2012 NFL Mock Draft w/trades: Round 1, 2/23

Mock Draft: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

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1. Indianapolis Colts- QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

2. Miami Dolphins (via St. Louis)- QB Robert Griffin, Baylor : Rams get picks 9, 2nd, 3rd round this year, and 1st, 2nd, and 6th round next year

3. Minnesota Vikings- OT Matt Kalil, USC

4. Cleveland Browns-RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

6.  Philadelphia Eagles (via Washington)- MLB Luke Kuechly, Boston College: Redskins get 15^th, 46th, and 114, and a 6th round pick (via NE).

7. Jaguars- WR Justin Blackmon, Ok.State

8. St. Louis Rams (via Miami)- OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

9. Carolina Panthers- DT Michael Brockers, LSU

10. Chicago Bears (via Buffalo)- WR Kendall Wright, Baylor: (Buffalo gets 19th and 2nd and 4th round picks)

11. Kansas City Chiefs: OG David DeCastro, Stanford

12. San Diego Chargers (via Seattle): OT Mike Adams, Ohio State (Seattle gets 18, 3rd and 7th round picks)

13. Arizona Cardinals: OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

15. Detroit Lions (via Washington): C Peter Konz, Wisconsin (Redskins get Lions picks: 23rd and 2nd rounder)

16. New York Jets: OLB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

17. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

18. Seattle Seahawks: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

19. Buffalo Bills (via Chicago): DE Quinton Coples, UNC

20. Tennessee Titans: DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

21. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

22. Denver Broncos (via Cleveland): DT Devon Still, Penn State: (Browns receive 25th pick, plus 3rd rounder in 2013 and 6th rounder in 2012)

23. Washington Redskins: OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia

24.  Green Bay Packers (via Pittsburgh): OLB Nick Perry, USC (Pittsburgh gets 28th pick, 4th round and 6th round picks)

25. Cleveland Browns (via Denver): OLB Zach Brown, UNC

26. Houston Texans: WR Rueban Randle, LSU

27. New England Patriots: DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Pittsburgh): WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers (Steelers receive Tampa’s 2nd and 3rd round picks)

29. Baltimore Ravens: MLB Don’ta Hightower, Alabama

30. San Francisco 49ers: SS Mark Barron, Alabama

31. New England Patriots: DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

32. New York Giants: TE Coby Fleener, Stanford

Reasons for each move:

A. Dolphins-Rams: The Dolphins look poised to make a splash this year, and if they miss out on Peyton Manning they could go ‘all-in’ on getting a quarterback. From the Rams perspective, they get a ton of picks the next two years and still get a top 10 player.

B. Eagles-Redskins: The Eagles have a number of extra draft picks, and few primary needs. One of their biggest needs is at MLB, where the top player Luke Kuechly should be well off the board, by the time the Eagles pick. From the Redskins perspective, they are a team in need of both starting and depth players so a trade back that lands them multiple picks is a big win for them.

C. Bears-Bills: The Bears lack of receivers is a big issue and needs to be fully addressed this year. I think they will make a move up for one of the top 2 guys. The Bills can be pretty confident with this move back of still landing a top pass rusher, and they get some extra picks in the process.

D. Chargers-Seahawks: The Chargers are desperate for offensive line help this offseason and a LT has to be a top priority. Their offense is extremely talented, but they lack an offensive line which needs to be fixed. From the Seahawks perspective, there is a deep class of first round pass rushers, plus Ryan Tannehill on the board. Seattle can move back a couple spots, and still pick up one of their top needs.

E. Lions-Redskins: The Lions really want to land one of the top offensive linemen in this draft class, and their only way to do so will probably be to trade up. While they will miss that 2nd rounder, protecting Matthew Stafford has to be a priority this year.For the Skins they weigh the risk of losing out on Ryan Tannehill, with adding another pick for their rebuild.

F. Broncos-Browns: The Broncos move up a few spots to nab one of the best players in the draft, who also happens to fill a need for them. As for the Browns, with Tannehill and most of the receivers off the board, they pick up some extra selections and still can land another top 25 talent. (Note: I previously had this pick a 4th rounder in 2012 as compensation, but I changed it to a 2013 3rd rounder)

G. Packers-Pittsburgh: The Packers jump up to ensure they land the last of the premier pass rushers. With few major needs they can sacrifice some later round picks.For the Steelers they pick up a pair of picks for moving down in the draft. Pittsburgh is in desperate need of cheap, young talent, as their age is beginning to show and they are in serious cap trouble this year.

H.Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh: The Buccaneers need to land a receiver, and it just so happens that their new head coach had such a player last year at Rutgers (Sanu). The Bucs jump ahead of all the WR needy teams at the top of round 2, and land a guy who fits them perfectly. For the Steelers they continue to add extra picks.

Mock Draft: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4