2012 NFL Draft
Encyclopedia
The 2012 NFL Draft will be the 77th annual meeting of National Football League
(NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players.
Trades
In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2012 Draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.Round one
- Atlanta → Cleveland (PD). Atlanta traded this selection, a fourth-round selection, and their first-, second-, and fourth-round selections (No. 27, after all trades and the clock expiring on their original pick, Baltimore selected Jimmy SmithJimmy Smith (cornerback)James "Jimmy" Smith is an American football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens with the 27th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado....
; No. 59, Cleveland selected Greg LittleGreg Little (American football)Greg Little is an American football wide receiver. He played college football and college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and currently plays for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.-College career:...
; and No. 124, Cleveland selected Owen MarecicOwen MarecicOwen Marecic is an American football player for the Cleveland Browns. He played at the collegiate level for Stanford University.-Early life:Marecic moved with his family around the United States following his father's career as an IT executive...
) in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL DraftThe 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
to Cleveland for Cleveland's 2011 first-round selection (No. 6 overall, used to select Julio JonesJulio JonesQuintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide...
). - New Orleans → New England (PD). New Orleans traded this selection and their 2011 second-round selection (No. 56 overall, New England selected Shane VereenShane VereenShane Patrick-Henry Vereen is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted 56th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:...
) to New England for New England's first-round selection in the 2011 Draft (No. 28 overall, New Orleans selected Mark IngramMark Ingram, Jr.Mark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr....
). - Oakland → Cincinnati (PD). Oakland traded this selection and a conditional 20132013 NFL DraftThe 2013 NFL Draft will be the 78th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players.-Trades:...
second-round selection (that could increase to a first-rounder if Oakland makes either the 2011-12 or 2012-13 AFC title game) to Cincinnati for quarterback Carson PalmerCarson PalmerCarson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
.
Round two
- Arizona → Philadelphia (PD). Arizona traded this selection and CB Dominique Rodgers-CromartieDominique Rodgers-Cromartie-Arizona Cardinals:Rodgers-Cromartie was drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 25, he signed a 5-year, $15.1 million contract with the team that includes $9 million in guarantees. Rodgers-Cromartie was named the starting nickelback for the 2008 season, behind...
to Philadelphia for QB Kevin KolbKevin KolbKevin Benjamin Kolb is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Houston....
. - Oakland → New England (PD). Oakland traded this selection and a 2011 seventh-round selection (No. 219, New England selected Malcolm WilliamsMalcolm WilliamsMalcolm Williams is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 219th overall pick in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian University....
) to New England for New England's third- and fourth-round selections in 2011 (Nos. 92 and 125, Oakland selected Joseph BarksdaleJoseph BarksdaleJoseph Bernsen Barksdale is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League...
and Taiwan JonesTaiwan JonesJones was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 4th round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He debuted during Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and has seen action both running and receiving the ball, as well as on Special Teams.-External links:**...
, respectively).
Round three
- Carolina → Chicago (PD). Carolina traded this selection to Chicago for tight end Greg OlsenGreg Olsen (American football)Gregory Olsen is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
.
Round four
- Atlanta → Cleveland (PD). See Round One: Atlanta → Cleveland above
- Baltimore → Buffalo (PD). Baltimore traded this selection to Buffalo for wide receiver Lee EvansLee Evans (American football)-Buffalo Bills:Evans was initially assigned the jersey number 84. Evans, as a reference to his full name, had always worn the number 3 in college, a number that was not allowed to be used in professional football for wide receivers...
. - Oakland → Washington (PD). Oakland traded this selection to Washington for quarterback Jason CampbellJason CampbellJason Campbell is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. - Tampa Bay → Philadelphia (PD). Tampa Bay traded this selection to Philadelphia with a fourth-round pick in 2011 (116th overall, Philadelphia selected Casey MatthewsCasey MatthewsCasey Christopher Matthews is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon....
) for a fourth-round pick in 2011 (104 overall, Tampa Bay selected Luke StockerLuke StockerLuke Stocker is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-College career:Stocker played tight end for the Tennessee Volunteers.-Professional career:...
).
Round five
- New England → Cincinnati (PD). New England traded this selection and a sixth-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft2013 NFL DraftThe 2013 NFL Draft will be the 78th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players.-Trades:...
to Cincinnati for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. - St. Louis → Denver (PD). St. Louis traded a conditional sixth-round selection to Denver in exchange for wide receiver Brandon LloydBrandon LloydBrandon Matthew Lloyd is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, with the selection later being upgraded to a fifth-rounder after Lloyd made a minimum of 30 receptions with St. Louis.
Round six
- Denver → Philadelphia (PD). Denver traded this selection to Philadelphia for linebacker Joe MaysJoe Mays (American football)Joseph Lamont "Joe" Mays is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota State.-Early years:Joe attended Hyde Park High School...
. Denver originally sent running back J. J. Arrington to Philadelphia, with the condition that if Arrington did not make Philadelphia's 53-man roster, Denver would instead send the sixth-round selection. - New England → Philadelphia (PD). New England traded this selection to Philadelphia for linebacker Tracy WhiteTracy WhiteTracy Donnel White is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
and a seventh-round selection. - Washington → New Orleans (PD). Washington traded this conditional selection and a 2011 third-round selection to New Orleans for offensive tackle Jammal BrownJammal Brown-New Orleans Saints:He was selected to attend the 2006 Pro Bowl alongside the player he protects, quarterback Drew Brees, after anchoring the line that got the Saints to the NFC Championship Game. Brown's prototypical size at left tackle makes him good at both run and pass blocking. He led the...
and a 2011 fifth-round selection.
Round seven
- Philadelphia → New England (PD). See Round Six: New England → Philadelphia
- New England → Kansas City (PD). New England traded this conditional selection to Kansas City for safety Jarrad PageJarrad PageJarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. - New England → Minnesota (PD). New England traded this selection and wide receiver Randy MossRandy MossRandy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
to Minnesota for a 2011 third-round selection. - Oakland → Seattle (PD). Oakland traded this selection and a conditional mid-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft2013 NFL DraftThe 2013 NFL Draft will be the 78th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players.-Trades:...
to Seattle for linebacker Aaron CurryAaron Curry (American football)-Seattle Seahawks:On August 8, 2009, Curry signed a six-year, $60 million contract including $34 million guaranteed, the most money ever guaranteed to a non-quarterback rookie in NFL history....
.
Undetermined
- Cleveland → Minnesota (PD). Cleveland traded this selection to Minnesota for defensive end Jayme MitchellJayme MitchellJayme Dondrell Mitchell is an American football defensive end who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
. - Denver → Cleveland (PD). Denver traded this conditional selection, a 2011 sixth-round selection, and running back Peyton HillisPeyton HillisHillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.-2008 Season:At the start of the 2008 season, Hillis was listed as the Broncos' starting fullback...
to Cleveland for quarterback Brady QuinnBrady QuinnBrayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Quinn was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.-Early Years:Brayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn was born on...
. - Jacksonville → New York Jets (PD). Jacksonville traded this selection to the New York Jets for defensive back Dwight LoweryDwight Lowery-2008:Impressed with Lowery's versatility and ball skills, the New York Jets would draft him in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft as a cornerback/safety. An injury to cornerback Justin Miller would see Lowery debut in his first NFL game against the Miami Dolphins; Lowery performed modestly...
. - Miami → New Orleans (PD). Miami traded an undisclosed selection to New Orleans for running back Reggie BushReggie BushReginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. - Minnesota → Washington (PD). Minnesota traded this conditional selection and a 2013 sixth-round pick to Washington for quarterback Donovan McNabbDonovan McNabbDonovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
. - New York Giants → Minnesota (PD). The New York Giants traded this conditional selection and a 2011 fifth-round selection to Minnesota for running back Darius ReynaudDarius ReynaudDarius Reynaud is an American football running back / wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia....
and quarterback Sage RosenfelsSage RosenfelsSage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
. - Seattle → Buffalo (PD). Seattle traded this conditional selection and a 2011 fourth-round selection to Buffalo for running back Marshawn LynchMarshawn LynchMarshawn Terrell Lynch is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In his rookie year, Lynch became the Bills' first 1,000-yard rookie rusher since Greg Bell in 1984...
. - Seattle → Detroit (PD). Seattle traded an undisclosed selection to Detroit for offensive tackle Tyler PolumbusTyler PolumbusTyler Polumbus is an American football offensive tackle who is currently on the Washington Redskins. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
Forfeited picks
- Detroit will forfeit a pick in this draft due to findings of tampering consisting of comments made by defensive coordinator Gunther CunninghamGunther CunninghamGunther Cunningham is an American football defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Cunningham has presided over some of the most successful defenses in NFL history , typically ranking at the top of the league in many statistical categories.Cunningham was born in 1946 in war-torn Munich,...
about certain Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
' players. If Detroit makes the 2011–12 NFL playoffs, they will give up their sixth-round selection; otherwise, they will forfeit their seventh-rounder. - Oakland will forfeit its third-round selection after selecting QB Terrelle PryorTerrelle PryorTerrelle Pryor is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010...
in the 2011 Supplemental Draft.