2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Workout Warriors Will Become Busts?

Athleticism will be enough to get several players drafted high, but not enough to lead them to success in the NFL. 

It happens every year. There are athletic freaks that go to the combine and wow scouts with their shocking blend of size and speed, but for one reason or another, it does not translate onto an NFL field. 

In my full first-round mock below, I will highlight the players that fit this mold. 

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts really lucked out getting the No. 1 selection this year. Yeah, that was lame, but what else can I say? It's all already been said about this young QB prospect.

 

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

Kalil definitely qualifies as an athletic freak, but he also has the football acumen to succeed.

 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne is as smooth a corner as you will find. He is also ready to contribute right away.

 

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

The Browns will be doing cartwheels if they have an opportunity to draft Griffin at No. 4. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Trent Richardson is a polished and complete back. He will not only help the Bucs in the run game, but also the passing with his hands and blocking.

6. Washington Redskins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is a tenacious offensive tackle. He will be effective in the run game and grow into a good pass blocker. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Jaguars are desperate for a play-making WR. Blackmon will fit that bill nicely. 

8. Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

The Panthers need interior help on the defensive line. Still is a well-rounded force in the middle. 

9. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin is ready to dominate in the run game at the NFL level. He will be an excellent bookend tackle to pair with Jake Long. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bills have to find a corner in this draft. This will lead to them reaching for Kirkpatrick.  

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

DeCastro is another Stanford lineman that is ready to dominate in the run game on the NFL level. 

12. Seattle Seahawks:  Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Combine Performance

 Poe is a mountain of a man. He measured in at 6'3.5" and 346 pounds. Given his size, it is not surprising that he put up 44 reps in the bench press.

What did blow scouts away was the fact that he ran the 40 in 4.98 seconds. This has forced teams to rethink Poe's potential impact in the NFL. 

Prior to the combine, he was viewed almost exclusively as a nose tackle. Plenty of teams will now also view him as a defensive tackle in a 4-3. 

Why He Will Bust

Poe's athleticism does not match up with his production. He was never higher than second team in his conference, something that is especially troubling considering he played in Conference USA. 

In 35 games with Memphis, Poe registered just five sacks, and 21.5 tackles for loss. 

A player with his athleticism should be a constant presence in the opposition's backfield. This is not a good sign for his NFL career.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Cardinals need someone that can stretch the field. The speedster Wright will be able to do just that.

 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is the kind of instinctive linebacker with a nose for the ball that the Cowboys need.

 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples is a strong defensive end that is capable of disrupting the passing and running game.

 

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

Ingram is exactly what the slow Jets defense needs. His speed will help him seal the edge on run defense. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals via OAK: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Bengals will look to add a young back to pair with young guns Andy Dalton and AJ Green. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Denard has excellent man coverage skills and will complete the Chargers defensive backfield.

 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Chicago will be foolish to not add to the offensive line early and often in this draft.

 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is a perfect fit for the Titans. He can cover TEs and is a force in the run game.

 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins has serious character concerns, but he also has big time talent. The Bengals won't be able to pass that up.  

22. Cleveland Browns via ATL: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

Brown will be an excellent fit for a promising young Browns defense. He is a capable defender in both the run and pass game. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Combine Performance

Glenn entered the combine viewed more as a guard than a tackle. He certainly has the size at 6'5" and 345 pounds, but there were questions as to whether or not he could move well enough to be a tackle. 

He showed that he is not incapable of moving. Glenn put up a 5.15 time in the 40. He also had an unofficial 1.76 10-yard split. 

This will undoubtedly lead to teams drafting him with the hopes of making him a tackle. 

Why He Will Bust

Glenn is athletic. There is no doubting this, but he does not move his feet well enough. In the NFL, he will be facing a constant diet of players that are smaller and much quicker. He does not have the slide step to get out and protect the edge. 

He will develop into a fine guard, but he is not tackle material. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams underwhelmed at the combine, but he has the tools to be great. A team just has to find a way to tap into that potential. 

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

The Broncos need interior help on the defensive line. Cox's athleticism will fit in nicely with the players they have on the edge. 

26. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd had a nice combine, but that will not erase the laundry list of character concerns. He is still a good value at No. 26 though. 

27. New England Patriots via NO: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Patriots have patched together their pass rush with less than elite talent. It is time for them get an athletic upgrade. Upshaw will be exactly that. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The Packers need to rebuild their defense. This pass rusher will be a nice start. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower is a perfect fit for the Ravens' LB corps.

 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery is prototypical boom/bust pick. He could go onto dominate with his size, or he could be to slow to get open.

31. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

Combine Performance

Crick came in at 6'2" and 279 pounds. This is ideal size for a defensive end in a 3-4. He also displayed good explosiveness. 

He posted a 4.4 in the shuttle, 104" in the broad jump and 31" in the vertical. He also posted a 4.99 in the 40. 

This was a solid performance for Crick, and certainly solidified his status as a first round prospect.

Why He Will Bust

Crick is caught between positions. He is almost big enough to be a defensive tackle, and not quite explosive enough to be pass-rushing defensive end. 

Another red flag on Crick is that he struggled mightily his senior season when while facing double teams. He lacks the moves and initial punch to beat these double teams, and that does not bode well for him taking on NFL blockers.

32. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

New York will keep pumping talent into its defensive line, and for good reason. It is working.