2012 Mock Draft: Round One

The Draft is less than Two weeks away and our Draft contributor Eric Galko is back with his most recent Mock Draft. Here's Round One of his Two Round Mock.

The Pro Days are wrapping up and the NFL Draft is coming into much clearer focus as we aim towards the Combine upcoming.

In this update, the top three picks are shooken up a bit, but a big name offensive weapon falls, three quarterbacks in the Top 10, it's a defensive line heavy first round.

1 . Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
-Despite a recent push and rumors around RG3 as the possible pick, the Colts WILL stick with Luck, getting the draft's best quarterback.

2 . TRADE: Washington Redkskins - Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
-Redskins coordinator Kyle Shanahan has already gone over the offense with Griffin, so their new franchise QB will have a head start.
 

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3 . Minnesota Vikings - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
-A major change of note, Matt Kalil doesn't have the size (he's under 300 pounds) the Vikings generally look for in an OT, and Claiborne can further improve a secondary that has dealt with injuries along with having to face potential prolific offenses in division in Detroit, Green Bay, and Chicago.

4 . Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
-With no Claiborne, their pick seems simple, getting the drafts more stable and safe offensive force to balance out an offense lacking talent overall.
 
5 . Tampa Bay Bucs - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
-While Greg Schaino wants a more power run scheme, he'll look at add offensive line talent if Richardson and Claiborne are gone, and Kalil can give this offensive line the elite talent in pass protection for Josh Freeman.

6 . St. Louis Rams - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
-Ideally, the Rams would like to see any of picks 3-5 end up here, and if they don't, they may look to trade back if possible. Justin Blackmon isn't the elite receiver to answer their woes, and taking any offensive linemen here is a reach. Jeff Fisher has had success with raw defensive linemen before, and Poe could solidify this front four.

7 . Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
-Been flopping on this pick for months, but with outside pass rushers likely falling to the 2nd round, the Jaguars get a solid short and intermidate presence for Blaine Gabbert that can fill a Roddy White-type role in Mike Mularky's offense.

8 . Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
-I don't believe a team in the Top 20 should take Ryan Tannehill if they expect him to play early. In the Dolphins case, they have two quarterbacks who have starter experience on the roster with just one year deals, Tannehill's former head coach (Mike Sherman), and an offense that gave success to a similar quarterback (Aaron Rodgers).

9 . Carolina Panthers - Devon Still, DT, Penn State
-Still is a reach for many boards here, but not for us. He fills their need now as a great run defense-based nose tackle. Ideally, they'd like to trade down, but he gives this defense the best potential to be successful next year of any defensive prospect.

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10 . Buffalo Bills - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
-The Bills are looking to win now, and adding an impact player could be high on their list. While Michael Floyd may be a better fit, Blackmon could complement Stevie Johnson just as well as a middle of the field threat to break plays deep.
 
11 . Kansas City Chiefs - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
-Kansas City has addressed every other spot of their offense except for one guard spot. Adding DeCastro would solidify this young offensive line with a rare interior lineman talent, and give Matt Cassell next to zero reason not to thrive this year.
 
12 . Seattle Seahawks - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
-After drafting James Carpenter last year in the late first round a year ago, the Seahawks could go back to the offensive line in Riley Reiff, to give them a safe right tackle for the future and finalize an offense that is built on youth and depth.

13 . Arizona Cardinals - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
-Sam Acho emerged last year as a solid potential starter, but outside of him, they have no safe pass rushers on the roster next year. Upshaw fits the scheme well, and his ready-to-go pass rushing ability now could help a needy defense.

14 . Dallas Cowboys - Mark Barron, S, Alabama
-Mark Barron has been linked to the Cowboys for a while now, and he's an ideal fit. They've addressed cornerback with Brandon Carr in free agency, and could look there again in the middle rounds. Barron gives them a middle of the field ballhawk who does everything well and can be a much-needed secondary leader.

15 . Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
-Despite adding DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles could use the under-ratedly athletic Luke Kuechly to play the Mike or Will in the defense, as the Eagles aren't finished with their linebacker makeover.

16 . New York Jets - Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
-Adding an offensive weapon to help Sanchez/Tebow would be ideal for Jets, but getting a new pass rusher to utilize in Rex Ryan's system could keep a strength-a-strength on defense.
 
17 . Cincinnati Bengals (via Oak) - Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
-Gilmore is an ideal fit in the Bengles defense, and no one currently in their defensive backfield can adequately replace Jonathan Joseph for the long-term.

18 . San Diego Chargers - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
-Despite drafting Corey Liuget last year in the first round, the Chargers could use another 5-technique as well as follow the "BPA" route and take a falling-because-of-other-needs Fletcher Cox.

19 . Chicago Bears - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
-Another surprise fall in this mock draft, Kirkpatrick is the drafts best zone cornerback by far and while it's not a glaring need for the Bears, he's too good of a fit and talent to fall past #19.
 

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20 . Tennessee Titans - Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin
-The Titans have added offensive line help in free agency (Steve Hutchinson), but still need youth and depth for the future with Jake Locker. While Whitney Merclius fits a pass rushing need as well as their usual trend to draft talent first, Konz can solidify their center spot fr the next 10 years.
 
21 . Cincinnati Bengals - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
-Andy Dalton's success last year was more than surprising, but no Jerome Simpson and no long term receiver opposite A.J. Green leads Wright to be a logical, value-based, and system fit for the Bengals.

22 . Cleveland Browns - Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
-Getting another big play threat for this offense is a must even if Colt McCoy can't reach consistently down the field, as he likely isn't the "quarterback of the future" anyways.
 
23 . Detroit Lions - Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia
-The Lions need to add to their offensive line. Glenn could push Cherlius this year, kick inside to guard, or even start day one at left tackle instead of Jeff Backus.

24 . Pittsburgh Steelers - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
-Pittsburgh needs a long term right tackle, and with more coaching on hand placement and footwork inside, Martin could be an elite right tackle.
 
25 . Denver Broncos - Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
-Willis McGahee is not the long term answer, and adding a new dimension runner in Miller for this year could open up a new weapon Manning hasn't had in a while at quarterback.
 
26 . Houston Texans - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
-The Texans will likely target receiver at some point in the top two rounds, but with a talent like Merclius here (maybe the only really fit in round one for the raw, situational athlete), Wade Phillips could pound the table, as he wanted a somewhat similar rusher in Aldon Smith a year ago.
 
27 . New England Patriots (via NO) - Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
-Because of the lack of value in an inside linebacker in the draft, either Kuechly or Hightower likely will fall. With the Patriots likely being able to utilize Hightower's rushing ability as well as play him at , 3-4 OLB, strong and middle 4-3 linebacker, he's a great value here.

28 . Green Bay Packers - Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State
-A big reach for our board, rumors are he could be taken in the Top 40 picks, and the Packers have seen a similar, high motor, late riser at a similar spot in draft in Clay Matthews Jr.

29 . Baltimore Ravens - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
-While many have Brockers going high, think the talent at DT in the 2nd round combined with him being a raw talent that didn't test overly athletic pushes him down on draft day.

30 . San Francisco 49ers - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
-If any team in round one could take a chance on an elite talent falling, it's the confident Jim Harbaugh. He's already added Randy Moss and Perrish Cox, so Janoris Jenkins would fit the mold as a high talent, high risk addition.

31 . New England Patriots - Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
-Another falling talent for the Patriots, Coples is a guy that few scouts and evaluators will fight for in their draft War Rooms, causing him to fall. A fit as a 3-technique, 5-technique, or true 4-3 DE, Coples adds the versatility Belichek loves with the pass rushing defensive lineman he needs.

32 . New York Giants - Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
-The Giants shouldn't stop adding weapons to this offense, and while a receiver to replace Mario Manningham is an option, Coby Fleener quickly supplants Jake Ballard as an ideal tight end for this offense to split the season.

-- ROUND 2 --

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