2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which First-Round Studs Have Highest Ceiling?

There are a handful of players in this draft, who—if they fulfill their massive potential—are about to embark on a Hall of Fame career. 

While it is impossible to predict if these players will grow into that potential or not, it is not impossible to see which ones have it. 

In my full first round mock draft below, the players with vaulted ceilings will be highlighted.

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Measuring the Height of the Ceiling

If Luck reaches his ceiling, he will be considered one of the top 10 greatest QBs of all time. He has all the tools. 

Luck has ideal size, a quick release, a strong arm and amazing accuracy. He can make every throw an NFL QB is asked to make, and he can put them right on target. He can do this standing in the pocket or on the move. 

And he can move. He ran a 4.69 40, which is just one-tenth slower than the 4.59 posted by Cam Newton last year.

Also, his leaping numbers were essentially identical to Cam's. There is nothing that Luck can't do on the football field, and if it all comes together, he will be an all-time great. 

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is an athletic monster of a man who is ready to contribute from Week 1. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne is a smooth and gifted corner with shutdown potential. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 

Measuring the Height of Griffin's Ceiling

RGIII is a unique prospect. He has the speed and ability to be an elite runner in the NFL. That is not the unique part. We have seen that before, most notably in Michael Vick. 

What is unique is the fact that Griffin is as polished and accurate a QB as he is. 

RGIII was in a pass-heavy offense. He was firing the ball all over the field, all game. He has strong arm and great accuracy. 

Other QBs with his running ability came to the NFL out of a more run-centered offense. This is not the case with Griffin. 

Griffin's ceiling is nearly as high as Luck's, and if they both reach those, this draft will be talked about for a long time. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Buccaneers have holes all over the place. That makes the selection of a running back that can help with running, receiving and blocking a wise choice.  

6. Washington Redskins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is strong and athletic tackle with a bright future, and the Redskins must add to their offensive line. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blaine Gabbert is on the fast track to bustville unless the Jaguars can find a WR to help him develop. 

8. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

Still is capable of clogging running lanes and putting pressure on the QB. The Panthers desperately need both.  

9. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Dolphins will have fierce tackle duo if they plug run-blocker extraordinaire Martin into the right side of their line. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick hasn't been doing his draft stock any favors since the end of the season, but the Bills' desperation for secondary help will have them looking past this. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

Like his Stanford teammate, Martin, DeCastro is a great run-blocker and is exactly what this team needs. 

12. Seattle Seahawks:  Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe is a massive interior defensive lineman. He will be a force in the run game and has the explosiveness to get to the QB. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The speedster Wright will give the Cardinals someone besides Larry Fitzgerald for their opposition to worry about. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

This heady and instinctive linebacker would help bring consistency to the Cowboys defense. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC 

Coples brings a fierce bull rush and the ability to hold the edge in the running game. Both attributes will fit in nicely in Philly. 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Measuring the Height of Ingram's Ceiling

 Ingram is a versatile and gifted defensive player. This is a guy that has lined up at DT, DE and LB in college, and he excelled at all of them. 

He looks to be an ideal fit for the OLB position in the NFL. He measures in at 6'2" and 276 pounds, which is good size for an end, but his athleticism makes him an even better fit for OLB. 

Ingram ran the 40 in 4.79 seconds. He is explosive and quick. He has the potential to be an elite pass-rusher and also has the skills to be great against the run and solid in instances where he is asked to drop into coverage. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals via OAK: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is a hard-running and exciting back. He will be an excellent addition to this young offense. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Denard is an athletic corner that excels in man coverage. He will help complete this promising secondary.

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Chicago has a huge need on the offensive line, and the center position is at the heart of those needs. Konz is pro-ready and will be an instant upgrade. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is the complete package. He can bring it run support and run with tight ends and backs in the passing game. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is going to fall a bit due to character concerns, but his skill will be too much for the Bengals to pass up. 

22. Cleveland Browns via ATL: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

Zach Brown is a polished and complete LB. He will be a nice addition to a promising defense. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

At 345 pounds, Glenn is a beast. He has the ability to wear defenders out and help teams establish the run game. That is exactly what the Lions need.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams had a horrible combine, but he has ideal size and showed enough flashes of greatness at Ohio State that Pittsburgh will not be able to pass him up. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox will give the Broncos an explosive presence on the interior of their defense to go with their athletic outside. 

26. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd is bubbling with potential and character concerns. His potential will be enough to entice the Texans into taking him. 

27. New England Patriots (via NO): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw is good pass-rusher and is a nice fit for the Patriots defense. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry will give the Packers someone to line up opposite of Clay Matthews to rush the passer. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Ravens need to add some youth to their LBs. Hightower fits the mold perfectly. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery has the size and hands to be a downfield threat. This is exactly what the 49ers need. 

31. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

Crick is a strong and tenacious lineman that will be a nice fit at DE in a 3-4. 

32. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Do the Giants need another defensive lineman? No. Will they draft another defensive lineman? Yes. That's what they do, and it works.