The first 2012 NFL Mock Draft of the Season! Please visit the 2012 NFL Draft blog for NFL Draft player profiles and other NFL Draft news and information at my: NFL Draft Blog
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1. Washington Redskins: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 
2012 NFL Mock Draft #1 QB
It seems that right now the top pick for the 2012 NFL Draft seems to be Andrew Luck. Unless a team like Carolina or Tennessee has the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft I think that Andrew Luck will be the top selection. Even if Tennessee or Carolina has the top pick I think they would be willing to trade out of the pick because from what it seems teams will do anything they can to get this guy. He is my top rated QB in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft and my top rated overall player in my 2012 NFL Mock Draft. According to Kiper and McShay he is a top tier talent and the people are talking about Luck he is the best player since Peyton Manning. This 2012 NFL Mock Draft has the Redskins as the top pick because as of now Washington’s starter for next year are career backups. So all in all I think that this would be a very good fit for the Redskins in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft.
2. Buffalo Bills: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
2012 NFL Mock Draft #2 QB
I am surrounded by Buffalo Bills fans and some of them like Ryan Fitzpatrick while others think he is a career backup. I believe with the latter that Fitzpatrick is not a starter in the NFL and that the Bills will not be a good team until they get a good QB in the NFL Draft. With this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I have them selecting the best available QB in Matt Barkley. I am not sure yet if he or Landry Jones is better suited for this pick in the Draft but for the time being Matt Barkley is the 2nd rated QB in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Another option that the Bills would go with in the 2nd overall slot of the 2012 NFL Draft would be the top rated Offensive Tackle. In order to have a good QB I think you need to have a good offensive line to be able to run the ball as well as block for the QB. All said and done I am not sure if Barkley would be a good fit in Buffalo seeing as he is a California boy but for the time being this is the pick for Buffalo especially if they are drafting 2nd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
3. Denver Broncos: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
2012 NFL Mock Draft #1 CB
The Denver Broncos surprised a lot of people with the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. A lot of people thought it was a lock for them to take Marcell Dareus but they decided to pass on him in the 2011 NFL Draft for the pass rusher in Von Miller. I think that Miller is a good pass rusher but I don’t think he fits their scheme as well as Dareus would have. That being said I don’t have them targeting a DT with this pick in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft. With Champ Bailey being resigned I think that is why they passed on Patrick Peterson in the 2011 NFL Draft but I think they still need to address the other CB position. Dre Kirkpatrick plays for a very good Alabama team and is considered to be the top CB in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft. I still am not sure who is going to be the long term QB for the Broncos but I think they are going to give Tebow a shot at it for a couple of years. All said and done I think this pick is a CB or an offensive lineman. In this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I have them taking the very versatile CB and I think he will be an immediate starter.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
2012 NFL Mock Draft #1 OT
The Cardinals biggest needs going into the 2011 NFL Draft were QB and offensive line help. While they got some very good players in Patrick Peterson and Ryan Williams they still have a lot of needs to address in the 2012 NFL Draft. A lot of talk is going around about them getting Kevin Kolb. Due to this and also the fact that the top 2 QB’s are already off the board is the reason I do not have the Cardinals taking a QB with this pick in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Interior offensive line is a big need but taking and interior lineman this high in the NFL Draft is unheard of. So I have them improving their tackle play in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft with the top rated OT of this 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Matt Kalil has a Brother in the NFL already who was a 2nd round pick by the Carolina Panthers. He is a very good Offensive Lineman and I think that Ryan Kalil will only help Matt Kalil’s stock in the 2012 NFL Draft. All said and done I think that as long as he can stay healthy he will be a top 5 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
2012 NFL Mock Draft #2 OT
The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best if not the best running back in the NFL. In the 2011 NFL Draft they made what a lot of people say was the “biggest reach” pick in Christian Ponder the QB out of Florida State. I think that he is going to need some time to develop so I think they need to continue to have a very good run game. In this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I have them taking a very good OT out of Iowa in this Mock Draft. Iowa has had some very good Offensive Tackles drafted out of their school and Reiff is just the next in line. He will help protect Ponder and open up holes for Peterson in the run game.
6. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St
2012 NFL Mock Draft #1 WR
The Cleveland Browns made a big first round trade in the 2011 NFL Draft. In making this trade they passed on Julio Jones who a lot of people considered the 2nd best WR in the 2011 NFL Draft. Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery are the two top rated Wide Receivers in the 2012 NFL Mock Draft. A lot of people have jumped on the Alshon Jeffery band wagon but in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I have Justin Blackmon as my top rated WR. I think that he is can do it all and he has the ability to be a deep threat as well as an every down WR in the NFL. With the Browns picking 6th overall in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I think they really need to address the WR position and give Colt McCoy some weapons to throw to.
7. Cincinnati Bengals: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
2012 NFL Mock Draft #1 DE
The Bengals are starting off fresh with their QB it seems in the NFL Season. They got a top tier WR in the 2011 NFL Draft and their QB of the future in Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense in the last year was not as good as it has been in years past. With this top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Mock Draft the Bengals select a very good Defensive End in the 2012 NFL Draft. Coples is a very athletic defensive end who has the ability to rush the passer and help against the run. With this 2012 NFL Mock Draft pick I think the Bengals get a very good player who can start for years to come.
8. Carolina Panthers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
2012 NFL Mock Draft #2 WR
The Carolina Panthers took Cam Newton 1st overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Panthers don’t really have a great option for Cam Newton to throw the ball to as Steve Smith seems to be on his way out and they don’t really have any other options. So in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft I have them selecting a very good WR with good size. Jeffery can do it all especially around the red zone he would be a great option for Cam Newton in the NFL. However, this pick could also be a top tier Offensive lineman or defensive lineman in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft but with Jeffery being available with this pick I think the Panthers need to give Cam Newton a weapon to throw to.
