2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Destined to Rise After Scouting Combine

You could mistake NFL GMs for mathematicians—they love numbers so much.  Whether it should or not, the combine always has a major effect on prospects’ draft stock. 

Here is a 2012 mock highlighting the freak of freaks that will rise up team’s boards after jaw-dropping workouts.

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

When you’re labeled the best quarterback prospect since John Elway, it isn’t a question of when you’ll be drafted, but who will draft you.  If the Colts keep the first overall pick, Luck is the only option.

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

Sam Bradford was sacked 55 times and hit 114 this season—both marks led the league.  You don’t need a rocket scientist to figure out what triggered his sophomore slump.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma St.)

In the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, Blackmon caught eight receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns with an inner-thigh infection.  Christian Ponder would be the happiest man alive if the Vikings drafted the Cowboys wideout.

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

Griffin won't technically rise up draft boards at the combine, but he'll just solidify his position.  Colt McCoy isn’t the answer.  Quarterback is the Browns No. 1 need.

RGIII’s potential is out of this world.  If he chooses to run any athletic events, the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill or shuttle run, Cleveland will fall in love.  After seeing what Cam Newton did with the Carolina Panthers this season, the Browns won’t be able to pass on an even more polished passer in Griffin.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU)

Ronde Barber is nearly fossilized, and Aqib Talib may just be prison-bound.  Tampa Bay would love to select Trent Richardson here, but a more pressing need has opened up at corner.

6. Washington Redskins: Dre Kirkpatrick (CB/S, Alabama)

Mike Shanahan’s ego is too big to reach for a quarterback in Landry Jones.  Washington has absolutely nothing behind DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson, plus Laron Landry is a free agent.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina)

Blaine Gabbert was a complete joke this season, but you can’t really blame him—look who he had to throw the ball to.  The 6’4”, 229-pound Jeffery caught four passes for 148 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska in the Capitol One Bowl and is worthy of such a high selection.

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

Carolina has nothing across from Charles Johnson.  Keeping Coples in-state would give the Panthers one of the top pass-rushing duos in the league for years to come.

9. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones (QB, Oklahoma)

Matt Moore may have strung a few good games together, but he isn’t a legitimate franchise quarterback.  Jones can sit behind Moore for a year, though, and learn the Dolphins' new system.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa)

Buffalo would love to add a pass-rusher here, but anyone but Coples would be a reach here.  Reiff still fills a huge need at left tackle, protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick’s expensive blindside.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford)

Matt Cassel and the Chiefs trainer is in favor of selecting a left tackle in Round 1.  Before KC can look to find a new QB, they must put respectable protection in front of the one that they have.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson (HB, Alabama)

It wouldn’t be a surprise if a team traded into the top 10 for Richardson, because he’s better than the 12th-best player available.  Marshawn Lynch is a free agent, and the Seahawks may not want to pay Skittles top dollar.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro (G, Stanford)

Offensive tackle is a bigger need for the Cardinals than guard, but there aren’t any first-round caliber tackles left.  DeCastro is definitely a solid Plan B, as Arizona must use a high selection(s) to protect Kevin Kolb.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Devon Still (DE, Penn St.)

Defensive end and cornerback are the Cowboys' two biggest needs besides quarterback.  Still is more talented than any cornerback on the board.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Keuchly (MLB, Boston College)

Philadelphia’s linebackers can’t tackle.  It just so happens Keuchly is a linebacker and brought down 191 ball carriers this past season.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama)

Rex Ryan’s defenses were known for creating pressure, but the Jets don’t have a single feared pass-rusher.  Courtney Upshaw played in a 3-4 defense with the Crimson Tide and would change that instantly.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins (CB, Flori...North Alabama)

Jenkins is talented enough to be a top-10 pick, but he has character issues.  To Marvin Lewis and the Bengals, Cincinnati just drafted a top-10 caliber corner with no strings attached.

18. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram (OLB, South Carolina)

Only one player on the Chargers defense recorded more than four sacks all season long.  Ingram had 19 in the past two years for the Gamecocks.

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame)

And Jay Cutler begins Tebowing.  Just imagine Chicago’s offense with a legit No. 1 wideout: scoring machine—with Matt Forte still in the backfield, of course.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry (DE, USC)

Tennessee’s rookie defensive tackle Karl Klug who they selected in the fifth round led the team in sacks this season.  What does that tell you besides the fact that they got a steal?

The Titans need a pass-rushing end badly, and they’ve been known to select workout warriors in the past.  The 6’3”, 250-pound Perry is athletic enough to play in a 3-4 system, and he’ll blow up at the combine.  He recorded 9.5 sacks this past season for the Trojans.

21. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard (CB, Nebraska)

Champ Bailey can’t play forever, and they don’t have much opposite the All-Pro.  Denver needs a  top-notch defense to keep the game close for Tim Tebow, and cornerback is one of their biggest needs.

22. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller (HB, Miami)

Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore—Miller is next in line.  The Hurricane boasts sprinter's speed and will be the fastest running back at the combine not out of the University of Florida.

Cedric Benson is nothing more than a mediocre starter.  With an extra first-round pick, Cincinnati can afford to take a player like Miller.  Next to Andy Dalton, AJ Green and Jermaine Gresham, the Bengals would field an elite offense for the next decade.

23. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor)

Wright is drawing comparisons to the Steelers’ Mike Wallace for a reason—blazing speed.  The Bears standout will run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at the combine, and there isn’t a chance Cleveland passes on him with the 23rd overall pick.

Reuniting Griffin with his favorite Baylor target is a dream for the Browns.  Wide receiver is their No. 2 need, only behind the QB.

24. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz (C, Wisconsin)

If the Lions can improve their offensive line, with Jahvid Best and Mikel LeShoure returning next season, their offense could be legendary.  The only thing that can stop Calvin Johnson is a pass-rush that gets to Matt Stafford before he can release the football.

25. New York Giants: Cordy Glenn (G, Georgia)

New York finished last in the regular season in rushing yards per game this year.  The 6’5”, 348-pound road-grader would change that instantly.

26. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers)

If Andre Johnson had a wideout opposite him that defenses didn’t have to hold back their laughter at when defending, he’d be the best receiver in the league hands down. 

Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones have had one too many chances to prove their worth—time to find a replacement.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Vontaze Burfict (ILB, Arizona St.)

Burfict combined with James Harrison alone would make the Steelers the most hostile defense in the league.  Throw in Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Clark, and opposing offenses will leave Heinz field every Sunday in an ambulance.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower (ILB, Alabama)

Baltimore needs the next Ray Lewis at inside linebacker.  Hightower isn’t nearly as athletic as Lewis was when he entered the league, but he has plenty of experience playing in a 3-4 defense.

29. New England Patriots: Mark Barron (SS, Alabama)

New England has the worst defense in the NFL.  Barron is a hard-hitter in the mold of a Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison-type safety Bill Belichick has started in the past.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois)

San Francisco needs a wide receiver, but all the top targets are gone at this point in the first round.  Ahmad Brooks is a free agent so the 49ers may need to find a pass-rusher opposite Aldon Smith.

31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy (DT, Michigan St.)

Again, New England’s defense is horrific.  Because the Albert Haynesworth experiment couldn’t have possibly gone worse, the Pats need a defensive tackle.

32. Green Bay Packers: Bruce Irvin (OLB, WVU)

Green Bay needs a linebacker across from Clay Matthews so opposing offensive lines can’t double their All-World pass-rusher. 

At 6’3”, 245 pounds, Irvin is a freak athlete.  He recorded 21.5 sacks at West Virginia the past two seasons and would instantly start across Matthews.

Rumors are floating around that Irvin could run as fast as a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.  While that’s highly unlikely, the fact that such rumors exist tells you how explosive he is.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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