2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for All 32 1st Round Picks

As both the NCAA and NFL season progress, the hazy NFL draft picture gradually becomes more clear. While many players will be viewed dramatically different than they currently are, projections are beginning to solidify.

While some players exceed expectations, others fail to come close to justifying the hype. This will continue as the college football season progresses.

The exact same scenario is unfolding in the NFL. Both players and teams are shocking fans and the media as they perform in unexpected ways. The Kansas City Chiefs have flopped thus far, while the Buffalo Bills have exceeded all expectations.

The draft process is still in the beginning stages, but it is no longer so far out of sight.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

After making the playoffs in 2010, the Chiefs could not have possibly gotten off to a more disappointing start. With the first three weeks in the books, Kansas City is 0-3 with two of its best players out for the season.

The team has allowed an astounding 89 points while scoring just 10. Quarterback Matt Cassel has thrown three touchdowns to five interceptions and has a passer rating of 65.5.

This terrible play from Cassel makes Andrew Luck an even easier pick. Nearly every team in the NFL would take Luck if given the opportunity, and the Chiefs are no exception.

Many have called Luck the best draft prospect in recent memory, and if a team has any concerns about the quarterback position, they must take him.

The Chiefs do have talent on their roster and even a small upgrade at the quarterback position could dramatically impact the team. And Luck isn't likely to be just a small upgrade, either.

2. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

After somehow making the playoffs in 2010, Seattle seem to be falling back to earth in 2011. Tarvaris Jackson has struggled (as was expected) and the 1-2 Seahawks have little reason to be optimistic.

Besides the quarterback position, there isn't a ton of offensive talent on the team. Sidney Rice, Marshawn Lynch and Mike Williams aren't terrible, but none of them is a legitimate star, either.

Barkley, on the other hand, is an excellent prospect. The 6'2" 220-pound Trojan has a great arm and possesses well above-average physical tools. Though he isn't a great athlete, Barkley is very poised in the pocket and can feel when he needs to step up.

Pete Carroll's former starting quarterback can make every throw on the field and has precision accuracy. In fact, there are many who think that Barkley isn't very far behind Andrew Luck as a player.

Barkley has dramatically improved every year at USC, and he has the physical talent and intelligence to be the first overall pick in many drafts. But as everyone knows, Barkley will not be the first pick, as he is unlucky enough to be competing with Luck at the top of the draft.

3. Indianapolis Colts: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

As was expected, the Colts have been awful without Peyton Manning at the helm. While Indianapolis is still a good team with Manning, a high draft pick would go a long way towards preparing for life without the former No. 1 overall pick.

The Colts could use help at a multitude of positions, so the best player available makes sense here. If Indianapolis wishes to prolong Manning's career, they may want to consider further addressing the offensive line.

Despite drafting offensive linemen with their first two picks in 2010, the Colts' offensive line remains a huge issue. With the addition of Kalil, Anthony Castonzo could move to right tackle and Ben Ijalan could fill in at one of the guard positions.

The 6'7" 295-pound Kalil is great in pass protection and has excellent feet. It is still early in the draft process, but Kalil could end up being an elite left tackle prospect.

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

When watching the Browns, it is immediately evident that the team needs to find some wide receivers for Colt McCoy. Mohamed Massaquoi may become decent, but he will never be a primary option or anything close to it. In order for McCoy to have a chance, he will need some more weapons.

If McCoy does not improve throughout the 2011 season, the Browns could even look to find the former Texas star's replacement. For the moment, however, Cleveland seems content to give McCoy a chance with additional talent on the roster.

Blackmon isn't an elite talent at wide receiver, but he could end at a level similar to Michal Crabtree's entering the draft. The 6'1" 215-pound receiver has great hands and is shifty enough to get yards after the catch.  He does not, however, have great speed and isn't much of a deep threat.

5. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

After an incredible performance in his first game of the year against the New England Patriots, Chad Henne has fallen back to earth. The former Wolverine quarterback has struggled and is confirming the fears of Dolphins fans.

Jones isn't quite the prospect that his predecessor Sam was, but he isn't a scrub either. At 6'4" 230-pounds, Jones has good size and and accuracy. It is difficult to judge Jones' arm strength due to the extremely high number of short passes he throws, but it seems to be more than adequate. Sam Bradford has helped to eliminate some of the concerns about Oklahoma's spread offense, but it remains an issue.

With a good wide receiver corps, offensive line and defense, the Dolphins already have a strong nucleus in place for a young quarterback.  If a good quarterback is in charge of the Miami offense, the Dolphins could be a legitimate contender.

6. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Bryant McKinnie never panned out as an elite left tackle, and with McKinnie now gone, the position is an even bigger issue for the Vikings. With Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the offensive line could be the reason for the Minnesota offense either dominating or failing.

The Vikings signed Charlie Johnson in free agency, but he is not a particularly good player. Johnson started at left tackle for the Colts and benefited from Peyton Manning's ability to avoid sacks.

Jonathan Martin isn't Joe Thomas or Jake Long, but he is a solid value in the top part of the first round. The athletic offensive tackle uses his size and natural gifts to keep pass rushers at bay, while also dominating in the second level.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

While rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has showed promise, the Bengals have struggled early in 2011.  The team's offense has young talent and A.J. Green looks like a future superstar, but Cincinnati could use more playmakers.

Dalton is extremely unlikely to ever be the type of quarterback to carry a team, so the Bengals should be looking to add offensive talent whenever possible. Cedric Benson is not an overly exciting player and lacks the ability to carry an offense.

At 5'11", 225 pounds, Richardson is a bit of a physical specimen with huge playmaking ability. The Alabama star has the speed and power to run away from or through a defender.  While Richardson still needs to prove himself in his first year as a starter, he has shown great ability in previous seasons and has produced thus far without Mark Ingram.

8. Denver Broncos: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Ryan Clady is an excellent left tackle, but he is the Broncos' only good offensive lineman. Orlando Franklin looks slow at right tackle and would greatly benefit from a move to guard.

While Denver does lack talent at the skill positions, the team has a huge need along the offensive line. Reiff offers the team a quick right tackle who would also upgrade the guard position with Franklin moving inside.

Reiff is a good athlete with underrated footwork and technique. The Iowa left tackle is capable of playing the blind side in the NFL, but will not be an elite player there. At right tackle, Reiff could be a truly elite pass blocker who can get push in the run game as well.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Jaguars are counting on Blaine Gabbert to develop into the team's franchise quarterback, but in order for him to do so, they will need to find him some weapons. Maurice Jones-Drew is obviously a nice piece, but beyond Mike Thomas, the team's wide receiver corps is seriously lacking.

The 6'4" 235-pound Jeffery is incredibly strong and catches nearly everything within reach. While the South Carolina wideout is not a burner, Jeffery makes up for it with his size, physicality and overall athleticism.

The biggest concern with Jeffery is his size and a possible lack of burst. Many fear that Jeffery is not explosive enough to separate and may be limited to being a possession receiver. With this said, Jeffery does have the ability to be one of the NFL's best.

10. Carolina Panthers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Panthers would like to add an offensive weapon for Cam Newton here, but no offensive players make sense for the team here. Newton has already shown flashes of his potential, but Carolina is forced to address the defense here.

Chris Gamble isn't a bad player, but he probably should be the second cornerback on a defense. Captain Munnerlyn should be no more than a nickelback, and the Panthers' safeties leave a lot to be desired as well.

The 6'3", 195-pound Kirkpatrick has great length and uses his long arms to dominate in press coverage.  He also possesses good speed and fluid hips, so he is capable of running with fast receivers. The Alabama cornerback won't be mistaken for Patrick Peterson, but he is yet another excellent prospect.

11. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

For much of the time prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, the Rams were linked to Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget in the first round. St. Louis ended up with Robert Quinn when the North Carolina defensive end fell into their lap, but they were obviously looking at the defensive tackle position.

The Rams have some legitimate defensive ends, but the lack of skill at defensive tackle hurts both St. Louis'  pass-rush and run defense.

Thompson is an explosive penetrater who will excel in the backfield. The 6'2" 310-pounder isn't overly stout at the point of attack, but is an exciting player who can take over a game. Out of the Nick Fairley mold, Thompson is a risky player who provides a potentially high reward as well.

12. San Francisco 49ers: Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington

After losing Aubrayo Franklin, the 49ers were forced to move Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle. The team's defensive line is far from a strength and Ta'amu fits exactly what San Francisco needs.

The 6'3" 340-pounder is incredibly strong and does an excellent job of clogging up the run game. Ta'amu isn't an ideal player for a 4-3 defense, but his run stopping ability makes him a perfect fit as a 3-4 nose tackle.

Ta'amu's stock has been on the rise since the NCAA season started, and it will likely continue to do so. The Washington defensive tackle isn't an overly exciting player, but to a 3-4 defense, he looks like a potential savior in the run game.

13. Washington Redskins: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

What Washington really wants here is a quarterback, but with the top three gone, they instead address the cornerback position. DeAngelo Hall is an inconsistent playmaker, but is, on the whole, decent. The other cornerback spot is an issue, however.

Mike Shanahan bolstered the defensive line in the offseason, and Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo look like an excellent pass-rushing duo. What Washington does need is a cornerback who will shut down his opponent while also making some plays. Claiborne could be just that guy.

The 6'1" 185-pound Claiborne is an excellent athlete who is still developing as a cornerback, but he could end up as an elite cover corner.

14. Tennessee Titans: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Really, the picture says it all. Burfict is a physical specimen and it shows on the playing field. While Burfict does deserve to go in this range, linebacker is also a position of need for the Titans. Stephen Tulloch left for the Lions in free agency and Barrett Ruud is nothing more than a one-year stop gap.

The 6'3" 250-pound Burfict has tremendous size and athleticism and can easily keep up with tight ends in coverage. If he can improve at the mental aspect of the game, Burfict could even be selected higher than this due to his enormous potential.

Rookie Akeem Ayers has earned a starting spot as an outside linebacker, and he and Burfict would make an excellent duo in the future. Since losing Albert Haynesworth in free agency, the Tennessee defense has struggled some and Burfict could help turn the unit around.

15. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Joe Haden is looking like an elite cornerback thus far in his career, but Haden can only cover one receiver. Sheldon Brown is aging and has become too slow to be effective in coverage.

The Browns have a plethora of needs along both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, but they choose to add a playmaking cornerback to play opposite of Haden.

Gilmore is at his best in zone coverage and has the fluid hips required to turn with the quickest of receivers. With Haden already on the Browns, Gilmore would rarely be asked to cover the offense's primary receiver but could instead make plays against the offense's secondary target.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Many have Coples as a top-five pick, but he doesn't seem to have the burst and pass-rushing ability to be selected that high. Though he is only about 6'6", 280 pounds at the moment, the North Carolina end could easily bulk up and play the 5-technique in Dallas's 3-4 defense.

While he may not have great burst as a 4-3 defensive end, Coples is more than athletic enough to play in a 3-4 and could be an explosive player. In the 1-gap scheme that Dallas runs, Coples' athletic ability would be used to penetrate the backfield.

The Cowboys lost defensive end Stephen Bowen in free agency and the position wasn't a strong spot to begin with. Dallas' defensive ends rarely weigh much more than 300 pounds and must be athletic.  If Coples can get his weight up to just 290 pounds, he is a great fit.

17. Oakland Raiders: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Many things can be said about Al Davis but the Raiders' owner certainly isn't afraid to take a chance. After losing Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency, it makes sense for Oakland to add another cornerback. The team is currently touting Stanford Routt as its No. 1 cornerback, but he is not nearly as good as his salary suggests.

Jenkins has been one of the NCAA's best cornerbacks during the past couple of seasons, but off-the-field issues got him kicked out of Florida. Now at North Alabama, Jenkins looks to continue his dominating performance.

If Jenkins continues to play at a high level and stays out of trouble, this may not be too crazy of a spot for him. Regardless of where his stock may end up, Jenkins is talented enough for Davis to take a chance on him.

18. Chicago Bears: Kelechi Osemele, OL, Iowa State

Jay Cutler was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL during the 2010 season, and despite spending a first-round pick on Gabe Carimi, the Bears' offensive is still one of the NFL's worst. Osemele offers versatility and could end up at guard or tackle in the NFL.

Osemele is a huge lineman, measuring in at 6'6" 345 pounds, and gets a terrific push in the run game. Though Osemele will likely play guard in the NFL, he could possibly play right tackle and is a good backup at either perimeter position.

While not known for his pass-blocking ability, Osemele has quick feet for a guard and should help keep Cutler off his back.

19. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State

Shawne Merriman is not living up to expectations in Buffalo, but he remains the team's most talented and experienced pass-rusher. The former Charger is just a shell of his old self, and it makes sense for the Bills to look to add another pass-rusher.

Jenkins is a great athlete with impressive burst and fluidity. The Florida State defensive end needs to develop his pass-rush moves, but he is a threat off the edge nonetheless. At 6'4" 260-pounds, Jenkins has ideal size for Buffalo's 3-4 defense.

Another intriguing characteristic of Jenkins is his experience in coverage. Jenkins has been used some as a linebacker at Florida State and NFL teams love the reduced risk in scouting such a player.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

2011 third-round pick Mason Foster is the current starting middle linebacker. However, Foster can play any of the linebacker positions and it would not be an issue to move him.

Kuechly is a smart player who uses his intelligence to constantly be near the ball. The fact that Kuechly has racked up 69 tackles through is first four games speaks for itself.

He isn't as big or athletic as many top linebacker prospects, but his instincts are superb and he is rarely out of position. The Boston College linebacker doesn't quite have sideline-to-sideline speed, but his range is decent.

After using four high draft-picks on defensive linemen in the past two years, the Buccaneers must now focus on the linebacker unit. Foster looks to be a good player, but the other two positions could use some work. The addition of Kuechly would show the dedication to bringing a legitimate defense to Tampa Bay.

21. Arizona Cardinals: Nate Potter, OT, Boise State

Nearly every NFL fan is aware that the Cardinals have a putrid offensive line. Levi Brown has been a huge bust and is a below average player, yet he may be the team's best offensive lineman. Arizona is trying to develop its offense under Kevin Kolb, but the Cardinals need to give the former Eagle time to throw.

Arizona's massive offensive line isn't as good as they should be in the run game, and they are much worse in pass protection. The fact that Kurt Warner was able to survive with such little pass protection shows how exceptional of a player he was. But Kevin Kolb is not Kurt Warner, and he needs some time to throw the ball.

Potter has more than enough ability to be a quality blindside protector, but he needs to become more consistent. The Boise State lineman occasionally gets sloppy with his technique and doesn't always look natural.

22. San Diego Chargers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Chargers display relatively few needs, and one of the few golden rules of the draft is that a team can never have too many cornerbacks. None of San Diego's starting corners are particularly good, and Dennard has the potential to be better than any of them.

Dennard is short at just 5'10" but has excellent bulk and weighs a surprising 205-pounds. The Nebraska cornerback is physical and dominates receivers in press coverage.  Dennard had four interceptions in 2010 and displayed good ball skills.

Dennard probably won't ever be a great cornerback, but he will be a solid player who won't get beat for big plays very often. The Chargers could also look to address the team's pass-rush, but they instead choose to add a potential shut down cornerback instead.

23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

None of the Lions' starting linebackers are particularly exciting, and the unit is one of the team's weaker ones. This isn't to say that all of Detroit's linebackers are below-average players, but they aren't playmakers either.

With a great defensive line, the Lions have half of an excellent front seven. Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Nick Fairley and Cliff Avril make up one of the NFL's best pass-rushing units. With a defensive front like this, a single linebacker can make a ton of plays.

If Brown were just 10 pounds heavier, he would be long gone by this point. At just 230-pounds, Brown can struggle to shed blocks, but when he is able to roam free, he makes plays all over the field. Brown's speed and athletic ability make him exactly what the Lions need in their linebacking corps.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

The Eagles' secondary and defensive line are absolutely loaded, but the linebacking corps is a bit of a weakness. None of Philadelphia's starting linebackers are anything special, and it could be argued that they are all below-average players.

In particular, Casey Matthews has really struggled and was moved out of the starting middle linebacker position. Matthews has struggled in the run game and seems incapable of getting off a block.

Te'o is a big player with decent athletic ability and actually compares reasonably well to former Eagle Stewart Bardley. The 6'3" 255-pounder does an excellent job in run support and easily disengages from blocks. Te'o offers Philadelphia a legitimate presence at linebacker to go along with the team's immense talent in other defensive units.

25. New York Jets: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (FL)

The Jets don't seem to have much confidence in Shonn Greene, and Mark Sanchez doesn't appear to be the type of quarterback to carry a team. Santonio Holmes is an excellent wide receiver, and a playmaker like Miller out of the backfield would go a long way towards solidifying New York's offense.

New York has a strong offensive line and the team's run game should be much better than it is. Unfortunately for the Jets, Greene has looked slow and fails to hit the hole hard. With a more explosive run game, Sanchez would be a more effective and dangerous passer.

The 5'11" 210-pounder is extremely explosive with huge playmaking ability. Few running backs have better speed and Miller is more than capable of taking over a game. With an exciting run game in New York, the team could be prepared to make a Super Bowl run.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

James Farrior is no longer a high-level player and may not be a Steeler for much longer. Lawrence Timmons is an excellent player, but Upshaw would add a more physical component to the Steeler defense.

At 6'2", 260 pounds, Upshaw is big and strong with plenty of pass rushing ability. Dick LeBeau loves to blitz his linebackers in a variety of ways, so this versatility is extremely valuable to Pittsburgh.

Even if Farrior does stick around for a while yet, it is typical of the Steelers to draft a replacement player a few years in advance. With Timmons and LaMarr Woodley both locked up long term, Upshaw could add a third weapon to the already deadly duo.

27. New York Giants: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

The Giants have spent a plethora of draft picks on the defensive line, but the team's defensive tackles still aren't very good. The team is optimistic about Marvin Austin in the future, but even if he turns out, the former Tarheel is just one player.

Everyone is aware of New York's deadly defensive ends, but the team is much weaker along the interior line. Chris Canty has been a flop since signing with the Giants, but Crick is a similar player.

The 6'6" 290-pound Crick has the versatility to play outside or inside in a 4-d defense, but looks to play defensive tackle for the Giants. Crick has a nice first step and uses his length to get after the quarterback. The Nebraska lineman isn't overly strong at the point of attack but is good at making plays in the backfield.

28. Baltimore Ravens: T.J. McDonald, S, USC

It is no secret that Ed Reed has been considering retirement, and Dawan Landry left the Ravens for Jacksonville in free agency. Tom Zbikowski isn't bad, but when Reed does leave, the unit will be lacking a star.

The Ravens are loaded with talent in the front seven, but the secondary is an entirely different situation. Reed is the team's only excellent defensive back, and though Jimmy Smith has potential, he is still raw. As Baltimore's defense continues to age, the team simply needs to add more defensive talent.

At 6'3", 205 pounds, McDonald isn't huge but is big enough to play physically.  Though the USC safety isn't great in coverage, he has the athletic ability to develop and can become a complete safety capable of playing the run and pass.

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

Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in football, so this pick has nothing to do with him. However, the Texans' receivers after Johnson are nothing special and Floyd could be extremely productive opposite of the star wideout.

Kevin Walter has been consistently decent but is not flashy at all. He rarely makes big plays and is more or less "just there." Owen Daniels and Arian Foster are legitimate offensive weapons for Matt Schaub, but another playmaking wide receiver would be huge for the Houston offense.

The 6'3" 225-pound Floyd is a physical player with phenomenal catching ability. He isn't particularly fast and has injury problems, but Floyd has the size and ability to dominate defenses. Even if Floyd doesn't produce like a primary receiver, he can at least take some attention off of Johnson.

30. Green Bay Packers: Kheeston Randall, DE, Texas

After losing Cullen Jenkins to the Eagles in free agency, the Packers' defensive end situation is less than ideal. Johnny Jolly ran himself out of the league and the Packers' once formidable defensive line roatation is now a weakness.

Mike Neal has never proven himself as a starter and he has had some injury problems as well. Ryan Pickett, on the other hand, is best as a rotational run stopper and offers minimal pass rush. B.J. Raji is one of the best defensive linemen in football, but he is just one player.

The 6'5" 300-pound Randall has the ability to become a solid 3-4 defensive lineman, but he will never be mistaken for Richard Seymour. The 6'6" 300-pound Randall is  a stout defensive lineman with enough athleticism to make plays in the backfield. Ted Thompson typically doesn't draft for need, but this could be an exception.

31. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Logan Mankins is one of the NFL's best offensive linemen, but a team can never have too many stars along the offensive front. Tom Brady doesn't need a ton of time to operate, but the Patriots could stand to improve in the run game.

Sebastian Vollmer has already proven himself as a quality offensive lineman, and Nate Solder has impressed in the early parts of the 2011 season. With these two manning the tackles and Mangold and DeCastro at guard, the Patriots could play practically anyone at center. As it is, Dan Koppen is not at all a bad player.

DeCastro is an athletic offensive lineman who can both pull and dominate at the point of attack.  With the addition of the Stanford guard, New England could feel even more comfortable with their already dominant offensive line.

32. New England Patriots: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Patriots' defense has been holding back the team for years now. Bill Belichick has shown commitment to drafting along the defensive side of the ball, but thus far these many picks have not transformed the defense into a solid unit.

Now primarily running a 4-3 defense, New England's pass rush remains an issue. The team signed multiple defensive ends in free agency, but they are far from superstars. Belichick has shown more desire to blitz lately, but the team needs to be able to get pressure from the defensive line.

Ingram is a big defensive lineman who could play either defensive tackle or end. The 6'1" 280-pound lineman doesn't have Belichick's ideal length, but has enough potential to be the pick here. Many have compared the South Carolina star to Justin Tuck, and Belichick simply loves players he can move around the defense.