Since we can't get into the draft rooms to see every team's board, we checked with those who have a strong knowledge of each NFL team, the writers assigned to cover them. Patriots Football Weekly polled beat reporters from every NFL city and compiled a 2012 mock draft with their opinions and comments.
The following Writers' Mock Draft appears in the April 11th edition of Patriots Football Weekly on newsstands now.
| Pick | Team | Player | Pos. | School | Writer | Other needs |
| 1. | Indianapolis Colts | Andrew Luck | QB | Stanford | Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star | WR, DT, TE, DB |
| Writers Comments: With Peyton Manning gone, Jim Irsay sees Luck as Manning II. All Luck has to do is pick up where Manning left off. Good Luck (pun intended). | ||||||
| 2. | Washington Redskins | Robert Griffin III | QB | Baylor | David Elfin, * 106.7 The Fan* | T, ILB, S, CB |
| Writers Comments:The Redskins traded first-rounders in 2012-14 and their second-rounder this year to move up because they haven't had a franchise QB in 70 years.
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| 3. | Minnesota Vikings | Matt Kalil | T | USC | Kevin Seifter, ESPN.com | DB, DL, OL |
| Writers Comments:The Vikings need a left tackle and Kalil is the best player in the draft after Luck and Griffin. Hard to ignore that combination.
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| 4. | Cleveland Browns | Justin Blackmon | WR | Oklahoma State | Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer | QB, OL, DB |
| Writers Comments:The Browns need some weapons on offense to help young Colt McCoy and Blackmon is widely regarded as the best wide receiver in the draft.
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| 5. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Morris Claiborne | CB | LSU | Pat Yasinskas,ESPN.com | DB, LB, OL |
| Writers Comments:Ronde Barber is likely in his final season and Aqib Talib could face prison time. The Bucs have a chance to add an elite cornerback and will jump.
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| 6. | St. Louis Rams | Trent Richardson | RB | Alabama | Jim Thomas,St. Louis Post-Dispatch | WR, DB, OLB, G |
| Writers Comments:Steven Jackson remains an elite back but Richardson may be the best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson. Rams are also open to trading down.
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| 7. | Jacksonville Jaguars | Melvin Ingram | DE | South Carolina | Tania Ganguli,Florida Times-Union | WR, C, S |
| Writers Comments:The Jaguars pass rush has improved but still needs improvement. Ingram is an athletic and versatile pass rusher who could aid that area.
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| 8. | Miami Dolphins | Quinton Coples | DE | North Carolina | Ben Volin,Palm Beach Post | QB, WR, DB, OL |
| Writers Comments:The Dolphins could very well go with quarterback Ryan Tannehill here but the athletic Coples gives the defensive front a much needed boost.
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| 9. | Carolina Panthers | Luke Kuechly | ILB | Boston College | Darin Gantt,ESPN 730 AM | DT, OT, CB, WR |
| Writers Comments:Panthers will try hard to trade down from this spot. If not, take a sure impact player. Kuechly could allow them to move Jon Beason to WLB.
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| 10. | Buffalo Bills | Jonathan Martin | T | Stanford | Chris Brown,Buffalobills.com | OL, LB, DB |
| Writers Comments:Some might call it a reach, but a three-year starter at LT in a pro-style offense who protected a future NFL franchise QB is just what Buffalo needs.
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| 11. | Kansas City Chiefs | Ryan Tannehill | QB | Texas A&M | Adam Teicher,Kansas City Star | NT, WR, S |
| Writers Comments:Chiefs don't have obvious holes to fill, so they're free to take best player. Tannehill gives them a fallback if Matt Cassel fails to establish himself.
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| 12. | Seattle Seahawks | Nick Perry | DE | USC | Danny O'Neil,Seattle Times | DL, LB, OL |
| Writers Comments:Pass rush is Seahawks biggest need. This is higher than most expect Perry to go, but his speed makes him a great fit. Seahawks would love Kuechly.
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| 13. | Arizona Cardinals | David DeCastro | G | Stanford | Darren Urban, * azcardinals.com* | WR, T, LB |
| Writers Comments:Cards could go a couple different ways. I could see Michael Floyd or Cordy Glenn. They also could go pass rusher if one falls and can play OLB in 3-4.
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| 14. | Dallas Cowboys | Mark Barron | S | Alabama | Todd Archer, ESPNDallas.com | DE, CB, DT, OLB |
| Writers Comments:The Cowboys added Brodney Pool in free agency but only for one year. Jason Garrett's only pro day this year was to Alabama.
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| 15. | Philadelphia Eagles | Fletcher Cox | DT | Mississippi State | Dave Spadaro, * Eagles.com* | RB, WR, S |
| Writers Comments:He is too versatile to pass up and he helps the Eagles improve the middle of their defense in front of new MLB DeMeco Ryans.
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| 16. | New York Jets | Courtney Upshaw | OLB | Alabama | Rich Cimini, ESPNNewYork.com | WR, T, S |
| Writers Comments:The Jets No. 1 need is pass rush. Upshaw also would be heir apparent to OLB Bryan Thomas, who is back on a one-year contract.
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| 17. | Cincinnati Bengals | Cordy Glenn | G | Georgia | Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com | CB, WR, OLB |
| Writers Comments:Bengals don't have a history of taking guards early but they're looking to add depth to their offensive line and are really open to taking anything.
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| 18. | San Diego Chargers | Whitney Mercilus | DE/OLB | Illinois | Michael Gehlkin, San Diego Union-Tribune | SS, OL |
| Writers Comments:Mercilus becomes the latest measure to improve NFL's worst third-down defense since 1995. Mercilus led nation 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles.
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| 19. | Chicago Bears | Michael Floyd | WR | Notre Dame | Brad Biggs, * Chicago Tribune* | DT, DE, DB |
| Writers Comments:Bears are expected to focus on the defensive line but with some of the top prospects off the board Floyd could be too tempting to pass up.
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| 20. | Tennessee Titans | Michael Brockers | DT | LSU | Jim Wyatt, The Tennesseean | DE, CB, OL, LB |
| Writers Comments:The Titans have greater needs at end, but they won't reach. Brockers is a game-changer who could make an immediate impact on defense.
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| 21. | Cincinnati Bengals | Lamar Miller | RB | Miami | Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com | CB, WR, OLB |
| Writers Comments:Jay Gruden is looking to go with a rotation in the backfield and would like to add a piece to go with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Miller would be a good fit.
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| 22. | Cleveland Browns | Mike Adams | T | Ohio State | Mary Kay Cabot, * Cleveland Plain Dealer* | QB, OL, DB |
| Writers Comments:The attempts to improve the offense continue with an effort to bolster the offensive line. Adams and Joe Thomas could be solid bookends for years.
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| 23. | Detroit Lions | Stephon Gilmore | CB | South Carolina | Chris McCosky, * Detroit News* | RB, DB, LB |
| Writers Comments:This would be a dream scenario for the Lions. The best available player matches their biggest positional need.
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| 24. | Pittsburgh Steelers | Dontari Poe | DT | Memphis | Scott Brown, * Pittsburgh Tribune-Review* | ILB, T, G |
| Writers Comments:With Casey Hampton in the last year of his contract and on the way out, the Steelers need some help inside up front. Poe is the perfect need/value pick.
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| 25. | Denver Broncos | Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | Alabama | Mike Klis, Denver Post | DL, WR, DB |
| Writers Comments:With Peyton Manning on board to bolster the offense, the Broncos need some help on the other side, and Champ Bailey isn't getting any younger.
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| 26. | Houston Texans | Stephen Hill | WR | Georgia Tech | John McClain, * Houston Chronicle* | OLB, T, G |
| Writers Comments:Starting WRs Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, both of whom are 6-3, will turn 31 before the season. They're looking for another big WR to develop.
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| 27. | New England Patriots | Janoris Jenkins | CB | North Alabama | PFW Staff | DL, DB, WR |
| Writers Comments:Jenkins brings some pretty significant baggage to the NFL but there's no denying his talent. He's the best player available and fills a huge need.
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| 28. | Green Bay Packers | Kevin Zeitler | G | Wisconsin | Bill Huber, * Packer Report* | OLB, S, DE |
| Writers Comments:With Mercilus and Perry off the board, the pass rush will have to wait. Zeitler, a dominant guard, will be groomed to be the center of the future.
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| 29. | Baltimore Ravens | Peter Konz | C | Wisconsin | Aaron Wilson, * Carroll County Times / Scout.com* | OL, WR, PR |
| Writers Comments:The Ravens have Matt Birk, but he's 35 and year-to-year at this stage. Konz is an athletic, technically sound blocker who's big enough to play left guard.
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| 30. | San Francisco 49ers | Kendall Wright | WR | Baylor | Dan Brown, * San Jose Mercury News* | CB, OL, WR |
| Writers Comments:Even after adding veterans Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, the 49ers are looking to upgrade WR corps that had just one catch in NFC title game.
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| 31. | New England Patriots | Jerel Worthy | DT | Michigan State | PFW Staff | DL, DB, WR |
| Writers Comments:The Patriots are always a threat to move out of the round at this point but athletic interior d-linemen like Worthy aren't easy to find.
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| 32. | New York Giants | Riley Reiff | T | Iowa | Ralph Vacchiano, New York Daily News | RB, TE, MLB, WR |
| Writers Comments:The Giants didn't bring back Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl will be 32. It's unlikely Reiff will be there but he's a guy they can build their line around.
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