2012 NFL Mock Draft

Last Updated: February 13, 2012
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Upcoming 2012 NFL Draft-related dates of note:

February 20, 2012 - First day that an NFL team can apply the franchise tag or the transition tag to one of its players.
February 22-28, 2012 - NFL Scouting Combine (some workouts to air live on NFLN)
March 5, 2012 - Deadline for NFL teams to use either the franchise tag or the transition tag on one of its players
March 13, 2012 - Official start of free agency at 4 p.m. EDT
April 26-28, 2012 - NFL Draft, airing on ESPN and NFLN

2012 NFL Mock Draft

2. St. Louis Rams - Matt Kalil, OT, USC (6'7" 295)
The hopes that the Rams had of Jason Smith being an elite offensive tackle dissipated long ago, and it's almost a lock that Smith won't be around this fall if he refuses to take a pay cut.

There will be several quality UFA WRs available next month, many more that the crop of comparably talented UFA offensive tackles on the open market. The logical move is to sign a few quality wide receivers, draft Kalil in this spot, and give QB Sam Bradford a chance to show what they paid him a guaranteed $50,000,000 to do.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (6'1" 185)
Stopping the pass is more important than ever in the NFL thanks to rules changes madefor player safety reasons. In 2011, the Vikings were #21 in yardage allowed, #26 in passing yards per game allowed (251.2), and #31 in points allowed per game (28.1). Claiborne can't change that all by himself, but he would provide a major boost to Minnesota's secondary.

4. Cleveland Browns - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (6'1" 220)
Browns president Mike Holmgren hasn't tipped his hand relative to this spot, in large part I suspect because there are too many variables in play. I'm bullish on Colt McCoy's long-term potential, but it appears I'm in the minority on that based on what I've read from various sports writers. Some have projected Cleveland trading up from #4 to #2 to draft RG3,and such a move makes sense: the Rams would leverage the value of #2 overall pick (and RG3) knowing they could still draft either USC OT Matt Kalil or Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon.

Griffin showed tremendous potential in 2011 at the quarterback position, though he would also face a less-than-ideal situation in Cleveland without any elite WRs and a moribund rusing attack. He would actually face a drop-off at the top WR spot going from Kendall Wright to Greg Little, though I expect Cleveland to make some moves in free agency to remedy its wide receiver situation.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State (6'1" 210)
The Bucs are in a desperate situation at cornerback, but if Claiborne is gone, the best value for this spot at this point would appear to be Blackmon. Many view him at the best WR in the 2012 Draft, and he showed his ability to make big plays in his time at Oklahoma State. I strongly disagree with projections of Tampa Bay taking Alabama RB Trent Richardson at this spot, particularly if such a projection included the Buccaneers passing on Blackmon.

6. Washington Redskins - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (6'3" 195)
The clock is ticking on Mike Shanahan and the Washington front office. My anticipation is that they won't be in position to draft either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, and with plenty of talk that Green Bay QB Matt Flynn (likely to be an unrestricted free agent) will follow now-former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to Miami, the options at QB might be limited on the open market.

Kirkpatrick is a physical corner who I suspect will have success in the NFL. This might be a stretch in some people's opinions, but in a division with Eli Manning and Michael Vick and Tony Romo, adding a top-flight cornerback would be advisable for the Redskins.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina (6'6" 280)
In 2011, Jacksonville gave up 44 sacks while forcing just 31. That needs to change for the franchise to find success with its current crop of players.

Coples looked great in the Senior Bowl, though in many ways it wasn't an accurate demonstration of his potential since he mostly faced off with Washington OL Senio Kelemete, who projects much stronger as an offensive guard than as a left offensive tackle. Coples is projected by some to have a Mario Williams or Jason Pierre-Paul like impact in the NFL, though there are concerns about him not giving 100% on every play at UNC. He can't get away with that and be a successful pro.

8-or-9. Miami Dolphins - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama (6'2" 265)
I don't get the projections of Miami taking an offensive tackle here, not with Jake Long having been such a success in the NFL after being the #1 overall pick by the Dolphins in 2008. I realize that right offensive tackle is a need, but there will be opportunities to fill that later in the draft. It's possible that Miami could trade up to land RG3 if they aren't able to sign a starting QB off the free agent market, but going for who Jeff Ireland and company think the best OLB pass rush prospect at this spot is would seem logical.

Miami broke the bank to sign Karlos Dansby after the 2009 season, but after a good 2010, Dansby showed up to camp 20 pounds overweight and ended up recording just two sacks this past season. Cameron Wake had been strong at OLB Miami, but he turns 30 later this month and has a base pay of just $565,000 for 2012, the final year of his contract.

8-or-9. Carolina Panthers - Devon Still, DL, Penn State (6'4" 310)
The Panthers would perhaps be better served to draft a wide receiver or cornerback, but with the top elite talent at those spots off the board, Still both fills a need and looks the part of a prototype NFL defensive tackle. The Panthers might also be inclined to draft LSU DT Michael Brockers at this spot, but Still has the experience edge and proven performance to get the nod for now.

10. Buffalo Bills - Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC (6'3" 250)
Perry had a fantastic season for the Trojans, recording 9½ sacks in 2011 to give himself 22½ sacks for his USC career. He will be a pass rush threat out of the gate regardless of what kind of defensive system the team that drafts him runs.

11-or-12. Kansas City Chiefs - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa (6'6" 300)
The Chiefs need offensive line help, and Reiff is moving up draft boards and looking more and more like the most probable offensive lineman to be drafted after Matt Kalil. It's entirely possible that Reiff will be off the board by this point, but if not then he could be a great value pick for Kansas City.

11-or-12. Seattle Seahawks - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor (5'10" 190)
The clock is ticking on Pete Carroll. He's reportedly making $6.5 million per year and he needs to produce results in 2012, and by results I don't mean another 7-9 season. Undrafted rookie WR Doug Baldwin lead the team in receiving yards in 2011 with 788, and the Seahawks need to add more options for whoever the signal-caller is there this fall. Wright was RG3's go-to receiver at Baylor.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina (6'2" 270)
Did any DE/OLB prospect increase his stock more in 2011 that Ingram? I realize that playing alongside the likes of Devin Taylor and Jadeveon Clowney had to work to his advantage, but Ingram had a great season for the Gamecocks and could be able to help fill the void left in Arizona by Karlos Dansby leaving via free agency following the 2009 season which the Cardinals have failed to adequately address.

14. Dallas Cowboys - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford (6'5" 310)
DeCastro is a very strong interior offensive line prospect, one of the best to come down the pike in years. This might actually represent a value pick for Dallas if you believe some scouts and analysts who see DeCastro as a top ten talent for the 2012 Draft. Leonard Davis, who made a nice transition from offensive tackle with the Cardinals to offensive guard with the Cowboys (becoming a three-time All-Pro during his stint in Dallas), was a cap casualty in 2011.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College (6'2" 235)
2011 was a very disappointing season for Boston College, but despite the struggles by BC, Kuechly had a remarkable season at middle linebacker, recording an astounding 191 tackles. He's no one-year wonder, either: in 2010 he made 183, though that is misleading since it includes the 12 tackles he made against Nevada in their bowl game. The NCAA's short-sighted decision to count bowl game stats in regular season games beginning in 2002, while not retroactively counting stats from past bowl games, is up there with the oddball decision to rebrand I-A as FBS and I-AA as FCS as terrible decisions that suspiciously seem to have been done with the intention of keeping the antiquated bowl system in place.

16. New York Jets - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame (6'3" 225)
The Jets tried boosting its offensive output in 2011 by adding veteran receivers in 2010 (Santonio Holmes) and 2011 (Derrick Mason), but that didn't turn out particularly well for the team, especially last season. I'm higher on Floyd than some others are; he impressed me by beating double-teams and using his superior size/speed to his advantage at Notre Dame, showing good output despite the team having major issues at the quarterback position.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland) - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (5'11" 225)
Cincinnati's acquisition of Oakland's 2012 first-round pick and their 2013 second-round pick (upgradable to a first round selection if Oakland makes it to the AFC Championship next season) for a now 32-year-old Carson Palmer, may turn out to be the best trade the Bengals ever made. This is lower than many are projecting that Richardson will go, but keep in mind that this draft is incredibly deep at running back. Unless you are selecting a truly elite guy like Richardson or Miami's Lamar Miller, it would seem prudent to address other needs in the first round and go for a running back later in the draft.

18. San Diego Chargers - Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State (6'3" 250)
Contrasting Burfict with BC's Luke Kuechly (projected to Philly at #15) almost seems like a Goofus and Gallant situation, only if Goofus could blow up quarterbacks the way Burfict can. Burfict is seen by many as undisciplined, thanks in part to the lax program that Dennis Erickson ran at Arizona State, but there is no doubting his rare athletic ability and game-changing skill. His highlight films on YouTube and elsewhere are great fun to watch, and with a bit of maturing and some NFL-level coaching he has the potential to become something truly special on the pro level. His field vision is fantastic, and Burfict at his best is a terrifying presence for opposing offenses when he brings the heat with the blitz.

19. Chicago Bears - Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina (6'4" 235)
With the NFL balance of power shifting more and more toward teams that pass the ball, the Bears very much need to address the position this off-season. Free agent signings might help, but so would Jeffery, who has great speed, size and playmaking ability.

20. Tennessee Titans - Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia (6'5" 350)
Offensive line wasn't particularly a strength for the Titans in 2011, and they could very much use a player of Glenn's caliber. His play for Georgia was outstanding in 2010, and he has the look of a player with the capacity to be a long-term starter in the NFL.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina (6'2" 230)
Brown projects best as a "Will" (weakside) linebacker in a 4-3, and with all the good that Cincinnati did in upgrading its offense in the last draft, turning attention to defense in the 2012 NFL Draft would be advisable. Brown might not hit as hard as other 4-3 OLB prospects, but his speed is remarkable for his size and he should be able to cover ground quickly for the Bengals.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta) - Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers (6'2" 215)
Sanu had a monster season for Rutgers, and he possesses the kind of talent to be able to make an immediate difference for the Browns, who will need to add multiple strong receivers this off-season to be in a spot to be competitive in 2012.

23. Detroit Lions - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (6'6" 305)
Jeff Backus turns 35 in September, and while he has had an impressive run in Detroit in starting every game from 2001 to present, Detroit would be well advised to bolster their offensive tackle depth, particularly with the guy who protected Andrew Luck's blind side at Stanford. Martin could end up going higher than this spot, and him falling this far would represent good value for Detroit.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State (6'7" 325)
One of the big winners from Senior Bowl week was Adams, who looked impressive, particularly with the other elite offensive tackle prospects (Kalil, Reiff, and Martin) not able to take part in the event since they left for the NFL with remaining NCAA eligibility. Pittsburgh has two huge needs in offensive tackle and cornerback, and Adams would be an immediate boost for a position that has been overlooked in recent years in Pittsburgh.

25. Denver Broncos - Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State (6'3" 310)
Worthy faced a near-constant double-team playing the 4-3 defensive tackle position at Michigan State. He would likely play DE in a 3-4 set like Denver runs, and while the idea might be for Worthy to keep blockers off of Von Miller and company in the linebacker ranks, Worthy has plenty of playmaking ability himself. Worthy might be able to find a role in Denver's defense similar to how Glenn Dorsey has been effective as a 3-4 DE in Kansas City.

26. Houston Texans - Mark Barron, SS, Alabama (6'2" 215)
The Texans moved Glover Quin from corner to safety before the season, but that's not reason to pass on the chance to draft Barron here, particularly since Quin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2012 season. Barron, at least in my estimation, is the most NFL-ready draft eligible safety of all 2012 draft-eligible players. Honey Badger isn't draft eligible, but even if he was, I'd give the nod to Barron here.

27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans) - Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis (6'5" 350)
It's difficult to project what the Patriots will do in a given draft, since Bill Belichick and company typically rate players considerably differently than most draft prognosticators. Having the capacity to successfully identify and acquire players that fit their system has helped New England to become a dominant team in an era where the magnetic pull of parity makes long-term success very rare. Poe had a great season for an otherwise forgettable Memphis Tigers team, and with his size and strength he should be able to boost the Patriots' defensive front.

28. Green Bay Packers - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU (6'6" 305)
Brockers left LSU as a redshirt sophomore, but what he lacks in experience he more than makes up for with size and ability. He would add depth to the front line of the Packers 3-4 scheme with plenty of playmaking ability.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama (5'10" 185)
Jenkins showed elite cornerback ability during his run at Florida, and while he spent 2011 playing for North Alabama (a haven for talented players who have run into trouble elsewhere), he has the speed and the instincts and the potential to drastically improve Pittsburgh's cornerback ranks. Jenkins had a strong week at the Pro Bowl and should build off of that momentum going into pre-draft workouts.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall (6'4" 265)
With OLB Ahmad Brooks likely to leave the 49ers via free agency in the upcoming off-season, a versatile player like Curry would make sense for San Francisco at this spot. I made contact with some of my connections in Huntington, WV who I've known since my time working at WSAZ-TV more than a decade ago and I asked them about Curry. The unanimous response: he's the real deal, a hard worker who is talented and disciplined. His great week at the Senior Bowl didn't hurt on that front.

31. New England Patriots - Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska (5'10" 205)
New England could do any number of things with this pick, and trying to project what Bill Belichick will do with any given draft selection is typically an exercise in futility since the Patriots have their own way of doing things. It's hard to argue with their success, though.

The week of the Senior Bowl wasn't great for Dennard, but that moved him down into the spot where I thought he'd be most likely to go: late in round one. New England's cornerback situation could use a boost, something Dennard would provide for the Patriots.

32. New York Giants - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State (6'4" 295)
The injury bug bit the Giants especially hard in the middle of 2011, particularly on defense, before the team finally turned things around in its final two games and got on a roll in the playoffs that ended with them. Cox had a strong year for Mississippi State, with some stellar performances against talented competition in the loaded SEC West, and he played his way into first-round consideration.

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