2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Which Players Will Be 1st-Year Pro Bowlers

Rookie Pro Bowlers are difficult to predict, but three players stand out as decent bets for the honor in 2012. Of course, all things hinge on good health, and in football more than any other sport, the system and situation have to be right. The three players highlighted here have the best shot at making it to Honolulu in their first seasons.

Here is a complete first-round mock draft, as well as the situation surrounding the predicted rookie Pro Bowlers.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts are going to place the keys to the franchise in Luck's hands from day one.

2. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Browns will trade up to make sure they get their man. Let the Luck-RG3 debates commence.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is the safest pick for a Vikings team with multiple needs.

4. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams will end up here after they trade the second pick to Browns. They will still get the player they would have taken at No. 2.

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

The Bucs need to upgrade their defense—they were ranked 21st in the NFL against the pass. Claiborne is the best CB in the draft.

6. Washington Redskins: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick would be great on the opposite side of DeAngelo Hall.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers has upside as a pass-rusher and the Jaguars need defensive playmakers in the front seven.

8. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is the best pure pass-rusher in the draft. Many point to the fact that his sack numbers fell from 10 to seven from his junior to senior years. I contend that was due to seeing double-teams most of the year. Tar Heels DT Marvin Austin left Chapel Hill for the NFL in 2011, and that shifted tons of attention to Coples.

If the Panthers select Coples, he will be on a defensive line that features a healthy Charles Johnson and the massive Frank Kearse.

Coples is 6’5” and 280 pounds, and he has the versatility to move to different positions on the defensive line.

Coples will have a big rookie season—think Jevon Kearse.

9. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

With Jake Long on one side and Reiff on the other side, the Dolphins offensive line will be anchored for years to come.

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Bills need a pass-rusher out of the 3-4 scheme, Upshaw has that skill set

11. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With Sidney Rice constantly hurt, the Seahawks need a big, physical, deep threat.

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is perhaps the most NFL ready player in the draft. He is big, physical, strong and durable. He has been a TD machine the past two years at Alabama, scoring 21 TDs over the past two seasons.

He is a north-south runner that will not have many runs for a loss. He is a solid red-zone option, which will make him give him the edge over Jamaal Charles in those situations.

Richardson is a perfect complement to Charles in the backfield and a solid player to step in if the injury bug bites Charles again.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

It’s unclear who will be the Cardinals’ QB, but Martin is one of the top offensive line prospects in the draft.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins would probably be a top-seven pick were it not for off-field issues. If things remain kosher, he will be a steal at No. 14.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Eagles need a receiver who can go up and make tough catches. Their receivers have been all about speed, and Jeffery would give them balance.

16. New York Jets: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

The Jets need a pass-rusher now—Aaron Maybin lead the team last season with six. A top-notch player in that role will do wonders for that defense.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is another complement to an established back, the perfect lightning to Cedric Benson’s thunder.

18. San Diego Chargers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams made a great account of himself at the Senior Bowl and he has played himself into the first round.

19. Chicago Bears: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Jay Cutler needs a receiver in the worst way. Whether the Bears chase and capture Vincent Jackson or Dwayne Bowe in free agency doesn’t change the impact Wright could have. In fact, it only enhances what could be a solid offense.

Wright is not only a game-breaking receiver—that skill is evidenced by his 15.4 yards per reception in his senior year—but Wright is also a good route runner with excellent agility.

The Bears have pure speed receivers, but they don’t have solid receivers with great speed. 

That is what Wright is.

Imagine Cutler having Matt Forte, Kendall Wright and Bowe or Jackson as weapons. That is a dangerous set of weapons. Adding Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett turns one of the worse receiving corps into one of the best.

20. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram is an athletic freak and his stock may rise once the he hits the combine.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

The Bengals need a corner with Leon Hall coming back from a major injury.

22. St. Louis Rams: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Rams will likely gain this selection in the RG3 trade. DeCastro is the best guard in the draft and it further strengthens their offense.

23. Detroit Lions: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Lions have to be able to slow down opponents’ passing attack. They need help at the CB position to take pressure off their young and talented defensive line.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

Lewis can rush the passer, the Steelers will hope he can be James Harrison without the helmet-to-helmet hits.

25. Denver Broncos: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe is massive at 6’5” and 350 pounds. Though he is big, he can play in Denver’s 3-4 and 4-3 look because he has underrated athleticism.

26. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers 

Sanu is one of the most underrated players in the draft. Sanu will have a solid career and he will be a steal here for the Texans.

27. New England Patriots: Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is a solid corner—think Charles Tillman-like as a NFL comparison. He will allow the Patriots to play Devin McCourty at safety.

28. Green Bay Packers: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Packers are probably going to lose Scott Wells to free agency, and Konz is not a bad replacement at all.

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

Burfict is very talented, and he will need a veteran influence like Ray Lewis to maximize his ability. There is no one better for Burfict to learn from.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Niners need to replace Carlos Rogers, who will likely bolt in free agency.

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois

The Patriots may be stumbling on a playmaker here. Mercilus has the ability to get to the QB as a OLB or DE. This would be a great pick for the Patriots.

32. New York Giants: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

The champions need insurance at RB for gimpy Ahmad Bradshaw and inconsistent Brandon Jacobs.