2012 NFL Mock Draft: Final Predictions for Entire First Round

Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the 2012 NFL draft will get underway. With just hours to go before the big event kicks off, here is a look at my latest mock draft. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck will be the No. 1 pick and now comes the hard part: building a winner in Indianapolis with a terrible roster.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin will be the guy for the Redskins, and he'll step in and start from day one. It may have taken three first-round picks to move into this spot to take the Baylor signal-caller, but if he develops into a franchise quarterback, the deal will be well worth it.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings could opt for Morris Claiborne here, but they shouldn't consider anyone but Kalil. He's the best offensive lineman to enter the NFL since Joe Thomas in 2007, who has been a five-time Pro Bowler.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

After Peyton Hills left for Kansas City in free agency, the Browns really need an every-down running back. Richardson will step in right away and should be one of the NFL's best running backs within three years.

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

Claiborne is the best player available, and the Bucs need help in the secondary. A natural fit.

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

The Rams need a legitimate No. 1 target for franchise quarterback, Sam Bradford, and they get one here in Blackmon.

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

The Jaguars badly need to upgrade their pass rush, and they do that here by grabbing Ingram, the best defensive player left on the board.

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

After missing out on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith in free agency, the Dolphins can't afford to miss out on another quarterback. Tannehill's stock has been inflated, but his upside is incredibly high.

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

Carolina needs to add to the interior of its defensive line and Cox is the best, most well-rounded tackle in this class. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Buffalo needs another receiver, and while I'm not as big a fan of Floyd as some, I think they'll go ahead and grab him here.

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

The Chiefs will take Kuechly here and greatly upgrade their linebacking corps. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Jones has been a fast riser as the draft has drawn closer, and the Seahawks need to get better going after the quarterback. The Syracuse product is a raw athlete but should develop into a fantastic 4-3 defensive end.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Cardinals need to get better up front, and Reiff is this draft's second-best offensive tackle. He'll step in and help solidify that unit immediately. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Cowboys love Poe and his incredible measureables. He is a once-in-a-decade athlete who should fit right in as the nose tackle in Dallas' 3-4 defense.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron's name is also a hot one, but if he drops here the Eagles will gladly scoop him up.

16. New York Jets: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

No one in this draft is more talented than Coples, but he'll fall here because of questions about his motor and desire. If anyone can inspire him, it will be Rex Ryan.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore could easily go in the Top 10, but he'll last until this spot, and the Bengals will take him. The South Carolina product will step in and replace Jonathan Joseph, who bolted for Houston last offseason.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

DeCastro is a perfect fit for the Chargers, and he will step in immediately and replace the retired Kris Dielman.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Chicago could go in a number of different directions here, but they could use a pass-rusher opposite Julius Peppers. Mercilus is a great fit for Lovie Smith's defense. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

When Cortland Finnegan bolted for St. Louis this offseason, he left a huge hole in his wake. Kirkpatrick will fill that spot and should fit perfectly in Tennessee's zone-heavy scheme.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

The Bengals need to protect quarterback Andy Dalton, and Glenn will give them a versatile lineman who could start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin's stock has dropped leading up to the draft, but his ceiling is incredibly high, and he will only improve. Putting him across from left tackle Joe Thomas will give the Browns a fantastic pair of bookend tackles.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Detroit's current center, Dominic Raiola, is awful, and Konz will provide an immediate upgrade while his ability to read defenses will help quarterback Matthew Stafford's development. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers will eventually take over for aging nose tackle Casey Hampton, but until then, he'll line up all over Pittsburgh's defensive line.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The Broncos were incredibly soft up front in 2011 and could use multiple defensive tackles in this draft. Worthy is a guy with a non-stop motor who is far better than anyone on the current roster.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright will be a perfect complement for Andre Johnson and profiles as a great No. 2 receiver.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Bill Belichick needs to upgrade his front seven after an awful showing last season. Upshaw is a tough, gritty, smart player who will be a great fit in New England.

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

Perry is this draft's best pure pass-rusher, and Green Bay needs to draft someone to help Clay Matthews get to the quarterback. 

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

Eventually Hightower will take over for Ray Lewis in the middle of Baltimore's defense, but until then, he can fill in at outside linebacker. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

Guard is San Francisco's top need, and Zeitler will help boost the team's running game which tailed off in effectiveness at the end of the 2011 season.

31. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

The Patriots are likely to add some pieces to their secondary and Smith is the second-best safety in this year's draft. He'll step in, start right away and be a perfect fit for New England's defensive scheme.

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

With Mario Manningham off to San Francisco in free agency, quarterback Eli Manning needs another target. Fleener is a big, athletic tight end who should make an impact as a rookie.