2012 NFL Draft: Final First-Round Predictions

The 2012 NFL Draft begins in just a few hours. SB Nation New York has everything you need to know about the New York Giants, New York Jets and the prospects from Syracuse and Rutgers as the draft approaches. Let's take one final stab at a mock draft, making our last first-round predictions before the draft begins.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford -- The Colts have already announced the pick. Let's move on.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, Baylor -- This is why Washington traded up. Historically, when quarterbacks go 1-2 in the draft one of them is a bust. Will history hold true, or will this year be an exception?

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC -- This is where the fun starts.This pick is what most people think the Vikings should do. Which means it is probably what they won't do. Anyway, I'm going with the chalk here.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama -- I don't like taking running backs this high, so Richardson better be a star. Plus, the Browns are liable to do something crazy here, anyway. But, since I'm not forecasting trades Richardson is the choice.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU -- Again, my mock is following the script up to this point.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) -- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: The final real commonly agreed upon pick in the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina. Draft Countdown's Scott Wright calls this pick a "mock-buster," and he is right. No one really has a grasp on what the Jags will do.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. Reports are that ownership wants Tannehill. Owners, being owners, usually get what they want.

9. Carolina Panthers: Luke Keuchly, LB, Boston College -- The Jaguars have to beef up their defense. Keuchly keeps rising up draft boards and is now thought of a top 10 pick.

10. Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina -- Another 'mock-buster' here. Buffalo could do a lot of things, and Gilmore is considered a top 10 talent.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford -- Does not help the Chiefs defense, but he is the best offensive lineman on the board.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State -- Cox could go as high as No. 7 to the Jags. Seattle is thrilled to find him here.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa -- The Cardinals have major issues on their offensive line, and Reiff is a start toward fixing them.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama -- Dallas has been trying to work around poor safety play for years. Barron helps them take care of that.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis -- The freakishly athletic 346-pound Poe helps the Eagles solidify the soft middle of their defense.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama -- The Jets need a play-maker on the outside of their 3-4 defense.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU -- The Bengals need help on their defensive line and at cornerback. They take care of one of those issues here.

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia -- The Chargers go with the best available offensive lineman.

19. Chicago Bears: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse -- The Bears want a bookend for Julius Peppers, and most believe Jones is the best 4-3 defensive end in the draft.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama -- The Titans need pass rushers and offensive lineman as well, but the go with the cornerback.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame -- Some think Floyd could go as high as No. 7. The Bengals gleefully snap him up at 21.

22. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State -- Simply because the Browns are weird enough to do this.

23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford -- Matthew Stafford is a franchise quarterback, but a fragile one, and the Lions have to keep him in one piece.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama -- Hightowers seems like the perfect Steeler. In this draft, he becomes one.

25. Denver Broncos: Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn -- Most think the Broncos will take the best available defensive tackle.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor -- Word is the Texans want a wide receiver. They waste no time grabbing Wright.

27. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois -- A first step toward increasing the talent on the woeful New England defense.

28. Green Bay Packers: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State -- A bookend for Clay Matthews at outside linebacker.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin -- Can start at guard and then step in for Matt Birk when he retires.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin -- Back-to-back players from Wisconsin.

31. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame -- The Pats might rather have a corner, but Smith is a safer play.

32. New York Giants: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State -- A choice between Martin and Stanford tight end Coby Fleener. Just a suspicion that the Giants will go running back since they signed free-agent tight end Martellus Bennett.

The Mockery Draft - Bomani & Jones, Episode 11 (via sbnation)