2012 NFL Draft Predictions: 5 Players Most Likely to Make Multiple Pro Bowls

There is some pretty good talent available in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Luck. Griffin. Richardson. Claiborne. Ingram.

The list goes on. But trying to decipher which players from this draft will have the honor of sporting a Pro Bowl jersey for their respective conference can be troublesome.

A lot goes into making a Pro Bowl. For a player, it’s not as simple as leading your team in tackles or receiving yards. Sometimes deserving players get left out in the cold simply because they are not popular enough with the fans.

As we all know, we, the beloved fans of the NFL, decide which players get to play in the Pro Bowl each year. As flawed a system as that is, it may not change for a while—if ever.

So, the Pro Bowl is oftentimes more of a popularity contest than anything else. Deserving players do make it for the most part, but every year there’s at least one player deserving of a spot on the roster who instead is stuck watching at home.

Take, for example, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington. Not only did he lead his team with 106 tackles, he led all middle linebackers with 5.0 sacks in 2011.

Is that Pro Bowl-worthy? Perhaps. But instead of Washington, the fans voted in Brian Urlacher once again. Urlacher finished 2011 with 102 tackles, nary a sack or forced fumble, and was not even the leading tackler on his Bears defense.

Popularity wins.

In any event, these players have what it takes to become fan-favorites and win the popularity contest that is an invite to the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl multiple times in their careers.

Andrew Luck, Quarterback

The Indianapolis Colts have released Peyton Manning. Next on their agenda will be to sign Luck and get him rocking and rolling in their offense.

New offensive coordinator Bruce Arians—formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers—will work with Luck to mold him into the perennial Pro Bowler he is destined to be.

Luck is the next best thing since Peyton stepped foot into the Indianapolis huddle and started barking orders in his hilarious side-mouthed southern twang. He will be the most popular player among the Colts’ fan base merely because of his draft status and what he means to an organization that went from hero to zero in a matter of four neck surgeries.

He single-handedly ended an era in Indy, and while that seems surreal (even as I write this I can’t believe I’m watching Peyton Manning’s press conference announcing his official release from the Colts), the NFL is a business of right now.

And right now, Andrew Luck is set to take the reins from Manning and lead the city of Indianapolis to bigger and better things.

Trent Richardson, Running Back

It isn’t certain where Richardson will be drafted. What is certain is that he’s going to run over NFL defenses without prejudice for the better part of this decade.

Along the way he will find himself playing in multiple Pro Bowls.

His running style fits the NFL perfectly. If you haven’t seen him play, watch this; his opponents describe him well.

Richardson will take his talents to an NFL city and immediately improve their run game.

With the power he possesses and the speed at which he plays, no one will stop him. He is Marshawn Lynch and Maurice Jones-Drew wrapped up into a compact, muscular package.

Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

As versatile as he is, it's not crazy to assume it may take Ingram a few years to find his permanent position in the league.

Whichever team drafts him will use him in various spots throughout his rookie season and perhaps into his second year—however long it takes for him to stand out in one area.

His best trait may be his ability to be everywhere on the field that he is needed. Where the ball is, there also is Ingram.

He has great football speed and a never-ending motor. His pass rush ability will be his likely ticket to the Pro Bowl, however.

If the right team takes him, he could end up in the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He’s that good.

Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback

Gilmore is climbing draft boards everywhere. Even I have taken notice.

A few weeks ago, I found myself watching highlights of South Carolina football games to get a better look at Ingram. I had heard of Gilmore before, but what I saw in the process of watching Ingram was that this corner is a playmaker.

He is a physical tackler, has good ball skills, and is fast enough to run with about any receiver in the game (he posted a 4.40 40-yard dash at the Combine).

This rising star could end up being a late first-round draft pick, and he could earn himself Pro Bowl honors within a few years’ time, and perhaps another down the road.

He played quarterback in high school and understands zone coverage well for a college corner. That will help him earn playing time early and put him on the fast track to stardom.

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver

As much as people keep saying this draft class is inferior to those in the past, there are still players within the class who will be stars from day one of their NFL careers.

Blackmon is one of those players.

He did not run at the Combine so no one knows his official 40-time, but that will not affect where he gets drafted. No one has better hands than Blackmon in this draft class, and that will be proven immediately from the time he gets to someone’s camp.

Justin is a clone of Anquan Boldin in so many ways it’s almost funny to watch him play.

Both are 6’1” and about 215 pounds. Both have spectacular hands and run-after-the-catch ability. Both are great route-runners. Both wear No. 81. Even the way Blackmon runs looks eerily similar to Boldin.

The Pro Bowl appearances will be there, as well. Boldin has been voted to the annual All-Star game three times throughout his eight-year NFL career; Blackmon may match that total in the same allotment of time.