2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Teams That Could Trade Up or Down

We're still a long ways from the 2012 NFL draft, but the following teams may be candidates to move up or down come April:

Indianapolis Colts

All signs point to the Colts taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, whether Peyton Manning is fully healthy for next season or not. If they have a change of heart on Luck, then their (likely) No. 1 overall pick will be in high demand.

Depending on the ransom the Colts put on the pick, they could have the opportunity to trade down and acquire more picks.  

Cleveland Browns

We saw the Browns trade down last season with the Atlanta Falcons, and those moves could put them in position to move either up or down in April. If the Browns are interested in one of the elite quarterbacks—Luck, Robert Griffin III or Matt Barkley—then a move up might be in order (although the Browns are currently No. 4 in the draft order).

They certainly have the drafting ammunition to pull off such a move. Then again, they could move down again to stockpile picks in an effort to fill the many holes on their roster. 

New England Patriots

It's a yearly occurrence to see the Patriots make a move one way or another. New England again has two first-round picks, so they can flexible in what they want to do. Might they move up to get an impact defender? Or an elite receiver? Bank on the Patriots doing something other than sticking with their current draft picks.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have historically traded down in the NFL draft, but they did move up in 2009 to get Clay Matthews at the end of the first round. Could the Packers be in position to make another move up? They need pass rushing help and more depth on the offensive line. 

Seattle Seahawks

While the Seahawks continue to win football games, they are also taking themselves out of position to draft a top quarterback. With an improving defense and (now) dominating running game in Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks need that elite signal caller to take them to the next level. Pete Carroll could move up to nab Matt Barkley, whom he recruited while at USC.