2012 NFL Mock Draft: New Mock Has Steelers Taking Dont'a Hightower

The first six picks in Walter Football's latest 2012 NFL mock draft are very familiar: Andrew Luck, Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, and Robert Griffin and Trent Richardson. It's in the later picks that a lot of the intrigue, and most of of the uncertainty, in these mock drafts lies. Walter has the Dallas Cowboys taking Penn State's Devon Still at No. 19, which is about a median pick for Still over the next couple weeks.

The Cowboys had the option of picking J.J. Watt at No. 9 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. They went with Tyron Smith, who has been great thus far, but they're hurting at the defensive end position as a consequence. Kenyon Coleman should not be starting anymore.

Devon Still is enjoyed a tremendous 2011 campaign and has vaulted himself into mid-first-round consideration.

The Steelers pick at No. 27 (remember that picks in the 2012 NFL Draft aren't set yet), and Walter has them taking Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower. With James Farrior getting older, the Steelers could easily take an inside linebacker, but they're always a tough team to project, given that there are usually dozens of teams picking ahead of them, and they don't usually draft for need in the first round.

For more on the NFL Draft, check out Mocking The Draft, which has a scouting report on Hightower.