2012 NFL Mock Draft: Lamar Miller and Studs Flying Up Draft Boards

There is always a lot of talk after the college football season of players rising up the draft board for one reason or another. In some cases it is warranted, and in others it is not.

There are some players nobody saw coming that wind up hearing their name called on day one of the draft.

The 2012 draft will be no different and the risers, such as Lamar Miller, are already well known.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Best player in the draft can't go anywhere but down—and he's going nowhere.

2. *Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RG3's rise is complete, he'll be the second player taken after starting the season relatively off the radar.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The junior tackle was one of the best players in the country all season.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson may arguably be the second-best player in this entire draft and he'll fall only because the running back position isn't valued this high.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Like Kalil and Richardson, he's been one of the best players in the country all year.

6. *St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Despite his overall talent and skill level, Blackmon could actually fall down the board.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples will be lucky to be drafted this high.

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

He's been rising since the season ended because of need at QB and his overall potential.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram rose up the board with a solid combine performance and an impressive slate of interviews. He has the potential to step onto the field immediately.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Simply one of the most solid players in the draft.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Here is another huge riser, Poe lit up the combine in Indianapolis went from a fringe first-round pick to a sure-fire first-round pick.

It may not be warranted, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him in the top 10.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw's rise is up board is over, but he work his way into a sure-fire top 15 pick.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

This is a perfect spot for Martin. He may never be elite, but he has great athleticism and will be an immediate help.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Elite guards are tough to come by and that is why DeCastro will go so high.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

This is actually late for the BC linebacker.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn's versatility drove him up the board and he'll go no higher than this.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Once considered a top-10 pick, Kirkpatrick has fallen a bit, but has elite potential.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The USC Trojan pass rusher could gain some steam, but there are still plenty of question marks.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The former Notre Dame receiver could fly all the up inside the top 10 if teams get needy.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox's elite potential could put him into the top 15 on draft day.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Hurricanes running back didn't have the most consistent or statistically dominant season, but he showcased elite potential both during the season and in workouts after it.

He could very easily be an immediate contributor next season and his speed could create big plays against any defense.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright could go higher, but it would be a mistake.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Immediate help to the Lions interior, but this is highest Konz goes.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Hightower's stock has wavered back and forth, but he's great at what he does and fits well with a defense like Pittsburgh.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still has fallen down the board some, but he's a run stuff the Broncos could desperately use.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

He could go as high as 16 to the Jets, but that wouldn't be much of a surprise.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Elite potential, but he's still a ways away. Wouldn't be surprising to see Brockers go higher though.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore continues to rise up draft boards and he could go higher than this, possibly Detroit, when all is said and done. He possesses a good combination of size and speed and has the potential to be a starting corner for a long time.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The former Florida cornerback has a ton of potential but a lot of off-field baggage. Team would have to be super-confident in his ability to overcome that.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Another player with great potential, but question marks, Jeffery isn't carrying a first-round grade on a number of boards.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

The only Big East player in this first-round update, Reyes rose up the board after a quietly dominant performance in Indianapolis and would be a huge boost to the New England front seven.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Another weapon for Eli Manning can never hurt.

*Rams trade No. 2 overall pick to Redskins for 2012, 2013, 2014 first-round picks and 2012 second-round pick.