2012 NFL Mock Draft

* November 27th, 2011

1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is going to be the top pick no matter who's picking here and it looks like it's almost certainly going to be the Colts. Yes they have Peyton Manning, but you don't pass up on a once in a generation franchise QB if you have the opportunity to draft him. They could trade this pick for a king's ransom or they could draft Luck and sit him for a year or two behind Manning and then trade Peyton. It would be tough for Colts fans to see Manning traded, but they'll get over it. Just ask Green Bay fans how trading Favre worked out for them.

2. St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams could go with Kalil, the OT from USC here. They have taken some OT's early recently and have whiffed on them so I don't think they will go that route. Mainly because they have a young QB who looks like he has a bright future and they need to get him a legit number one WR. Yes they traded for Brandon Lloyd and I think he resigns in St. Louis next year, but he's only had one good season and doesn't have the talent that Blackmon has.

3. Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil, OT, USC

There's a few reasons this pick makes sense. Kalil is the top player available. Offensive Tackle is a need in Minnesota. They have a rookie QB that also looks like he has a bright future and needs some protection. Adrian Peterson would like this pick as well because him will give him an elite Tackle that can open some holes in the run game.

4. Carolina Panthers- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Panthers haven't been able to stop anyone this year. They've needed an upgrade at DE since Julius Peppers left for Chicago via free agency. They traded up a couple of years ago to take Everette Brown and he's been a bust. Coples is by far the best 4-3 DE in this draft.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Jonathon Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals currently have a ton of money tied up at the OT position with two players that are overpaid and underachieve. Wisenhunt likes to play the old Steelers style of run the ball and play good defense football. Martin is a mauler in the run game and would help them play that style and allow the Cards to cut one of their overpaid Tackles.

6. Washington Redskins- Matt Barkley, QB, USC

If the Redskins are on the clock and one of the top three QB's are available there's no doubt they're taking one of them. Mike Shanahan is not going to watch another season of his team with Rex Grossman or John Beck at QB.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina

The Jags will be targeting either Coples or one of the top two WR's. This would be a good pick in the Jags fans mind. They took their franchise QB in the first round in this year's draft. Now they've got to get him someone who is a legit weapon at WR and Jeffrey is just that. He's just as talented as Blackmon and if he had better QB play in South Carolina may have been the first WR taken.

8. Miami Dolphins- Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

The Dolphins better be careful if they keep winning they may take themselves out of the running for one of the top QB's. This is a decent year for first round QB's and that's by far the biggest need in Miami as they're still looking for someone to replace Dan Marino.

9. Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is a beast and I would love for the Bengals to have a chance to draft him, but the Raiders keep winning so it doesn't look likely. Peyton Hillis isn't going to be back in Cleveland after the drama that has happened with him this year.

10. Seattle Seahawks- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

This is a reach in my opinion, but we all saw what happened this year when there are multiple teams with a huge QB need they go early. The way Tannehill is flying up draft boards by the time draft day gets here it may not be considered a reach anymore. I don't see Pete Carroll standing pat with Jackson and Whitehurst at QB.

11. Kansas City Chiefs- Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Chiefs need to get some pass rush help across from Tamba Hali. Hali is great but is constantly seeing double teams with no one else on that defense posing a threat. The Chiefs defense has a lot of young pieces in place and adding Upshaw would give them a complete D with two studs coming off the edge bringing the pass rush.

12. Philadelphia Eagles- Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

I can't believe the supposed "Dream Team" is picking this high and has a losing record. The Eagles could really use a CB, I can't believe that's true, but they won't draft one in the first round after spending all that money at the position. They've also been getting gashed up the middle and Kuechly is the type of player they need on that defense to be a leader and a force in the middle of that defense.

13. San Diego Chargers- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

This is a steal at 13, but the CB class is so talented that teams with a need that pick early may pass at CB thinking they can land a talented player in the 2nd round at the position. The Chargers have needed to add CB depth since they traded Cromartie. Quinton Jammer will be 33 this season and is past his prime.

14. Buffalo Bills- Micheal Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills have one legit WR and that's Steve Johnson. Their offense was explosive at the beginning of the year but has stalled because teams are taking away Johnson and the only thing they can do is run a little. Floyd would give them another threat and would be one of the better number two WR's in the league.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Aqib Talib may be in jail this time next year and Ronde Barber has to thinking about retiring. Dennard isn't the top CB left, but word is the Bucs really like Dennard according to walter football and they're usually right on these things.

16. Tennessee Titans- Mike Brewster, OC, Ohio State

Centers have been going higher and higher in the draft the past few years. Teams with great offensive lines all have good Centers. The Titans have needed a Center for the past year or so with the retirement of Kevin Mawae.

17. New York Jets- Alameda Ta'Amu, DT, Washington

Good Nose Tackles are hard to find. The Jets NT Kris Jenkins has basically been on IR the last three years. Ta'Amu will help the Jets become that dominant defense again that was impossible to run against.

18. Denver Broncos- Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

John Fox loves to run the ball and tried to over pay for Deangelo Williams. I don't think Fox is sold on Moreno and McGahee is too old to rely on. The Broncos will hope to land Richardson but he's too talented to last this far, they may trade up to get him though.

19. Chicago Bears- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Bears need help all along that offensive line. It was only a matter of time until Cutler got injured. The Bears would likely be picking lower if they still had Cutler, but as we saw last weekend they are going to struggle without him, Forte can't do it all.

20. Cleveland Browns- Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin

The Browns have two first round picks and they have to get at least one WR with one of these picks. The Browns will hope to land either Blackmon or Jeffrey, but as of now it doesn't look like they'll get either. Colt McCoy should be given another chance because no QB would be able to succeed with these WR's.

21. Houston Texans- Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

People drop Broyles because of his size, but he is one of the best WR's in college football. He can go up over bigger defenders. Broyles has the best hands of anyone in this draft, and likely better than most pros. He can get seperation and has good speed and quickness. Broyles would be a perfect compliment to Andre Johnson and finally give the Texans a legit number two WR threat.

22. Detroit Lions- Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin

The Lions need to get someone competant to play the Center position. They have needed upgrades across the line for years and Stafford has been hurt every year before this year because of this.

23. Cincinnati Bengals- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins may be the most talented CB in this draft and probably would've been a top ten pick if he didn't get arrested for weed. I'm sure the Bengals will hear all the jokes for taking someone with a record. I'm also sure these same talking heads and writers have also smoked pot sometime in their life.

We all see what's going on with Leon Hall out for the rest of the season. The pass defense is struggling. The Bengals definitely need to take advantage of this loaded CB class and not be caught next year with a lack of depth at CB. Jenkins and Hall will give the Bengals one of the best CB duos once again and if they can resign Clements and Jones will probably have the best one through four in the NFL.

24. Dallas Cowboys- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Terrance Newman is getting old and losing some of that elite speed that made him a first round pick years ago. Mike Jenkins is afraid to tackle anyone. When these two were out at the beginning of the year the Cowboys secondary really struggled they need to add some youth and depth.

25. New York Giants- Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

The Giants are going to add to the list of having a duo of first round CB's. Early this year they had injuries at CB and had to play guys signed off the street basically. Look for them to add some depth in a division that has pass happy Dallas and Philadelphia.

26. Cincinnati Bengals- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

If I have to watch Nate Livings start for this team one more season I'm gonna scream. He can't block anyone without getting at least one holding call a game. DeCastro is the best Guard in this class, and it's been a long time since the Bengals spent an early pick on an interior offensive lineman (Eric Steinbach).

I'm a believer in you have to be good up front to consistently win at any level of football from pee wee to the NFL. This pick would give the Bengals a complete offensive line. They had the Boling pick last year, which was a steal in my opinion and with Livings being awful and Bobbie Williams getting old they will have their Guards of the future in Boling and DeCastro and one of the best lines in the NFL. Add to that the good young skill players and Dalton and the Bengals will have one of the best offenses in the league for years to come.

27. Baltimore Ravens- Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Ray Lewis has been one of the best LB's in the history of the NFL and a mainstay in Baltimore for years. He can't play forever and the Ravens could draft his heir apparent next year. Burfict could play next to Lewis when the Ravens play a 3-4 and learn from him for a couple years.

28. New England Patriots- Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State

The Patriots have to get some pass rushers in next year's draft, don't they? They've passed on some the past few years and have paid the price with a pass defense that can't stop anyone. This has to be the year they don't trade back and actually use their first round picks.

29. San Francisco 49ers- Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Niners took Taylor Mays a couple years ago and he didn't work out. They still have a hole at Strong Safety. If Barron doesn't work out they can trade him to the Bengals for a 6th round pick and Zimmer can getting him playing right.

30. New England Patriots- Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall

That's right, if I'm Bill Belicheck I'm going to double dip with pass rushers. If the Patriots have a good pass rush their defense is at least middle of the pack and they're probably right up there with Green Bay as favorites to win it all.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Barrett Jones, OT, Alabama

The Steelers offensive line has been awful for a few years now. I'm suprised they've won as much as they have, I guess that just proves defense wins championships. Jones can play about anywhere on the line and that is important as the Steelers have holes about everywhere on the line except Center.

32. Green Bay Packers- Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Packers don't really have any holes and this pick is basically a luxury. When you have a situation like that adding depth to an offensive line that protects Aaron Rodgers is always a good thing. Glenn is the top offensive lineman left and getting someone on the interior is important as they have the Lions with Suh and Fairley in their division.