2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Possible Selections for Round 1 Teams

We are mere hours from the 2012 NFL draft and for once, let all the questions be answered and the talking heads be silenced.

Each team must finally make up its mind about which direction it will go in for the future of its franchise.

Let's take a last-second look at where all the big names are going in the first round.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck ,QB, Stanford

Franchise quarterbacks only come around once in a while, so the transitioning Colts would have to be foolish to pass on Luck.  

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

Do the Redskins really have a choice? RG3 is highly touted and Washington is not, making this a perfect pick and a step in the right direction for the 'Skins.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikes might not be sure about Kalil, but I am. Adrian Peterson isn't getting any younger and Christian Ponder needs some protection in order to progress.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson has the talent to be the best running back in Cleveland since Jim Brown and there is no question he helps an ailing offense right away.

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

Defense was the name of the game when Tampa Bay was successful in the NFL, so it's only fitting the Bucs are going back to their winning roots with the selection of Claiborne.

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

There are just some picks that are perfect fits and this one fits that mold. Blackmon will be a shot in the arm for a weak receiving corps, and some much-needed help to Sam Bradford.

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

Ideally, the Jags want to get back to their defensive ways of the past and Ingram gives them a rock-solid pass-rusher to help them there.

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

As much as the Dolphins need a quarterback, it remains to be seen if Tannehill is that guy that Miami can depend on. He fills a need, the only question is how well Tannehill fills it.

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

Cam Newton has Carolina's offense moving in the right direction and Cox can be the same type of impact player on the other side of the ball with his ability to get to the quarterback.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Bills just signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to a contract extension, so now all that's left is to make sure he stays in one piece and Reiff will help that cause right away.

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

With needs on both sides of the ball, defense is more pressing and Kuechly gives the Chiefs someone who can rush the passer for years to come.

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

Coples' ability to play multiple positions makes him perfect to plug holes early in his career while holding the potential to be a great defensive end for Seattle for a long time.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

If Arizona wants anything out of its expensive investment in Kevin Kolb, it needs to protect him better; although this is early to pick DeCastro, it more than fits a need for the Cards.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

The Cowboys plan on revamping their secondary, and what better way to do that than to pick up a franchise safety in the draft to help you deep?

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Eagles need a total team effort more than anything else, but adding another pass-rusher couldn't hurt their defensive cause.

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

Rex Ryan's defense could use a nice shot in the arm. Hell, his team could use it as well and Upshaw's abilities to get to the quarterback can do that for the Jets.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

A budding offense in Cincy could use some protection and Andy Dalton will more than welcome having a new offensive lineman in Glenn to give him some extra time in the pocket.

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

All set offensively, the Chargers need someone who can get to the quarterback, and Jones is the best guy available at this point to do that.

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Julius Peppers will need some help up front with all the extra attention he draws and that is why the Bears would be best served drafting someone like Mercilus, who can take advantage.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Off-the-field issues or not, Kirkpatrick can downright play football and will give the Titans someone to build their defense around for the long haul.

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

The Bengals are through making risky picks and drafting Gilmore is about as safe as they can get here, building on an already elite defense.

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

If Colt McCoy can't get it done with both Richardson and Floyd added to his offense, I don't know if he'll ever get it done.

23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Detroit has something good going with its offense, but it can't allow Matthew Stafford to get a beatdown much like he did last season. Martin should help fix that little problem.

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

The Steelers are always on the lookout for young, defensive talent and Hightower would be perfect to groom in Pittsburgh's successful defensive system.

25. Denver Broncos: Cody Fleener, TE, Stanford

This pick could go either way, but I tend to believe the Broncos will look to surround Peyton Manning with top-flight talent, and Fleener qualifies as such.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is looking for help and the Texans are more than willing to give it to him. Wright would be the perfect fit across the field from Johnson and would flourish without much attention on him.

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

Defense is all the Pats need to worry about, and the first step in taking care of that problem is picking up a budding pass-rusher like McClellin.

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

Aaron Rodgers is all the Packers will ever need offensively, but defensively, Perry would help a team in desperate need of a defensive presence.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Ravens have nothing to worry about defensively so it only makes sense that they beef up their offensive line with the selection of Konz.

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

It's a safe pick here for the 49ers. With a deep defense as it is, Jenkins will fit nicely into San Fran's squad and won't have much pressure on him while he develops.

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

Reyes could be the force that the Patriots are looking for during this draft. Along with McClellin, Reyes can help New England get back to a solid defense to complement their elite offense.

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

The Giants are in pretty good shape already so it's natural they'll want to keep protecting their best asset, Eli Manning. Adams will give the Giants a consistent answer for the future, building a foundation of protection.