2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for All 32 1st Round Picks
The 2011 NFL Draft may have just taken place, but it is never too early to look ahead to next year's draft.
After all, if Lane Kiffin can get a seventh-grader to verbally commit to play quarterback for the Trojans, I can write a mock draft for 2012.
This year's draft had some big surprises, such as four quarterbacks going in the first 12 picks, and a huge draft day trade by the Atlanta Falcons that landed them Alabama receiver Julio Jones.
This season's draft will likely revolve around a certain signal-caller at Stanford.
Let the Andrew Luck sweepstakes begin!
This draft order is based on my projected finish of every team during the 2011 season as the rosters currently stand.
1. Carolina Panthers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
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Who wants Andrew Luck anyway?
The Panthers won't, and they will likely try to trade this pick, but since there will be no trades in this mock, they take the best offensive weapon available.
Jeffery gives Carolina quarterback Cam Newton a huge target, something he will need after his mostly unproductive rookie season.
Some view UNC defensive end Quinton Coples as the best player in this draft after Luck, and therefore the pick here, but the Panthers need to upgrade their offense much more than they need help on defense.
2. Seattle Seahawks: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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The Seahawks will make out as huge winners for the second year in a row despite being losers. Last season, the Hawks won the NFC West with a record of 7-9, and this year, they will win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
Many have been left wondering who the Seahawks will go with at quarterback this season and whether or not Matt Hasselbeck will return once free agency begins.
The return of Hasselbeck would most likely improve the team's record and quite possibly put them out of contention for Luck unless they are able to swing a big draft day trade.
Luck has all of the tools to be a great NFL passer, and if the Seahawks have the chance, they will certainly select the Stanford quarterback.
3. Buffalo Bills: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
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The Bills decided not to take a quarterback in this year's draft and instead worked on their defense with their first four selections.
I think the decision not to take a quarterback this year will pay off, as they land one of the top signal-callers in the 2012 draft, USC's Matt Barkley.
Even though the wins have not been there, the Bills are definitely headed in the right direction, and Barkley has the potential to be a franchise quarterback in Buffalo.
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4. Washington Redskins: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
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The Skins will very likely be looking for a quarterback after the 2011 season, but with Barkley and Luck off of the board, they will have a tough decision to make.
I think they will ultimately decide to take a third quarterback off of the board, and that will be Oklahoma's Landry Jones.
Jones has a good arm and excellent intangibles, and while he may draw comparisons to Sam Bradford, expecting him to actually play as well as Bradford as a rookie may be too much to expect.
Jones should benefit by playing on one of the country's top teams this season, and if he can lead the Sooners to a National Championship, he very well could be a top five pick.
5. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
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Denver's run defense was atrocious last season, and instead of taking defensive tackle Marcell Dareus in this year's draft, they took outside linebacker Von Miller.
Miller has the potential to be a very good NFL linebacker, but Denver still has a big hole in the middle, and they can fill that gap with Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.
Worthy would be an immediate contributor for the Broncos defense as they continue to dig their way out of the Josh McDaniels era.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Janoris Jenkins, CB
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Jenkins would have been arguably the top corner prospect heading into the 2011 college season, but he was dismissed from Florida after his second arrest on a charge of marijuana possession.
Jenkins could decide to opt for the 2011 supplemental draft, but I expect him to instead find his way into the 2012 draft and the early part of the first round.
The 5'11" corner has elite coverage skills, and he wouldn't even have to leave the state of Florida with this selection.
7. Tennessee Titans: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
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As I stated earlier, Coples could end up in Carolina, but I think receiver makes more sense there, and so he would then likely experience a bit of a tumble.
Of course, Da'Quan Bowers was the top defensive end just three months before the 2011 draft, and he fell all the way to the 51st pick, so you never know.
Coples might remind some of a former UNC standout, Julius Peppers, because of his athleticism and ability to get to the quarterback.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
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There is a lot of speculation that the Cardinals will trade for Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb once the lockout is lifted, and if they do, they will need someone that can protect him in the future.
USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil is generally regarded as the best offensive lineman in next year's draft, and he could be penciled in to the Cards trenches for the next decade.
Kalil's brother, Ryan, is a center for the Panthers and one of the best in the league at the position. The Cards would be very happy to have the other Kalil on their side.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
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The Bengals had an excellent 2011 draft, especially on the offensive side of the ball so they will likely focus their early round efforts on defense in 2012.
Kirkpatrick will be one of the premier corners available in next year's draft and he would be an instant upgrade for a Bengals team that could use more depth in their secondary.
10. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
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The Vikings hope they found their franchise quarterback in Florida State's Christian Ponder during this year's draft, so next season they will be looking for someone that can block for him.
Martin has a good chance at being the second offensive lineman off of the board at this point and if he decides to declare after his junior season he should go fairly high in the first round.
Martin will be counted on this season to protect the draft's top asset, Andrew Luck.
11. Cleveland Browns: Luke Kuechly, OLB, Boston College
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Kuechly is not the most athletic linebacker in the 2012 class, but he is a tackling machine (183 tackles last season) that has a relentless motor.
The Browns could use another quality football player as they continue building their 4-3 defense and while Kuechly may not stand out at the combine, he makes plays and that's what really matters.
12. San Francisco 49ers: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
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The Niners are on another team that appear to be on the right track and in order to continue progressing they will need to upgrade their secondary.
Gilmore has the potential to be a very good cover corner at the next level and if he has a strong season for the Gamecocks this year, he could definitely hear his name called in the top 15 picks next season.
13. Miami Dolphins: Ray-Ray Armstrong, S, Miami
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The Dolphins may be in the market for a new quarterback next season if Chad Henne doesn't put it all together this year, but there will not be a passer worth taking here so I see the Dolphins going in a different direction based on need.
Armstrong will likely be the top safety in the 2012 class and at 6'4" 220 lbs., this ball hawk would be a great addition to the Dolphins defense.
14. Detroit Lions: Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
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The Lions should have one of the top defensive lines in the league this season, but they better sack the opposing quarterback on every pass play because I don't know who is going to cover their opponents receivers this year.
Harris needs to get better at corner but he has the raw talent to be a very good player and he is electric in the return game, so I see him as a good fit in Detroit as they continue adding solid athletes to their roster.
15. New York Giants: Manti Te'o, MLB, Notre Dame
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The Giants will very likely be looking to upgrade their offensive line and linebacker corps in next year's draft since they neglected those positions with their top picks this season.
Te'o would be a great addition for the Giants as they land one of the best players available at one of their biggest needs.
The Fighting Irish star has solid recognition skills and good strength which makes him a force when it comes to stopping the running game.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
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Tampa Bay has a lot uncertainty in their secondary and that doesn't figure to change much before next season's draft.
There are major question marks with the team's top corners as Aqib Talib has run into trouble off of the field and veteran Ronde Barber is getting up there in age.
Hosley would add some stability to the Bucs corner position and help coach Raheem Morris sleep a bit easier at night.
17. Chicago Bears: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
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Blackmon has the potential to be an elite receiver in the NFL and since that is the case, the Bears would be getting tremendous value while filling a huge need with this pick.
Blackmon does not have elite speed, but he does possess big play ability and great hands which Chicago has been looking for, for many years now.
Blackmon has great size and strength and would give quarterback Jay Cutler a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the first time while he has been in the Windy City.
18. Oakland Raiders: Kelechi Osemele, G/OT, Iowa State
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Unless someone steps up and runs a sub 4.2 40-yard dash at the combine, I believe the Raiders will once again look to upgrade their offensive line with their first selection.
Osemele is a versatile lineman with his ability to play guard or tackle and I think his size (6'5" 335 lbs.) will ultimately have him settle in at guard for the Raiders.
Osemele is a big, tough offensive lineman who would fit in well in Oakland as they get closer to solidifying their offensive line.
19. Indianapolis Colts: Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
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The Colts at No. 19?
No that's not a typo, I believe Peyton Manning and his Colts will miss the playoffs this season as the Texans win the AFC South.
Manning has been spectacular during his time in Indy, but the pieces around him are not as good as they once were and the Colts need to get younger and more talented at many positions.
Receiver is one of those spots and Texas A&M Jeff Fuller would give Manning a great target for his final seasons as the Colts signal-caller.
20. New York Jets: Donte Paige-Moss, DE/OLB, UNC
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And shocker No. 2 comes here as the Jets fail to make the playoffs during the 2011 season.
The Jets will likely need to address their pass rush in the 2012 draft and UNC's Donte Paige-Moss could do just that.
Paige-Moss would be a great fit in Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense with his natural ability to get to opposing passers.
21. St. Louis Rams: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
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Steven Jackson is still a very good running back in the league but he will be 29 before the start of the 2012 season the Rams could look for his eventual successor with this pick.
Richardson will likely be the top running back available in the 2012 class with his blend of great speed and power.
Richardson would be able to take over for Jackson as soon as his tank runs empty and he would be a very welcome addition for Sam Bradford and Co.
22. Houston Texans: Robert Lester, S, Alabama
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The Texans had an excellent 2011 draft, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where they spent their first five selections.
I expect the Texans defense to be much improved this season, but they still have work to do in their secondary and at the safety position, so they select one of the top safeties in the draft with their first pick, Alabama's Robert Lester.
Lester has solid speed and good playmaking ability that would be welcome for a Texans secondary that is looking to get on the right track.
23. San Diego Chargers: Vontaze Burfict, OLB, Arizona State
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Some draft analysts expected the Chargers to take an outside linebacker in the early stages of the 2011 draft and since they failed to do so, I'm projecting them to take one with their first pick of the 2012 draft.
Burfict is an absolute beast at outside linebacker but he has had some on-field issues at Arizona State that could scare some teams away. Burfict is a fiery player, but that fire has caused him to be penalized at crucial times in games for boneheaded offenses.
Burfict would be a high risk-reward pick for the Chargers at this stage in the draft.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Jared Crick, DE/DT, Nebraska
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The Cowboys will likely have needs at both corner and defensive end after this season, and I like them to take Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick to play in Dallas' 3-4 defense.
Crick needs to have a J.J. Watt type senior season to cement his spot in the first round but I believe he will be a good defensive end at the next level and a solid pick for the defense in Dallas.
25. Kansas City Chiefs: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
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The Chiefs shouldn't have a lot of needs going into the 2012 draft and they will likely be looking for the best player available with the 25th selection.
Alabama middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower would fit one of the team's few potential needs while also being one of the top players available.
Hightower would be the final piece to a very solid linebacker corps in the Chiefs 3-4 defense and he would give Kansas City the best former Bama linebacker in the division (yeah I said it Raiders fans).
26. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Forston, DT, Philadelphia
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Oklahoma outside linebacker Travis Lewis could also be an option with this pick but Forston is a potential top-15 talent who falls to the Eagles here.
Forston would be a great fit for the Eagles front seven in their 4-3 defense as he is a very strong player with the ability to disrupt the run game in the middle.
27. New England Patriots (From New Orleans) : Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
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The Patriots will likely look to upgrade their pass rush in the 2012 draft and Texas outside linebacker Keenan Robinson would be a great start.
Robinson has a great motor with a very good closing burst, and he has good instincts when it comes to the running game as he displayed last season by recording 106 total tackles.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State
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Baltimore will need to upgrade their pass rush after the 2011 season as Terrell Suggs would like some help off of the edge, and Florida State's Brandon Jenkins could step right in as a pass rusher in the Ravens 3-4 defense.
Jenkins recorded 13.5 sacks as a sophomore last season for the Seminoles and he would provide some versatility to the Ravens defense while helping the linebacker corps get younger for the future.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Reiff, G, Iowa
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The Steelers will likely be looking to upgrade their guard position during the 2012 draft and Iowa's Riley Reiff would be an excellent addition near the end of the first round.
Reiff has the ability to play both guard and tackle but for he would more likely see playing time in the interior of the line for Pittsburgh.
30. Green Bay Packers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
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Green Bay had a very solid draft in 2011 and I expect them to have another good one in 2012 as they add to their depth in the secondary and select a player that will ultimately become a starter in the future.
Nebraska corner Alfonzo Dennard has good speed and agility and he would be able to take over for Charles Woodson once the All-Pro retires, but for now he would be a very good nickel corner and solid value pick.
31. New England Patriots: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
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Let's be honest, there is little chance the Pats will actually make this pick as Bill Belichick continues his relentless pursuit to have every draft pick in the 2020 draft, but I suppose we can pretend that they will keep this selection.
I see the Pats finding Tom Brady a new toy in the form of Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.
Floyd has the frame (6'3") and hands to be a big-time threat for Brady and the Patriots.
32. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta) : Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
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The Julio Jones trade works out for both teams as the Browns end up with a solid receiver of their own, Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles.
Broyles would have very likely been a first round pick had he come out this season but he should still find himself in the opening round in 2012, even if it is the latter portion of the round.
Broyles doesn't have blazing speed or tremendous size, but he is a very good route-runner and his reliable hands would be a great addition for quarterback Colt McCoy and the Cleveland offense.
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