2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions with Rookie of the Year Odds

This week's version of the 2012 NFL mock draft looks at Rookie of the Year odds for each player that will be drafted in the first round.  Keep in mind that the NFL awards an Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Defensive Rookie of the Year.  The Offensive Rookie of the Year is Andrew Luck's to lose.  

Click through to see a full first-round mock draft and who is the favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The easiest pick to project in every mock draft.  It would be nice if the Colts could go ahead and draft Andrew Luck so the next move in the draft could be made because that is where it is going to get interesting.

Luck will have a good shot at Rookie of the Year because he will be starting from day one, and because he is a quarterback.  It is his to lose.

Rookie of the Year odds: Leader in the clubhouse

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams)

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

This is where things will get interesting.  The Rams could stay here and draft Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon, but they have so many holes that the only smart thing for them to do is trade down with the Redskins.

As for the Redskins, Mike Shanahan will be thrilled to work with RG3.  Shanahan has not had an NFL-caliber quarterback while he has been in Washington.  He will need Griffin to learn quickly though because he enters 2012 on the hot seat.

Rookie of the Year odds: Just behind Luck

3. Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings could look to Justin Blackmon here because they need another weapon, but they will ultimately choose the safer route and pick Kalil.  It is not often that you have the chance to draft a franchise left tackle, and the Vikings are not going to pass on that chance.

Christian Ponder will really benefit from having Kalil guard his blind side.  That will keep him from ducking and chucking like Blaine Gabbert did all of 2011.

Rookie of the Year odds: Not good because they are not giving it to an offensive tackle

4. Cleveland Browns

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

No one will be happier to see the Rams pass on Blackmon than the Browns.  With RG3 on the board, they are forced to stick with Colt McCoy.  That means they really need to upgrade their skill positions.

They could also give Trent Richardson a look here with the impending departure of Peyton Hillis, but they will ultimately decide to draft the receiver because it is a passing league.

Rookie of the Year odds: Not very good with McCoy throwing him the ball

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Most mocks have Morris Claiborne going here, but the Buccaneers will not be able to pass on Trent Richardson because he is a franchise running back.  He can do anything Tampa Bay will ask of him and will be productive from the first time he steps on the field.

Richardson will help Josh Freeman regain his 2010 form, and with a couple of defensive signings in free agency, the Bucs will be better in 2012 than most people expect.

Rookie of the Year odds: The favorite non-quarterback

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins)

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Rams would be thrilled to get the best defensive player in the draft with this pick.  St. Louis was terrible on defense in 2011.  Adding Claiborne will shore up their secondary.  He will benefit from playing behind some pretty good pass-rushers up front.

Again, keep in mind that they give an Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award.  Claiborne has as good of a shot as anyone at taking the award on defense.

Rookie of the Year odds: Extremely high

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is regarded by some as the best pass-rusher in the draft.  Some people think he has the highest bust potential of any player in the draft.  Only time will tell what the true answer is.

The Jaguars would love to add a receiver here, but there is not a guy that is good enough to be taken here in this class.  Jacksonville would be better served to sign a receiver in free agency.

Rookie of the Year odds: Low because it will take him time to get up to speed

8. Carolina Panthers

Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

Michael Brockers is an interesting player in this draft.  He would be a consensus top-10 pick if he had more experience.  The Panthers are going to be so enamored with the versatility that they are not going to be able to leave him on the board with this pick.  It will be interesting to see where they decide to play him.

Brockers will be a bit of a project.  He will make an impact in 2012, but it will not be until later in the season.

Rookie of the Year odds: Low, a slow start will leave him out of the mix

9. Miami Dolphins

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Riley Reiff's stock has been on the rise for the last couple of weeks.  He looks to be a franchise left tackle.  The Dolphins would be happy to add him to protect whoever their new quarterback is in 2012.

Reiff and Kalil will always have their careers judge against each other with both being top-10 picks in this draft.

Rookie of the Year odds: A tackle is not winning it

10. Buffalo Bills

Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama

Upshaw might be the most NFL-ready defensive prospect in this draft.  He can play linebacker in a 3-4 or put his hand on the ground and play defensive end in the 4-3.  He also has the benefit of playing for Nick Saban in college.

Upshaw and his former teammate, Marcell Dareus, will be a force to be reckoned with on the Buffalo defense.

Rookie of the Year odds: A dark-horse candidate

11. Seattle Seahawks

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram is another guy that NFL teams are really excited about because of his versatility.  He can play defensive tackle or defensive end in a 4-3 defense; he has done both in college.

The Seahawks were not that far away from being a wild-card team in 2011.  Adding Ingram could be enough for them to take that next step and get in the mix in 2012.

Rookie of the Year odds: Long shot, but do not count him out

12. Kansas City Chiefs

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

There is a good chance the Chiefs will lose Brandon Carr in free agency.  That means they will be in the market for a corner. 

Kirkpatrick is regarded by most people as the second-best corner in the draft.  It will be interesting to see if he can separate himself from Janoris Jenkins at the combine.

Rookie of they Year odds: 100/1

13. Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals are going to take the best offensive lineman available with this pick.  That guy is Martin in this scenario.  A lot of mocks have David DeCastro going here, but it is always more valuable to add a tackle than a guard.

Rookie of the Year odds: Zero

14. Dallas Cowboys

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins has top-10 ability.  The only things that have him going this low are the mistakes that he made at Florida.  He will be able to alleviate a lot of those concerns in interviews at the combine.

Jenkins will fit in perfectly in Dallas.  He is the type of guy that Jerry Jones loves to draft with his high risk and high reward.

Rookie of the Year odds: Do not be surprised if he wins it

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is one of the more overrated players in this draft, but he will go early because there really are not that many good inside linebacker options. 

It's not that he is not a good player, but his numbers from college seem to be a little bit inflated. 

He fits an immediate need for the Eagles, as they were terrible at inside linebacker in 2011.

Rookie of the Year odds: He has no chance because he is overrated

16. New York Jets

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is the best safety in this draft.  It does hurt him that he will not be able to participate in any workouts before the draft, but the Jets can turn on his tape and see how good he is. 

The Jets were terrible at safety last season.  Barron is the perfect fit for Rex Ryan's defense because he can play around the line of scrimmage.  He is almost like an extra linebacker against the run.

Rookie of the Year odds: Low but not off the board

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders)

David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Bengals will be happy to see DeCastro on the board here.  He is clearly the best interior offensive lineman in this draft, and they need some help up the middle.

They will hold out hope that Trent Richardson falls this far, but that is not likely to happen.  DeCastro is a nice consolation prize.

Rookie of the Year odds: Zilch

18. San Diego Chargers

Nick Perry, DE/LB, USC

Perry is a perfect fit for the San Diego Chargers.  They need a pass-rusher, and he might be the best one in this draft.  Quinton Coples will go a lot earlier, but Perry might just end up being the better player.  He will be a difference-maker for the Chargers from day one.

Rookie of the Year odds: 25/1

19. Chicago Bears

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bears have got to get a receiver in this draft.  Floyd is really talented, and people from Notre Dame rave about his work ethic.  He seems like the perfect target for Jay Cutler.

Floyd is another guy to keep an eye on because he could go anywhere from No. 7 to the Jaguars to the back end of the first round.

Rookie of the Year odds: 75/1

20. Tennessee Titans

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Titans are eventually going to hand the offense over to Jake Locker.  When they do, they are going to need a receiver opposite Kenny Britt that can stretch the field.  Wright is exactly that guy.

Tennessee also needs a pass-rusher, but there is not one that is an impact player in this scenario.

Rookie of the Year odds: 80/1

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is in the mix for the second-best running back in this draft.  A good combine can earn him that spot.

The Bengals added the offensive line help they needed with David DeCastro at No. 17.  Now they have added a running back to replace the aging Cedric Benson.

Rookie of the Year odds: 25/1

22. Cleveland Browns

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Browns need to build up their offense in this draft.  They are desperate for a right tackle, and Mike Adams can step in and fill that role right away.

This gives the Browns a playmaker in Justin Blackmon and a right tackle for the next decade.  That is a good step toward competing in the AFC North.

Rookie of the Year odds: None

23. Detroit Lions

Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Lions need to upgrade their secondary.  Dennard is the best player left to help them accomplish that goal.

There has been a lot of talk that the Lions could be looking to add Cortland Finnegan if he hits the open market.  That would obviously change their draft needs, and they would look elsewhere with this pick.

Rookie of the Year odds: 50/1

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

It is time for the Steelers to upgrade at nose tackle.  Dontari Poe is a player you are going to see connected with them from now until April. 

He is another guy that needs to have a solid combine to justify this pick.  There are some people that worry about his effort.  You can bet that Mike Tomlin will make sure he gets every ounce of effort out of Poe.

Rookie of the Year odds: 200/1

25. Denver Broncos

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Broncos would be thrilled to see Still on the board here.  There are some mock drafts that have him going in the top 10 to the Carolina Panthers.

John Fox wants to win games by playing defense and running the football.  That means he needs to stock up on talent on the defensive line.  Still is a great value pick here.

Rookie of the Year odds: 200/1

26. Houston Texans

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

The Texans need a playmaker opposite Andre Johnson.  They get just that with Mohamed Sanu.

Houston is in that rare spot where it does not have any glaring needs.  It can sit back and take the best player on their board with the 26th pick.  Sanu is going to be rising up boards over the next couple of weeks.

Rookie of the Year odds: 50/1

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints)

Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England

It is clear that the Patriots need help in the secondary.  Stephon Gilmore is one of the more underrated players in this draft.  You know that Bill Belichick loves to find those guys.  A good combine will have him in the first round in most mock drafts you see.

Gilmore will not have any trouble cracking the Patriots starting lineup from his first day in New England.

Rookie of the Year odds: 200/1

28. Green Bay Packers

Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois

The Packers need help getting after the quarterback.  Whitney Mercilus will do just that.  He had 16 sacks last season for Illinois.

Some people think that he is one of the more overrated pass-rushers in this draft.  Green Bay is good enough that they can afford to take the risk.  It will not hurt them too badly if he is a bust, and the rich will get even richer if he ends up being really good.

Rookie of the Year odds: 50/1

29. Baltimore Ravens

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The Ravens are getting older on defense.  They are still really good, but it is time for them to start lining up replacements for guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.  Since there is not a replacement for Reed here, they will get the heir apparent for Lewis.

Burfict has all of the talent in the world but draws too many stupid penalties.  That is why he is coming off the board 29th instead of in the top 10.  He will have a long career in the NFL if he can keep his head on straight.

Rookie of the Year odds: 50/1

30. San Francisco 49ers

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery might have more to prove than any player at the combine. He will have the chance to silence his critics with a good performance at the end of the month.

There is no doubting Jeffery's production.  He has top-10 ability if he is in shape and will be a nightmare to cover in the red zone.  The 49ers are getting a steal here.

Rookie of the Year odds: 25/1 if he can stay in shape

31. New England Patriots

Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Dont'a Hightower is another steal.  His combine numbers are not going to jump out at anyone, but he is a gamer.  Hightower will be a perennial Pro Bowler in Bill Belichick's system.

With these two late first-round picks by the Patriots, it will not be very long before their defense is a strength instead of a weakness.  

Rookie of the Year odds: 150/1

32. New York Giants

Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

This is another case of the rich getting richer.  The Giants will be in the unique position of sitting back and waiting to see who the best player on the board is because they do not have any glaring weaknesses.  In this scenario, Zach Brown is that guy.

Brown will be a playmaker in the NFL.  He might not be a hard-hitting linebacker, but he has plenty of speed to make up for it.  There is no doubt he will thrive playing behind that Giants front four.

Rookie of the Year odds: 100/1