2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year Award is the first sign that a young NFL player has made it. Not all of the previous winners have turned into superstars, but the validation of their accomplishments inspires hope that big things lie ahead. 

No one saw Cam Newton doing what he did in 2011, and now the Carolina Panthers look like a potential playoff team with a few defensive tweaks. 

This year's NFL draft features a number of intriguing players ready to make an immediate impact and be honored with the offensive and defensive rookie of the year awards. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The selection of Luck as a potential rookie of the year is going to be easy or difficult, depending solely on what happens with Peyton Manning. If he stays in Indianapolis, Luck has no chance. 

But if Manning and the Colts decide it's time to go their separate ways, Luck becomes the easy favorite for the award. We have all seen and heard what he can do on the field, but the team will surround him with a solid nucleus allowing him to play up his skills right away. 

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

Blackmon can be great in this offense, but the offensive line has to give Sam Bradford time to find him. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil could end up being the best rookie in this year's draft. Too bad for him he plays a thankless position that doesn't get awards. 

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

Griffin has the athleticism to play the position. He needs time to adjust to the speed and schemes of the NFL. 

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

Very few defensive backs make a strong enough impact to be thought of as Rookie of the Year material. Claiborne is not like a lot of players. His raw potential reminds people of someone like Patrick Peterson, who made his presence felt right away with Arizona. 

Since teams are going to test the rookie cornerback early, it is going to give Claiborne ample opportunity to showcase what he can do.

Even if he doesn't get the interceptions to pad his stat line, he will be a force right away. 

6. Washington Redskins: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Unless you have a quarterback, it's hard for a receiver to win an award. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is going to be a star, but he will need time to develop. 

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

No pass-rusher has the skills that Coples does. His work ethic is another story. 

9. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Like Kalil, Reiff has great upside but offensive linemen don't get honored for their hard work.

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw has to line up off the edge on the defensive line for his skills to shine right away. The Bills could put him at outside linebacker, limiting his potential in 2012. 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

How do you not make Richardson the odds-on favorite to win the award? It doesn't matter what team he goes to, he is going to get touches early and often. 

Ultimately, the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award comes down to who is able to get their hands on the ball the most. Running backs naturally have an advantage in that regard. 

Richardson is a rare talent in the backfield, with the ability to run like Adrian Peterson and catch passes like Frank Gore. He will be great right away. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chiefs will love what DeCastro brings to the offensive line. Awards voters won't notice him. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

If Martin is able to keep Kevin Kolb upright, that will be reward enough for the Cardinals. 

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

Jenkins has the talent to start right away, but he is taking a big step up in competition after playing a year in Division II.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuelchy, LB, Boston College

Kuelchy is walking into a perfect situation for voters to notice what he is going to do. The Eagles have a huge hole at the linebacker position—it was their biggest flaw in 2011. 

The Boston College linebacker has shown great leadership skills in college, as well as an acute ability to read quarterbacks and make clean tackles if running backs break through the defensive line. 

He should start right away, and could be the best linebacker the Eagles have by the time the season ends. 

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

Perry is an immensely talented outside linebacker, but he will be fighting for playing time early in the season. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Another running back ready to shine for his team, Miller could be in a better position than Richardson because he is going to a potential playoff team that has a young star at quarterback. 

Opposing teams will have to respect what Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are capable of on the outside, so Miller will have plenty of holes to run through. He is also the most complete back in this year's draft class. 

Miller has 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns written all over him. 

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

Philip Rivers' numbers will get a boost with the big, raw offensive tackle blocking for him. 

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn himself won't win awards, but he could make it easier for Matt Forte or Jay Cutler to win some hardware. 

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

Ingram is one of the most intriguing pass-rushers in this year's draft. He has been very successful during his tenure at South Carolina and will be a sack machine in the NFL. 

The Titans have a gaping hole on the defensive line they have to fill in order to take the next step. He may not be great in other facets of the game right away, but as long as he can get to the quarterback, he will be fine. 

Look for good things from Ingram and the Titans in 2012. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bengals are going to fill their two biggest holes with Miller at No. 17 and Kirkpatrick here. 

22. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery could be sliding down some draft boards, but his size and physical play off the line makes him a good fit for the Browns' new offense. 

23. Detroit Lions: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Minnifield is an interesting player who could go late in the first round or in the second round. The Lions need help in the secondary, so they will jump on him. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Going to Pittsburgh automatically makes you a good defensive player. That's not entirely true, but considering the fact the franchise has had a great defense basically since 1970 it could be. 

Brown is one of the most intriguing linebackers in this draft class. He has great measurables and has shown the ability to be an impact player right away. 

The Steelers have a habit of making linebackers great, and Brown is poised to do great things in the future. That makes him a top contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox will plug the gaping hole in the middle the Broncos have, but his understated performance will go unnoticed because of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. 

26. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers 

Sanu has the best set of hands in this draft. He can steal the ball from anyone, but he has to improve his route-running to be a great NFL player. 

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

Gilmore is going to be another one of those sneaky Bill Belichick picks. He has upside, but will need time to develop. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt

Finding help in the secondary has to be the top priority for the Packers. 

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

If we were just talking about pure athletic ability, Burfict would be an ideal candidate to be Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, there is more that goes into playing football than genetics. He can be a star, but he needs time.

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

Dennard does not have the most upside of any cornerback in this draft, but he could be the safest one after Morris Claiborne. 

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

Defense will rule the first round for Belichick and the Patriots. Mercilus should play right away. 

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

Another running back with a great chance to be an impact player. The Giants boast a strong offensive line, and Polk will be able to take Brandon Jacobs' spot if the team chooses not to bring him back next season. 

Polk is not as well-rounded as Richardson or Miller, but he has a hard running style that will win over the Giants' coaching staff. He will be a perfect complement to Ahmad Bradshaw. 

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