A pick-by-pick look at Thursday night’s first round of the 2012 NFL draft, by the Charlotte Observer’s Ron Green Jr.:
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: Now that Peyton Manning has exited Indianapolis, the keys to the kingdom belong to Luck, who seems to have just about everything a team could want in a quarterback. He’s strong, smart and a natural leader with an exceptional sense of how to play. Like Manning 14 years ago, Luck isn’t stepping into a team loaded with talent but he’s the player around which everything will be built in Indianapolis. The Colts immediately got much better.
2. Washington Redskins(ASTERISK): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: When the Redskins made their blockbuster trade to acquire the second pick in the draft, they knew who they wanted and they got him Thursday night. In his Heisman Trophy-winning senior year, Griffin showed his uncommon blend of skills coupled with his almost infectious energy on the field. Griffin, like Cam Newton before him, redefines the quarterback role with his physical style of play, creating a multitude of problems for opponents trying to contain him.
3. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB,Alabama: The Browns so wanted Richardson that they swapped draft positions with the Vikings and gave up three picks to do it. Richardson gives the Browns a dynamic running back who can add much-needed diversity to an offense that needs a spark. Richardson has great speed and vision and has been compared to Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith by some. He wound up fifth on Alabama’s all-time rushing list.
4. Minnesota Vikings Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal: The Vikings got their man in Kalil, considered the best offensive line prospect in the draft. The brother of Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil, the Southern Cal star excelled in college and in the NFL scouting combine which reinforced his place as the top lineman in the draft. He’s following in the family tradition as his father, Frank, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and wound up playing for the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars, Justin Blackmon, WR, Ok. State: The Jaguars wanted Blackmon badly enough that they traded up to make sure they got the player considered to be the best downfield receiving threat available. Blackmon isn’t pure speed. He’s quick but he knows how to use his body and understands how to put himself in godo positions. He’s a match-up nightmare for smaller cornerbacks and he should immediately give the Jags a deep threat they’ve needed.
6. Dallas Cowboys, Morris Claiborne, DB, LSU: The Cowboys traded up to get who they wanted – a superior defensive back prospect who can instantly upgrade their secondary. He won the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and was a key reason LSU reached the national championship game. Claiborne has shown the ability to jump routes and plays with great confidence, a critical ingredient for successful defensive backs.
7. Tampa Bay Bucs, Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: The Bucs took a big step to upgrade its defensive secondary in drafting Barron, who was a major piece in Alabama’s spectacular national championship defense last season. Barron’s skills reach beyond the field and into the locker room where he was credited with being one of the leaders of the Crimson Tide. At 6-1, 213 pounds, Barron will be a big presence at safety for the Bucs.
8. Miami Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: The Dolpins reunited Tannehill with his former head coach in College Station, Tex., Mike Sherman who is the new offensive coordinator in south Florida. Tannehill was widely considered to be the Dolphins’ primary target and a player who will push former Panther Matt Moore immediately. He had to wait to play in college but he may not have to wait long to play in the NFL.
9. Carolina Panthers, Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: The Panthers drafted one of the most talented players on the board in Kuechly, who did seemingly everything exceptionally well. Beyond his eye-popping stats, Kuechly showed an uncommon feel for the game through his three seasons at Boston College. He gives the Panthers needed insurance as linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis work their way back from injuries. He also excels in pass coverage.
10. Buffalo Bills, Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: Gilmore rocketed up draft charts in the evaluation period and the Bills jumped at the chance to add the Rock Hill, S.C., native to their secondary. Gilmore made an immediate impact at South Carolina with his athleticism and football instincts. He’s shown a knack for making quick reads and he has good speed to handle wide receivers. Gilmore has also shown an ability to be a big hitter.
11. Kansas City Chiefs, Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis: Poe was an intriguing prospect for several teams looking for defensive help up front, especially after he impressed scouts with his performance at the combine. He will give the Chiefs a big body in the middle of the defensive line, helping them slow opponents on the inside. At times, Poe can provide pressure on quarterbacks with his bulk but some questioned why he wasn’t more dominant in college.
12. Philadelphia Eagles, Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi State: The Eagles moved up to draft Cox, who many had penciled in to the Panthers with the ninth pick. Cox appears to be an ideal fit in a 3-4 defense and has been compared to Richard Seymour. He can drop into pass coverage and should have few problems handling tight ends downfield. Has excellent lateral movement and can quickly change direction.
13. Arizona Cardinals, Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: The Cardinals found someone to take some of the defensive attention away from superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Floyd was considered the second-best receiver prospect in the draft with an ideal combination of size, speed and acceleration. He has been compared to former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson.
14. St. Louis Rams, Michael Brockers, DT LSU: Looking for a player to build around in the middle of the defense, new coach Jeff Fisher can start with Brockers. He’s an impressive physical presence with 35-inch arms and the agility to move laterally along the line. He didn’t have many quarterback sacks but he played with a big presence.
15. Seattle Seahawks, Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia: Some analysts felt Irvin was the best pure pass rusher in the draft but there were some character concerns. He had a difficult upbringing but when he was on the field for the Mountaineers, he was dominating at times. The Seahawks picked up two late-round picks by trading down three spots with the Eagles.
16. New York Jets: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: There was plenty of smoke around Coples and the Panthers prior to the draft before the Panthers settled on Luke Kuechly. Coples has immense potential but there questions about how hard he played last season in Chapel Hill when his production declined. Rex Ryan hopes he’s another Julius Peppers.
17. Cincinnati Bengals, Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: It quickly got tougher to throw on the Bengals with their addition of Kirkpatrick, one of the key reasons Alabama’s defense was brilliant last season. Kirkpatrick is known as an exceptional zone defender with excellent leaping ability. He has a knack for breaking up passes.
18. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina: The Chargers may have plans to make Ingram an outside linebacker but he has shown the athletic ability to play where needed. Versatility is his strong suit as he proved when he shifted from middle linebacker to defensive tackle as a sophomore at South Carolina.
19. Chicago Bears: Name, Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State: A three-year starter for Boise State, McClellin played multiple roles for the Broncos with his production increasing each year. He wasn’t listed as high on some draft boards but obviously head coach Lovie Smith and the Bears liked what they saw in him, especially his ability to get to the passer.
20. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: The Titans were looking for a downfield threat and they found one in Wright who was a favorite target of Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III at Baylor. He had 101 receptions and 13 touchdown catches, using his speed to get open for RG3.
21. New England Patriots, Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Considered a third-round pick when he decided to leave Syracuse, Jones made perhaps the biggest jump before the draft, capturing the imagination of Bill Belichik and the Patriots. He played nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end in college, demonstrating his uncommon versatility.
22. Cleveland Browns+: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: The Browns hope they’ve found an answer at quarterback in Weeden, who produced big numbers at Oklahoma State. If there’s a concern, it’s that he’ll soon turn 29. Passed for 4,737 yards and 37 touchdowns last season for the Cowboys.
23. Detroit Lions: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: Offensive tackles aren’t sexy on draft night but they come in handy when the season gets going. Reiff is a former tight end who moved inside and proved to be a dominating presence at left tackle for the Hawkeyes. He’s another big body to protect Matthew Stafford
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford: The Steelers have a way to finding what they need through the draft and DeCastro seems to fit their style as a rugged, effective interior lineman. Some scouts rated DeCastro as the best blocker in the draft and he’s familiar with pro-style offenses after his time at Stanford.
25. New England Patriots, Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama: The fourth player picked off Alabama’s smothering defense, Hightower made an impressive move up draft charts despite a sluggish start last season. He had a knee injury in 2009 and doesn’t get great speed, but he knows how to play and should be a good addition for the Patriots.
26. Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois: After losing Mario Williams from a superior defensive unit, the Texans moved to re-fortify themselves by draft a powerful defensive end who has great explosiveness off the line. He came on as the year developed and was fourth in the NCAA in tackles for loss last season.
27. Cincinnati Bengals, Kevin Zietler, OG, Wisconsin: Needing help along the offensive front, the Bengals took one of the pieces from Wisconsin’s massive offensive line in Zietler. He can play several positions along the offensive line but he’s most likely to wind up at guard for the Bengals.
28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE, Southern Cal: The Packers knew they had holes to fill on a defense that was at the bottom of the league rankings last year and they started about it by drafting Perry. He had 54 tackles and 9 { sacks last season for the Trojans but his draft stock slipped a bit prior to the big day.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame: A team known for its defense put another important piece on its roster in drafting Smith. Though he didn’t have the top-shelf reputation of Alabama’s Mark Barron, Smith is a solid and steady player who should learn well from a traditionally excellent unit.
30. San Francisco 49ers: A.J Jenkins, WR, Illinois: Jenkins turned a breakout 2011 season into a draft spot at the end of the first round. He didn’t do much early in his career but got better and really caught the eye of scouts at the combine where his speed made him an intriguing prospect.
31. Tampa Bay Bucs, Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: Looking for running back help, the Bucs traded up to get in position to draft Martin, who many scouts considered the second-best back in the draft. He’s shown big-play potential and he’s also proven he can handle both pass blocking and receiving.
32. N.Y. Giants: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech: The reigning Super Bowl champions closed out the first round by drafting a guy who had a huge season last fall, rushing for more than 1,700 yards. He can break big runs but he can also go quiet at times,
(ASTERISK)-from St. Louis; #-from Washington; @-from Oakland; +-from Atlanta; %-from New Orleans
