2012 NFL Draft: Complete 1st- and 2nd-Round Mock Draft

My initial two-round mock draft comes as teams make their final push to their 53-man rosters.  Team needs and holes will certainly become more clear as the season progresses, but initial performances provide a glimpse of where teams need reinforcements.

The draft order will be based on teams' projected finish in 2011.  While the draft will most certainly see several teams looking to trade into the top few slots, this version will not include any trades.

Round 2: Picks 29-32

64. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU

63. New England Patriots: Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall 

62. Baltimore Ravens: Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri

61. Green Bay Packers: Shayne Skov, DE/LB, Stanford 

Round 2: Picks 25-28

60. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

59. New Orleans Saints: Robert Lester, S, Alabama

58. Philadelphia Eagles: Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

57. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

Round 2: Picks 21-24

56. St. Louis Rams: Baker Steinkuhler, DT, Nebraska

55. San Diego Chargers: Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama

54. New York Giants: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

53. New York Jets: Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss

Round 2: Picks 17-20

52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami FL

51. Houston Texans: Josh Gordon, WR, Baylor

50. Detroit Lions: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

49. Chicago Bears: Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

Round 2: Picks 13-16

48. Kansas City Chiefs: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

47. Dallas Cowboys: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

46. New England Patriots (From Oakland Raiders): Brandon Lindsey, OLB, Pittsburgh 

45. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Round 2: Picks 9-12

44. Cleveland Browns: T.J. McDonald, S, USC

43. Jacksonville Jaguars: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

42. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

41. Seattle Seahawks: Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia

Round 2: Picks 5-8

40. Philadelphia Eagles (From Arizona Cardinals): Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State

39. San Francisco 49ers: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

38. Denver Broncos: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

37. Tennessee Titans: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame

Round 2: Picks 1-4

36. Buffalo Bills: Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State

35. Washington Redskins: Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas

34. Carolina Panthers: Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama

33. Cincinnati Bengals: Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas

32. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta): Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

This would be a dream draft for the Browns...getting one of the best corners and defensive tackles.  Brandon Thompson is quick off the ball and will likely be quicker off the draft board than the end of the first round.  

31. New England Patriots: Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas

What better way to help Ryan Mallett progress than bringing in his favorite target from Arkansas?  The Patriots have a stop-gap at wideout in 2011 but need to plan long-term for the position. 

30. Baltimore Ravens: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I admit...I really want to mock Michael Egnew here, as the Ravens desperately need some help with receiving options and at tight end after losing Todd Heap this offseason.

However, Egnew may still be available with their second-round pick, allowing the Ravens to focus on their wide receiver issues by grabbing Mohamed Sanu. 

I'm not convinced that Sanu is worthy of a first round draft pick, not do I think 2012 is the year for him to come out.  He will need to put up stellar numbers this season to consider declaring in January.

29. Green Bay Packers: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

Jared Crick has the size and speed to work in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.  For that reason, he will likely come off the board well before this point.  

The last thing the NFC North quarterbacks need is to see another stud defensive lineman...

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Steelers have been working on bringing youth into their offensive line.  David DeCastro has been a strong performer for the Stanford Cardinal, and with another great season could set himself up as the first interior blocker to be taken in April.

27. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

The Eagles may not quite remember how the draft works. After all, this offseason they've just been deciding what player they want and calling him up on the phone and telling him he is going to be an Eagle.

Wait...nevermind.

Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson, will be tempting here, but the Eagles have major work to do in their linebacker corps.

26. New England Patriots (From New Orleans): Ben Jones, C, Georgia

Attempting to guess what the Patriots will do with their draft choices is a trying proposition. They will likely trade this pick, but just in case, I have them upgrading the interior of their offensive line.

This pick is a result of a trade during the 2011 draft.  It will be interesting to see if the Patriots keep it.

25. Indianapolis Colts: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

The Colts also need a WR, but the top options are already off the board.  They also need to address the defensive tackle position, and Brandon Thompson may be too tempting to ignore here.

However, it is time for Jim Irsay to establish a transition plan at QB.

Actually, I thought that during the 2011 draft when I mocked them drafting Ryan Mallett, but no time like the present.

24. New York Jets: Devin Taylor, OLB, South Carolina

While it is starting to look a bit like OLBs were forgotten prior to this point, the draft order just so happens to lend itself to needing players at the position group late in the first round.

23. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Zach Brown would likely be called on to work on the strong side of the Giants' defense, but he could be the best outside backer in this draft...if Donte Paige-Moss is considered a DE.  

The Giants should jump if he is still on the board.

22. San Diego Chargers: Brandon Jenkins, OLB, Florida State

The San Diego Chargers have several needs at the linebacker positions.  Their new defensive coordinator, Greg Manusky, brought Manny Lawson and Takeo Spikes over from the San Francisco 49ers.  Spikes has a little more time left in him than Lawson.

Brandon Jenkins offers excellent pass rush skills, and he'd be a great addition for the Chargers if he opts to declare early.

21. St. Louis Rams: Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon

The Rams have been quickly upgrading talent and performance.  They came up short in efforts to upgrade their defensive tackle in free agency and could also use a bump in the secondary and possibly wide receiver.

Cliff Harris offers the most value in those areas.  He will offer great coverage and has special return skills.

Alameda Ta'amu, defensive tackle out of Washington, is another option here who could see his stock rise over the course of the season.

20. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd has decent speed but not quite Raider-speed...which is partly why the Raiders let him slide.  Still, he is a talented wide receiver.

He has had issues at Notre Dame and recently had his suspension lifted.  He needs to stop drinking and keep his nose clean this season or he can watch his draft status...and bank account...drop.

19. Detroit Lions: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Lions need a long-term answer at middle linebacker. I don't believe Stephen Tulloch will be it and apparently the Lions don't either, or they would have worked on a contract longer than one season.  The Lions have shown a proclivity to ignoring needs on their offensive line in favor of defensive playmakers, so Luke Kuechly could be their choice here.

Matt Stafford needs better protection, though.  Riley Reiff could be the guy to give it to him.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

It was difficult for me to choose between Vontaze Burfict and Luke Kuechly back in June on the best young linebacker that will enter the 2012 draft. I went with Burfict, but that could change by the start of January.  

Both are quality prospects.

17. Kansas City Chiefs: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

It would be fortunate for Glenn to fall to the Chiefs, as I'm not sold on Brian Waters at left guard. The Chiefs also need to look at offensive tackle, but the top interior lineman may prove to be a better option than the fourth-best offensive tackle.  

Then again, I'm not completely sold on that either. If Riley Reiff makes a strong push in 2011, he could find himself on the Chiefs' roster.

With the addition of an OT in the second round, this isn't a flashy pick for the Chiefs, but it is what their offense needs. 

16. Chicago Bears: Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M

Jeff Fuller offers great size and solid speed for the Bears who are definitely in need of help at the receiver position.

Cordy Glenn could be an option here as well, depending on how the Bears' offensive line performs in 2011.

15. Oakland Raiders: Donte Paige-Moss, OLB, North Carolina

If Donte Paige-Moss is actually still available here, he would be a great find. He isn't likely to fall out of the top 10, and if he does someone will be looking to jump up and grab him.

Paige-Moss projects better as an OLB in a 3-4 system, but he should be able to perform well in Oakland.  He is an aggressive pass rusher with a great burst.  In this scenario, Oakland would be well-served in trading down a few spots for a team that covets Paige-Moss.

14. Miami Dolphins: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

This is a tough decision, as the Dolphins have several needs to fill.  They could look at quarterback, offensive tackle, a pass-rusher or running back.  

In the end, the Dolphins will have realized they still don't have an elite option in their backfield.  

13. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Dallas Cowboys fancy themselves a Super Bowl contender, but their offensive line and their secondary let them down immensely last season. By re-signing Doug Free and drafting Tyron Smith, they are headed in the right direction with one of those position groups.

Look for the Cowboys to continue a run on corners in the 2012 draft.

12. Cleveland Browns: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Alfonzo Dennard will move into the top-dog role in the Cornhuskers' secondary in 2011 and must show he can thrive when not playing with Prince Amukamara next to him.

Dennard will help round-out the talent in the Browns' secondary.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

There is a log-jam in my board at the corner spot. Stephon Gilmore, Alfonzo Dennard and Jayron Hosley are all possibilities in the top 10 in 2012.

At this point, Hosley is the front-runner, but that might change over the coming months.

The Jaguars have a few issues that will hinder their progression in 2011, and corner is certainly near the top of that list.  

10. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Vikings have brought in a stop-gap at left tackle in Charlie Johnson but need the long-term successor to Bryant McKinnie.

Jonathan Martin had a great sophomore year protecting Andrew Luck; another solid season could move him further up the board...but not by much.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

While it is still early in the preseason, Seattle appears to be even more strained at the QB position than most Seahawks fans feared...and that is saying something.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider appear to be building their team the right way. They are putting the building blocks into place to drop a franchise QB into the lineup. There is a small possibility that the Seahawks hit the jackpot with undrafted free agent Josh Portis, but fans shouldn't hold their breath.

Jones is becoming known as an accurate passer that actually throws downfield, witnessed by a solid 7.6 yards per attempt as a sophomore.

Season		ATT	COMP	%	YDS	INT	TDS	RATING
2009-10		449	261	58.1	3198	14	26	130.8
2010-11		617	405	65.6	4718	12	38	146.3
TOTAL		1066	666	62.5	7916	26	64	139.8

8. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

It isn't that I don't buy into Kevin Kolb being able to succeed in Arizona. The jury is still out, but he isn't why I have the Cardinals drafting early again in 2012. 

The Cardinals need a major overhaul on their offensive line and have concerns at running back. They also have work to do on the defense beyond just adding Patrick Peterson, but the Cardinals need to draft help on the line.

I could see the Panthers grabbing Matt Kalil to join brother Ryan on their offensive line. If he makes it out of the top five, the Cardinals simply have to draft him.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

This is a toss-up between a replacement for Anthony Davis at RT or anyone in the 49ers' secondary.  

As tempted as I am to slot Jonathan Martin into this spot, I don't know that San Francisco (Trent Baalke) is willing to give up on his first draft pick yet.  If Davis and the 49er offensive line don't find some identity this season then I see this selection changing.

6. Tennessee Titans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery has tremendous athleticism, body control and amazing hands.  If you only watch one highlight this season, please forward this video to the 5:15 mark.

The concern I have with Jeffery is his route precision.  To be fair, it is hard to extrapolate just how well he does without scout film or watching him in person.

The Tennessee Titans have their franchise quarterback in place and hope to have their Pro Bowl running back in place soon.  Their offensive line is in flux and may need an upgrade next draft, but I can't see them overlooking a top wide receiver prospect for Jonathan Martin.

5. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

In the article on the top underclassmen, Jerel Worthy was one of the non-QB players that could challenge for the top two selections in 2012. While the Broncos may be tempted to move up the draft board to snag another QB, they can strike gold in an enhancement to their new 4-3 defensive front.

Many thought the Broncos should have selected a defensive tackle last April. Von Miller was a bigger impact player in their eyes, and so far he is exceeding expectations.  Worthy could make them forget all about Dareus...was that his first name or last?

4. Washington Redskins: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The Redskins are working on fixing holes in their roster that have been left by Dan Snyder's free agent experiments. The biggest one currently is at the quarterback position, as it is hard to buy into John Beck as a franchise QB when he is struggling to beat out Rex Grossman for the starting gig.

Matt Barkley is mocked to the Redskins as the second-best player in the 2012 draft. Andrew Luck has spent an extra year in college and had a much better supporting cast last season.  

That will change in 2011, as over half of his starting offensive line and a few skill position players have left Stanford...not to mention his head coach.

Barkley posted great numbers with some talent issues on his offense.  With another year of experience he is primed to make a push for top billing. Either way, the top few picks in the 2012 NFL Draft will have some outstanding QB prospects.

Season	G	ATT	COMP	YDS	%	INT	TDS	RATING
2009-10	12	352	211	2735	59.9	14	15	131.3
2010-11	12	377	236	2791	62.6	12	26	141.2
TOTAL	24	729	447	5526	61.3	26	41	136.4

3. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

As tempting as Landry Jones or Matt Barkley might be, QB isn't the most pressing need on the Bills roster.  Close...and if the Bills end up in position to draft Andrew Luck they will most certainly jump on it.  They can get Aaron Murray at most any point in 2013 and could be in contention for Tyler Bray.

Quinton Coples is a disruptive player who gets off the ball extremely well.  He will look to improve on his 10 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss performance from 2010.

Coples will likely be available a few spots later.  If the Bills aren't going to draft a QB, they would likely look to pick up another high draft pick to slide down a few slots.  Coples and another potential impact player would do more to improve the Bills than a possible upgrade to Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

2. Carolina Panthers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Should the Panthers end up in this position, they will almost certainly look to trade down at least a few spots.  Washington, Denver, Seattle and Miami all figure to be close behind the Panthers and will likely be jockeying for position to get one of the top-three quarterbacks.  

The Panthers will be starting a young QB without much to work with at receiver. That is why I was so critical of their draft, as there is a good chance they passed up on the opportunity to draft Andrew Luck in favor of Cam Newton.  

It is unlikely the Panthers take a QB early three drafts in a row, so working a trade makes the most sense for the Panthers.

This may be a little high for a wide receiver, but the 2011 draft showed that teams are willing to give up a lot for a prospect at receiver if they feel he is the right fit.  Justin Blackmon has the potential to be a top-10 wide receiver in the NFL.

He scored 20 touchdowns as a sophomore at Oklahoma State, along with just under 1,800 yards on 111 receptions.  He is currently the second-rated receiver on many boards, but I expect him to be the top option come April.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

This scenario could lead to some interesting decision-making come January.  The Bengals have obtained a reputation as a place to avoid, and Andrew Luck would like to land in an organization that is dedicated to winning.

If faced with the potential of landing in Cincinnati, would Luck decide to return to Stanford for his senior season?

There is a slight possibility that Luck's draft position could slide, which might further his motivation to finish his collegiate eligibility...and possibly complete a two-year master's program in nine months.

Luck lost his coach and most of his offensive line, which could make for rough waters in Stanford's Pac-12 schedule. There is another QB in his conference that has a real shot at taking over the top spot in the 2012 NFL Draft.

As it stands today, Luck is likely the best-looking QB prospect to come along since Peyton Manning...and some are arguing Luck is a better prospect. What needs to be added to that?  

With Luck figuring to be the No. 1 pick, the Bengals will need to make a decision.  Do they continue down their current path with Andrew Dalton or grab one of the best prospects to ever come out of college football?  With what some teams would be willing to give up to move to the top of the draft, this could actually be a tough decision.

Season	G	ATT	COMP	%	YDS	INT	TDS	RATING
2009-10	12	288	162	56.3	2575	4	13	143.5
2010-11	13	372	263	70.7	3338	8	32	170.2
TOTAL	25	660	425	64.4	5913	12	45	158.5