2012 NFL Mock Draft: What Each Playoff Team Will Do in the First Round

Draft boards are set, teams are already taking up residence in their war room and the clock is ticking down for Roger Goodell to open the 2012 NFL draft.

You've heard all the rumors and read all the reports. We expect trades to occur, but we won't see them until the draft begins.

Here's one last final lock at first-round projections and what the playoff teams with selections will do when it is their turn.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts have already ended the drama here...

2. *Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

...and so have the Redskins.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

This is where things get interesting, but the only trade that makes sense is the Bucs moving up for Richardson and the Vikes landing Kalil or Claiborne at No. 5.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns are hoping Minnesota stays put, but they're going to land a player they want here regardless.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

New coach Greg Schiano could miss on Claiborne and Richardson if things get crazy in front of him. His best bet may be to move up.

6. *St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

There was plenty of talk surrounding the Rams and a defensive lineman here, but Blackmon is a stud and the guy they need.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Jacksonville is a huge threat to trade out here, but if they sit tight Ingram should be the pick.

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Like it or not Dolphins fans, Tannehill is going to be the pick.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Panthers have a ton of options here, but Kuechly is a plug-and-play starter who could line up in their front seven for the next decade.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Things in Buffalo seem so unsettled that you'd think they were picking names out of a hat. In reality, they know who they want, but they may have to go up to get him.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chiefs are also a team with a lot of options, but DeCastro gives them a boost they currently lack in their run game.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples is a potential faller and the Seahawks a potential draft shaker, but he does fit a need.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Michael Floyd makes sense here too, but he doesn't do any good if they can't keep their quarterback standing up right.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Dallas might fly up the board to get Barron, but they have other guys they're interested in too. Fortunately for them, the 'Bama safety falls.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

Philly top contender to trade up for the versatile defensive lineman.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

There are a ton of mixed signals coming out of New York, but Upshaw is a straight up football player.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd slides down the board a little bit, but the Bengals, the first playoff team to pick courtesy of the Raiders and Carson Palmer, add some fire power to their offense with the Notre Dame pass-catcher.

He'll grow with A.J. Green and Andy Dalton giving the Bengals a trio of players they were used to seeing when Palmer was throwing to Chad Ochocinco (then Chad Johnson) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

Elite potential will force the Chargers' hand here.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Nick Perry, DE, USC

Putting any pass-rusher opposite Julius Peppers will opens thing up, and Perry has great potential.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers slides just a bit, but the Titans waste no time.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Only a few picks after they add a big, physical receiver the Bengals do the same thing on the other side of the ball.

Kirkpatrick has great potential, but will immediately make an impact as well.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Adding Trent Richardson was the best move possible at No. 4, and Wright is a guy they can use now but also develop.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

All versatility here, the Lions get a guy who could be a tackle or could be a guard—whichever they need more of—for a long time.

Keeping Matt Stafford healthy is their primary concern going into the future.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Steelers could look for defensive line help, but Hightower is an instant starter and they keep him from sliding down to their rival in Baltimore.

Pittsburgh needs an infusion of youth at a number of positions and Hightower also offers great value and schematic fit.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

This is a bit of a surprise, but would you really put it past the Broncos to jump on the one receiver with the most upside in this draft?

They could run him downfield, just take coverage away and let Peyton work through other reads without an extra guy hovering around.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

With Hill off the board, the Texans opt to take the sliding nose tackle that Wade Phillips can employ in his defense right away.

This isn't the best case scenario, but they could do worse than a 6'3", 350-pounder with unique athleticism.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State

Bill Belichick will be best served to stay in the late first round and clean up on defensive front seven talent.

McClellin is a guy who'll never stop working and fits the mold.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Mercilus has great upside and the Packers hope he can achieve that opposite Clay Matthews Jr.

He has the potential to go much higher in this draft too.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

What we know about the Ravens is that they have a hard time passing on value.

Johnny Martin isn't a direct need, but he has great potential and offers great value here.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

Rather than moving for a playmaker offensively, the Niners can land an instant starter in Zeitler.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Keeping with their hard-working front seven guys, Reyes can come in and make a difference immediately.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The Giants will go for the best value available—period. Fleener would create some huge mismatches for Eli Manning downfield, though, and he'll be hard to pass on. 

*Rams trade No. 2 overall pick to Redskins for 2012, 2013, 2014 first-round picks and 2012 second-round pick.