2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Every Can't-Miss Prospect in 1st Round

Don't believe the hype. Unless, of course, we are discussing Andrew Luck and several other can't-miss stars of tomorrow.

The following is the first round as it sits today. Littered among the teams are some good players as well as some very great ones. What we found is that there are not that many guarantees.

The NFL Draft is a crapshoot more than anything. If you want a player that will shine no matter the team he goes to or how the personnel he is surrounded by, you have come to the right place.

We have included a can't-miss tag by the players that are bona fide stars. 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB

CAN'T MISS

Dude is simply a marvel to watch. He has size, power and one helluva an arm. Stanford may have dropped a heartbreaker in the Fiesta Bowl, but it was no fault of Luck, who bombed the ball with ease all over the field. 

You have to see him throw to know that great things are in store for the Stanford standout. This is the Will Smith of college football. Get the man a script and he will get you a blockbuster. 

Forget that Peyton Manning is on the squad. This young man will bide his time and flourish. Luck just makes it work. 

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Matt Kalil, USC, OT

CAN'T MISS

This big boy can move. He has the body and disposition to keep you in front of him for days. You will have to come packing heat and a bag of tricks to get around him. 

He is the perfect player to keep Sam Bradford healthy and the Rams looking much better than they did in 2011. He is a shot in the arm for a team that is dying at the moment. 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

The Vikings need a burner on the corner to stop teams from, you know, scoring on them. This season was a humbling endeavor and can be addressed with a corner like Claiborne. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

CAN'T MISS

I love the Browns taking Trent Richardson. The Alabama star is not so much coveted for his speed as much as his instincts and ability to find a path to victory. 

Richardson is an unrelenting beast that hits a line and keeps on running. I see Beast Mode the sequel in this young man. The Browns fans will fall over themselves for this invigorating runner. 

5. Tampa Bay Bucs (4-12): Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have issues. A change in personnel may not change that, but an infusion of young players that hunger to show their mettle will. Kirkpatrick brings back some grit to a soft team.  

6. Washington Redskins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

Robert Griffin III is electric and a wonder to behold. I'm not yet ready to label him a guarantee just yet. It's far too easy to get caught up in what Griffin has done in the past couple months. But we know this process has a tendency to drum any issues he might have in accuracy.  

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

CAN'T MISS 

I wasn't sold on Justin Blackmon until the Fiesta Bowl. It's clear that he is just bigger and stronger than everyone else. 

The Cowboys receiver simply wants the ball and that is the mentality that will see him feature on whichever team is lucky enough to grab him. 

If he continues to strut his stuff in the process, I don't see why the Rams wouldn't consider grabbing him. 

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

Cam Newton has a monopoly on the talent with the Panthers. It's time to get some of that athleticism and depth on defense as well. 

Coples is a beast that would give the Panthers a young weapon on defense. Perhaps now they can win some games in which Newton dominates. 

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

Matt Moore destroyed any hope the Dolphins had for Andrew Luck a long time ago. So the Dolphins might as well take care of him. Reiff is as dependable as they come in protection. 

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Zach Brown, North Carolina, OLB

There will again be talk of the Bills flirting with a quarterback at this spot or trading up. I just don't see it, because that is hardly what is ailing them most. I see them getting some much-needed help to improve a porous offensive line. 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Landry Jones, Oklahoma, QB

Reach, reach! Well, I agree. Landry Jones may not garner a whole bunch of praise at the moment, but that can change with a phenomenal pro day. 

The fact is the Seahawks may need a running back as well if they find Marshawn Lynch too expensive. Any running back here that's not Trent Richardson is a reach as well. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

The best part about Martin is his run blocking, which should help the Chiefs challenge for the division next season. The line needs a big body that can move upfield and that's Martin.   

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

CAN'T MISS

There aren't many that are falling over themselves over Kuechly, but they should be. The man does everything. 

He reads coverage precisely and covers his ground with abandon. All we need is some combine stats to really show you what we have here. After that, we may see a top-10 linebacker here. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, OLB

After a horrible final game where their toughness was questioned, the Cowboys could use a workhorse who is as versatile as he is tough. Upshaw is a hungry player that would uplift a spiraling franchise. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Here is the thing, Floyd may be gone long before this pick. The Eagles still need a receiver as nobody is buying into DeSean Jackson's apology.

It's time for a new star to take the line at receiver. Floyd is it, but I think he will do very well in the draft process and may get snagged by a team like the Cardinals who could use a stud like this.  

16. New York Jets (8-8): Devon Still, Penn State, DE/DT

CAN'T MISS

Here is what I love about Still. The defensive beast is versatile and can fit pretty much anywhere. The Jets could use his tenacity, but so could a lot of teams. 

He will find a spot and a way to work himself into the rotation. The best part is that he finds the holes like a monster running back. Quarterbacks beware because Devon Still is coming. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via 8-7 Oakland Raiders): Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB

Just as much as Still excels at all things, Dennard is merely good at them. Versatility is never a bad thing, but Dennard will have to show elite speed and power at the combine. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

The Chargers would love to draft consistency or some other intangible. Hell, even a new head coach would be nice. But they will settle on a stout lineman that can keep Philip Rivers upright.  

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

The Bears could go in a number of directions here. I would love them to take some additional help on offensive line. With some turnover on defense likely, they should draft Branch. 

He has great instincts and a fantastic first step. The Bears would keep up their ethos of defense first with this pick.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

A versatile beast that is a chore to move. He can play pretty much anywhere on the line, making him a blessing to whoever nabs him. 

21. Denver Broncos (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

The Broncos are growing long in the teeth in the secondary and need somebody to come in and infuse the defense with energy. 

22. New York Giants (9-7): Lamar Miller, Miami, RB

Lamar Miller may be on the cusp of the first round with most right now, but I love his upside. After he shows what he can do with other skilled players, he should land around this area by draft day. 

23. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

The wise move is for the Bengals to continue to put together a defensive front to contend with the rest of the division. Barron is a versatile safety that comes highly regarded.  

24. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

Andre Johnson is a stud but could be even better with a star on the other side of the field. Wright would free up the big man.  

25. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Kevin Reddick,  North Carolina, LB

Colt McCoy is the man, despite what most people think. The Browns settled the running back situation and now need to shore up the holes on defense. 

Reddick is a smart player that just knows where to be. The Browns can build off that as this young team continues to grow. 

26. Detroit Lions (10-6): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, G

Sanders lacks polish but is a beast in the run block. The Lions would do well to nab him if he is around. 

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina, WR 

The Steelers don't really need much and I had them taking Dontari Poe in earlier iterations. I could see them either trading up for what they really need or just grabbing the best player at the time. In this case, that would be Alshon Jeffrey, who very well could be gone by now. 

28. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, ILB

CAN'T MISS 

The only real downside to Burfict is that he is prone to dumb mistakes that cause penalties. After that, he is born to be a linebacker. 

It looks ever more likely that he rises higher on the board, but for now we have Baltimore taking him and putting him on the Ray Lewis strategy for success. From a pure fan's point of view, you have to like the thought of Burfict being the next Lewis. 

He has the size and mean streak to certainly step into those shoes. This just makes sense and would be an amazing get for the Ravens. 

29. New England Patriots (via 12-3 New Orleans Saints): Jarvis Jones, Georgia, OLB/DE

The Patriots get a versatile player that can play a couple positions and add to a Patriots defense that was far too suspect on 2011.  

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Jared Crick, Nebraska, DE

The Niners have a nice gift fall in their lap. Crick is a versatile machine but only needs to prove he is healthy to fly off the board well sooner than this spot. 

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, S

The Patriots simply have to address their pass defense, which was once again deplorable. Martin goes a long way to shoring up such things. 

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DE/DT

The Packers keep winning with a solid final pick. 

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