The first two picks in the 2012 NFL Draft went according to script, and there wasn't anything shocking about the first trade of the night, which ensured that the Cleveland Browns would get Trent Richardson, leaving the Minnesota Vikings to select Matt Kalil. Little did anyone know when the Vikings and Browns swapped picks before the start of the first round that it would be the first of eight first-round trades.
2012 NFL Draft Results: Complete 1st Round Picks Rundown
Bill Belichick is known for trading down and hoarding picks, but he was the biggest mover on Friday night, trading up twice to solidify his defense with ILB Dont'a Hightower and DE/OLB Chandler Jones. The Dallas Cowboys also made a big move, sending their second round pick to the St. Louis Rams in order to move up from No. 14 to No. 6 so that they could select LSU CB Morris Claiborne.
The Seattle Seahawks, who traded down when the Eagles offered two picks to move up and select Fletcher Cox, made what was widely regarded as the biggest reach of the night with their selection of West Virginia OLB/DE Bruce Irvin. Though Irvin is a physical freak, he's thought of as a pure pass rusher who won't offer much else, and he was recently cited for misdemeanor destruction of property.
Here’s a full list of Round 1 picks in the 2012 NFL Draft.
2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota) - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
4. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland) - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Tampa Bay) - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
6. Dallas Cowboys (from Washington via St. Louis) - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Jacksonville) - Mark Barron, S, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Seattle) - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
14. St. Louis Rams (from Dallas) - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
15. Seattle Seahawks (from Philadelphia) - Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
21. New England Patriots (from Cincinnati) - Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) - Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
25. New England Patriots (from Denver) - Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
27. Cincinnati Bengals (from New Orleans via New England) - Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
29. Minnesota Vikings (from Baltimore Ravens) - Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from New England, via Denver) - Doug Martin, RB, Boise State
See More:
