a bigger need for the Jags, and they'll snap up Blackmon if he falls, but Ingram is an excellent choice given his relatively solid track record and Jacksonville's need for a rush end.

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

The Dolphins are practically locked into Ryan Tannehill at this point, given his collegiate ties to offensive coordinator Mike Sherman.

And while he may not be the best prospect at this point, he fills Miami's long-standing need for a "Quarterback of the Future." 

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

The Panthers may be poised to swoop on Quinton Coples, a North Carolina product and Julius Peppers clone, but would be wise to go the safer route with Fletcher Cox filling the void at defensive tackle.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

For the love of Pete, get Ryan Fitzpatrick some pocket protection! 

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

The Chiefs could go a number of different ways here and come out ahead, but Luke Kuechly is the best player left on the board and fills a considerable need at inside 'backer.

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

Yeah, Coples is a risky pick, but at this point in the draft, his massive upside is worth the Seahawks' while, given their glaring need at defensive end.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame   

The Cards have a gaping hold at offensive tackle to fill, one that Riley Reiff would fall into quite perfectly if he's still on the board. With Reiff gone, they could consider Stanford's Jonathan Martin, though he'd be something of a reach at this point.

If Arizona GM Rod Graves can't find a satisfactory solution in the first round for protecting Kevin Kolb, he'd do well to at least upgrade the group of those to whom his quarterback can throw. Michael Floyd would be an excellent target for Kolb and has the talent to draw some defensive attention away from Larry Fitzgerald.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

At long last, the Cowboys' prayers for a smart, versatile safety have been answered!

Assuming, of course, that Jerry Jones can read the tea leaves as well as everyone else in football.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Eagles must improve their defense up the middle. The addition of DeMeco Ryans gives them some leeway to seek out a hefty talent like Michael Brockers at defensive tackle.

16. New York Jets: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Chandler Jones has the raw talent to be a beast off the edge in Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense, and his Empire State ties will make him a fan favorite before long.

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

The Bengals don't typically spend high picks on guards...so this is where I'll step in as fantasy GM rather than soothsayer and slot David DeCastro into Cincy's first spot.

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama

The Bolts wouldn't exactly be unwise to opt for, say, Cordy Glenn at guard or Mark Barron at safety (if he's available this late in the order).

But the pass rush in San Diego has been a sore subject ever since Shawne Merriman's fall from grace. Courtney Upshaw isn't quite the talent that Merriman was coming out of college, though he fits their scheme a bit too perfectly to pass up.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois

Three factors are working in Whitney Mercilus' favor:

1. His name, pronounced "merciless."

2. His game, which fits Chicago's need at defensive end.

3. His origins, after playing college ball at the nearby University of Illinois.

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

Stephon Gilmore is a tremendous value at this point in the draft and should take up the mantle left behind by Cortland Finnegan quite well.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

It's tempting to slot Janoris Jenkins or Dre Kirkpatrick here, given their reputations for "mischievous" behavior off the field and Cincy's long-standing culture of acceptance...

So I'll do it, because I have no spine.

22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With one offensive playmaker (Trent Richardson) already in the bag, the Browns give Colt McCoy someone to throw to in Kendall Wright, a fellow Texan.

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Lions won't survive for long in the NFC North without a shutdown corner to make life difficult for the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler.

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

The Steelers' need for an upgrade along the offensive line is obvious and needs filling.

That is, unless they're content to watch Ben Roethlisberger get knocked on his rear end down after down and risk losing him to injury as a result.

Pittsburgh's defense is getting old, especially at linebacker. Dont'a Hightower fits the team's scheme perfectly, with the tools to be a force against the run in the NFL.

25. Denver Broncos: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

There's no denying the risk involved with drafting a Combine Creature like Dontari Poe.

That being said, if the Broncos can put his tools to good use, they could have themselves a dominant defensive tackle for years to come.

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

Stephen Hill will be Matt Schaub's and Andre Johnson's best friend before he sets foot on a field as a pro.

27. New England Patriots (via Saints): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Give the Pats the best defender available.

Which, in this case, means Jerel Worthy.

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

Clay Matthews can't crush quarterbacks all by himself and won't have to once Nick Perry makes his way to Green Bay.

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

Ed Reed's still a phenomenal player when he's healthy, though there's no telling how long that'll last at his age (33) and with his history of injury.

The Ravens, then, would be wise to find someone who can serve as Reed's insurance policy in the short term and his eventual replacement in the long run. Harrison Smith has the skills to step in right away in either scenario, with plenty of room to grow into a hard-hitting star down the line.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

With 11 starters returning on defense, the Niners should turn their full attention to upgrading their offensive line with a versatile guard like Cordy Glenn.

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

What's that you say? Shea McClellin is the best defensive prospect left on the board?

You know the drill—send him to New England.

32. New York Giants: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The G-Men have a pretty glaring need at tackle, and J-Mart is the best one available at this point in the draft.

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