Updated: April 2

FIRST ROUND

1. Indianapolis Colts:
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Easy selection here for the Colts at the top of the first round. Andrew Luck is not only clear and away the best prospect in this draft class, but he might be the best prospect the NFL has seen in the past decade.

2. Washington Redskins (f/StL):
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Pretty clear cut pick here, the Redskins traded away a fortune to try to get a franchise quarterback.  RG3 is going to have to be very good to justify the ransom the ‘Skins paid.

3. Minnesota Vikings:
Matt Kalil, OT, USC

In order to protect their asset in Ponder, the Vikings will look to add the draft’s best offensive tackle here in the top three. Kalil headlined a stout USC Trojan offensive line that only allowed eight sacks as a unit in all of 2011. Impressive stuff.

4. Cleveland Browns:
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

There has been speculation that the Browns could choose Ryan Tannehill here, but that would be far too high for a player that was never dominant at the college level.  Trent Richardson is not just the best running back in this class, but the best prospect of the last few drafts.  The Browns really need offensive playmakers and Richardson is a good start.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber are both solid corners at their position. However, character concerns are always an issue for Talib, and Barber isn’t getting any younger. In today’s NFL, three above average corners are becoming more of a priority than a luxury. Claiborne was part of a stout defensive unit at LSU and figures to be one of the first (if not the first) defensive player off the board.

6. St. Louis Rams:
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

Blackmon is the unquestioned best WR in the draft and the Rams need to give Sam Bradford, who as shown potential to be “the guy” in St. Louis, all the help they can.  With all of the picks they squeezed out of Washington, the Rams might not be in rebuilding mode for long.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars:
Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Surprise, surprise. Every year there’s a pick in the top ten that makes people scratch their heads a little bit, and the Jaguars are all too familiar with the phenomenon. In 2010, the team reached for Tyson Alualu in the top ten when he was widely regarded as a late first round pick. With Blaine Gabbert getting the look as a franchise quarterback, the Jags could look to add Hill to make his job a little bit easier.

8. Miami Dolphins:
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Look for Miami to reach for Tannehill here.  Tannehill has been impressing teams in individual workouts and the Dolphins are just desperate enough at quarterback to take a chance on him.

9. Carolina Panthers:
Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Adding a blue chipper on the defensive side of the ball would be the ideal scenario for the Panthers in the first round, and they have exactly that in Quinton Coples.

10. Buffalo Bills:
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Bills started off the season great but faltered down the stretch.  Improving in the trenches will be critical for next season.  With the Mario Williams acquisition helping the defensive front, Buffalo will be happy to take the best offensive lineman available.

- Continue reading 2012 NFL Mock Draft 7.03

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