2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Studs Trending Upward

There are players we've known were studs for quite some time now. Their stock isn't about to change.

And then there are those players whose stock is on the rise for one reason or another. Maybe they had an excellent NFL Scouting Combine. Perhaps they are becoming more attractive because a slew of teams have a need at their particular position.

Whatever the case may be, I've identified five players whose stock is rising. Let's take a look at those players who can expect to make good money come the NFL draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

As impressive as Robert Griffin III has been, this is still a no-brainer for the Colts.

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

The first major shakeup in this year's draft will come from the Redskins, who will give up a bounty... er, a lot of picks to acquire Griffin.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

It ain't sexy, Minnesota, but Kalil is the consensus top tackle on the board and a smart pick for the Vikings.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Browns fans would likely prefer Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon, but Claiborne is a better value than Richardson at this pick and a safer selection than Blackmon.

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

The Bengals will provide the second crazy shakeup of the draft, packaging their two first-round picks to acquire the most dynamic offensive player not named Luck or Griffin in this year's draft.

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

Meanwhile, St. Louis can't believe their good fortune when Blackmon falls to them, a player they'll happily pair with Sam Bradford to form a potent passing duo.

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

I expect the Dolphins to go after Matt Flynn, making right tackle Riley Reiff an excellent selection for a position of need.

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

The Panthers need an upgrade on the defensive end and help with their pass rush. Coples fits the bill.

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

Another team that could use an upgraded pass rush, the Bills will be glad Ingram is available to them with this pick.

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

He's the most foreboding Poe since Edgar Allan.

Poe is 6'4" and 346 pounds, did 44 bench press reps and ran a 4.98 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Plus, he's a perfect fit for the Chiefs, who will be more than happy to replace retiring nose tackle Kelly Gregg with the massive mountain of a man who earned some Haloti Ngata comparisons after 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.

As Seahawks general manager John Schneider told Peter King of Sports Illustrated recently, he thinks quite highly of the Texas A&M quarterback:

"

The guy was a quarterback in high school, just a football player. First and foremost, that's what we're looking for. Especially at that position. Guys that have always been in the quarterback schools, the special camps, and all that kind of stuff -- they make me a little nervous to a certain extent. This guy is a real football player. He played defense. You could see him last year when he stepped in, he just went out and played. He had this natural toughness about him that the players really rallied around and went on a winning streak. And he did a great job.

"

For what it's worth, I'm not the only one who sees this pick as a distinct possibility.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

It would be a Cardinal sin not to upgrade the left tackle position this offseason.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Dallas will make it back-to-back Stanford offensive line picks with this selection.

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

Kuechly is 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) to thrive in the NFL, and the Eagles desperately need an upgrade at linebacker.

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

Upshaw looks like the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the draft. He'll look pretty good in a Jets uniform as well.

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

Floyd seems like a lock as a mid-first-round pick. He looks like a lock to be a steady NFL receiver as well.

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

It's time to move on from Takeo Spikes at the middle linebacker position. Hightower is an excellent place to start.

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

Jeffery remains one of the enigmas of the draft. Still, I believe he has elite talent and is a bargain for the Bears here.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC

I think it is fair to say that Nick Perry's athleticism is scary, thereby making me feel perfectly comfortable giving him the nickname "Scary" Perry.

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

I expect he'll shoot up even higher on my board as we near the draft.

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

Michael Floyd and Janoris Jenkins for Trent Richardson—pretty good return for the Bucs. Jenkins is a top-10 talent and future Pro Bowler.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is explosive hitting the hole and has breakaway speed. He'll be fun to watch for Cleveland fans hungry for offensive playmakers.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

What can you say about drafting a center that hasn't already been said before?

It fills a need.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers didn't open many eyes at the combine, and I expect the man many pundits consider a top-10 talent to drop because of it. Pittsburgh will catch his fall gladly.

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

A great value pick in a draft full of studs on the defensive line.

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 *****

Would the Patriots take a chance on the exciting but unproven Hill?

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.

He got buried in Georgia Tech's run-first offense and only caught 28 passes, but he turned them into 820 yards and led the nation with 29.3 yards per catch.

If Hill has a good pro day, don't be surprised if he shoots up even higher than this.

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

Baltimore knows its bread and butter is defense. They'll draft accordingly.

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

Not many people are talking about Chris Givens, but he is an extremely solid prospect.

He was first-team All-ACC this past season and blazed a 4.37 40-yard dash at the combine. His ability to beat defenders deep and run crisp routes has led some folks to compare him to Jeremy Maclin.

He hasn't been talked about a lot as a first-round prospect, but don't be surprised if he jumps into the first round.

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.

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

For as good as the Giants' defensive line is, they could use an upgrade at outside linebacker. Enter Brown.

* 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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