2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Players Are Top-3 Picks?

While each year's NFL draft is compelling through all seven rounds, it's the first round that draws the most fan attention.

The biggest names in college football, mostly assembled in one place, waiting to hear their individual fates and find out where they will be playing for the next four years is one of the biggest attractions of the sport.

But few players generate more discussion than those taken in the first handful of picks. Below, I examine the three players pegged to go first, second and third overall, as well as one who could, depending on the situation.

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

It's practically a foregone conclusion that the Indianapolis Colts will be using their first-round pick on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and potentially replace Peyton Manning with him in his rookie season.

Luck threw for 3,517 yards for 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2011 and he rushed for 150 yards and two scores as well. He's the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft in a few years and appears ready to lead a professional offense right out of the gate.

A talent like Luck instantly transforms any offense he is a part of, and the Colts will likely look to him to eventually blossom into a future Hall of Famer along the lines of his predecessor, Manning.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The St. Louis Rams have needs at a number of positions after finishing 2011 at 2-14, though none is as pressing as wide receiver. With Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon clearly the best receiver of the 2012 draft class, look for the team to snag him with the No. 2 overall pick.

In 2011, Blackmon caught 121 passes for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. That's a down year for him, considering his 2010 season in which he caught 111 passes for an astounding 1,782 yards and 20 scores. He has great hands, strength that makes up for his relative lack of speed and an undeniable playmaking ability.

The Rams need a receiver who will bring the best out of quarterback Sam Bradford. If Blackmon can't do it, I don't know who could.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has any hopes of improving upon his disappointing rookie season, the team is going to have to keep him protected. With USC's Matt Kalil easily the best offensive tackle in the draft this year, the Vikings would be well-served to use their No. 3 overall pick on him.

Kalil is powerful and athletic and has more than enough ability to stop even the best defenders in the NFL. He's great at run blocking as well, which should help the Vikings exponentially considering they are likely to be without star rusher Adrian Peterson for part—if not most—of the 2012 season. Whether it's Toby Gerhart or someone else called upon take on his workload, he will need all the help he can get.

The Vikings gave up 30 sacks last year, and that number needs to drop significantly in 2012 if Ponder is to have a successful sophomore season. Kalil should be a perfect addition to an offensive line that needs serious help.

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

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Melvin Ingram, LB, South Carolina

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

With just two quarterbacks projected to be first-round picks in this year's draft and the Colts all but certain to take Andrew Luck, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III has become quite the hot commodity.

Though I have the Washington Redskins taking Griffin with their No. 6 overall pick, that could change if another team chooses to trade up to snag him.

Speculation emerged this week that the Cleveland Browns—who are in a dire situation at quarterback themselves—may attempt to trade their No. 4 first-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for their No. 2 pick, and use it to draft Griffin.

Clearly, they'd be doing so because their pick has more value than Washington's and it's likely that Rams target wide receiver Justin Blackmon would still be on the board at No. 4.

Whichever team ultimately picks Griffin will have a long-term solution to its quarterback problem. Griffin completed 72.4 percent of his passes in 2011, for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and just six interceptions and carried the ball 179 times for 699 yards and 10 scores.

He's athletic, fast, strong and has a deadly arm. With his statistics and his skills, it wouldn't be surprising if a number of teams without a reliable starting quarterback try to trade up and nab him.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (coin flip)

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa (coin flip)

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (coin flip)

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Nick Perry, DE, USC (coin flip)

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): David DeCastro, G, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16. New York Jets (8-8): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): (traded from Oakland) LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

22. Cleveland Browns (4-12): (traded from Atlanta) Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

27. New England Patriots (13-3): (traded from New Orleans) Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State

29. New England Patriots (13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama

30. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

31. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

32. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers