My Final First Round Mock Draft

The 2012 NFL Rookie Draft begins on Thursday at 8 PM EST for the first round. So here is my final first round mock draft. I don't do trades in my mock drafts, but in this one if I feel the pick might be traded I will say  that I feel it might be traded and who that trade partner is most likely to be.

1. 1.Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB/Stanford - It was announced this week that the Colts will be selecting the Stanford signal caller with the first overall pick of the 2012 Draft, which is what everyone expected. 
2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB/Baylor - With the Colts announcing that they will be taking Luck, the Redskins will be taking the guy they wanted when they traded a ton of picks to the St. Louis Rams, Baylor's RG3.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT/USC - The Vikings took Christian Ponder last season in the first round, if they want to make sure he doesn't get the crap beat out of him for the next couple of seasons, they need to get a franchise left tackle to protect him. Kalil is that guy. The Vikings might trade this pick to move back a few spots, likely with the Buccanneers if they want to make sure they get Richardson.
4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB/Alabama - I have had them taking Morris Claiborne, but recently I have changed my mind. The Browns need offensive play makers around McCoy. Richardson is a guy who can run the ball between the tackles, get to the edge, catch the ball out of the backfield, and stay in and block. He's the best player available and would help out McCoy the most if the Browns don't trade back.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB/LSU - In this mock draft Richardson is off the board. So here I have them taking Claiborne. While the Buccaneers do need some offensive firepower, I can only see them taking Richardson with this pick if he falls to them. He doesn't, and they need a cornerback here with Ronde Barber being way past his prime and Aqib Talib being indicted on felony charges he might not be available for most or all of the season due to a combination of suspension, court dates, and possibly jail time.
6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR/Oklahoma State - The Rams got a king's ransom for the second overall pick, taking a chance that Blackmon wouldn't be there when they picked at six. In this mock draft I have him still available and the Rams snatch up the guy who's expected to be Sam Bradford's go-to guy in what was a very anemic offense last season.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR/Notre Dame - The Jaguars have plenty of needs. I have them taking Floyd here because their wide receiving corps are extremely underwhelming. Floyd has size and speed. Right now, Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert's most reliable target is his running back. That's just not acceptable. This is another pick that could be traded if Jacksonville can get someone to bite, but with the top six prospects already being gone, it might not be that easy.
8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB/Texas A&M - I don't think Tannehill is a first round pick. He's got all the physical tools, but I don't feel he has the decision making down to be a first rounder, much less a top ten pick. But the NFL is a quarterback driven league, and the Dolphins haven't had a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season. Peyton Manning said no thanks when the 'Phins pursued him this offseason, and Matt Flynn felt that Seattle was a better fit for him even with his former offensive coordinator with the Packers getting the head coach job in Miami. Since nobody wants to go to Miami, they take Tannehill here because he doesn't have a choice of where he is drafted.
9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT/LSU - The Panthers have a need on the interior of their defensive line, and I think they take Brockers here. I had them taking Dontari Poe before, but now I think they take Brockers because he put up the stats that Poe didn't in an inferior league. The Panthers got ran on last season. Brockers can come in and help that problem by plugging up the middle.
10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT/Iowa - The Bills gave quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a huge raise last season and now they need to protect that investment. If Reiff falls to them they need to take him. They don't have anyone currently on the roster that I would trust to protect the blindside of the quarterback. 
11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG/Stanford - The Chiefs need help on their interior offensive line, and DeCastro is the best guard prospect to come into the NFL in years. He can run block, pass block, pull, and trap. He'd help their run game and he would help protect starting quarterback Matt Cassel. If he is there, he will be their pick.
12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/South Carolina - Ingram is likely the top pass rusher in this draft and the Seahawks need to get better at getting after the quarterback. They got Matt Flynn as a free agent, so with this pick they will focus on their defense. Ingram can play both defensive end and outside linebacker giving the Seahawks some flexibility on how to use him in the best way possible.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathon Martin, OT/Stanford - The Cardinals gave a big roster bonus to Kevin Kolb this offseason when they failed to woo Peyton Manning. Now they need to protect that large investment by taking Martin with this pick. Yes, they resigned Levi Brown but he's been average and can be moved over to right tackle where I think he's best suited in the NFL. 
14. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore, CB/South Carolina - The Cowboys got Brandon Carr on free agency, but that still doesn't fix their defensive backfield. Gilmore can play right away if Mike Jenkins doesn't play well to start the season and even if he does, he's likely not returning in 2013 anyhow so Gilmore would then be able to step right in with a year's NFL experience. 
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT/Mississippi State - The Eagles reportedly love Cox (see what I did there?) and if he falls to them, they will be sprinting to the podium to hand in the card with his name on it. Last year the Eagles were gashed up the middle by teams and Fletcher Cox would come in and play very well on Philly's offensive scheme. 
16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/Alabama - The Jets have had to blitz to get pressure on the quarterback under Rex Ryan. Taking Upshaw here would likely end that trent because Upshaw would be a pass rushing beast in Ryan's scheme. 
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB/Alabama - The Bengals aren't a team to worry about red flags, so they aren't going to worry about the fact that Kirkpatrick was recently in some trouble for possession of marijuana. Leon Hall suffered an Achilles injury last season and may not be ready to start the season. Even if he is, Nate Clements is getting up there in age and was average at best last season. Even if Kirkpatrick didn't start this season, he likely would step in on the other side of Hall in 2013.
18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, OLB/Illinois - The Chargers need to find a pass rusher, something they haven't had since Sean Merriman was running on steroids collecting quarterback sacks like kids collect Hot Wheels cars. With the addition of Peyton Manning to the division with the Broncos, getting to the QB is going to be high on the list for the Chargers with former Pro Bowl quarterbacks on every other team in the division.
19. Chicago Bears: Dontari Poe, DT/Memphis - It's widely believed that the Bears will be taking the best available defensive lineman with this pick, and Poe is there for this pick. He's an athlete in that huge body and can be a great player for the Bears for years. If Poe falls to da Bears, he will be snatched up quickly.
20. Tennessee Titans: Janoris Jenkins, CB/North Alabama - I don't recognize a single name on the list of cornerbacks for the Titans. They lost Cortland Finnegan to the Rams, so I have them taking Jenkins who can likely come in and start right away in the Titans defensive backfield. They also could go defensive end or defensive tackle here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG/Georgia - The Bengals could go a couple of different ways here, but I think they make the safest pick and take Glenn to replace Bobby Williams on the offensive line. If they don't go Glenn, I can see them going defensive end possibly.
22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR/Baylor - The Browns also need a top flight wideout to help McCoy and Wright is a speedster who can get past defenses or run shorter routes and get yards after the catch. Right now, there isn't a receiver on the Browns that would be better than third string on most other teams, so they need to find a receiver who can make plays. They might also go offensive tackle here if one is available that they like.
23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, SS/Alabama - He's likely the best player available and he fills a need. The Lions defensive secondary is pretty bad, and Barron would step in right away at the strong safety position. The Lions could also go offensive tackle with this pick.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB/Alabama - The Steelers cut James Farrior in a salary cap move, so they have a pretty big hole at the position. Hightower was born to play linebacker for the Steelers, and if he falls to them they will select him quickly. He might even be able to step in and start next to Lawrence Timmons to start the season. However if Cordy Glenn is available here, he would be their pick.
25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT/Michigan State - The Broncos need to beef up the interior of their defensive line. They lost Brodrick Bunkley over the offseason, and he played very well for them last season. This is probably the highest Worthy will be selected, and he would also bring a mean streak to the defensive line of the Broncos. If Worthy isn't there for some reason, the Broncos would likely go interior offensive line.
26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR/Georgia Tech - The days of Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter across from Andre Johnson will finally be over for Texans fans when they select Stephen Hill in the first round. He hasn't had many catches because of the type of offense Tech runs, but the one stat that does stand out is his Yard Per Reception average (25.47 for his career and 29.3 last season), which shows that he's a big play receiver. He's fast, big, and physical. Hill is also an outstanding downfield blocker, something that Arian Foster will love. Just look at the two other first round receivers that have come out of Georgia Tech, Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson.
27. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, DE-OLB/Boise State - McClellin is shooting up draft boards, and McClellin reminds me a lot of former Patriot outside linebacker Mike Vrabel. The Patriots had a horrible defense last season and they are trying to build it back up. McClellin could play both defensive end and outside linebacker in their hybrid defense.
28. Green Bay Packers: Harrison Smith, SS/Notre Dame - The Packers need help in the defensive secondary, and Smith can step in a play the strong safety position for them from the get-go. Charlie Peprah was torched repeatedly last season and Nick Collins career is in jeopardy. The Packers defense fell off last season after being pretty dominant the season they won the Super Bowl. It needs to be fixed if they want to stay on top of the NFC North.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, OG-OC/Wisconsin - Peter King is reporting that for some reason, the Ravens don't like Konz. I personally think it's a smokescreen because they don't want anyone jumping in front of them to take him. They lost their starting Ben Grubbs to the New Orleans Saints. He could step in and play guard right away. Center Matt Birk contemplated retirement this offseason, so Konz could then replace Birk after this season if he chooses to retire next offseason.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, OG/Wisconsin - The 49ers love to run the ball with Frank Gore. They also added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham to help with the offensive firepower to go along with tight end Vernon Davis. Zeitler can clear holes for Gore and help protect quarterback Alex Smith so he can connect with his receiving options. 
31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT/Penn State - There have been rumors that the Patriots are looking to trade this pick. If so, then they obviously won't be making this selection. However, they have not traded it yet and I have them taking the Nittany Lion here to help beef up the 4-3 front of the Patriots line. He would be an excellent player next to mammoth tackle Vince Wilfork. He could also play DE when the Patriots line up in a 3-4 front.
32. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly, MLB/Boston College - He falls all the way to the end of the first round to be snatched up by the defending Super Bowl Champions. He'd be in a great situation with an excellent pass rush up front allowing him to go sideline-to-sideline making tackles. He would start in the middle of the Giants defense from day one.