Nfl Draft

No. 26 Houston Texans: DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois - - Mercilus led the nation last season with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles. The son of Haitian immigrants who held down multiple jobs to feed the family, Mercilus is deeply appreciative of the opportunity he has. When he signs his NFL contract, he plans to buy his parents a home in Florida. Comment: The Texans needed to replace some of the productivity lost when Mario Williams bolted to Buffalo. Mercilus had 16 sacks in 2011.

No. 12 Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State - - At 6-4, 295, Cox is lighter than most elite defensive tackles and has very good range. He blocked five kicks in college. He has great feet, something that was evident in high school when he played power forward on the basketball team and was a member of the 4x100 relay team in track. Comment: The Eagles have their ends, and now they've added a key piece to the interior of their defensive line. Philly had long targeted this pick.

No. 32 New York Giants: RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech - - Wilson opted out of his senior season at Virginia Tech after setting a school record with 1,709 yards and earning ACC offensive player of the year honors. Comment: With Brandon Jacobs gone, it's time for the Giants to start rebuilding their backfield. Wilson ran for 1,709 yards last season. MORE Photos: 2012 NFL draft picks First round of draft is a rush to judgment NFL considers suspending Pro Bowl after 2013     NFL draft: Giants conclude first round by picking RB David Wilson

No. 15 Seattle Seahawks: OLB Bruce Irvin, West Virginia -- Irvin played two seasons at Mt. San Antonio College in California before coming to West Virginia in 2010. In the past two seasons with the Mountaineers, he had a combined 22 1/2 sacks. Comment: A physical phenom with a checkered past. He was arrested a day after his pro day in March for destruction of property and disorderly conduct. MORE Photos: 2012 NFL draft picks First round of draft is a rush to judgment NFL considers suspending Pro Bowl after 2013     NFL draft: Seahawks take gamble on LB Bruce Irvin at No. 15      

No. 20 Tennessee Titans: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor -- Despite a small frame at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Wright was the favorite target of Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III at Baylor. He had 108 receptions for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior season. Comment: A year after the Titans took quarterback Jake Locker, they gave him a dangerous weapon - Griffin's favorite target at Baylor. MORE Photos: 2012 NFL draft picks First round of draft is a rush to judgment NFL considers suspending Pro Bowl after 2013     NFL draft: Baylor WR Kendall Wright goes to Titans at No. 20

No. 25 New England Patriots: ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama - - Hightower, who made the calls and defensive adjustments for Alabama last season, was a finalist for four national awards last season and had career highs in tackles (85) and sacks (four). Comment: The Patriots make another move to fortify their defensive front. Hightower is huge and likely will come off the field in passing situations. MORE Photos: 2012 NFL draft picks First round of draft is a rush to judgment NFL considers suspending Pro Bowl after 2013     NFl draft: Patriots get Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower at No. 25  

No. 13 Arizona Cardinals: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame - - Floyd set a school record by catching 100 balls last year, eclipsing the mark of 93 set by current Seattle receiver Golden Tate. At one point a team captain, Floyd was stripped of that honor after being cited for drunk driving in April 2011. He was suspended from the team, but only for the off-season, returning to play and never missing a game. Comment: At 6-3, 200 pounds, Floyd will be a big, capable complement to Larry Fitzgerald.

The worst-kept secret in the NFL is officially out of the bag. The Indianapolis Colts will use the No. 1 overall pick Thursday on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. General Manager Ryan Grigson confirmed that to reporters Tuesday, and the Colts' official website led with the headline, "Luck to Be First Pick" on its front page. The Colts had informed Luck last week that he would be the first player selected. That means a quarterback will be taken first overall for the fourth consecutive year, the second-longest such streak in NFL history.

No. 28 Green Bay Packers: DE/OLB Nick Perry, USC -- In 2011, Perry led thePac-12 with 9.5 sacks and earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors. That was his first season with the Trojans when he wasn't hampered by injuries. Perry is leaving school with a year of playing remaining. "I've had a good four years at 'SC and I'm ready to take it to the next level," he said. "I've been prepared for that. I've been training for that. I'm looking forward to that. " Comment: Perry, who led the Pac-12 in sacks last season, will join fellow USC alumnus Clay Matthews to form a formidable pass-rushing tandem.

Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III appear poised to be only the fourth pair of quarterbacks to go 1-2 in the NFL draft in the last 20 years. Both have had stellar college careers, but only one seems destined to have the same kind of success in the NFL ... if history repeats itself. In all three cases during the last two decades, one member of the quarterback duo selected in the top two of the draft has gone on to enjoy a lengthy and successful pro career; the other has been more or less a bust.