2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Whose Stock Will Improve with Bowl Performances

Bowl season gives NFL prospects one last chance to prove to NFL teams that they've got what it takes to be a superstar at the next level.

Forget the East-West, the Senior Bowl and the scouting combine. Bowl season gives them a platform to show what they can do with everything on the line in a system they are comfortable with and the entire nation watching.

Some prospects have already made their mark in non-BCS bowls, while we anxiously await the opportunity to see the others in action.

Here is a complete first-round NFL mock draft and a look at whose stock is on the rise with bowl season underway.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Bowl: Fiesta Bowl

Opponent: Oklahoma State

Stock: ↔

Andrew Luck isn't going to show us anything we haven't seen from him before. He's still got limited weapons, he's still the most refined prospect of the decade and there is a solid chance he's going to be beaten in a shootout against Brandon Weeden.

The Colts are still going to pull the trigger and draft him No. 1. A brilliant or heinous performance from Luck isn't going to make any team second guess what they've seen from him for years.

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

Bowl: N/A

Matt Kalil isn't given the luxury of playing in a bowl, due to USC's bowl ban, but he's shown that he's the best left tackle prospect to enter the draft since Jake Long.

He's a trench warrior with terrific feet and an ability to be a true plug and play blindside protector for Sam Bradford. The Rams have tried tirelessly to find a left tackle and have failed. Their franchise quarterback is worthless when he's on the sidelines and Kalil would ensure his protection.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford

Bowl: Fiesta Bowl

Opponent: Oklahoma State

Stock: ↑

Jonathan Martin isn't Matt Kalil, but he's just the guy the Vikings need to fill the void at left tackle and allow their weapons to perform at their best.

He's got a great venue to put his refined pass rushing skills on full display. the whole nation is going to be watching Andrew Luck, but many NFL scouts are going to be drooling over the two first-round linemen who are dominating in the trenches.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Bowl: BCS National Championship

Opponent: LSU

Stock: ↑

Drafting a running back at No. 4 is highly risky, but Trent Richardson will prove worthy of the high selection after he torches LSU's vaunted defense.

Richardson had a combined total of 169 yards rushing and receiving the first time he faced the NFL-caliber talent on LSU's defense. He's a complete back with raw power, unparalleled strength, remarkable agility and break away speed.

He's the second best player in the draft and the Browns shouldn't hesitate to draft what is ultimately a slam dunk at a position of need.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Bowl: Independence Bowl

Opponent: Missouri

Stock: ↓

Quinton Coples has a ridiculously high ceiling. He has the frame and talent to be the next Osi Umenyiora, but his production is a concern, as he's registered 7.5 sacks on the season.

His inability to deliver against Missouri in a blowout loss drops his stock. The Jaguars need a quarterback, but will likely stick with their first-round pick of a year ago in Blaine Gabbert and add what could be an elite rush end here.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Bowl: BCS National Championship

Opponent: LSU

Stock: ↔

Luckily for Morris Claiborne, there is no Julio Jones on Alabama this season. He may not have a chance to flash his play-making ability, as Alabama's offense will likely be the Trent Richardson show, but this game won't raise a red flag for scouts.

Tampa Bay needs a corner who isn't older than their head coach or finding himself constantly battling the law. Claiborn isn't Patrick Peterson, but he's more than worthy of this selection.

7. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Bowl: Alamo Bowl

Opponent: Washington

Stock: ↑

As if the Heisman weren't a big enough cherry on top of Robert Griffin III's collegiate resume, he posted 350 all-purpose yards in an offensive spectacle that ended 67-55.

RGIII has considerably more upside than Landry Jones. Mike Shanahan needs to take the risk here, draft the track guy with an underrated arm and ridiculous intangibles and give his offense some sort of life.

8. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Bowl: Insight Bowl

Opponent: Iowa

Stock: ↑

Should the draft order play out this way, the Dolphins are the biggest losers in Matt Barkley's decision to remain at USC. They land a prototypical quarterback who screams franchise quarterback, but doesn't serve up nearly the upside that Luck, RGIII, or even Kellen Moore do.

Regardless, it's an upgrade from Matt Moore. Oklahoma got embarrassed by Oklahoma State and a victory over Iowa in the Insight Bowl won't leave scouts worrying about Jones' leadership abilities or his "it" factor.

9. Carolina Panthers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Bowl: Fiesta Bowl

Opponent: Stanford

Stock: ↑

Justin Blackmon does not have the measurements to be in the top 10. Every team wants a Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzerald-type who can go up and get the ball.

That being said, Blackmon's production is impossible to argue with. He's got over 3,000 yards receiving in his last two seasons and in what is sure to be a crazy shootout with Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, Blackmon will have the Panthers dreaming about pairing him with Cam Newton.

10. Buffalo Bills: Kevin Reddick, LB, North Carolina

Bowl: Independence Bowl

Opponent: Missouri

Stock: ↔

We all know Buffalo can score, and while the Bills offense isn't perfect, it's not insufferable. They need to draft defense again and surrounding Marcel Dareus with help in the front seven is a necessity.

North Carolina is stuffed full of defensive talent and the Bills may have to reach to get their hands on some of it. Kevin Reddick isn't a household name and he didn't tear it up in his bowl game, but he's got the potential to be great, making him a perfect fit here.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa

Bowl: Insight Bowl

Opponent: Oklahoma

Stock: ↔

Nothing Riley Reiff does from now until draft day will prove that he's better or worse than the third tackle in the draft. There is a very clear hierarchy of tackles in this draft. While some will toy with the possibility of Reiff hearing his name called before Jonathan Martin or Matt Kalil being the second tackle selected, it's not going to happen.

The Chiefs are a franchise who knows the value in having an elite offensive line. With Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles returning from injury, a head coaching change and an influx in protection, they have a chance to do what the 49ers did this season in 2012.

12. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Bowl: Fiesta Bowl

Opponent: Oklahoma State

Stock: ↑

The Cardinals are going to be in a bind. Their team is far better than their record indicates and they are drafting far sooner than they should be, but their greatest need is on the offensive line. There isn't a tackle who warrants a selection here, so their options are to either trade down, ignore the need or reach.

Reaching for the best interior lineman in the draft isn't necessarily a bad thing. With the rookie cap in place, they aren't going to have to give up an arm and a leg to overpay for him and he would turn a glaring weakness into a strength.

As he'll show in the Fiesta Bowl, he's got a complete game. He's great blocking in space, his pass protection is refined, he's a technician and he's got serious power. The Cardinals can't afford to pass on him because it seems illogical to draft a guard so soon.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Bowl: MAACO Bowl

Opponent: Boise State

Stock: ↓

This is a pick that is going to anger a lot of fans. They may be happy with the selection initially, as Philadelphia could certainly use a tackling machine who has the tools to become the next Ray Lewis.

Even so, Burfict has a screw loose and makes it abundantly clear that he's a liability to his team week in and week out.

The constant personal fouls, the regression this season and his character issues make this pick very risky. He was a non-factor against Boise State and though his stock has fallen to where he doesn't warrant a top-10 selection, Philadelphia can't afford to pass on him.

This could be a Dallas Cowboys bypassing Randy Moss moment.

14: Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Bowl: Meineke Car Care of Texas Bowl

Opponent: Missouri

Stock: ↑

The Seahawks made a late playoff push and while they fell short, they did so with Tarvaris Jackson under center.

They aren't going to be able to nab an elite field general, but as we saw in the 2011 draft, teams with a need at quarterback are more than willing to reach.

Ryan Tannehill gets to showcase his skills against a manageable Northwestern opponent. He's shown that he is capable of going for 400 yards and if he is able to battle through the adversity the program is facing and come away with a big win, it's going to be huge for his draft stock.

15: San Diego Chargers: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Bowl: Champs Sports Bowl

Opponent: Florida State

Stock: ↑

Michael Floyd made a big impact in the Champs Sports Bowl before falling to injury. With 100 catches on the year in an offense that featured lackluster quarterback play all season long, Floyd is the sort of play maker that would thrive in Philip Rivers' pass-happy offense.

Alshon Jeffery will likely be on the board when the Chargers select, but after seeing the impact Floyd was able to have not only in the Champs Sports Bowl, but also in the seven games he put up 90 or more yards, it's going to be hard to bite on Jeffery.

16. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Bowl: Capital One Bowl

Opponent: Nebraska

Stock: ↓

The Bears need a legitimate wide receiver. They have holes all over their offense and Matt Forte's future in Chicago remains uncertain.

Alshon Jeffery isn't a home run or a sure thing, but he's the best receiver on the board and would become Jay Cutler's No. 1 option in a hurry.

He'll likely be snuffed out by Alfonzo Dennard, in the Capital One Bowl, but he shouldn't fall further than this.

17. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Bowl: Alamo Bowl

Opponent: Washington

Stock: ↑

Kendall Wright has the blazing speed necessary to spread the field and give Chris Johnson room to roam. Deep threats are always risky, but his seven catches and 91 yards in the Alamo Bowl scoring bonanza confirmed that he's a guy who teams have to watch on every play.

With nine games of over 100 yards receiving and still touting 15.4 YPC, Wright is just the receiver the Titans need to bring in to ensure Jake Locker has a home run threat at his disposal.

18. Dallas Cowboys: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Bowl: Orange Bowl

Opponent: West Virginia

Stock: ↑

The Cowboys are overloaded with talent. They don't have a glaring position of weakness, but they could certainly use another defensive end to insert into the rotation.

Branch registered double-digit sacks and may project better to a 4-3 scheme, but his versatility and ability to wreak havoc in the backfield make him too appealing to pass up here.

Once they see him in action against West Virginia, the Cowboys will know right away that this is a guy they want to pair with DeMarcus Ware.

19. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

Bowl: BCS National Championship Bowl

Opponent: LSU

Stock: ↑

It seems as though every year the Jets' primary need is a dominant pass rusher. With their corners, why is it so hard to find a guy who can get to the quarterback?

Courtney Upshaw can be the solution to their problem right away. He's coming out of a Nick Saban defense and against other pro-level talent in the National Championship, he'll prove that he has the ability to stand out amongst the elite.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland Raiders): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Bowl: Capital One Bowl

Opponent: South Carolina

Stock: ↑

Aldonzo Dennard will show everyone in the nation what he's capable of by shutting down Alshon Jeffery in the Capital One Bowl.

Dennard is a bit undersized, but he makes up for it with his physical tools. The Bengals need an upgrade at corner and Alfonzo Dennard can be the true No. 1 corner that Johnathan Joseph was before he left in free agency.

21. New York Giants: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Bowl: Independence Bowl

Opponent: Missouri

Stock: ↑

The New York Giants have the makings of an elite front four. Now, they need to insert linebackers who can tie up the loose ends and sure up their run defense.

Zach Brown had 14 tackles and an interception in the Independence Bowl. Though his team was blown away, he completely dominated and undoubtedly turned the heads of scouts in the process.

22. Denver Broncos: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Bowl: Orange Bowl

Opponent: West Virginia

Stock: ↔

The Broncos have proven that they can win with Tim Tebow under center. It's not always going to be pretty and the could certainly use an influx of offensive talent, but Tebow's presence under center gives John Fox and John Elway time to construct a top-notch defense and remain competitive while they rebuild.

Von Miller is already a top-notch outside linebacker. now, Fox can start assembling pieces to put in front of Miller to make his 4-3 stout against the run. Brandon Thompson makes his presence felt in the backfield and though he is unlikely to take over the Orange Bowl, the Broncos shouldn't hesitate to bring him int.

23. Cincinnati Bengals: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Bowl: Ticket City Bowl

Opponent: Houston

Stock: ↔

The Bengals' offense will have to suffice for now. They invested heavily in their offense in last year's draft and need to plug a few holes in their defense this time around.

Drafting a corner with their first pick and Devon Still with their second allows them to upgrade at two positions of need. The Steelers and Ravens have superstars on the brink of retirement and the Bengals have a chance to set the new standard for defenses in the division.

Still doesn't blow up the stat sheet, but their impressive group of linebackers needs his giant 6'5" frame soaking up blocks and making their lives easier.

24. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons): Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia

Bowl: Outback Bowl

Opponent: Michigan State

Stock: ↑

With the best offensive play maker in the draft already in their back pocket, the Browns will need to look to the defensive side of the ball with their second first-round pick.

Jones had to sit out a year after transfering from USC and led the SEC with 13.5 sacks in his first season at Georgia. He's a pass rushing nightmare and would make a huge impact on the Browns defense from the moment he arrived.

25. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Bowl: BCS National Championship

Opponent: LSU

Stock: ↔

The Lions have elite pieces on both sides of the ball. They expedited the rebuilding process after Matt Millen drove the franchise into the ground by plugging major holes with some of the best players in the NFL.

Now it's time to start filling in the gaps, starting with corner. Dre Kirkpatrick is a physical corner who isn't afraid to come up and make a hit. He isn't the best cover corner in the draft, but he's the sort of in-your-face defensive back that can ruin a receiver's day.

Don't expect either defense involved in this game to let up. We should see a big day from both defenses, though Kirkpatrick will get few opportunities to show off his skills in this battle for field position.

26. Houston Texans: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Bowl: Gator Bowl

Opponent: Florida

Stock: ↓

Mike Adams is going to have to contend with Florida's speed and hold his own to ensure Ohio State walks away with a victory.

The Texans need help up front and though Adams has no shot at sneaking into the top of the first round, he will battle for a starting spot at right tackle from day one.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Bowl: N/A

Luke Kuechly is a tackling machine and his limitations would be masked by the ridiculous talent around him in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers need to reload and though Kuechly isn't capable of replacing James Farrior from a locker room stand  point, he's more than capable of fitting in the system and maxing out his potential in Pittsburgh.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State

Bowl: Gator Bowl

Opponent: Florida

Stock: ↔

Michael Brewster can do for the Ravens what Maurkice Pouncey did for the Steelers. While the Ravens are a smash-mouth team, they aren't entirely sound up front.

They need to start replacing their Hall of Famers who are on their way out, but this is a no-brainer, as Brewster is the best interior lineman on the board.

29. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

Bowl: N/A (Injury)

It's safe to say the Patriots are going to trade one or both of their first-round picks, but let's pretend for a moment that Bill Belichick is going to be content with where he is drafting.

Jared Crick is the perfect defensive end to plug into their 3-4 scheme. While the Patriots aren't exclusively in a 3-4 look, Crick's motor, strength and play making ability make him the perfect candidate to be the defensive end the Patriots haven't had since Richard Seymour left.

He's still sidelined with an injury, so we won't see him in bowl action.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Jerel Worthy,

Bowl: Outback Bowl

Opponent: Georgia 

Stock: ↔

The 49ers already have the best defense in the league, but adding depth to the nose tackle position would make them that much better.

Jerel Worthy can hold the point in the 49ers' 3-4 scheme. They need a true deep threat who can actually catch and could use a corner, but inserting a nose of Worthy's caliber between Justin Smith and Ray McDonald and in front of Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman would be lethal.

31: New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Bowl: BCS Championship Game

Opponent: LSU

Stock: ↔

The Patriots have the worst secondary in the league and it's glaringly obvious that yet another late first-round pick needs to be spent on repairing it.

They land the best safety in the draft here and while his skills won't be on full display due to the snooze fest this game will ultimately be, the three years of tape suggesting that he's a first-round talent should suffice.

Green Bay Packers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Bowl: N/A

Janoris Jenkins would have a better opportunity to showcase his talents had he kept his nose clean and remained at Florida, but he's managed not to completely torch his shot at the NFL by performing at a high level at North Alabama.

He started as a true freshman at corner when he was at Florida, which is a testament to his raw talent. It's up to Ted Thompson to see whether or not Jenkins has learned his lesson, but he's a potential lockdown corner who could easily be the steal of the draft if he lands in the right organization.