NFL-EN 2012 mock draft - round one | NFL Evidence Network

By Dave Brown

This is the first NFL mock draft for NFL-EN, and it isn't going to be what you are used to seeing everywhere else on the internet. I looked at team needs and player value, and developed a short list for all 32 NFL teams.

The rest fell into place as I went through the round making my picks. There will be some surprises.

NFL-EN 2012 round one mock draft
Team	Pick	Player	Pos.	College
	#1	Andrew Luck	QB	Stanford
The Indianapolis Colts are locked in, there is no debate on who the better quarterback in this draft is. The pick is Luck, write it down.
	#2	Robert Griffin III	QB	Baylor
The Washington Redskins gave up a lot to move up to this #2 overall pick, it's obvious the Redskins don't think Rex Grossman is the answer. In 13 starts last season, Grossman threw 16 TDs and 20 INTs, and at 31, he isn't getting younger. The Redskins traded up for Griffen.
	#3	Matt Kalil	OT	USC
The Minnesota Vikinga offensive line allowed 49 sacks last season, on their way to a record tying 3-13 season record. Only four other teams allowed more sacks. With young QB Christian Ponder getting sacked 30 times in 10 starts, the Vikings look for a way to solidify the offensive line. I know, they need to upgrade the passing defense, but this is a deep draft for corners, and Kalil is the pick here, because there are no LTs dropping into the second round that are immediate starters and upgrades.
	#4	Justin Blackmon	WR	Oklahoma State
I know, you think the Browns need a QB or running back. Well, they do, and this is a great draft for running backs. I think Colt McCoy retains the starting job for the 2012 season. The Browns need to adjust their offense and make it work.
	#5	Morris Claiborne	CB	LSU
Yep, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up a league high 494 points in 2012, and Lions fans might know the Bucs grabbed Eric Wright in free agency. The Bucs have Josh Freeman, and are still waiting on their top two picks in the last two drafts to show something on the field, so I don't think the Bucs draft DL. LeGarrette Blount has had problems with holding on to the football, with nine fumbles in two years, but that doesn't mean the Bucs need the best RB in the draft.
	#6	Michael Floyd	WR	Notre Dame
If Blackmon is gone, the Rams will reach for the next best wide receiver available. Bradford is the QB moving forward, and the Rams need to get him some weapons. The Rams will look at defense and OL with the two picks they have in the second round.
	#7	Melvin Ingram	DE	South Carolina
The Jaguars need help on the defensive line, and could desperately use another pass rusher to compliment Jeremy Mincey, who lead the team with 8 sacks in 2011. No other player had four sacks. Yikes!!!
	#8	Ryan Tannehill	QB	Texas A&M
Guess who just fell into the Miami Dolphins lap at pick #8? Yep, they take Tannehill, the third QB taken in this mock draft inside the top ten.
	#9	Dontari Poe	DT	Memphis
The Carolina Panthers need a run stopping DT they can plug in from day one to help the run defense get better. This pick is almost a lock, barring trades.
	#10	Riley Reiff	OT	Iowa
No more Demetrius Bell, and the Buffalo Bills need to lock down the left side of the offensive line. They do that here.
	#11	Luke Kuechly	ILB	Boston College
The Chiefs need help on the defensive line and with the linebackers, and the best pick for them at this spot will help with the 3-4 defensive scheme they run.
	#12	Quinton Coples	DE	North Carolina
The Seahawks need another pass rushing DE, with Chris Clemons turning 31 and Red Bryant being a run stopper. Done.
	#13	Cordy Glenn	G/T	Georgia
The Arizona Cardinals like guys that can run block, and Glenn is a mauler. Run game just got better.
	#14	Mark Barron	SS	Alabama
The Dallas Cowboys are still looking to get help for the middle of the passing defense, this is another almost lock pick.
	#15	Michael Brockers	DT	LSU
The Philadelphia Eagles need help with the middle of the defense, and starting up front is wise.
	#16	Trent Richardson	RB	Alabama
Yep, believe it or not, the running game isn't as important in the NFL as it used to be. The New York Jets need to get back to running the ball, and Richardson falls this far in my mock.
	#17	David Decastro	G	Stanford
Right guard, left guard, take your pick, the Cincinnati Bengals need one.
	#18	Whitney Mercilus	DE	Illinois
The Chargers need help with the pass rush, and to me this pick makes the team instantly better.
	#19	Stephon Gilmore	CB	South Carolina
Tillman is going into his tenth year in the NFL, and the Chicago Bears need some youth on the defensive side of the ball.
	#20	Fletcher Cox	DT	Mississippi State
The Tennessee Titans need to upgrade the defensive line and generate a pass rush. Mission accomplished.
	#21	Dont'a Hightower	ILB	Alabama
The Bengals now need to look at the defense, and they do that here.
	#22	Nick Perry	DE	USC
At 6'3" and 271 pounds, the Browns get an upgrade to their pass rush that also gives them more versatility on defense. Perry can line up at DE in a 4-3 or back up and play OLB in a 3-4. He also has the ability to move inside and line up at DT in some situations.
	#23	Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Alabama
Who thinks the Detroit Lions are going to pass on Kirkpatrick if he is still on the board at pick #23? Remember, the Lions lost Wright in free agency. They have to pull the trigger.
	#24	Jonathan Martin	OT	Stanford
The Pittsburgh Steelers need offensive line help, and they take it here.
	#25	Janoris Jenkins	CB	North Alabama
The Denver Broncos have looked at the offense in free agency by signing possibly the biggest name to ever hit the free agent market, Peyton Manning. Time to plug in a corner that can improve the defense.
	#26	Stephen Hill	WR	Georgia Tech
The Houston Texans add an offensive weapon that will improve a passing offense that was ranked 18th overall last season.
	#27	Chandler Jones	DE	Syracuse
The New England Patriots finished 31st in passing defense in the regular season last year, and they can improve that by getting more pressure on the QB up front.
	#28	Shea McClellin	DE	Boise St.
The Green Bay Packers are another team looking to improve up front by getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
	#29	Peter Konz	C	Wisconsin
The Baltimore Ravens would like to go to the Super Bowl, and defense isn't the problem. If Konz is still on the board, this pick is almost a lock, giving Joe Flacco a pocket and improving the running game.
	#30	Kevin Zeitler	G	Wisconsin
The San Francisco 49ers are returning all 11 starters on defense. I have seen mocks with defensive tackles here, but it doesn't make sense to make a defensive pick this high in the draft with greater needs on the offensive side of the ball.
	#31	Harrison Smith	FS	Notre Dame
The Patriots have added help up front on defense, now to improve the secondary. I know the Patriots have never been a defensive powerhouse, but with the passing defense as bad as it was last season, the top two picks need to be made if they want to be in contention for the playoffs in 2012.
	#32	Mike Adams	OT	Ohio State
The New York Giants can make this pick because Adams gives them a future right tackle that can fill in at the guard spots if needed. He adds depth and versatility.