2012 NFL Mock Draft: College Standouts That Will Be Mediocre in the NFL

With the NFL draft just a few weeks from kicking off, it’s time to get our scouting helmets on and dive into the talent pool.

While the draft is sure to be full of stellar NFL players, a few of the prospects will be nothing more than mediocre talents in the league.

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

Andrew Luck to Indianapolis and Peyton Manning out the door. It will be a wild day when this inevitably happens.

2. $$ Cleveland Browns (2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The train wreck will start early in the 2012 draft with the Cleveland Browns trading up to the No. 2 spot and the St. Louis Rams moving down to No. 4 and getting another pick of some sort.

The second half of this wreck will be the Browns getting one of the more overrated quarterbacks coming out of college I have seen in a long time. And there is no more fitting team than the one Colt McCoy starts for.

Griffin will be what McCoy has become at the NFL level. Just look at how similar they are.

In Griffin’s senior year he threw for 4293 yard and added 37 touchdowns through the air and 10 more on the ground. In McCoy’s junior year, the Texas star had 3859 pass yards and 34 touchdowns through the air with 11 more on the ground.

They are the same player, but Griffin has more speed. He will be mediocre in the NFL at best.

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

Minnesota needs to rebuild their offensive line and no better way to start that off then by drafting Matt Kalil from USC.

4. $$ St. Louis Rams (4-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

This will be a best player available type pick for the St. Louis Rams because they will be trading back, but taking Justin Blackmon is the wrong choice.

As good as the young player was in college, he was part of an offense that got the ball to the wide out as often as possible. If the Rams force the ball to Blackmon too much, cornerbacks will have a feeding frenzy on Blackmon.

While I agree that St. Louis needs help at wide receiver, the combination of a young quarterback and a lack of an offensive line will stunt the young receiver’s growth. I don’t see him being anything more than what Anquan Boldin has become in Baltimore. Which isn’t much.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

With a possible tandem of LeGarrette Blount and Trent Richardson, teams in the NFC South will be hard-pressed to stop that running game.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

If Washington misses out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, along with Griffin III and Luck, Shanahan will take Ryan Tannehill from the scrap heap.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

A very safe pick that could mark the beginning of a new trend in Jacksonville; good draft picks.

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

Ron Rivera will continue the rebirth of his new Panthers defense with the elite talent of Quinton Coples off the edge of the defensive line.

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

If the Dolphins get a QB on the free-agent market, they are guaranteed to take an offensive lineman here. The best one available will be playing in Miami.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Bills get their much needed pass rusher with BCS Championship MVP Courtney Upshaw.

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Seahawks need to start rebuilding their defensive line and it starts with big Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Tamba Hali will get a playmate in the linebacker group when the Chiefs snag standout middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

With so many questions yet to be answered, the Cardinals need to get down to basics and start by drafting an offensive lineman.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

With another first-round pick used on an offensive lineman, there will be no excuses if Tony Romo doesn’t succeed this season.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With a need for a big-bodied receiver that can get up and go after the ball, Michael Floyd is perfect for Philadelphia.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Melvin Ingram could be the most underrated player in the country. Once Rex Ryan gets his hands on him, he will show the NFL just how good he can be.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Cincinnati never met a player with a criminal record they didn’t like. Forget his arrest, the Bengals see his talent.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry is a phenomenal prospect that Norv Turner could turn into a Pro Bowl player.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Jay Cutler will be advocating for protection. Peter Konz will oblige.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

If Brockers falls this far, he will be the steal of the draft.

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

If Cincinnati doesn’t re-sign Cedric Benson before he becomes a free agent, the Bengals will snag Lamar Miller from Miami.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery will be the weapon that Cleveland drafts for RGIII if they get him.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

With Matthew Stafford looking for more time, the Lions will protect him with a giant offensive lineman to make sure the Comeback Player of the Year has all the time he needs.

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

Ben Roethlisberger will be paying Cordy Glenn for all the times he will save his rear end.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

John Fox will continue the rebuilding process on his defense with a stellar tackle to stop the run and even add pressure at times.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

This will be another great selection by Wade Phillips if Mark Barron falls this far in the draft. Texans defense is flat out scary.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Despite the off-field issues, Jenkins is exactly what the Patriots need from a cornerback. He will be the new Asante Samuel for the Patriots.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

To say that green bay needs help in the secondary would be a vast understatement.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU

The next animal in the middle for Baltimore will be hand taught by Ray Lewis.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

There are so many problems with the San Francisco 49ers taking a speedy wide receiver that I’d don’t even know where to begin.

Since it’s become painfully clear that the 49ers want to have Smith be their quarterback going forward, the idea of having an inaccurate deep passer having to hit a smaller speed receiver is a terrible plan.

Wright was the benefactor of the schemes his college team ran, but taking into consideration the NFL transition and his lack of help, he will be as mediocre as a wide receiver can be in the NFL. Or as I call him Michael Crabtree II.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

While taking an unknown wide receiver may be odd to most teams, it’s just another day at the office for the Patriots.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

After a Super Bowl win, it’s almost unfair that the Giants could get a guy as talented as Zach Brown this late in the draft.

*Order determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine

$$ - Potential trade

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