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If we learned anything from Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, it's that a great pass rush can contain even the best passing offenses for long stretches.
The New York Giants have a rotation of talented defensive lineman up front that allows defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to send seven back in coverage on every snap and still feel confident about getting to the quarterback.
That reality is every coordinator's dream, but the New York's front four didn't happen by accident. Giants GM Jerry Reese tirelessly worked during the draft to acquire the right pieces to make it work.
With the NFL being a copy-cat league, expect more teams to attempt the same kind of pass rushing depth that Reese acquired in New York. And expect it to start happening this April.
GMs can't afford to fall behind the curve, especially after what quarterbacks did to NFL defenses in 2011. The time is now to find more pass rushers.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some projected picks of pass rushers in our 2012 NFL mock draft:
1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
3. Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland Browns – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. Washington Redskins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
8. Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
The local Panthers fans who paid close attention to UNC know that Coples took his senior season off. But with the breathtaking potential of Coples at defensive end in the 4-3, the Panthers might not be able to hold off the temptation.
9. Miami Dolphins – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
10. Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
Few teams need pass rush as badly as the Bills, and Upshaw has the ability to be a 10-sack guy during his rookie season.
11. Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
12. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
The Seahawks could very well be one or two pieces away from being a top-five NFL defense, and Brockers is arguably the most talented five-technique available in the 2012 class.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
Ingram is raising his stock due to an ability to stand up and rush the quarterback in the 3-4. With no tackle of value on the board, the Cardinals take Ingram to bolster an improving pass rush.
14. Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
16. New York Jets – Nick Perry, LB, USC
The Jets have gotten away from their identity over the last 12 months, but bringing in an athletic pass rusher could help New York get themselves back on their feet defensively.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
18. San Diego Chargers – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
19. Chicago Bears – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
20. Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
22. Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
23. Detroit Lions – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia
25. Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DL, Penn State
26. Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
27. New England Patriots – Mark Barron, S, Alabama
28. Green Bay Packers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
It's pretty simple for Packers GM Ted Thompson: If Green Bay doesn't acquire an impact pass rusher to plug in opposite of Clay Matthews for 2012, the Packers struggling defense won't look markedly different from the one that gave up an NFL record amount of passing yards in 2011.
29. Baltimore Ravens – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State
30. San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
31. New England Patriots – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
32. New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
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