Heights Sports 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – Luck will step into the starting role from day one for the Colts as they begin their rebuilding process with Peyton Manning on his way to Denver.

2. Washington – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – It’s been a long time since Washington had a sure thing at the quarterback position, but RGIII is as close as the Skins are going to get to the real deal. Management will need to surround him with the pieces to succeed because Griffin is entering a franchise in flux.

3. Minnesota – Matt Kalil, OT, USC – The Vikings have plenty of needs, and Kalil will help strengthen a struggling O-line to protect Christian Ponder and open up holes for Purple Jesus.

4. Cleveland – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU - The Browns have some decent players at almost every position except corner. Claiborne will be able to step in right away and solve some of the issues in the Browns’ secondary.

5. Tampa Bay – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – Richardson is too good of a talent to pass up for the Bucs. LeGarrette Blount will be more effective as the No. 2 back behind Richardson, who tore up SEC defenses consistently last season.

6. St. Louis – Justin Blackmon, WR, OSU – Questions have started to pop up about Blackmon’s pro potential, but the Rams would regret passing him up. He won’t lose any of his production value in the NFL. A combination of Blackmon with Sam Bradford could be unstoppable for the next 10 years.

7. Jacksonville - Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina - The Jaguars are one of those teams that need help almost everywhere, and Gilmore is the best player available for them at this spot. He shut down SEC receivers, and will be ready to do the same in the pros.

8. Miami - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M - Although his game tape shows otherwise, Miami seems to be convinced that Tannehill is their guy. This will be a risky move for the Dolphins, but the pieces are their for him if Tannehill is ready to lead an NFL offense.

9. Carolina - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State - There are reports that Kuechly could be snatched up with this pick, but Carolina will probably go with Cox who is almost guaranteed to be a star for a long time on the defensive line.

10. Buffalo - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame - Floyd has blown away scouts in his workouts, and the Bills offense will finally start to look dangerous pairing the young stud up with Stevie Johnson and CJ Spiller.

11. Kansas City - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis - Another potential landing spot for Kuechly, but the Chiefs will probably pass on the BC linebacker and go for the freakishly athletic Poe. The Chiefs’ linebacker situation is a little more solid than their defensive line right now.

12. Seattle - Luke Kuechly, LB, BC - If Kuechly is still available for the Seahawks, there’s no way they pass on him. With almost no depth at the linebacker position, Kuechly can start right away and show the world what he can do.

13. Arizona - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford - The Cardinals desperately need some help on their offensive line, and DeCastro will provide that immediately. Kevin Kolb may finally be able to throw some bombs to Larry FItzgerald with DeCastro giving him protection.

14. Dallas - Mark Barron, S, Alabama - Dallas lacks any kind of presence in the secondary, and Barron is the best guy available who can start to strengthen their pass defense. The Cowboys may even trade up to ensure they get the talented Alabama safety.

15. Philidelphia -  Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina - The Eagles will gladly take Ingram with this pick, who should fall due to other teams picking because of need. He can strengthen the Philly pass rush and drop back into coverage. It’s a win-win.

16. New York - Courtney Upshaw, De/OLB, Alabama - It would be difficult for Rex Ryan to pass on Upshaw. He fits the defensive culture that Ryan has built in New York and also will be the best player available at any position by this point in the draft.