2012 NFL Mock Draft: Last-Second Forecast for Entire First Round

The big day is finally here as the 2012 NFL draft kicks off Thursday night from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Here is my latest mock draft just hours before the big event starts.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There has been absolutely zero suspense surrounding this pick for the past few months. Luck will be the guy; now Colts general manager Ryan Grigson needs to go get some talent to surround him.

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

The Redskins made a bold move to secure this pick and they'll be banking that Griffin is a legitimate franchise quarterback. He'll start from day one.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

I'm really starting to believe the Vikings will consider another player with this pick, but they'd be foolish to. Kalil is the best offensive lineman to enter the NFL since Joe Thomas in 2007. Thomas is a five-time Pro Bowler and Kalil has that kind of ability.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

This is another no-brainer. The Browns desperately need a running back and Richardson is the rare elite talent at the position worthy of a top-five pick. He will be one of the NFL's best running backs within three years.

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

If the top four plays out this way, then the Bucs have no choice but to take Claiborne. That's not a bad thing, though, as the LSU product profiles as a shutdown corner.

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

If everything plays out this way, the Rams will be giddy. Blackmon will give quarterback Sam Bradford a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the first time.

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

With all the elite talent off the board, the Jaguars will go with Ingram, the best all-around football player left. Luckily, he fills a need.

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

There is no chance the Dolphins allow themselves to miss out on another quarterback. Tannehill may have been overrated throughout the draft process, but his upside is tremendous.

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

The Panthers badly need help along the interior of their defensive line, and Cox is a versatile playmaker who will be an immediate upgrade.

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

The Bills like Mark Barron and will definitely take a look at Riley Reiff, but they will end up taking Floyd here to give quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick another option in the passing game.

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

Kuechly will step in right away and be a huge upgrade for Kansas City's linebacking corps. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

The Seahawks will be looking for a 4-3 defensive end, and while Quinton Coples is a possibility, Jones is the hottest name in the draft. He is raw but ridiculously athletic and should fit well in Seattle.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Arizona badly needs to upgrade its offensive line, and Reiff is the second-best tackle in this year's draft.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

If Poe lasts until this spot, the Cowboys will jump all over him. He is massive, and at the combine he showed outstanding measureables. He will immediately slide in and play nose tackle for Dallas.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is another hot name and any number of teams could jump up via trade to draft him. The Eagles won't let him fall past this point.

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

Coples is incredibly talented, but his stock has fallen thanks to questions about his motor and desire. If anyone can figure out a way to motivate him, it's Rex Ryan. 

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

Gilmore could come off the board in the top 10 and it would be a great value. At this point, the Bengals will gladly grab him and vastly improve their secondary.

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

General manager A.J. Smith continues to pull the right strings this offseason. He'll land one of the draft's best players at a position of need.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Bears could go in a few different directions here, but Mercilus is a sack master who will upgrade the team's pass rush. He fills a need and will thrive by learning from Julius Peppers.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Cortland Finnegan bolted for St. Louis in free agency and left a huge hole in his wake. Kirkpatrick will fit perfectly in Tennessee's zone-heavy scheme.

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

Cincinnati needs to protect quarterback Andy Dalton, and Glenn is a versatile player who could start at either guard spot or right tackle. 

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

Martin's stock has dropped throughout the draft process, but he's still the same guy experts were slobbering all over during the 2011 college football season. He has a very high ceiling and could develop into a Pro Bowler.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

I love this pick for the Lions. Their current center, Dominic Raiola, is awful, and Konz is a stud who will be a huge improvement.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers will eventually take over for aging nose tackle Casey Hampton, but until then, he can play any place along Pittsburgh's defensive line.

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

Denver has a serious need at defensive tackle, and Worthy has a non-stop motor and will be a huge improvement up front.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright profiles as a solid No. 2 receiver with the chance to be a big-time playmaker. He will be an excellent complement to Andre Johnson. 

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

Bill Belichick needs to upgrade his front seven, and Upshaw is the kind of tough, gritty player he will love. The Alabama stud will drop here because of limited measureables, but he will fit perfectly in New England.

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

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

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

Hightower is a leader who will eventually take over for Ray Lewis in the middle of Baltimore's defense, but until then, he can hold down a spot on the outside.

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

Zeitler will help immediately improve the San Francisco rushing offense that wore down and faltered down the stretch last season.

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

New England needs help in the secondary, and Smith is the second-best safety in this year's draft. They could opt for a cornerback, but I think Smith is the perfect fit.

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

Eli Manning needs another target with Mario Manningham off to San Francisco in free agency. Fleener is a big, athletic tight end who will make a big impact early in his career.