NFL Draft Order 2012: Teams Inside the Top 10 That Should Trade Down

Landing a top-10 pick in the NFL draft generally means a franchise clearly needs help.

In some circumstances, a team can actually better its roster by trading down from its lofty selection and adding more picks in later rounds and future first-rounders in exchange for giving up its current position.

Here’s a look at a few teams in the 2012 draft that would benefit by working a deal out to slip a few spots.

No. 3 Minnesota Vikings

The Vikes have a lot of needs to address in this draft, so moving down to add more picks just makes sense.

The Buffalo Bills are reportedly highly interested in moving from No. 10 down to No. 3 to take future franchise LT Matt Kalil.

While Minny could use a player of Kalil’s caliber, it would have a shot at an elite cornerback, wide receiver or other position it also covets should it make the move.

No. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars

According to some reports, the Jags have had contact with nearly every team in the league about moving away from this selection.

Standing pat would mean they could land someone like Stephen Gilmore out of South Carolina, a solid cornerback prospect, but moving down would give them more flexibility to improve their overall defense and inject more youth into the roster.

No. 8 Miami Dolphins

As crazy as it sounds, the Dolphins should make a calculated risk to trade down and then target Ryan Tannehill.

They should challenge another team to make the bold decision of picking him inside the top 10, and when they balk, pounce in and take him in the middle of the round.

It’s no secret this organization wants to the Texas A&M QB on its roster, but it might be able to get him at a cheaper cost while adding another pick in the late rounds. 

2012 NFL Draft First-Round Order plus Latest Mock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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