2012 NFL Mock Draft: "Can't Miss" Prospects Who Will Struggle in Rookie Year

Sure-things and Can't Miss prospects fill the first round like ornaments on a Christmas Tree, but we know better. Many of these collegiate superstars will struggle. 

This is the mock draft for those of us that see the glass half empty. Consider this a cynics guide to the mock draft. 

What we have here is the first round flooded with amazing athletes that may all one day find a special place in our hearts at the pro level. For now, they are all coming in as young men that have to prove themselves all over again.

We have selected a few men here that have some question marks heading in. If they might struggle in year one, we will note that and the reason for such things.

Here is the 2012 NFL Draft with potential year one struggles included. 

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

Andrew Luck continues to be the man of the hour, week and year. There is nowhere else the Colts go, and this will go down as the easiest mock selection in history.

STRUGGLES: There is no bigger "Can't Miss" player on the board, so we have to at least consider how immense the pressure is on Luck to succeed. Forget Ryan Leaf, Luck is the only player to be a guaranteed star out of the gate. 

I still think he has a solid career, but the pressure may be too much for any rookie to handle. He is not being asked to step into Peyton Manning's shoes. With the Colts legend still under contract, he is being asked to be better. 

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

This pick is very close to becoming the Redskins' who need and love Robert Griffin III. If not, the Rams play it safe and keep Sam Bradford safe by drafting Matt Kalil.   

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

The Vikings need a big, strong corner who can shut down receivers as well as invigorate fans with his play making. Claiborne plays the game with pure instincts and is as good as they come on the corners. 

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

You have to be pretty dominant to be this high as a running back; Richardson is. He can run and catch better than any at his position and will kill the opposition with his versatility. 

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

The Bucs need a cornerback badly, and one that will provide some physicality on the wings. There is no need to trade when you have the big, bad figure on the corner in Dre Kirkpatrick. 

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

The Redskins need a shot in the arm badly. This pick couldn't have come at a better time. There is a great chance that the Redskins trade up to steal this pick away from the Browns, who are also salivating over RG3.

Griffin is still a work in progress. The Baylor star isn't as plug and play as Luck and could be a season or two away from hitting his stride. 

STRUGGLES: And here is where I have to jump in and bring a pall to the Griffin adoration fest. I love his arm, accuracy and even his off the field demeanor.

It's clear that the Redskins would throw him into the fire immediately, and that may work to the detriment of a player that needs a season of grooming. 

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

The Jaguars need a long, lean receiver who can bully his way down field. This would be the perfect tandem to build on. 

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

Coples killed it at the Senior Bowl practices. Forget thoughts on his consistency, because he is the real deal and threatening to solidify his status as a top-10 draft choice. He really only needed a solid showing last week and instead stole the show. The Panthers have their man. 

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

The Dolphins could be another team to trade up for quarterback glory in RG3, but they could also use a great deal of help on the line. Reiff is as solid and dependable as they come.   

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

The Bills need a great deal more toughness on defense. Kuechly has a mind for the game and is adept at being at the right place at the right time. I still say he is plenty big enough and his speed will be unquestioned. I just need him to kill it at the combine. 

STRUGGLES: Scouts are fond of Kuechly, and that has everything to do with his motor and ability to play above his head. 

He will go into the combine with questions on his size, speed and athleticism. All those question marks have me confident we are at least a season from seeing Kuechly getting comfortable at the next level. 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

Brockers continues to rise, and his size and ability to breach the line are reasons why. 

The Seahawks may also be in play on Griffin talks, but they could use a beast on the line, and Brockers is that unrelenting force. The Seahawks would get a gritty player that is simply impossible to consistently contain. 

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

This would be a steal. In all reality, Martin could jump on this board into the top five with a solid combine. The best part about Martin is his run-blocking, which should help the Chiefs move the ball all next season. Well regarded, Martin should see a bump in the next couple of weeks.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

Burfict just needs to take a chill pill every now and again out there. If he can handle his emotions, he is a true superstar in waiting. I am very eager to push him up the board but want to see how the draft process treats him. 

I would like to place him in the "struggles" category, but I continue to think that his on-the-field anger issues actually give him an edge that may be harnessed in the right way at the next level. 

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

The Cowboys need to get tougher and deeper on defense, and they 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): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

The Eagles were abysmal up the gap last season. They had the star corners last year, but their linebacker core was a joke. Zach Brown will not let running backs demolish the Eagles next year. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

The Alabaman fits the bill for the Jets. Barron covers ground well and has a nose for the ball. This pick would add depth to a team that could use a strong safety to allow a more versatile approach on defense.  

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

Dennard is big and powerful and can dominate receivers at the line, but he was suspect on double-move coverages at the Senior Bowl. 

STRUGGLES: The book on Dennard continues to be that he is good at all things but not great at any one aspect of the game. It will take a talent like that a while to find his niche at the next level. 

Dennard could prove a lot of this wrong in the next couple months, but it would take a dynamic combine for him to move up further than this. 

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

The only way to ensure the same Philip Rivers malaise is negated next year is to beef up the offensive line. DeCastro will be a solid addition to the Chargers' pocket protection.    

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

Michael Floyd is my favorite to rule this draft class. He is a sneaky receiver who creates a ton of room in coverage. He has the speed and power to mix it up at the line.  

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

Cordy Glenn has great footwork and stays in front of the opposition. There is also the point that he is built like a bear. 

*Playoff Teams Subject to change

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, Miami, RB

Cedric Benson has served well, but the Bengals need another back to lift some of the heavy load. As we have seen, success is far more attainable with a tandem of gifted players, and the Bengals would also get a Miami standout with huge upside. 

STRUGGLES: Miller is no doubt fast and explosive, and all these things will be illustrated at the combine. 

The worry for me in his rookie year is that he is a back that really kills you in getting to that second level. He will fight to find holes in year one. 

It will take a season before he can work in some elusive measures to his game, and then we will really see something special. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Devon Still, Penn State, DE 

Versatile and can play a number of spots on the line. The jury is still out whether he is a star or bust in waiting. He is out of the Senior Bowl with a toe injury, so that jury will have to continue deliberating. A solid combine may see him push for the top 15.  

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

Janoris Jenkins did exactly what he needed to do at the Senior Bowl practices. He is just as fast and explosive as you would hope and isn't getting fooled. If he can skirt character-issue questions, we have ourselves a small-school first-rounder.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, OT

It's time to upgrade an offensive line that was on the wrong side of consistency in 2011. Sanders was my pick heading into the Senior Bowl, and we will see what the weekend holds before we start dropping him from lofty precipices.  

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

I would love the Broncos to get a corner here, but none remain worth taking. They also need some talent at receiver, and Wright continues to get first-round love, and yes, I like him more than Alshon Jeffrey. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Poe is big and strong, making him the perfect person to clog the middle. The Texans' marvelous defense in 2011 gets all the more fierce. He is the perfect huge asset to stick in their 3-4 scheme. 

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

Jones needs to add some bulk to his frame. Some think another year would do him well. The Patriots still get a versatile player who can play a couple of positions and add to a Patriots defense that was far too suspect in 2011. 

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

Cox is a borderline first-round pick, and that is why I have the Packers seeing the value in a defender that is keyed in on where to be. He is a tackles-for-a-loss machine and will be a fine addition to a Green Bay team that slays this time of year. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, Wisconsin, C 

Linebacker and receiver will also be looked at, so I could see Alshon Jeffrey or Kendall Wright getting nabbed here as well. Taking any of that at this point would be a reach, but they still have options. 

The Ravens started the year in need of offensive line depth, and Konz would go a long way to ensure this team never goes hungry in that way again. Well, for the foreseeable future at least. 

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

The 'Niners get a versatile machine in Crick. He will go nicely with the new team motif of killing quarterbacks.  

31. New York Giants (9-7): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

The Giants finally figured out their offensive line woes, so I have them concentrating on the other side of the ball. There is a good chance that a solid linebacker comes falling to the back of the first round, but if not, Branch is a solid pick. He doesn't fill a specific need but is the best player out there. 

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

The secondary is horrendous and may be the reason Eli Manning picks apart the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Patriots simply have to address their pass defense, which was once again deplorable. Martin goes a long way to shoring up such things.

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