2012 NFL Draft First-Round Recap: Grading and Analyzing All 32 Picks

The first round of the 2012 NFL draft is now officially in the books, and boy did that fly by. 

For those draft critics out there who complain about the draft being too long, well, you certainly had nothing to worry about last night, as teams sent in their picks at a rapid pace, causing a backup of announcements all night long. 

For months we've known where quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were headed, but last night we finally found out the destinations for other big-name prospects like RB Trent Richardson, WR Justin Blackmon, OT Matt Kalil and CB Morris Claiborne. 

The first round offered up its fair share of surprises, and there was no shortage of wheeling and dealing going on, as this year we saw a record number of trades in Round 1. 

Trying to keep up with it all was enough to make your head spin, but after taking a breather and going back and looking over Round 1, here's how I would grade each of the 32 first-round picks. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck

Grade: A

Andrew Luck is a great kid and a great quarterback, but it's a shame that he has to go to Indianapolis to play his pro ball. 

After purging the organization of Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell, the Colts now have a first-year head coach who has no prior head-coaching experience, a first-year GM who is new to the role and, leading the way, owner Jim Irsay, who isn't exactly the most stable personality you'll ever come across.

The Colts are simply a mess of an organization without Peyton Manning to lead, and they have one of the least talented rosters in the league right now. 

The good news is that Luck was able to lift the Stanford program to some pretty amazing heights during his college career, and he should be able to do the same thing in Indianapolis. 

While Luck may have to endure a few rough rebuilding seasons early on in his NFL career, eventually his rare talent will shine through, and he should be able to lift the franchise back up. 

Robert Griffin III may eventually turn out to be the more dynamic and electric NFL quarterback, but Luck should develop into one of the most consistent, efficient and successful quarterbacks in the NFL. 

The Colts couldn't go wrong with either Luck or Griffin, and Indianapolis basically had to take Luck given how much hype he's received over the past year—but it wouldn't be surprising if RG3 ultimately ends up overshadowing the former Stanford signal-caller in the years to come. 

2. Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III

Grade: A+

I said back in December that Robert Griffin III was the best player available for this year's draft, and it wasn't a very popular opinion at the time. However, over the last few months, Griffin has won over football fans and proved that he's more than just your average dual-threat quarterback. 

RG3 is a truly special talent, and five years from now, we will likely be talking about him as the best player to come out of the 2012 draft. 

Griffin was the savior that the Baylor football program so desperately needed, and he's about to play the same type of role for the Redskins. 

What we saw from Carolina QB Cam Newton during his rookie season last year was simply incredible, and it's going to be hard for any other rookie quarterback to ever top that performance. But I'll say it now: Robert Griffin III is capable of outshining Newton in 2012, and he should eventually develop into a truly transcendent superstar in the NFL. 

We've never seen a quarterback prospect quite like Robert Griffin III before, and it's almost impossible for any real football fan to not get excited about what he has to bring to the table as an NFL quarterback. 

Five years from now, we'll be calling the Redskins lucky for being able to land Griffin with the second overall pick. 

3. Cleveland Browns: RB Trent Richardson

Grade: A+

In today's pass-happy NFL, running backs aren't supposed to be taken within the first five picks of the draft, especially with the emergence of two-back systems. However, rarely have we ever come across a running back as physically advanced as Trent Richardson is at this point in his development. 

Richardson possesses a rare blend of size, speed, power, vision and running instincts, and he's without a doubt the best running back to enter the league since Adrian Peterson came out of Oklahoma in 2007, and he may even be a notch above Peterson in terms of pure talent. 

GM Tom Heckert knew that he needed to get an offensive difference-maker like Richardson with the team's top pick in order to add some life to the Browns' stagnant offense, and he wasn't about to let any team steal away his guy, as evidenced by the trade Cleveland made with Minnesota to move up to No. 3. 

Some would say that taking a running back that high in the draft is a mistake, but when that running back is a potential bell-cow back like Richardson, it's wrong to make that assumption. 

By the time the 2014 season rolls around, we may all be touting Trent Richardson as the best running back in the NFL. 

4. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil

Grade: A

The Vikings really couldn't screw this year's draft up, as they were in position to land one of the draft's elite prospects—USC OT Matt Kalil, LSU CB Morris Claiborne or Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon—who are all players who would fit a need in Minnesota. 

Rick Spielman did a masterful job of playing up the suspense surrounding Minnesota's pick. While the Morris Claiborne talk was one of the most transparent smokescreens in draft history, there were many analysts out there who actually fell for the bait, so kudos to Spielman for making them look silly. 

In the end, the Vikings landed their future franchise tackle, Matt Kalil, and they managed to pick up a few extra picks in the process.

While Claiborne and Blackmon will be more flashy players in the NFL, the impact that Kalil will make for a Minnesota offensive line that gave up 49 sacks last season, the fifth highest total in the league, will prove to be invaluable. 

Sure, Minnesota couldn't have really screwed things up, as they had three terrific options to choose from, but Spielman deserves credit for driving up the value of the No. 3 pick and ultimately being able to move down a slot, pick up some picks and still land the team's top target. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon

Grade: A+

In my final mock draft, I had Justin Blackmon falling to Jacksonville at No. 7. Obviously the Jags didn't want to take any chances that he would slide that far, as they went up to No. 5 to snag the supremely talented playmaker out of Oklahoma State. 

Don't be fooled by the critics who try to disparage Blackmon for his "supposed" lack of deep speed. The 6'1'', 207-pound junior is one of the top playmaking receivers to emerge from the college ranks in years, and he's on par with other elite recent receiver prospects such as Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. 

If you want proof, just go ask one of the many defensive backs who Blackmon embarrassed during his two-year rampage during which he hauled in 232 passes for over 3,300 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. 

Blackmon is a rare receiving talent, and he should immediately help out struggling starting quarterback quarterback Blaine Gabbert. 

If Gabbert can step his game up, Blackmon should develop into one of the most productive and effective receivers in the NFL early on in his career. 

While I think that Jacksonville could have probably landed Blackmon at No. 7, given the way the board was falling, you can't fault them for moving up a couple slots and landing the player they coveted. 

This was an absolutely dynamite pick. 

6. Dallas Cowboys: CB Morris Claiborne

Grade: A

I thought that the Cowboys were going to try to make a move up to somewhere between seven and nine for Alabama safety Mark Barron. However, once they saw that LSU CB Morris Claiborne was still available, they decided he was worth moving up from 14 all the way to six. 

Claiborne is a better overall prospect than his former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, and he has all the skills to develop into an elite lock-down corner in the NFL. 

If you watched any Dallas games last season, you know that the secondary was one of the biggest weaknesses on the team, and adding a playmaker like Claiborne to the mix should work wonders for the defensive backfield. 

Parting with a second-round choice hurts a little bit, but Claiborne was one of this year's six elite prospects, and he should pay immediate dividends on the other side of free-agent pickup Brandon Carr next season. 

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Mark Barron

Grade: A

When the Bucs traded with Jacksonville back to No. 7, I was worried that a team would come hopping in front of them and steal away CB Morris Claiborne, and that's just what happened, as the Cowboys came swooping in with a trade up to No. 6 to get him.

Losing out on Claiborne hurt, but picking up a future defensive leader like Alabama safety Mark Barron certainly made up for it. 

Barron was one of the hottest names outside of the "Big Six," and he's one of the rare safeties who deserved to be a top-10 pick. 

While he may not possess elite coverage skills, the big, physical, 6'1'', 213-pound senior has everything else you're looking for in a true secondary linchpin, and he's the type of playmaker who should come in and instantly add a boost to Tampa Bay's budding young defense. 

Claiborne would have been the best possible pick, but Barron was Tampa Bay's second best option, and they managed to move back, pick up an extra fourth-round pick and still nab him at No. 7.

8. Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill

Grade: C

I like Ryan Tannehill, and I think he should one day develop into a serviceable starting quarterback in the NFL. However, I just don't think he's the type of quarterback you build an NFL team around. 

The real problem is that Tannehill's going to give you nothing as a rookie next season, and the Dolphins are a team that's destined to finish in the basement of the AFC in 2012, meaning they should once again have an early pick in the 2013 NFL draft. 

Next year's draft could feature five quarterbacks—USC's Matt Barkley, Tennessee's Tyler Bray, Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, Oklahoma's Landry Jones and West Virginia's Geno Smith—who would make better pros than Tannehill will. 

If the Dolphins aren't going to get anything out of Tannehill next season, then I don't understand why they wouldn't just wait and find a better option in 2013. 

I know Stephen Ross wanted to sell a quarterback to his disenfranchised fanbase, but this was clearly a reach. If I was a Dolphins fan, I certainly wouldn't be celebrating right now and running out to go buy a Tannehill jersey. 

I don't necessarily hate the pick and I understand why it was made, but it's going to take at least a few years to justify it.  

9. Carolina Panthers: LB Luke Kuechly

Grade: A

Carolina had to take a defensive player here, and I think the Panthers had three great choices available with Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox, Boston College LB Luke Kuechly and South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore all still on the board. 

The Panthers needed help on all three levels of their defense, and they ultimately decided to go with Kuechly, who should come in and immediately help patch up a banged-up linebacker corps. 

While I had Cox rated a little higher on my board, I do think very highly of Kuechly as well, and he's got the makeup to turn into a standout pro. 

Kuechly was a tackling machine when he was at Boston College, and he's the type of defensive leader who will prove to be very valuable in Carolina in the years to come. 

Let's just say that if the NFL decides to keep the Pro Bowl around, Luke Kuechly will be a frequent visitor throughout his pro career. 

10. Buffalo Bills: CB Stephon Gilmore

Grade: B

I had the Bills taking CB Stephon Gilmore in my final mock draft, and I said that I thought all the talk about them coveting Mark Barron and Luke Kuechly was simply a smokescreen to help push Gilmore down to No. 10, which is exactly what happened. 

When you play in the same division as New England, you need all the help you can find in the secondary. Buffalo's current crop of cornerbacks—Terrence McGee, Drayton Florence and Leodis McKelvin—just isn't enough to get the job done. 

Gilmore was this year's clear-cut second best cornerback, and he we was a legitimate top-15 talent. 

The only reason I didn't give this pick an A, is because Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox was still on the board, and I think if the Bills had taken Cox to pair with Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams, they would have instantly assembled one of the most feared defensive lines in the league. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Dontari Poe

Grade: C-

I know Kansas City needed a nose tackle to stick in the middle of its 3-4 defense, and I know Dontari Poe was considered the most intriguing player at the position but, I'm sorry, No. 11 was just too high to take Poe, given how raw and unproven he is. 

I know his workout numbers were outstanding, but you have no idea what you're going to get from Poe. Besides Quinton Coples, he was probably the riskiest pick of the first round. 

I know the Chiefs already have Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson and Allen Bailey, but I wouldn't have had any problem with them taking Fletcher Cox to play end in their 3-4 defense. 

I also thought OG David DeCastro would have been a much better and safer option than Poe. 

While this may not have been that big of a reach in terms of value, as Poe likely wouldn't have gotten by the Jets at No. 16, I still can't say I'm a big fan of this pick, especially since DeCastro was there for the taking. 

12. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox

Grade: A+

The Eagles hit the jackpot when Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox slid all the way out of the top 10 down to No. 12. Cox was the player Philadelphia was heavily rumored to be coveting, and there were even a few rumblings that they could move all the way up to No. 7 to take him—to get him at No. 12 is a gigantic steal. 

Philadelphia really had no glaring needs going into the draft, so the team had the freedom to be flexible in the first round. 

I had Cox as the seventh best player on my board right behind the "Big Six," and I think he's got the potential to ultimately be one of the biggest impact defenders to come out of the 2012 draft. 

With Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson already entrenched at the position, the Eagles can slowly ween Cox into the mix, and he won't be forced or pressured to be a big-time producer right away. 

This pick and the Steelers getting David DeCastro at No. 24 are the two biggest contenders for the biggest steal of the first round. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: WR Michael Floyd

Grade: A-

Michael Floyd has a chance to be a star receiver in the NFL, and he's going to have a great mentor to learn from in Larry Fitzgerald, who is arguably the best receiver in the entire league. 

Just think of how explosive the Cardinals' passing attack would be over the next few years if Arizona actually had a decent quarterback who could get these guys the ball. 

Floyd is a big, athletic and explosive receiver who should take a lot of pressure off Fitzgerald and keep opposing secondaries constantly stressed. 

I thought Arizona could look at an offensive tackle like Georgia's Cordy Glenn to help solve some of the problems the team has at right tackle, but it's hard to argue with what Floyd can bring to the table. 

The Fitzgerald-Floyd combo should quickly turn into one of the most explosive receiver duos in the NFL. 

14. St. Louis Rams: DT Michael Brockers

Grade: B-

I thought if the Rams stayed at No. 6 they would have taken Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox to improve a run defense that ranked 31st in the NFL last season. Instead, St. Louis opted to move into the teens and pick up another standout SEC product, LSU DT Michael Brockers. 

I had Brockers going to Dallas at No. 14 in my mock draft, so this about where I expected him to go. 

While I like the obvious potential that Brockers possesses, I think Cox is more of a sure bet, and he should be the best of the two both early on and for the long term. You can't argue with picking up picks and still filling a key need area, but Brockers is more of a gamble than Cox is.

I also thought St. Louis could have improved its terrible offensive line with this pick, especially with Stanford OG David DeCastro available. 

This move could pay off in a big way in a few years, but Brockers is far from a sure thing. 

15. Seattle Seahawks: DE Bruce Irvin

Grade: B

Maybe I'm a bit biased because I got to see Bruce Irvin play in every game during his two years at West Virginia, but I just didn't understand how people weren't valuing Irvin as a possible first-round pick going into this year's draft. 

Irvin is one of the most freakishly athletic and explosive defensive prospects in this year's class (he's a better overall athlete than last year's No. 7 overall pick Aldon Smith).

Plus, he isn't just some workout warrior, as he had the actual on-field production—22.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss—to back up his impressive workout numbers. 

In my final mock draft, I had Irvin going to San Francisco at No. 30, as I thought he would be a perfect fit in the 49ers' 3-4 defensive scheme across from Aldon Smith. I thought the earliest we could have seen Irvin come off the board was at No. 23 to the Lions, so I admittedly was a bit surprised to see him get picked at No. 15, especially since Chandler Jones and Melvin Ingram were still available. 

The only reason this pick doesn't get an A is because this was a bit of a reach in terms of true value—however, it wasn't as big of a reach as many will make it out to be. 

Sure, all the "experts" out there are going to absolutely trash this pick, and that's fine, because I heard plenty of them whine about Aldon Smith going too high last year, and I'd say that worked out fine, didn't it? 

The fact is that Bruce Irvin is a rare physical specimen, and he should develop into a dominant nightmare pass-rusher in the NFL. In the end, if he reaches his full potential and turns into a double-digit-sacks-per-year type of defensive end, it's going to be tough to say that he wasn't worth a top-25 pick. 

16. New York Jets: DE Quinton Coples

Grade: D

The Jets couldn't screw this pick up.

No, not even the Jets, the same team that just inexplicably traded for the league's most overrated player Tim Tebow, could screw up the No. 16 pick. No way could New York's brain trust screw this one up, especially with premier pass-rushing prospects like Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram and Whitney Mercilus all sitting there for the taking, and a glaring need at outside linebacker. 

And then it happened. 

With the 16th pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the New York Jets select DE Quinton Coples. Not Jones, not Ingram, not Mercilus. No, instead, the Jets took a shot at the defensive end who every other team in the teens would have gladly passed on. 

For a team that had its desire and mindset heavily questioned and second-guessed last season, maybe it wasn't such a wise idea to bring in a highly scrutinized prospect who had raised tons of questions about his desire and mindset throughout the draft process. 

You can tell by the look on the Jets fans' faces when the pick was announced that this one really took the wind out of their sails. And it's not going to help that the player who should have been the pick here, DE Chandler Jones, is going to be tearing it up in New England while Coples is loafing around and disappointing Jets fans in New York. 

This is a serious contender for worst pick of the first round, and it wouldn't be shocking to see Coples turn into a bigger bust than Vernon Gholston.

On the bright side, at least Tim Tebow liked the pick. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Dre Kirkpatrick

Grade: C+

How the Bengals passed on Stanford OG David DeCastro not once but twice, is something I'll never understand. 

I know the Bengals needed some cornerback help after losing Johnathan Joseph last offseason, but I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Dre Kirkpatrick. 

Sure, he's a big, athletic physical corner who isn't afraid to come up and make a hit in run support, but he doesn't have the coverage skills of a true top-20 pick corner, and I thought the Bengals could have found a starting-caliber corner such as Montana's Trumaine Johnson, North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins, Georgia's Brandon Boykin or Vanderbilt's Casey Hayward in Round 2. 

I know that the Bengals ultimately wound up with Kevin Zeitler to help make up for not taking DeCastro, but I wouldn't be surprised if Kirkpatrick ultimately turns out to be a big disappointment in Cincinnati. 

18. San Diego Chargers: DE/LB Melvin Ingram

Grade: A

Going into the draft I thought that the Chargers would be targeting either Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower to be a future replacement for Takeo Spikes, or an offensive tackle like Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn.

However, when I saw a host of pass-rushers such as Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram and Whitney Mercilus unexpectedly still remaining at No. 18, I figured that San Diego would scoop up one of them, and they did just that by pouncing on Melvin Ingram. 

Ingram is one of the most dynamic and versatile defensive prospects in the 2012 class, and he should be able to line up as both an end and outside rush linebacker in San Diego's 3-4 defense, depending on the call. 

This was a great pickup for the Chargers, who needed to find Shaun Phillips a proper complement. It's a great fit for Ingram, as now he'll be able to show off his pass-rushing skills and explosive burst coming off the edge of San Diego's 3-4 front. 

19. Chicago Bears: DE Shea McClellin

Grade: C+

I don't dislike the fact that the Bears took a defensive end at No. 19, as that's the position that I always felt they were really targeting all along due to the age of Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. What I take umbrage with is that the Bears took Boise State's Shea McClellin over better pass-rushing prospects such as Syracuse's Chandler Jones and Illinois' Whitney Mercilus. 

Don't get me wrong, McClellin is a solid prospect who was steadily working his way up draft boards over the last few months. I just thought that Jones and Mercilus offered up better value at No. 19. 

I also thought the Bears could have done better by taking Stanford OG David DeCastro or Georgia OT Cordy Glenn, as their offensive line clearly lacks stability, and I can't imagine that QB Jay Cutler enjoys being treated like a tackling dummy. 

20. Tennessee Titans: WR Kendall Wright

Grade: A-

Remember all that talk of Kendall Wright being out of shape, overrated and not worthy of being a first-round pick?

Yeah, those rumors do seem rather asinine now that Wright has claimed his rightful spot as a top-20 pick. 

With Kenny Britt coming off ACL surgery, Tennessee was wise to find a young explosive playmaker to add to its receiver corps, and the Titans got what they needed in Robert Griffin's former go-to target. 

Wright didn't exactly have the greatest offseason showing, but it's what he did on the field that really counted, as he routinely flew by secondaries and exploded for big plays all season long in 2011. 

The speedy senior receiver could develop into a DeSean Jackson-type of weapon in the NFL, and he presented great value at the No. 20 pick. 

21. New England Patriots: DE Chandler Jones

Grade: A

I didn't think that there was any way that Chandler Jones would get by the Jets at No. 16, and I was shocked to see him fall all the way down to No. 21. I'm sure New England was pleasantly surprised as well, as the Patriots went flying up to get him. 

Jones could very well be the top edge-rusher in this year's class, and he has the type of physical makeup to be an instant factor for New England's defense next season.

The 6'5'', 266-pound junior is the same type of lengthy, naturally strong athlete as his brother, UFC fighter Jon "Bones" Jones. He has the potential to develop into a disruptive defensive force in the NFL. 

I feel bad for Jets fans who are going to have to watch Jones, the player that New York should have taken at No. 16, turn into a monster pass-rusher in New England over the next few years. 

22. Cleveland Browns: QB Brandon Weeden

Grade: B+

Let's just be honest, Colt McCoy stinks. I mean, there's just no other way to get around it. Sure, he put up a bunch of wins at Texas when he was surrounded by great talent, but he's clearly not the type of guy who makes anyone around him better, and he's just not NFL starting quarterback-caliber material. 

That's why I have no qualms about the Browns taking Brandon Weeden at No. 22. 

I had Weeden rated No. 42 on my board, but I did say that I thought there was a chance a team like the Browns could take him in the first, and that's just what they did with their second first-round pick. 

Is it a reach? Maybe, as there was probably a good chance that Weeden would have been around when the Browns were picking in the second round at No. 37, but Tom Heckert has shown that he doesn't want to wait around for the guy he wants. 

There are two main knocks that people bring up to criticize Weeden: his age and the system he played in at Oklahoma State. However, if you want to talk about just pure ability and quarterback skills, Weeden is the third best quarterback prospect in this year's class and a borderline first-round talent. 

The former Oklahoma State signal-caller should be an immediate upgrade over McCoy, who was arguably the worst starting quarterback in the NFL last season. With him and Richardson now in the mix, the Cleveland offense suddenly just got a whole lot more explosive. 

23. Detroit Lions: OT Riley Reiff

Grade: C

There's a reason that Riley Reiff dropped in the draft, and it has to do with the fact that he really doesn't offer anything special as an offensive tackle prospect. He was being over-hyped going into the draft because analysts naturally try to push tackles up because it's a key position. 

The truth is, Reiff has what it takes to be a starter in the NFL, but was he really that much better than some of the offensive tackles who could be had in Round 2 such as Stanford's Jonathan Martin, Ohio State's Mike Adams and Mississippi's Bobby Massie?

The short answer is no. 

If the Lions wanted to take an offensive lineman with the 23rd pick, they should have either selected Stanford OG David DeCastro or Georgia OT Cordy Glenn, who will both be better pros than the former Hawkeye.

I know everyone loves to gush about Iowa offensive linemen and their pedigree but, honestly, I just don't get the Reiff hype. 

Congratulations Detroit, you just picked up the next Sam Baker. 

Yippee. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: OG David DeCastro

Grade: Too Good to be True

I know David DeCastro plays offensive guard, one of the least valued positions in football, but there's simply no way to justify him falling all the way down to No. 24. 

The Steelers couldn't believe that the top-10 talent was there, and Roger Goodell didn't even have to walk off stage, as Pittsburgh got their pick in within five seconds of Riley Reiff being announced as the No. 23 selection. 

DeCastro could end up going to more Pro Bowls than any other player in this year's draft besides Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, and I would have never imagined that he would make it out of the teens, let alone all the way down to No. 24. 

Philadelphia landing Fletcher Cox was my early contender for biggest first-round steal, but this pick surpassed it. 

This, my friends, is what they call a true home run. 

25. New England Patriots: LB Dont'a Hightower

Grade: B+

As if Bill Belichick needed any more praise, right? 

Belichick and top personnel man Nick Caserio did a masterful job in the first round of this year's draft, as they managed to land two high quality defensive prospects, DE Chandler Jones and LB Dont'a Hightower, who will step in and become instant impact players next season. 

I like Jones slightly more than I do Hightower, but I expect both to mature into key defensive difference-makers early in their career. 

Hightower is the type of versatile hybrid player who will fit in perfectly in New England's defense, and his years spent in Nick Saban's system should serve him well in the NFL. 

The 6'2'', 265-pound 'backer is capable of lining up all over the field, and he's the type of defensive toy that a coach like Belichick should have a lot of fun playing around with. 

26. Houston Texans: LB Whitney Mercilus

Grade: B+

I thought that there were three premier pass-rushing prospects—Syracuse's Chandler Jones, South Carolina's Melvin Ingram and Illinois' Whitney Mercilus—who deserved to go in the teens this year, so I was surprised to see both Jones and Mercilus slip into the 20s, especially with guys like Quinton Coples and Shea McClellin coming off the board in front of them.

Outside linebacker wasn't necessarily a true need area, as the Texans already have Brooks Reed and Connor Barwin, who were both key defensive pieces last season. However, after losing Mario Williams in free agency, it obviously doesn't hurt to add a young rush linebacker to the fold. 

Considering what was available, I thought the only better pick would have been Georgia OT Cordy Glenn, as Houston has no right tackle of note—but the Mercilus pick makes sense, and it gives the Texans another dangerous and explosive edge-rusher to unleash off the edge. 

27. Cincinnati Bengals: OG Kevin Zeitler

Grade: B

I had Kevin Zeitler going No. 29 to the Ravens in my mock draft, so this is about the time that I thought we'd see him come off the board. 

After parting ways with both starting guards from last season, the Bengals obviously needed to pick up a guard with one of their two first-round picks, and Zeitler is the type of solid and experienced player who should be able to come in and start immediately. 

The only problem I have is with Cincinnati passing on Stanford's David DeCastro, not once but twice. 

I know they traded down, got some extra picks and still managed to snag a starting-caliber guard, but there's no reason DeCastro should have been there at No. 21. To pass up a prospect of that caliber who fills a key need is something I don't understand. 

Who knows, maybe there was something NFL teams knew about DeCastro that the public didn't.

28. Green Bay Packers: DE Nick Perry

Grade: B

The Packers have been in dire need of a pass-rusher who can complement Clay Matthews, and they may have just found that player in Nick Perry. 

Perry is one of the true physical freaks of this year's draft, and he's coming off a monster junior campaign in 2011 in which he racked up nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. 

I still think Perry fits in as more of a 4-3 end than a 3-4 rush linebacker, but he's definitely got the skill set to handle the move without much trouble. 

I thought Green Bay could look at a versatile cornerback-safety prospect like Montana's Trumaine Johnson to help boost a secondary that ranked dead last in the NFL in pass defense last season, but I also understand the need for a pass-rusher, and Perry presented great value at No. 28. 

29. Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith

Grade: B

Harrison Smith was the second best safety in this year's draft, and while he clearly wasn't in the same class as Alabama's Mark Barron, he was a fringe first-round talent. 

The Vikings could use help all over their secondary, so I when I saw that they traded back up, I thought it would be either Smith or possibly a corner like Montana's Trumaine Johnson or Georgia's Brandon Boykin. 

Smith was a solid four-year starter during his time at Notre Dame, and he's got the type of physical and mental makeup to come in and immediately compete for a starting spot in the secondary. 

You really have to give Rick Spielman credit for the job he did last night. So far, Minnesota has been one of the biggest early winners of the draft. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: WR A.J. Jenkins

Grade: C-

Before the draft, the 49ers said that they knew who they were taking and they were confident the player would be there, which left everyone wondering who that mystery player could be. 

I thought it would come down to West Virginia edge-rusher Bruce Irvin and the top two-guard prospects, Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler and Midwestern State's Amini Silatolu, and that Irvin would ultimately be the pick. Both Irvin and Zeitler were gone by the time San Francisco was on the clock at No. 30, however I don't think it would have mattered, as San Francisco seemed to have its sights set on WR A.J. Jenkins.

Jenkins was the only prospect taken in the first round that I didn't have rated in my final top 50 (I had him at 86). Obviously, I think this was a pretty sizable reach, and I could imagine that there are many out there who share my sentiment. 

In defense of the pick, Jenkins played at an extremely high level in 2011 when his QB Nathan Scheelhaase wasn't flaking out, and from a physical ability standpoint, he's got everything you look for. 

I certainly understand San Francisco going with a receiver at No. 30, especially since I'm no fan of either Michael Crabtree or Mario Manningham, and I don't know what to expect out of Randy Moss next season. But with better receivers like LSU's Rueben Randle and Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill still on the board, it's tough to justify taking Jenkins here, especially since it seemed like his ceiling was probably the mid-to-late second round. 

Jenkins is capable of becoming a playmaker in the NFL, but the 49ers definitely took a gamble with this one. 

We'll have to wait and see how it pays off. 

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Doug Martin

Grade: A

As a Bucs fans, I couldn't have asked for much more on draft night. 

Tampa Bay found a future leader for its secondary at No. 7 in Mark Barron, and the Bucs found a running back who's capable of becoming a featured back in the NFL, Boise State's Doug Martin, late in Round 1. 

The powerfully built Martin has drawn favorable comparisons to Ray Rice, which is intriguing because we saw what Greg Schiano was able to do with a back like Rice when he was at Rutgers, and Martin should be capable of having similar success in Tampa Bay. 

I thought Martin presented a better overall value at No. 31 than Trent Richardson would have had at No. 5, so you have to applaud Mark Dominik for hopping back into the late first-round area to pick him up. 

I'm not a LeGarrette Blount fan, so the more carries the Bucs can give Martin next season, the better. 

This was a terrific pick up to add to what was already a great night for Tampa Bay. 

32. New York Giants: RB David Wilson

Grade: B-

I thought that we could probably sneak two running backs into Round 1, as I figured Doug Martin would come off the board somewhere between picks No. 25 and No. 32, but I really didn't think we were going to sneak three in. 

Still, it's hard to fault the Giants for taking David Wilson at No. 32, since they needed a back to pair with Ahmad Bradshaw, and the second-tier prospects at the position like Wilson, Miami's Lamar Miller, Washington's Chris Polk, Oregon's LaMichael James and Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead, would have all probably been gone by the time they were picking at No. 63. 

Wilson had a sensational junior season last year, leading the ACC with over 1,700 rushing yards, and he showed off terrific athleticism and game-breaking speed. However, he is still a little rough around the edges, and it's going to take him some time to adapt to an NFL offense and learn how to read blocks in a pro scheme. 

Once it all clicks for Wilson, he should turn into a valuable complement to Bradshaw. I just thought there were prospects—Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw, Stanford TE Coby Fleener and Georgia OT Cordy Glenn—who would have been capable of making a bigger impact for the Giants earlier in their careers than Wilson will. 

Day 2 Prospects to Watch out for

There will be 63 players who get to hear their name called on Day 2 of the 2012 NFL draft. 

Potential first-round prospects such as LB Courtney Upshaw, Georgia OT Cordy Glenn, TE Coby Fleener and others are still on the board, so it should be interesting to see where they all end up. 

Here's a look at a list of the top players remaining who have the best chance of being selected in either the second or third rounds tonight. 

QB Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

QB Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

RB Lamar Miller, Miami

RB LaMichael James, Oregon

RB Chris Polk, Washington

RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

RB Robert Turbin, Utah State

RB Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State

WR Rueben Randle, LSU

WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

WR Chris Givens, Wake Forest

WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

WR Brian Quick, Appalachian State

WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

WR Marvin Jones, California

WR Jarius Wright, Arkansas

WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

WR TY Hilton, Florida International

WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa

TE Coby Fleener, Stanford

TE Orson Charles, Georgia

TE Dwayne Allen, Clemson

OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia

OT Mike Adams, Ohio State

OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

OT Bobby Massie, Ole Miss

OT Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

OT Jeff Allen, Illinois

OT James Brown, Troy

OT Mitchell Schwartz, California

OG Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State

OG Brandon Brooks, Miami of Ohio

C Peter Konz, Wisconsin

C Philip Blake, Baylor

C Ben Jones, Georgia

DT Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

DT Devon Still, Penn State

DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

DT Billy Winn, Boise State

DT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington

DT Mike Martin, Michigan

DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson

DT Josh Chapman, Alabama

DE Andre Branch, Clemson

DE Vinny Curry, Marshall

DE Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

DE Cam Johnson, Virginia

DE Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy

DE Trevor Guyton, California

LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

LB Lavonte David, Nebraska

LB Zach Brown, North Carolina

LB Mychal Kendricks, California

LB Terrell Manning, North Carolina State

LB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada

LB Demario Davis, Arkansas State

LB Keenan Robinson, Texas

LB Sean Spence, Miami

LB Tank Carder, TCU

CB Trumaine Johnson, Montana

CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia

CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

CB Dwight Bentley, Louisiana-Lafayette

CB Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma

CB Josh Robinson, Central Florida

CB Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina

S Brandon Taylor, LSU

S George Iloka, Boise State

S Antonio Allen, South Carolina

S DeQuan Menzie, Alabama