2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Combine Studs Are Destined for Day 1?

The NFL combine doesn't make or break an NFL prospect, but it can seriously alter the amount of money that appears on the first check they cash.

Show up heavy, out of shape, slow or with a poor attitude and you can expect you'll see yourself drop a few slots—and dollars—along the way (I'm looking at you, Vontaze Burfict).

But come out lean, strong and fast, and you can expect to shoot up the draft boards and pocket a few more dollars on each check.

Let's take a closer look at the players who achieved the latter in my latest NFL mock draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The next era for the Indianapolis Colts begins in April.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor *

The Redskins will smartly give up the farm to bring in the next face of their franchise. And they'll be glad they did so.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Christian Ponder will happily welcome Kalil to Minnesota.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

What the Browns do with this pick will shape the rest of the draft. I say they select the best player on the board to pair with Joe Haden.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama **

Crazy trade number two—I believe the Bengals will move their 17th and 21st picks in the first round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this pick and form one of the most dynamic, young offenses in the NFL.

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

St. Louis would probably debate selecting Blackmon with the second pick. So the fact they receive a boatload of picks to trade out of No. 2 and still land Blackmon is a coup for new coach Jeff Fisher.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

If Morris Claiborne is 1A on the cornerback board, Kirkpatrick is 1B. Jacksonville solidifies a position of need here.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

After the Dolphins sign Matt Flynn, they'll look to protect his right side. Reiff will do so.

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

The Panthers and the top defensive end on the board seem like a perfect fit for one another.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Bills will be glad to add the second-best defensive end on the board to their defense.

11. Kansas City Chiefs:  Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Let's take a look at some numbers. Poe is 6'4" and 346 pounds, and he did 44 bench press reps and ran a 4.98 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.

That's impressive.

Poe's measurables will shoot him up draft boards, and the Chiefs will be more than happy to replace retiring nose tackle Kelly Gregg with the massive Poe, who has teams whispering "the next Haloti Ngata" after his performance at the combine.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 

The next shocker of the draft will belong to Seattle, who will reach for Tannehill to fill a dire need at quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

I don't know who will be playing quarterback for the Cardinals next season, but I do know they'll be a little safer with Martin in the desert.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

I think the Cowboys will surprise people and make a run at Mario Williams in free agency if he doesn't re-sign with the Houston Texans. They'll ignore Carl Nicks in free agency and fill their need for a guard with DeCastro instead.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

The Eagles really, really, really, really, really need an upgrade at linebacker, and of all the 'backers set to hit the draft, none is more game-ready than Kuechly.

The Boston College standout answered all of the questions people had about him at the combine. He's big enough (6'3", 243 pounds), fast enough (4.58 40-yard dash), strong enough (27 bench press reps) and athletic enough (38-inch vertical jump).

This is a slam-dunk pick for the Eagles.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, USC

Upshaw looks like an excellent fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He'll fit in on the Jets nicely.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame***

Floyd may have solidified himself as the No. 2 wide receiver off the board with a strong showing at the combine. Josh Freeman will love this pick.

18. San Diego Chargers: Dont'a Hightower, MLB, Alabama

Takeo Spikes is old. The Chargers need a young upgrade at middle linebacker, and Hightower is just that.

19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

I'm perplexed by Jeffery's choice to bypass running at the combine, but I still expect he'll be a very good pro. Jay Cutler could certainly use the help.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry is a freak. At 6'3" and 271 pounds, Perry ran a 4.64 40-yard dash, did 35 reps on the bench press, had a 38.5-inch vertical and had a 124-inch broad jump.

Perry may shoot up even higher on boards than this, and it seems likely he'll be anything less than a mid-round pick on Day 1.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama****

Michael Floyd and Janoris Jenkins for Trent Richardson—pretty good return for the Bucs. Assuming Jenkins can stay out of trouble, that is.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller did the one thing he needed to at the combine—prove his explosiveness.

With a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash, he did so in style, and his time should be enough to separate him from the pack of running backs trying to prove they should be the second back off the board after Trent Richardson.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Yup, a center. I know it is boring, Lions fans, but it fills a need.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers didn't open many eyes at the combine, and the talented defensive tackle could drop slightly because of it. The Steelers would be more than happy to end his fall.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

Still is too good to pass up for Denver. This draft is rife with solid defensive line prospects.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright better run better than he did at the combine, or he'll drop out of the first round.

27. New England Patriots: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 

He's 6'4" and 218 pounds, yet he blistered a 4.36 in his 40-yard dash, has a 39.5-inch vertical jump and looked natural catching passes at combine drills.

Go ahead, compare him in your mind to Randy Moss. I won't judge.

Sure, that comparison is ridiculous, but it's hard to dispute that Hill opened eyes at the combine and may have earned himself a first-day selection. For a team that could use an upgrade out wide at the receiver position, Hill may be too tempting to pass up on.

28. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

This could also be Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State. Either would fill the void left by Cullen Jenkins' departure to the Eagles in 2011.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

Crick seems to be an under-the-radar player, but he's a solid player and a great fit on Baltimore's defense.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

Givens' resume combined with a solid combine will sneak him into the first round and on the Niners' roster.

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

Mercilus led the NCAA in sacks in 2011 with 16 and would be a good fit for the Patriots at 3-4 outside linebacker. After taking a chance on Hill, the team plays it safe with Mercilus.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Hey, why not add another freakish athlete to an already scary front seven?

* The Redskins hypothetically trade the sixth pick in the first round, along with their second- and third-round pick this year and first-round pick next year to St. Louis for the second overall pick.

** The Bengals hypothetically trade the 17th and 21st picks in the first round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth pick in the first round.

*** From Cincinnati (from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade).

****From Cincinnati.

***** From New Orleans in last year's Mark Ingram trade.

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