2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Locks for the 2012 All-Rookie Team

I am pretty sure that projections for the 2011 NFL All-Rookie Team didn't come up as planned. After all, many people suggested that a player like Aldon Smith would struggle in his rookie season and that Robert Quinn would have an immediate impact. 

This was repeated over and over again throughout the 2011 season. Christian Ponder was selected 24 picks before Andy Dalton, but didn't yield the results that the Bengals' signal caller did. 

Today I am going to give you my projections for the 2012 NFL All-Rookie Team. 

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Even if Andrew Luck doesn't have Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, Pierre Garcon or any of the top weapons in Indianapolis heading into the 2012 season, he will be able to make do.

Remember, this is a quarterback who continued to perform at a high level at Stanford without top-flight talent. His No. 1 target for the Cardinal was Coby Fleener, a tight end I don't project to go until the middle rounds in April.

Additionally, you can expect the Colts to get him some young skill position talent later in the draft or in free agency. This is a big of a lock as you could get.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Running backs seem to have the easiest transition to the NFL of any skill position player. This could be because of the nuances of the other positions at this level, but this has been repeated over and over again.

Trent Richardson is the best running back to enter the draft since Darren McFadden in 2008. He has great field vision, a premiere burst through the line and breaks tackles with the best of them.

In my opinion it really doesn't matter what top-10 team Richardson goes to. The former Alabama back is going to get his yards. Look for a 1,300-yard rookie season from Richardson.

Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

The best situation for Allen would be to go to a team late in the first round. Not only would this net him a little more money, it would probably give him a quarterback that can get him the ball and an offensive foundation that is already set.

Even if Allen goes early in the second round to one of the lesser teams, his impact will be felt immediately.

This is a dude that has all the necessary skills to be an All-Pro receiver at the next level. He is physical at the line, catches the ball down field and has extremely soft hands. Despite the fact that Orson Grant declared for the draft, Allen is head-and-shoulders above every tight end in the draft.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

My projection of Blackmon going to the Rams aside, he is already an NFL-caliber receiver at this point. The Biletnikoff Award Winner continued to surprise me in regards to his ability to make plays in coverage, getting into his route really quickly and turning defensive backs around.

He does tend to struggle against bump/run coverage, which could make his transition to the NFL a little less smooth. Still, this guy has all the tools to be an outstanding threat.

If he does go to the Rams as I project, Blackmon will have the benefit of playing with Sam Bradford and heading a pretty weak receiving corp. This means he will be the No. 1 receiver on a team that will look to put the ball in the air.

Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

Despite playing at a small school, Brian Quick has received some national attention because of his play and the thought that his game translates well to the next level. 

Currently the Appalachian State star is projected to be a fourth or fifth round pick, but you can expect that to change as he gets more national attention moving forward.

At 6'5", he has the height and build to be a dominant player on the outside against smaller cover corners. Quick has the ability to run after the catch and can impose his will against defenders on the outside. 

One of the major things that I see in watching tape of Quick is the fact that he has extraordinary leaping ability, which will play right into the idea of him being a premiere red zone threat. 

If he goes to the right team, Quick will make an immediate impact despite the transition from small school to the NFL.

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd might have the biggest impact of any skill position player in this draft his rookie season outside of Andrew Luck and Trent Richardson. He runs precise routes, understands coverages in mid routes, has soft hands and is physically dominant on the outside.

You are probably looking at a 1,000-yard season from this physically gifted wide receiver.

Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

An offensive tackle taken in the top five will not sit on the bench: it just doesn't happen. No matter where Kalil goes, he will probably be asked to protect his quarterback's blindside from day one.

Despite having some issues in regards to technique and needing to add some weight to that massive frame, the USC product is all ready to step in and be an upgrade along the outside of his team's offensive line.

David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Technically speaking, David DeCastro is the most dominant offensive linemen in this draft. While the Stanford guard might not get the play because he succeeds along the interior of the line, he is a special talent.

DeCastro is just as good in pass protection as he is in run blocking. This will enable whatever team that drafts him to run up the middle with more success and disable the opponent's ability to put pressure up the middle.

He is as sure of a first-round pick as you could get.

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Whether Konz goes to the Detroit Lions, New York Giants or another team in the bottom half of the first round really isn't the point.

As with any first-round center prospect, he projects to be the immediate starter and will play like such. Konz is an extremely good pulling center, who opens up massive holes both inside and on the slant. Just look at what Montee Ball and Russell Wilson did behind him at Wisconsin.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

I get a lot of grief for saying that Martin is the most technically sound tackle in this year's draft class. In fact, you are looking at the 2012 NFL Draft having two franchise players at this position.

The quick jump up the board of Martin's Stanford teammate, David DeCastro, could push the tackle's stock down a little, but make no mistake about it: Martin should be a top-10 pick (No. 8 on my big board).

Whether it is Miami, Buffalo, Philadelphia or Kansas City, Jonathan Martin will get his shot immediately.

Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Although he has nowhere near the upside of the other “elite” offensive linemen in this draft, Glenn just gets the job done. He doesn't do one thing great, but he doesn't have a massive weakness. You are looking at a player who will be a 10-year starter at the next level.

The best bet is that Glenn will be selected by a team that has a glaring whole at the guard position, which means he will be instilled immediately.

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

I have Mercilus listed as a defensive end here due to basic semantics alone. He will play a multitude of different positions at the next level and this is what I like about him. The former Illinois standout can play with his hands down, drop back into coverage and man the middle of the field if need be.

Despite fitting better in a 3-4 scheme, Mercilus could very well be a solid player in a base 4-3. This leads me to believe that scouts will do their work and put him in the best situation to succeed.

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Devon Still is a top-10 talent in my books and will probably go off the board around that area in the first round. This means that the team that drafts Still will have a glaring whole up the middle of their defensive line.

The Penn State product can take on double teams, has great leverage with his upper body strength and can open up gaps for outside pass rushers.

While what he does might not be considered “sexy,” Devon Still will have an immediate impact.

Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

A massive representation of a man, Dontari Poe will clog the middle for a 3-4 team in 2012 and beyond. He is one of the strongest players to enter the draft in a long time and plays like it.

Look for a 3-4 team like Houston or Pittsburgh to nab Poe and insert him along the interior of their line immediately. The results will be great.

Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

I may be in the minority with this opinion, but Jared Crick reminds me a great deal of Justin Smith. While this may be great praise for a player I don't project to go until the second half of the first round, he just looks the part.

The Nebraska product can play defensive end in the 3-4, while moving inside to tackle in certain situations. Despite the fact that he translates best in the aforementioned scheme, Crick could also play regularly along the interior of a 4-3 line.

Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

Upshaw is the best pure 3-4 outside linebacker in the draft. He has an amazing first burst, utilizes multiple pro-ready pass rush moves and has the ability to get to the outside in a heartbeat.

Whichever team drafts this stellar linebacker will be looking at consistent double-digit sack seasons starting from day one.  

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The situation that Burfict goes into will be a major determining factor as to his success as a rookie and moving forward. At this point I project him going to the Baltimore Ravens to eventually replace Ray Lewis. If that happens he might see the field more often as a rookie.

He still has issues in regards to reading offensive schemes and is a coverage liability. However, going to a team with a strong foundation and having a full offseason will help him a great deal.

A weak insider linebacker group helps Burfict out a great deal here as he will tend to struggle a bit as a rookie.

Melvin Ingram, LB, South Carolina

Speed and technique are two words that I will continually use to define Melvin Ingram's game. This dude shoots out of a cannon at initial snap and fends off opposing blockers with the best of them. Right now I have him in the top 15 on my big board, but that could rise a great deal moving forward.

If a team is content to draft a defensive linemen in the first round with the idea of moving him to outside linebacker, they better be damn sure he can make that transition. I don't see this being an issue for Ingram.

Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State

Morris Claiborne is already a better cover corner than former LSU product and 2011 first-round pick, Patrick Peterson. He gets in the face of receivers at the line, has fluid hip movement and doesn't ever get turned around.

Additionally, Claiborne played against elite competition in the SEC, meaning he will not have an issue transitioning to the NFL. Look for him to make an immediate impact, maybe to the tune of Pro Bowl consideration.

This is how good I project Morris Claiborne to be at the next level.

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The 2011 NFL Draft was extremely interesting when it came to the corner position. Chris Culliver, who was considered a reach in the third round, had more impact on defense than any of the corner selected in the first round.

The 2012 draft class is extremely deep at this position, which means you could see the same thing unfold.

That said, I absolutely love the frame and build of Stephon Gilmore. He has the physical ability to be a premiere corner at the next level. This guy is going to make a huge impact early on because he already has pro-ready technique on the outside. He stops the receivers' routes in mid-stream, has the ability to read the quarterback and makes the play on the ball when it is in the air.

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The first three versions of my 2012 NFL Mock Draft have all had the Alabama safety going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the second of their two first-round picks. He has the build to be an elite safety in the NFL, while not being considered a true cover or run-stopping safety.

What I see in Barron is the ability to play well in the box and over the top in coverage. He can play both safety positions, which is somewhat of a rarity in today's game.

Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin

This may come as a shock to some, but I am a huge fan of Aaron Henry. This guy came up huge against top-tier opponents in the Big Ten. He has the ability to cover tight ends out of the back field, reading offenses extremely well.

One chink in his armor might be that Henry doesn't wrap up as well as other safeties in this somewhat weak draft class.

Still, he will give tremendous value in the third our fourth round and will be starting sooner rather than later.

Full 2012 NFL First Round Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams WR Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State

3. Minnesota Vikings OT Matt Kalil Southern California

4. Cleveland Browns QB Robert Griffin III Baylor

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Trent Richardson Alabama

6. Washington Redskins WR Michael Floyd Notre Dame

7. Jacksonville Jaguars CB Morris Claiborne Louisiana State

8. Carolina Panthers DL Michael Brocker Louisiana State

9. Miami Dolphins G David DeCastro Stanford

10. Buffalo Bills OT Jonathan Martin Stanford

11. Kansas City Chiefs OT Riley Reiff Iowa

12. Seattle Seahawks DE Quinton Coples North Carolina

13. Arizona Cardinals LB Melvin Ingram South Carolina

14. Dallas Cowboys CB Dre' Kirkpatrick Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles LB Luke Kuechly Boston College

16. New York Jets DE Whitney Mercilus Illinois

17. Cincinnati Bengals RB Lamar Miller Miami (F)

18. San Diego Chargers LB Courtney Upshaw Alabama

19. Chicago Bears WR Alshon Jeffery South Carolina

20. Tennessee Titans CB Alfonzo Dennard Nebarska

21. Cincinnati Bengals S Mark Barron Alabama

22. Cleveland Browns LB Zach Brown North Carolina

23. Detroit Lions C Peter Konz Wisconsin

24. Pittsburgh Steelers OT Mike Adams Ohio State

25. Denver Broncos CB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina

26. Houston Texans NT Dontari Poe Memphis

27. New England Patriots LB Nick Perry Southern California

28. Green Bay Packers DT Devon Still Penn State

29. New York Giants OT Kelechi Osemele Iowa State

30. Baltimore Ravens LB Vontaze Burfict Arizona State

31. New England Patriots CB Jayron Hosley Virginia Tech

32. San Francisco 49ers CB Janoris Jenkins Alabama