NFL mock drafts are perfect material for sports writers.

Not only do they make us look more knowledgeable than we actually are, they take up a lot of space in our newspapers, hence the proverbial win-win scenario.

So I decided, what the heck? Everyone else is doing one. Why not me?

So with just a little over 24 hours left until the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, let’s go ahead and get started.

1. Colts — Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford): I don’t believe anything that the Colts’ brass said at any time leading up to Thursday. The decision to pick Luck was made about 30 seconds after the Colts lost their last regular season game and secured the No. 1 pick.

2. Redskins — Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor): That goes double for Washington, who also knew way back then that Indy was picking Luck. Griffin is extremely talented, but will he be worth the steep price the Skins paid to move up to the No. 2 slot?

3. Vikings — Matt Kalil (OT, USC): Minnesota will be getting an NFL-ready tackle in Kalil who, barring injuries, should be able to protect quarterback Christian Ponder (or is that Joe Webb?) for the foreseeable future.

4. Browns — Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama): If Luck or Griffin were available, they’d go with a quarterback here, but Richardson is too good to pass up. Colt McCoy needs another weapon for the West Coast offense, and the versatile Richardson is a perfect fit.

5. Buccaneers — Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU): Ronde Barber will likely retire, Aqib Talib is possibly looking at jail time, and Tampa desperately needs another corner. Claiborne was the best of best in Baton Rouge and should be a starter in the NFL for years to come.

6. Rams — Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State): Quick, name any current receiver for the St. Louis Rams? Exactly. Sam Bradford has to have help and new coach Jeff Fisher knows it. He may only be 6-foot-1, but Blackmon is a big-time receiver.

7. Jaguars — Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina): Jeremy Mincey is turning into a nice pass rusher and drafting Ingram would give Jacksonville (or is that Los Angeles?) a nice combination coming off the ends in a division where teams throw the ball.

8. Dolphins — Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M): The former wideout-turned-quarterback has been flying up the draft boards, but only because there’s a need for quarterbacks. With Luck and Griffin off the board, a desperate Miami squad will take this year’s version of Blaine Gabbert and cross their fingers.

9. Panthers — Dontari Poe (NT, Memphis): Carolina could use another weapon to help out Cam Newton, but the bigger need is in the interior of the defensive line. Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox could also fall here, but the Panthers will take the workout fiend from the land of Elvis.

10. Bills — Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa): Two things you can always count on in the first round of an NFL draft: The Iowa Hawkeyes producing a stud on the offensive line, and the Bills needing an offensive lineman in the worst way. The stars will align for Buffalo in the first round.

11. Chiefs — David DeCastro (OG, Stanford): Interior offensive lineman don’t usually go this high in a draft, but when you are drawing comparisons to probable future Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson, it’s probably a pretty safe bet to go ahead and pull the trigger.

12. Seahawks — Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College): With Seattle losing David Hawthorne, the need to replace him on the inside is first and foremost. Kuechly is simply a tackling machine (374 in the last two seasons) with tremendous football instincts.

13. Cardinals — Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame): I originally had Stanford lineman Jonathan Martin in this spot, until he turned in a less-than-stellar performance at his pro day. In his place, I see Arizona grabbing the Notre Dame product to team him with Larry Fitzgerald for a very nice one-two combo for quarterback Kevin Kolb.

14. Cowboys — Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama): Kirkpatrick has been high on Dallas’ board for quite a while now, and they will need him even more now that cornerback Terence Newman left the Cowboys to sign with Cincinnati.

15. Eagles — Michael Brockers (DT, LSU): With incredible quickness and agility not normally seen by someone who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs over 320 pounds, Brockers is the wild card of the first round. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go higher, but Philly would jump at the chance to grab him at No. 15.

16. Jets — Cordy Glenn (OT, Georgia): Whether it’s Mark Sanchez, or eventually Tim Tebow, running the offense for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets, Rex Ryan need someone who can block, and Glenn can do that and more.

17. Bengals — Mark Barron (SS, Alabama): The improving Bengals will get two draft picks in the first round, and need an upgrade in the secondary. With Kirkpatrick off the board, Cincinnati will look to his running mate in Tuscaloosa.

18. Chargers — Courtney Upshaw (LB, Alabama): The run of Crimson Tide players will continue with San Diego, who has to find more ways to put pressure on quarterbacks, especially with Peyton Manning now in their division. The Bama standout can play at outside linebacker or at defensive end if need be.

19. Bears — Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina): Coples has hinted in interviews that he didn’t exactly give it the ol’ college try on every snap in Chapel Hill, and his stock is falling. But Coples is extremely talented when motivated to play. Drafting him and letting Tarheel alum Julius Peppers be a mentor might be a gamble that pays off for Chicago.

20. Titans — Stephon Gilmore (CB, South Carolina): Tennessee can go one of several ways in the first round, as they also need help on their defensive line, but after losing Cortland Finnegan in free agency, cornerback is a pressing need, and behind Claiborne, Gilmore might be the best out there.

21. Bengals — Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor): After upgrading the secondary with Barron, the focus goes to the offense to find help for Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Enter the speedy Wright, who can also return kicks (unless the NFL does away with them, and no, I’m not joking).

22. Browns — Stephen Hill (WR, Georgia Tech): Like their Ohio brethren Cincinnati, the Brownies need an extra pair of hands in the passing game. Hill had a tremendous showing at the NFL Combine, and will parlay that into a first-round selection.

23. Lions — Nick Perry (DE, USC): Defensive-minded head coach Jim Schwartz will continue to add pieces to his front four with the Trojans’ standout who knows how to get to the quarterback, a nice quality to have in the best division for quarterbacks in the NFL.

24. Steelers — Dont’a Hightower (LB, Alabama): With Pittsburgh recently cutting James Farrior, Hightower seems like the logical choice here. He should shine in a 3-4 defense and his knee problems seems to be a thing of the past.

25. Broncos — Jerel Worthy (DT, Michigan State): There are questions about his ability to use his hands, but Worthy has a quick first step and his shortcomings won’t be too exposed if he joins an already very good Denver defensive front.

26. Texans — Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina): Unless something super freaky happens, Houston is going to take a receiver with its first pick and Jeffery will be the best receiver still on the board, unless Cleveland grabs him at No. 22. If that happens, Hill would be the pick here.

27. Patriots — Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State): The Bulldogs’ big guy will be a steal for New England near the end of the first round. He can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme and his 4.79 40-time at the NFL Combine will make him a lot of money.

28. Packers — Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois): Even with last year’s incredible regular season, Green Bay still has a ways to go on defense to be considered elite. And how you can you pass on a guy with a last name like Mercilus?

29. Ravens — Peter Konz (C, Wisconsin): Once thought to be the Ravens’ choice in this spot, some reports say he may have fallen out of favor with the Baltimore brass. He does have a history of injuries, but if the top five receivers are gone, the Ravens might look to Konz, who is a tremendous pass and run blocker.

30. 49ers — Coby Fleener (TE, Stanford): The Patriots' use of two tight ends might become the norm in the NFL game. Fleener is considered the best tight end in the draft, and you know Jim Harbaugh is licking his chops thinking about using Fleener and Vernon Davis at the same time.

31. Patriots — Harrison Smith (FS, Notre Dame): I don’t expect New England to keep both picks in the first round, but if they do, Smith could be the guy. He's explosive in the John Lynch-style of safeties, but faster, and Bill Belichick loves smart guys in centerfield.

32. Giants — Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford): Martin will probably go first round based on the fact that he looked good blocking for Luck. He didn’t have the greatest of pro days, but he’ll be a serviceable blocker for a pocket passer like Eli Manning.

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Scott Herpst is Sports Editor of the Walker County Messenger.