2012 NFL Draft Grades: Report Card for Every Pick of Round 1

With the 2012 NFL draft's first round in the books, we can now reflect and evaluate each team and how well they drafted in round No. 1.

This first round was quite the wild one, if you ask me, as we saw the most trades in the first round in NFL history. 

Without further ado, let's skip the chit-chat and dive right into the grade book.

Here are my report cards for every pick in Round 1 of the 2012 NFL draft. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck

Grade: A+

How can this selection not get a perfect grade?

Andrew Luck is the greatest quarterback prospect that we have ever seen. 

Not very often do we see a team go through a transition that involves parting ways with a future Hall of Famer like Peyton Manning and then drafting a once-in-a-decade quarterback prospect in Luck.

The Indianapolis Colts are in a very good position. 

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III

Grade: A+

Another perfect grade—anyone disagree?

Robert Griffin III isn't a bad consolation prize after losing out on Andrew Luck. In fact, I will actually go out on the limb and boldly predict that RG3 will have a better career than Luck. 

Believe it. 

The Washington Redskins are very fortunate to have RG3 on their roster moving forward. 

3. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson

Grade: A

The Cleveland Browns traded their No. 4 overall pick as well as picks in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds to the Minnesota Vikings for the No. 3 overall pick to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

This is exactly what the Browns offense needed—some offensive firepower, as their offense was so putrid in 2011. 

4. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil

Grade: A

The Minnesota Vikings moved back just one spot and picked up multiple later-round picks and were still able to get the guy that they wanted: Matt Kalil.

Kalil is exactly what the Vikings needed, a left tackle for the future.

The Vikings already have a quarterback of the future in Christian Ponder, and now, they have someone to protect his blind side for many years to come. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon

Grade: B+

What the Jacksonville Jaguars needed heading into the 2012 draft was a wide receiver—a fast one to be more specific.

Justin Blackmon is a wide receiver, but he's not all that fast.

Either way, Blackmon is the highest-rated wide receiver in this year's draft and should slot in as Blaine Gabbert's No. 1 wide receiver. 

6. Dallas Cowboys: Morris Claiborne

Grade: A+

The Dallas Cowboys traded up eight spots to get their hands on cornerback Morris Claiborne.

This is an absolutely incredible selection for the Cowboys as Claiborne is primed to be an elite cornerback.

Entering 2012, the Cowboys will roll with Claiborne and newly-signed Brandon Carr as their two starting cornerbacks. 

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mark Barron

Grade: B+

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have missed out on Morris Claiborne, but they were still able to get their hands on a highly-rated defensive back in Alabama safety Mark Barron.

I don't think Barron is worthy of being a top-10 pick, but I do believe that he will develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber safety for the Bucs. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill

Grade: B

I'm not all that of a huge fan of Ryan Tannehill, but the Miami Dolphins have certainly set themselves up quite nicely.

Tannehill is a converted wide receiver and has limited experience at quarterback, so he will need time to develop, and that's what David Garrard and Matt Moore are there for. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Luke Kuechly

Grade: B+

I really do believe that Luke Kuechly could very well end up being the best defensive player out of this year's draft class when all is said and done.

Kuechly was a tackling machine while at Boston College as he dominated the ACC and should translate well with the Carolina Panthers at the NFL level. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore

Grade: B+

I really like this selection...a lot. 

Stephon Gilmore is quite the talented cornerback as he's such a playmaker and can really develop into quite the special teams player as well.

The Buffalo Bills have certainly improved their defense a ton this offseason. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe

Grade: B-

I do not like this selection at all.

Why? Simply because Dontari Poe doesn't look great on game film and played against lesser talent while at Memphis.

The only reason why this pick is graded in the B-range is simply because of how he was such a workout warrior at this year's combine and is without a doubt a freak of nature. 

12. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox

Grade: B+

If you ask me, this is a flat-out steal by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fletcher Cox should have gone in the top 10 but fell right into the Eagles lap.

Philadelphia needed someone to start next to Cullen Jenkins and they now have that guy in Cox. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd

Grade: A-

This selection is almost perfect—I can honestly say that I love it.

Entering the draft, I have been saying this entire time that I really do believe that Michael Floyd is going to be more productive than Justin Blackmon—and I'm standing by that statement.

Floyd is very much like Anquan Boldin and I see him fitting in very nicely starting opposite of Larry Fitzgerald.

14. St. Louis Rams: Michael Brockers

Grade: B

This is a solid, safe selection for the St. Louis Rams as they did their best impersonation of the New England Patriots and traded back multiple times in the first round.

Jeff Fisher and the Rams really needed some help along their defensive line heading into 2012 and Brockers will certainly fill that void as he had one productive career with LSU. 

15. Seattle Seahawks: Bruce Irvin

Grade: C

I do not like this pick...at all.

The Seattle Seahawks were really reaching with this pick as Bruce Irvin could have very well been selected in the second round of this year's draft.

I'll leave you with this, Seahawks fans: Irvin is not an every-down defensive player, he cannot play first downs as he is terrible against the run. 

16. New York Jets: Quinton Coples

Grade: A

Some may consider this a steal for the New York Jets, and I happen to agree.

Rex Ryan and the Jets really needed a big-time pass-rusher for his aggressive, blitz-happy defense and he got that in Quinton Coples.

If Coples develops to his fullest potential then he's going to be quite the quarterback killer in the AFC East. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick

Grade: B+

The Cincinnati Bengals needed a cornerback and they got one in Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick.

I really like Kirkpatrick and I see him along with Stephon Gilmore and Morris Claiborne developing into top-of-the-league cornerbacks for many years to come. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram

Grade: B+

The San Diego Chargers needed a pass-rusher and they snagged one with South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. 

To me, Ingram is an elite pass-rusher and is going to be an absolute stud for the Chargers for many years to come.

I love this pick. 

19. Chicago Bears: Shea McClellin

Grade: B-

I like Shea McClellin as a prospect but I don't like seeing him go at No. 19 overall.

Granted the Chicago Bears needed some help at linebacker, but drafting McClellin to me is a huge stretch.

McClellin is quite the athlete as he's big, strong as well as extremely athletic—but I have doubts about him playing linebacker in the Bears 4-3 defensive system. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright

Grade: B+

Jake Locker, Kenny Britt and now Kendall Wright for many years to come? I love it.

Wright is the most explosive wide receiver in this year's draft class and is a very wise decision for the Tennessee Titans as Locker is going to have a very talented receiving corps for the start of his career as a Titan. 

21. New England Patriots: Chandler Jones

Grade: C

I do not like this selection at all.

Yes, I like Chandler Jones as a prospect and feel that he will be a solid pass-rusher—that is if he develops properly.

Jones left Syracuse early, which boggles my mind as he's extremely raw and has a lot of maturing to do—if anyone can do it, it's head coach Bill Belichick. 

Why do I have this selection a C? Simply because the Patriots traded up from No. 27 to No. 21 to draft him and I truly believe that the Patriots could have easily drafted Jones at No. 27. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden

Grade: C

I really thought that the Cleveland Browns were going to give Colt McCoy a chance—apparently not, with this selection of 28-year-old Brandon Weeden.

I am not sold on Weeden but I will say that he's extremely mature, considering that he's 28, and he should do just fine in adapting to the NFL-style of play.

However, I do not think that Weeden is worthy of a first-round selection. 

23. Detroit Lions: Riley Reiff

Grade: A-

Riley Reiff is quite the steal for the Detroit Lions at No. 23 overall.

Reiff is a top-15 talent and should fit in immediately along the Lions defensive line.

For Detroit, protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford needs to be the No. 1 priority and with this selection, it certainly expresses that priority. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: David DeCastro

Grade: A

This selection is an absolute steal for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers need an offensive guard and the draft’s top rated guard fell right into their laps.

Stanford’s David DeCastro is easily a top-10 talent, but not too many teams draft interior offensive linemen that high. All in all, DeCastro is a once-in-a-decade offensive guard. 

25. New England Patriots: Dont'a Hightower

Grade: A

Trading a fourth-round pick and the No. 31 overall pick to the Denver Broncos for the No. 25 overall pick was a brilliant decision by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Dont’a Hightower is going to be a special player for the Patriots as he’s such a versatile and athletic linebacker that can play any linebacker position in the 4-3 as well as the inside linebacker position in the 3-4.

This was New England’s second trade of the draft that involved moving up, and this is the first time that they moved up in the draft since 2003. Who would have thought? 

26. Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus

Grade: B+

The Houston Texans lost Mario Williams this offseason and needed to find a replacement in the production that was going to be missing with the hole that Williams left. With that being said, the Houston Texans really lucked out in this year’s draft as they ended up with one of the top pass-rushers in the class, Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus.

Mercilus is a very talented prospect that should develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive end after a few years of developing. 

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Kevin Zeitler

Grade: B

The Cincinnati Bengals needed an offensive guard and they got one in Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin.

Zeitler is a real safe selection for the Bengals as he’s a very athletic offensive guard and should fit in just fine with Cincy as one of the team’s starting guards. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry

Grade: B+

The Green Bay Packers needed help with their pass rush as Clay Matthews simply couldn’t do it all on his own so they went out and drafted USC’s Nick Perry.

Perry figures to be a top-tier pass-rusher as he’s so talented and has loads of potential.

This selection takes some much-needed pressure off of Matthews in Green Bay’s pass rush department. 

29. Minnesota Vikings: Harrison Smith

Grade: B

I am really high on Harrison Smith, unlike many others out there.

I think Smith is not only a very talented prospect that should develop into quite the solid and dependable strong safety but I see him also developing into a team captain and a leader of the Minnesota Vikings defense.

This was a very safe, yet wise, decision for the Vikings.

30. San Francisco 49er: A.J. Jenkins

Grade: C

I don’t understand this selection at all.

I understand that the San Francisco 49ers need help at the wide receiver position but they left some talent on the board and this selection was quite reach in my book.

A.J. Jenkins is a fine prospect out of Illinois but I’m not buying it that he is worthy of a first-round selection. The 49ers should have traded out of this pick.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Martin

Grade: B

This was a very wise decision for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they moved up to No. 31 to draft running back Doug Martin out of Boise State.

If you ask me, Martin’s NFL comparison is Matt Forte—just watch game film of him from Boise State.  

The Bucs’ starting running back right now may be LeGarrette Blount, but he’s not an every-down running back and can’t carry the load on his own. Adding Martin turns Tampa Bay’s rushing attack into possibly one of the best that the league has to offer. 

32. New York Giants: David Wilson

Grade: B+

Forget about Brandon Jacobs—a new era has started with the New York Giants as Ahmad Bradshaw and now Virginia Tech's David Wilson will be the team's lead running backs in 2012.

Wilson is a great selection for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The only thing that Wilson really needs to improve on is his pass blocking and route running—other than that, he is well-rounded in every area of his game.