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2012 Writers' Mock Draft

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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