2012 NFL Draft (Willy’s) Round 1, 1/13
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Willy’s Mock Draft: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4
1. Indianapolis Colts- QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
This pick simply has to be Andrew Luck. The Colts can’t rely on Manning’s health, and Luck is the best QB prospect in quite some time.
2. St. Louis Rams- OT Matt Kalil, USC
The Rams have many needs, but Kalil fills their most important one. If they don’t improve their protection than Bradford will be a wasted pick because he’ll never develop.
3. Minnesota Vikings- WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Vikings could go corner or offensive tackle here, but Blackmon might be too good to pass up.
4. Cleveland Browns- QB Robert Griffin, Baylor
The Browns can’t hope that Colt McCoy is the answer no matter how much talent they put around him. Griffin is a great pick here, especially with a team that still has an extra first rounder.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
A lot could depend on who the Bucs next coach is, but Tampa shouldn’t let LeGarrett Blount stop them from taking Richardson. That being said, OT and CB are major needs as well.
6. Washington Redskins- OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
The Redskins line is a joke right now, and without a quarterback on the board worth taking Reiff is a smart safe pick. Trading back is also a strong option (as is I guess trading up, but I wouldn’t recommend it).
7. Jacksonville Jaguars- CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
This is definitely a potential trade spot (possibly to move up to get Blackmon) as the Jaguars are desperate for a WR. Defensive end makes some sense as well, but I’d guess this is a bit too early for Coples. Instead Jacksonville can get a shut down CB.
8. Miami Dolphins- CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
The Dolphins should be thrilled to land a talent like Kirkpatrick as he’d be a huge upgrade over their current corners.
9. Carolina Pathers- DT Devon Still, Penn State
The Panthers had nothing to stop teams from running right through them last year. Still would be a major fix to their interior line problem, and give them some inside pass rush as well.
10. Buffalo Bills- DE/OLB Quinton Coples, UNC
The Bills biggest need is fixing their pass rush, which was basically non-existent last season. If they feel Coples can stand up, he should be their guy.
11. Kansas City Chiefs- OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford
The Chiefs O-line could use a bit of an overhaul, and Martin would be a fantastic addition to the team.
12. Seattle Seahawks- DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
The Seahawks have to get better a better pass rush and Ingram is a great fit as a 4-3 DE.
13. Arizona Cardinals- G David DeCastro, Stanford
This is without a doubt the Cardinals biggest need. Arizona’s line is just atrocious, and needs to be their top offseason priority.
14. Dallas Cowboys- OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
The Cowboys have a couple of options here, but I think they might like the idea of finding that bookend to Ware.
15. Philadelphia Eagles- LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
The Eagles LB’s have been awful this year. Kuechly would be a MAJOR improvement here.
16. New York Jets- WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Jets have a variety of needs, but if Plaxico Burress doesn’t come back and Holmes talks his way out of NY, this make sense.
17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Raiders)- G/T Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
The Bengals line is good, but they could use some interior help. Osemele could turn a solid offensive line into an elite unit.
18. San Diego Chargers- CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
The Chargers corners really struggled this year, and gave up too many big plays.
19. Chicago Bears- C Peter Konz, Wisconsin
Bears need to start protecting Cutler, and Konz is a great value here.
20. Tennessee Titans-DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
The interior of the Titans line could use an upgrade. Worthy has big time potential and could be a star DT.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
This is an absolute steal for Cincy if they can land Dennard here.
22. Cleveland Browns (via Falcons)- WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
While Kendall Wright is an option, Jeffery has a higher upside. Him and Greg Little would give the Browns and Griffin the weapons to have a top passing attack.
23. Detroit Lions- OLB Zach Brown, UNC
The Lions could use another OLB for their defense.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers- ILB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
The Steelers need to find a successor to James Farrior.
25. Denver Broncos- DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson
The Broncos DT’s are the weakpoint of their defense. They aren’t horrible, but they also don’t bring much to the table either.
26. New York Giants- S Mark Barron, Alabama
Barron is moving his way up draft boards and could really fix NY’s safety void.
27. Houston Texans- WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
The Texans could use a speedster to go along with Andre Johnson.
28. San Francisco 49ers- G/T Cordy Glenn, Georgia
For a team that lives and dies by the run, they could use an upgrade along their offensive line.
29. Baltimore Ravens- ILB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
The Ravens can find Ray Lewis’s successor here, and have shown no qualms with taking players with some question marks in the past.
30. New England Patriots (via Saints)- DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
The Pats could use a nice 3-tech tackle, but Cox is also a fit b/c he can play DE in 3-4 alignments.
31. New England Patriots- DE Nick Perry, USC
New England needs to generate more pass rush and Perry is the guy who can do it.
32. Green Bay Packers- OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
The Packers need a bookend to Clay Matthews and Mercilus is the best guy on the board.