2012 NFL Mock Draft: Week 17 Edition (Round 1)

Week 16 is in the books and the playoffs are inching ever so closer. With the exception of a few spots, the postseason picture is just about set.

But for the fans whose teams aren't competing for the Lombardi Trophy, there isn't really much to look forward to.

The only fun left for them is April's Draft. It's a time for new beginnings, new faces and new superstars.

So in an effort to keep you entertained, postseason fans or not, here is my Week 17 mock of the 2012 NFL Draft's first round.

*Draft order based on current records and projected playoff finishes. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Andrew Luck going No.1 overall is a clear no-brainer. The ability and intelligence are there, and it looks as if he's the next big thing coming into the NFL.

Indianapolis, however, will be in perhaps the stickiest situation in the game's history. If they take Luck, which they will, what happens to the quarterback they have now?

Maybe you've heard of him—Peyton Manning? 

Will the Colts draft Luck and start him immediately?

Will they take Luck only to place him under the wing of Manning for a handful of the season?

Or will Indy just cut ties with their long-time quarterback to make way for what looks like the second version of Manning?

Well, however you see it, the Colts aren't looking to roll over for Luck just yet. With a win against Houston on Thursday and a matchup with Jacksonville coming up in Week 17, the Colts could very well fall into the second spot in the draft.

There are many questions surrounding that potential scenario, but there are none when it comes to drafting Andrew Luck with the first pick in 2012.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If the Rams cannot get into the No. 1 spot in the draft, Matt Kalil should be the pick here.

Despite his disappointing sophomore season, Sam Bradford is still a franchise quarterback and could certainly use some protection. Kalil is 6'7", 275 lbs, and is far and above the best prospect in the draft not named Andrew Luck. 

He can instantly come in and improve perhaps the worst offensive line in all of football.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Minnesota Vikings will have two major needs coming into the 2012 draft, one being on the offensive line and the other being in their secondary. Since Matt Kalil was just snatched up by St. Louis, expect Minnesota to take LSU's Morris Claiborne.

Minnesota's defense has allowed 260.1 passing yards per game, leaving them as the third-worst pass defense in the NFL. So drafting Claiborne could be a nice boost for this thin secondary.

At 6'0" and 185 pounds, Claiborne has been one of college football's best cornerbacks over the last two seasons. In fact, he may be the best defensive player coming out in 2012.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Jacksonville Jaguars will arguably have the toughest selection to make in the draft. Many think the team should take Robert Griffin to become their franchise quarterback. Some believe the Jags should go with North Carolina's Quinton Coples to improve their shaky defensive line. And others, like me, think Jacksonville's best bet is Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon.

Although Griffin has franchise quarterback potential and Coples is a very promising defensive prospect, Blackmon would be the most logical pick for a few reasons. 

For one, the team mustn't give up on Blaine Gabbert just yet. Sure, he has looked pretty bad. He's completed just 50.5 percent of his passes and he seems extremely fearful of opposing pass rushes. But in defense of the rookie quarterback, he hasn't had much to throw to anyway. When your top wideout is 5'8", it might be pretty hard to get him the ball. 

Blackmon is the top wide receiving prospect in the draft. He would finally give Blaine Gabbert a legitimate target to hit in the end zone. He has the size, the speed and the hands to become an elite receiver in the NFL.

Secondly, the team's general manager, Gene Smith, can't admit defeat by taking Robert Griffin. He traded up in last year's draft to get Gabbert and should stick by his man for at least another season. Again, drafting Blackmon would give Gabbert the help he so desperately needs.

But if all else fails with Blaine, the Jags would have a great receiver for the future and could always hope for Matt Barkley next year.

5. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Just like Jacksonville, Cleveland will be another team tempted by the prospect of taking Robert Griffin. But just as Jacksonville should, Cleveland should also stick by their current investment at the quarterback position. 

Colt McCoy hasn't been the greatest, but he hasn't had much help either. So instead of throwing him away for Griffin, the Browns could go with a surefire selection in Trent Richardson. 

Richardson is the undisputed champion when it comes to this year's crop of running backs and would most definitely give McCoy some help. He has nice vision, great speed and has the hands to take some passes out of the backfield. Quite frankly, the guy is probably the most complete back coming into the NFL since Adrian Peterson.

Having Richardson available will also allow the team to let Peyton Hillis walk into free agency after an injury-plagued 2011.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bucs could use some help in a number of spots coming into the 2012 draft, but given their question marks at the cornerback position, they should go with Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick.

At 6'2", Kirkpatrick is a considerably tall cornerback. He has great speed and a knack for making big plays.

Given Aquib Talib's legal issues, Ronde Barber's age and the pitiful defense the organization has thrown onto the field, the 'Bama corner would be a nice pickup for Tampa in this spot.

7. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor

If available at this spot for Washington, Baylor's Robert Griffin III would be the easiest selection in the draft.

We all know about Washington's horrific quarterback history, so Griffin would be nothing short of a savior for the struggling franchise. He has ridiculous accuracy on his deep throws, can make plays with his feet and was college football's best player in 2011. 

After seeing Carolina taking a risk that paid off huge dividends with Cam Newton, perhaps the Redskins twill have no problems taking a calculated chance of their own on a quarterback with multiple tools.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

With Robert Griffin just taken and Andrew Luck being far gone, the next best quarterback prospect would be Oklahoma's Landry Jones. If the Dolphins want to reach in an attempt to fix their quarterback problems, they may take a flyer on Jones.

But I just don't see that happening. Jones is a good prospect but is not worth the eighth overall selection for Miami given the recent success of Matt Moore. Moore isn't the long-term solution at quarterback, but he has bought himself at least another season after this year's impressive play.

If this is indeed the case, Riley Reiff would be a great pick for Miami.

Reiff has emerged as one of college football's best players as a result of his impressive 2011 season. He's 6'6", 300 pounds, and has been praised for his great fundamentals. Reiff has great footwork, bends very well and has already played in a pro-style offense.

He would be a much-needed addition for an offensive line that has allowed the third-most sacks in the NFL.

9. Carolina Panthers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

If Morris Claiborne and Dre Kirkpatrick are not available for Carolina here, they could look to provide Cam Newton with a nice weapon for next season. The best wide receiver at this point in the draft would be South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.

Jeffery, 6'4" and 229 lbs, has an incredible combination of size and speed, making him a very desirable player in the upcoming draft. In three seasons at South Carolina, Jeffery has hauled in 22 touchdowns and eclipsed the 600-yard receiving mark each year.

Adding Jeffery would be a great complement opposite of Steve Smith and would give Newton a legitimate target for years to come.

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

In last year's draft, Buffalo took defensive tackle Marcel Dareus to improve their struggling line. Dareus, however, has not really done much to help the team this season. The Bills rank 31st in sacks and are the fifth-worst rush defense in the league. 

So Quinton Coples of North Carolina would be an incredible value pick for Buffalo here. The 6'6", 275 pound defensive lineman racked up 7.5 sacks with 10 tackles for loss in his 2011 campaign.

Coples is undervalued in many mock drafts but is the best pass rusher in the 2012 class and would help the D-line in Buffalo.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

With Todd Haley now out as Kansas City's head coach, the Chiefs will be looking to regroup in some big spots. Luckily for them, Landry Jones could be available when their turn comes around in 2012.

Matt Cassel is not reliable and Tyler Palko obviously isn't the guy, so the quarterback spot will need to be addressed.

Jones, who is in his in junior season as a Sooner, is easily the fourth-best quarterback in this considerably deep class. Landry threw for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns this past season. He has shown he is worthy of a first-round pick.

Jones' strengths include his accuracy, arm power and footwork, but he does need to work on his elongated throwing motion.

12. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Stanford's Jonathan Martin would fill a huge need for Arizona here.

The Cards offensive line hasn't been exactly great in 2011, ranking dead last in pass protection. So if the team believes Kevin Kolb is their guy, they must help him.

Martin may be the second-best offensive lineman in the class and would be one of the best picks in the entire draft at this spot.

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

Philly's linebacking corps has been nothing short of terrible. This problem has been plaguing their defense and needs to be addressed. So if Luke Kuechly of Boston College is still there for the Eagles, expect them to jump on him. 

He is a sound tackler, displays good mobility and is a very intelligent player. Kuechly also has good size and always seems to be in the middle of every play.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With the top four quarterbacks off the board, Seattle can opt for Notre Dame's Michael Floyd in this spot.

Floyd has done nothing but dazzle during his collegiate career. In his four seasons at Notre Dame, Floyd has never failed to put up at least 700 yards receiving and catching and at least seven touchdowns. Floyd raked in a bulky 95 passes in 2011, eight of them in the end zone.

He is an NFL-ready talent and can provide another dimension to the Seattle offense.

15. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Even though the Chargers suffered yet another disappointing year in 2011, the offense still looked pretty good. So they could go for some defensive help in the draft.

Courtney Upshaw, the best available defensive player at this point, would give them an immediate boost.

Upshaw has tremendous versatility in terms of positioning on defense. He has good speed, good strength and is very quick off the ball.

He could help San Diego improve their 19th-ranked pass rush and 20th-ranked rush defense.

16. Chicago Bears: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Chicago's weak offensive line has been a problem for a few seasons now. They allowed the most sacks in the NFL last season and have given up the sixth-most this season. 

David DeCastro of Stanford could very well be the pick for Chicago. DeCastro is the draft's top guard at the moment and would be a much-needed addition to a terrible offensive line.

17. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Titans may look for some O-line help with their first pick. Melvin Ingram, however, may be much too tempting to pass up for Tennessee, given their poor defensive line play. 

Ingram is incredibly athletic, has a good first step and is one of the draft's best pass rushers. He chalked up 8.5 sacks in 2011 and could help the Titans increase their chances of getting to opposing quarterbacks, a category they rank 30th in. 

18. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

With the first of two first-round picks in 2012, the Bengals will look to address either the cornerback position or the linebacker position.

Being that Dallas, another team with a need at the CB spot, is right behind them, the Bengals may go after Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard before Jerry Jones gets his hands on him.

Dennard has excellent speed, good athleticism and displays great instincts. He does, however need to improve his reaction on coverage. As well as improving his footwork, he also needs to make better breaks on the ball.

He does need some work but has the tools to be a great corner in the NFL. 

19. New York Jets: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The New York Jets must upgrade their pass rush as well as their run defense in order to solidify their spot amongst the league's best defenses. 

Rex Ryan's crew currently ranks 18th against the run, much lower than their top-10 positioning from the previous two seasons. They also need a legitimate threat to rush the quarterback, so Ryan doesn't have to use the blitz so much.

No defensive end in college football was better in 2011 than Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus racked a gaudy 14.5 sacks in 2011. He has slated his name into the thick of the first round. 

20. Dallas Cowboys: Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State

With Alfonzo Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick gone, the Cowboys will narrow it down to Janoris Jenkins and Devon Still. Jenkins could help Dallas' much abused secondary as Still would fill a needed spot on the defensive line.

If it does come down to these two, Dallas would look to Penn State's Still. He has nice size and can plow over opposing lineman en route to opposing quarterbacks. There is still room for improvement but could be a very nice investment for a team who could use help in that spot.

21. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Denver's defense, not Tim Tebow, is the biggest reason for their surprising success this season. They have made big play after big play and allowed their offense to pull out points later in games.

The Broncos could, however, look to upgrade a bit on their line. Marcus Thomas isn't really great, making Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State an appealing option for Denver in this spot. He is very athletic and uses his great upper body strength to get by offensive linemen. 

Cox was also named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week four times in 2011, an honor that shouldn't be taken lightly.

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

An inside linebacker is a huge need for the New York Giants, and North Carolina's Zach Brown would provide some stability for Coughlin's (or not Coughlin's) defense next season. 

Brown can come in and immediately help the Giants. Brown is a sound athlete that has the speed and ability to get to opposing ball carriers.

23. Cincinnati Bengals: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

With their second first-round pick, the Bengals could look to Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict for some more help on defense.

Although the Bengals defense has been quite impressive this year, it may be hard for Marvin Lewis to pass up on Burfict at this spot. He does need work in man-to-man coverage, but he carries the agility to break off blockers and get to the ball.

24. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Detroit boasts huge needs in its offensive line and in its secondary. Since Janoris Jenkins is a better prospect than any remaining lineman, look for Detroit to go with the North Alabama transfer.

Jenkins is a very gifted athlete. He has the potential to be a great corner in the NFL. His off-field issues, however, should have some teams worried.

25. Houston Texans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

I'm mocking Wisconsin's Peter Konz to the Houston Texans even though their line has been quite good. They rank ninth in pass protection this season, allowing just 26 sacks through 14 games.

The problem, however, is the expiring contract of the team's current center, Chris Myers. If Myers, who has been one of the best centers in the league, doesn't re-sign, Konz could be the pick here.

If Myers does re-sign, Houston can find another spot on the line for Konz. 

26. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Trent Richardson mocked to Cleveland earlier in the draft, I have the Browns looking for more help for Colt McCoy and the offense. Baylor's Kendall Wright is a playmaker and could be the pick.

He has great hands, killer speed and has the ability to break off big plays. Wright would give McCoy another option opposite Greg Little.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Ben Roethlisberger is tough, but the human body can only take so much. Including this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has been among the very worst. They gave up the second-most sacks in 2009, the eighth-most in 2010, and the 10th-most through 15 games in 2011.

Glenn is just huge, standing at 6'5" and 348 pounds. He is relatively nimble for a man his size, and is very good at opening up holes for the run game.

28. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

There is no question that New England's secondary needs some help. They have given up 294.7 passing yards per game and 9.1 per attempt, both ranking dead last in the NFL. 

The Patriots also have a need at safety, making Mark Barron an incredible match for New England. He has nice size, decent speed and great tackling ability. Barron is a solid pass defender and can help the Pats' weak pass defense.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Sorry to say it, but Ray Lewis won't be around forever. So it's time for Baltimore to start auditions for the next big linebacker.

Alabama's Dont'a Hightower could very well be that guy for the Ravens. Hightower has great size, speed and is very effective against the run.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

San Francisco's defense has been nothing short of incredible this season. They currently rank fourth in yards allowed and have given up the least points in the entire league. The Niners, however, may look for an upgrade in their secondary.

Virginia's Chase Minnifield would be the next best available corner in the draft. He has nice speed, hits hard and has a knack for getting to the ball.

31. New England Patriots: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

After taking Mark Barron a few picks back, the Patriots may look to upgrade their defensive line. If so, Clemson's Andre Branch would be a good selection.

At 6'5", 260 lbs, Branch has great size and is very versatile. He can either play as a linebacker in a 4-3 scheme or an end in a 4-3. He also has a knack for getting into opposing backfields, as he recorded 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2011.

32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State

The Green Bay Packers' pass defense certainly could use some help. They may look to Florida State's Brandon Jenkins for it. 

Jenkins has great size, is a good athlete and can play on the defensive line or move to outside linebacker in the pros. He'll also give the team some help across from Clay Matthews.