NFL Mock Draft 2012 #1 from Adam Caplan

Alabama running back Trent Richardson won't make it past the Browns at pick #4.

Photo: Kelly M. Lambert

1. Indianapolis

Andrew Luck

Quarterback | Stanford

Analysis: Luck will be the Colts next franchise quarterback for many years to come.

Needs: QB, WR, TE, G, ORT, OLB, CB, NT

Other Possibilities: None.
2. Washington (from St. Louis)

Robert Griffin III

Quarterback | Baylor

Analysis: Griffin will be an interesting player for the Redskins as he transitions to a West Coast offensive scheme.

Needs: QB, C, G, ILB, CB, RB

Other Possibilities: None.
3. Minnesota

Matt Kalil

Offensive Tackle | Southern California

Analysis: Kalil would fill a major need on the left side of the Vikings offensive line.

Needs: WR, CB, OLT, G, FS, SS, DT

Other Possibilities: Morris Claiborne.
4. Cleveland

Trent Richardson

Running Back | Alabama

Analysis: The Browns were terrible on offense last season, so Richardson could help on that side of the ball right away. They still will need to address other positions on offense as the draft progresses.

Needs: WR, ORT, RB, QB, RG, DE, CB, SLB

Other Possibilities: Morris Claiborne.
5. Tampa Bay

Morris Claiborne

Cornerback | Louisiana State

Analysis: The Buccaneers, because of Aqib Talib’s off-the-field issues and Ronde Barber’s age, must address the cornerback position.

Needs: CB, RB, DE, LB, FS, SS

Other Possibilities: Trent Richardson (if he drops) or Stephon Gilmore.
6. St. Louis (from Washington)

Fletcher Cox

Defensive Tackle | Mississippi State

Analysis: The Rams are not very good on the interior of their defensive line, so Cox can provide an impact in that area right away.

Needs: WR, CB, DT, LG, WLB, DE

Other Possibilities: Best available CB or Justin Blackmon.
7. Jacksonville

Justin Blackmon

Wide Receiver | Oklahoma State

Analysis: The Jaguars still need speed at wide receiver, but Blackmon would start right away. He could give them badly needed physicality at the position.

Needs: WR, DE, C, CB

Other Possibilities: Quinton Coples.
8. Miami

Ryan Tannehill

Quarterback | Texas A&M

Analysis: Veteran QB Matt Moore can start one more season, so that way the coaches can bring Tannehill along at a slower pace.

Needs: WR, QB, ORT, DE, DT, SS, FS

Other Possibilities: Justin Blackmon (if he drops).
9. Carolina

David DeCastro

Guard | Stanford

Analysis: The Panthers need competition at depth at guard, so DeCastro seems like the smartest pick considering what’s left on the board.

Needs: G, DT, CB, DE, OLB

Other Possibilities: Quinton Coples.
10. Buffalo

Stephon Gilmore

Cornerback | South Carolina

Analysis: Gilmore, according to several personnel sources, has a realistic chance to go off the board inside the top-10. While the Bills have bigger needs, Gilmore is the best player on the board.

Needs: OLT, WR (speed), OLB, CB, DE

Other Possibilities: Riley Reiff or Michael Floyd.
11. Kansas City

Luke Kuechly

ILB/OLB | Boston College

Analysis: The Chiefs were #26 vs. the run last season, so adding an outstanding ILB like Kuechly could help them improve in that area right away.

Needs: NT, DE, OLB, LG, ILB

Other Possibilities: Michael Brockers or David DeCastro
12. Seattle

Quinton Coples

Defensive End | North Carolina

Analysis: Coples would fill a major need on the Seahawks defense.

Needs: DE, RG, LB

Other Possibilities: Luke Kuechly
13. Arizona

Melvin Ingram

OLB/DE | South Carolina

Analysis: The Cardinals have a lot of needs, but adding a pass rusher is one of their bigger ones. Ingram can provide an impact right away.

Needs: OLT, WR, OLB, RG, CB

Other Possibilities: David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Michael Floyd, Riley Reiff, or Jonathan Martin.
14. Dallas

Mark Barron

Safety | Alabama

Analysis: The Cowboys can finally address their troubling safety position by adding the talented Barron.

Needs: SS, C, G, DE, WR, CB, OLB

Other Possibilities: Dre Kirkpatrick.
15. Philadelphia

Michael Brockers

Defensive Tackle | Louisiana State

Analysis: Brockers is a better player than Poe, according to personnel sources, so the Eagles will add him here at a need position.

Needs: DT, SLB, CB

Other Possibilities: Dontari Poe.
16. NY Jets

Courtney Upshaw

Defensive End | Alabama

Analysis: The Jets know their defense fell off last season, so adding a talent pass rusher like Upshaw makes a lot of sense at the point.

Needs: WR, ORT, OLB, SS, FS, ILB

Other Possibilities: Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Jonathan Martin, or Riley Reiff.
17. Cincinnati (from Oakland)

Michael Floyd

Wide Receiver | Notre Dame

Analysis: The Bengals badly need to add talent at WR opposite second-year pro A.J. Green. Floyd’s addition would give the team another outstanding talent at that position.

Needs: WR, RB, DE, DT, CB

Other Possibilities: Kendall Wright, Dontari Poe, or Doug Martin.
18. San Diego

Whitney Mercilus

OLB/DE | Illinois

Analysis: The Chargers need help on defense, especially in the pass-rushing department, so Mercilus makes sense for this AFC West team.

Needs: G, OLB, ILB, CB, ORT

Other Possibilities: Shea McClellin or Riley Reiff.
19. Chicago

Kendall Wright

Wide Receiver | Baylor

Analysis: The Bears, despite adding veteran WR Brandon Marshall, need to add speed and more talent at receiver. Wright is talented enough to make an impact as a rookie.

Needs: G, DE, WR, CB, DT, OT, SLB

Other Possibilities: Shea McClellin.
20. Tennessee

Nick Perry

Defensive End | Southern California

Analysis: The Titans biggest need is clearly DE. They likely will eye a bunch of DEs here, but Perry looks to be the best left on the board at this point.

Needs: DE, DT, CB, C

Other Possibilities: Dontari Poe, Andre Branch or Chandler Jones.
21. Cincinnati

Doug Martin

Running Back | Boise State

Analysis: Martin would be the replacement for veteran RB Cedric Benson, who remains unsigned.

Needs: WR, RB, DE, DT, CB

Other Possibilities: Dontari Poe or best available DE.
22. Cleveland (from from Atlanta)

Riley Reiff

Offensive Tackle | Iowa

Analysis: The Browns need to fill out their starting right tackle spot, so Reiff can do that right away.

Needs: RB, WR, ORT, QB, RG, DE, CB, OLB

Other Possibilities: Kendall Wright (if he drops).
23. Detroit

Jonathan Martin

Offensive Tackle | Stanford

Analysis: The Lions really need to address the eventual replacement for long-time starting LT Jeff Backus. And keep in mind starting RT Gosder Cherilus is on the final year of his rookie contract, so Martin makes some sense here.

Needs: CB, OLT, ORT

Other Possibilities: Cordy Glenn
24. Pittsburgh

Dont'a Hightower

ILB/OLB | Alabama

Analysis: ILB is a need position for the Steelers next to Lawrence Timmons, so Hightower can play right away for them.

Needs: G, NT, ILB,OT, CB, FS, RB

Other Possibilities: Cordy Glenn, Dontari Poe or Devon Still.
25. Denver

Jerel Worthy

Defensive Tackle | Michigan State

Analysis: The Broncos lost starting DT Brodrick Bunkley in free agency, so they must fill the huge void that continues to stand out on the interior of their defensive line.

Needs: DT, WR, DE, RB, CB, C

Other Possibilities: Dontari Poe.
26. Houston

Rueben Randle

Wide Receiver | Louisiana State

Analysis: As one personnel source told me this week, don’t be surprised if Randle goes off the board a lot earlier than we think. In that case, the Texans can fill a big need here with the talented wide receiver.

Needs: ORT, G, WR, OLB, DE

Other Possibilities: Mike Adams or Cordy Glenn.
27. New England (from New Orleans)

Shea McClellin

OLB/DE | Boise State

Analysis: McClellin is the type of player that head coach Bill Belichick covets—versatility.

Needs: OLB, CB, FS, DE, WR (speed)

Other Possibilities: Harrison Smith, Andre Branch, or Chandler Jones or Vinny Curry.
28. Green Bay

Peter Konz

Center | Wisconsin

Analysis: With new starting C Jeff Saturday turning 37 in June, the Packers need to plan for his eventual replacement. And keep in mind Konz is also capable of playing guard.

Needs: OLB, DE, FS, CB, C

Other Possibilities: Shea McClellin (if he drops) or Kendall Reyes.
29. Baltimore

Andre Branch

OLB/DE | Clemson

Analysis: The Ravens need to add pass rushers, so Branch makes a lot of sense here.

Needs: DE, WR, OLB, OLT, LG, C, FS, SS

Other Possibilities: Chandler Jones.
30. San Francisco

Kevin Zeitler

Guard | Wisconsin

Analysis: The 49ers can help solidify the interior of their offensive line with Zeitler.

Needs: RG, WR (speed), CB, DE

Other Possibilities: Any of the WRs that drop.
31. New England

Devon Still

Defensive Tackle | Penn State

Analysis: The Patriots, according to a source, will play the 3-4 and 4-3 schemes on again on defense. And Still has the versatility to play in either scheme.

Needs: OLB, CB, FS, DE

Other Possibilities: Kendall Reyes
32. NY Giants

Mike Adams

Offensive Tackle | Ohio State

Analysis: The Giants, because they’re coming off a Super Bowl victory, can afford to take a chance on Adams. He’s capable of playing either tackle spot.

Needs: G, CB, OT, DT

Other Possibilities: Best available interior OL.