2012 NFL Mock Draft: Injured College Players Sure to Shine at Pro Level

With the Super Bowl ending the 2011 season on Sunday, it's time to look ahead at the 2012 NFL draft, which is full of stars and exciting talents.

Current injuries might scare some teams leading up to the draft, and nagging injuries will also hurt a player's ability to perform well at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Let's look at a complete first-round mock draft and a few injured college players sure to shine at the pro level.

* Denotes injured player.

1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Andrew Luck is the clear-cut choice as the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft and is a franchise quarterback that will be able to excel in the Indianapolis Colts offense from Day 1. You cannot pass up on a quarterback with the type of skills Luck has, which include arm strength and high football intelligence.

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

The St. Louis Rams need a left tackle to protect franchise quarterback Sam Bradford, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Matt Kalil of USC is the best left tackle in the draft and could be a perennial all-pro player.

3) Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State star Justin Blackmon would give young Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder the explosive playmaker he needs at the wide receiver position to help the team score more points consistently.

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

The Browns need a franchise quarterback badly, and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor is a dual threat QB that can create plays for Cleveland and make their offense more dangerous.

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

Morris Claiborne is a tremendous defensive player and has the potential to be a shut-down cornerback in the NFL with tremendous tackling ability.

6) Washington Redskins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

There is no quarterback worth taking here for the Washington Redskins, so they must take a franchise cornerstone player and offensive tackle Riley Reiff will be a perennial Pro Bowler at the NFL level.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Young Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert desperately needs a playmaking wide receiver to help the team's passing game, and Notre Dame star receiver Michael Floyd is a big, physical playmaker who can excel in any area of the field. A perfect fit for the Jaguars.

8) Miami Dolphins: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Miami Dolphins need another pass rusher with Jason Taylor retiring, and Quinton Coples of North Carolina has the speed and strength to be an effective pass rusher in the NFL.

9) Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Not since Kris Jenkins have the Carolina Panthers had a run-stuffing, All-Pro caliber defensive tackle, which is why they should take Penn State DT Devon Still if he's available at pick No. 8.

10) Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

The Buffalo Bills need more of a pass rush to help their talented secondary on defense, and Courtney Upshaw from Alabama is a supreme talent that would be able to help the Bills defense for a decade.

11) Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Seattle Seahawks have a tremendous secondary but their pass rush is quite weak, which makes drafting Illiinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus a great move because he has immense athletic talent and strength.

12) Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Luke Kuechly of Boston College is a very smart football player with good athletic ability and a high football intelligence. He would be a great fit on the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Arizona Cardinals need a stronger presence at left tackle, and Stanford offensive lineman Jonathan Martin would be a nice upgrade for them at that position. Martin protected Andrew Luck at Stanford.

14) Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick has immense skill and has great coverage skills that would add a ton of talent to a Dallas Cowboys secondary that needs playmakers badly.

15) Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

The Philadelphia Eagles need to be more athletic at linebacker, and North Carolina star Zach Brown would give the team's linebacking corps more speed and coverage skills.

16) New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The New York Jets defense struggled this season and one reason for that was they did not have consistent pass rushing from the defensive end position. Melvin Ingram of South Carolina would really add some speed and skill to the Jets' defensive front.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Cincinnati Bengals have two first-round picks this season and if Trent Richardson is available at this spot then they need to take him. Richardson has the speed and running ability to become a great NFL running back.

18) San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The San Diego Chargers were really hurt by injuries on their offensive line this season, so drafting a potential 10-year stud at guard like Stanford's David DeCastro is a smart idea.He has the strength and quickness to effectively pass block and run block in the pros.

19) Chicago Bears: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Rutgers star Mohamed Sanu is exactly what the Chicago Bears need to upgrade their wide receiver position: speed, athleticism and great hands. He would be a great fit with quarterback Jay Cutler and Matt Forte in the Bears offense.

20) Tennessee Titans: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Andre Branch of Clemson is a tremendous defensive end prospect and will be a very good player in the NFL at the defensive end position. He has the speed and football intelligence to be an effective pass rusher for the Tennessee Titans.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

After a poor week of Senior Bowl practices, Alfonzo Dennard's draft stock dipped a bit, but he still projects to be a good NFL player with his coverage abilities and athleticism.

22) Cleveland Browns: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

With Peyton Hillis likely to depart Cleveland in the offseason through free agency, the Browns will need to draft a running back in the first round, and Washington Huskies rusher Chris Polk has everything you want in a running back: strength, size, speed and good field vision.

23) Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Detroit Lions offense is great, but their defense needs some work, especially in the secondary. Mark Barron of Alabama is a great safety who can cover wide receivers and stop the run with his exceptional tackling ability.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dontari Poe would be a great replacement for Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Casey Hampton, who missed a lot of the 2011 season with an injury. Poe is a run-stuffing tackle that can dominate offensive linemen and command double teams.

25) Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M*

Ryan Tannehill is an injured quarterback, but he has good passing skills and could play himself into the first round with a good performance at the NFL scouting combine.

Even though Tim Tebow played well as a starter for the Denver Broncos this season, John Elway was unwilling to commit to Tebow as the team's starter for the long-term.

The team could certainly draft a quarterback that is of the pocket passing mold, like Tannehill, in the first round.

26) Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor*

The Baylor star wide receiver would be a perfect addition to the fantastic Houston Texans passing offense, but a recent ankle injury kept him out of the 2012 Senior Bowl.

Wright has good speed and runs routes well too. He also has kick return talent and could help the Texans out on special teams as a kick returner.

Wright's versatility would make him a valuable part of the Texans team, especially given the fact he has the potential to be a top-tier NFL receiver.

27) New England Patriots: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin*

Peter Konz is a great center but a recent injury has not allowed him to be at full strength. The Patriots really need a center for the future, though, and passing up on Konz here would be a poor move by head coach Bill Belichick.

Konz is a fantastic pass blocker and would be a good future replacement for Dan Koppen, who is aging, at center.

28) Green Bay Packers: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

The Packers passing defense was awful this season and one way to improve it is too find a good pass rushing defensive end to rush the quarterback. Jared Crick of Nebraska would be a great addition to the Packers defensive line thanks to his speed and athleticism.

29) Baltimore Ravens: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The Baltimore Ravens need to get younger at linebacker since Ray Lewis does not have too many more seasons left, if any, as an elite linebacker. Vontaze Burfict of Arizona Sate has immense talent and would develop nicely under the leadership of Lewis.

30) San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Stephen Hill is a good and speedy wide receiver who would really add some need skill at the receiver position for the San Francisco 49ers, who need another playmaker on offense.

31) New York Giants: Fletcher Cox, DT, Miss State

the New York Giants' best talent is pass rushing, and drafting Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State would give them a young, athletic defensive tackle to clog up the middle of the line and stuff the run.

32) New England Patriots: Michael Brockers, DE, LSU

The Patriots need to rush the passer a lot better than they do now, and Michael Brockers of LSU would fit well in their 4-3 defense as a defensive end.