2012 NFL Mock Draft: Bold Predictions for Top-Rated Rookies

This mock draft not only projects the selections of the draft holds, but also the future for some of the notable picks.

This draft is loaded with talent and intrigue. I'm going to speculate a little on both. Below is each pick, but a few of the picks will be highlighted with predictions. 

Langford's 2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Bold Prediction: Luck will have a better rookie season than Peyton Manning.

It is rare that a QB comes in and succeeds at all. And this certainly holds true for the No. 1 overall pick. While they are the QB deemed to be the most talented, they are also going to a horrible team. 

Despite that fact, Peyton Manning had a solid rookie season. He finished with a 71.2 QB rating with a 56.7 completion percentage and 26 touchdowns. He also threw 28 interceptions. 

Luck will better these numbers. He may not reach 26 touchdowns, but he will have far fewer interceptions and a higher completion percentage. This is a QB that has completed over 70 percent of his passes his last two years in college. 

Luck is familiar with a pro system, he is accurate and smart. He will be efficient from his first year. 

2.  Washington Redskins via St. Louis: Robert Griffin III 

RG3 is one of the easiest second picks to project in the history of the draft.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil has everything it takes to be a perennial Pro Bowl LT. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Morris Claiborne is a polished pro-ready corner. He will help complete the Browns' promising secondary.

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

Bold Prediction: Richardson will gain over 1,600 yards from scrimmage as a rookie.

Richardson is a complete back. He can run, catch and block. This means there is not a situation where he will have to be taken off the field. 

He is also able to handle a big workload. In six of Alabama's 13 games last season, he had at least 28 touches. As a testament of his ability to handle a big workload, four of those games were Alabama's last four games. 

Richardson is will get plenty of touches as a rookie, and he is going to produce. 

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

So the Rams are going to wind up receiving a boatload of extra picks, and they still wind up with the player they wanted all along.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

The Jaguars desperately need to add some pass rush. They are going to be in a position to add the best pass-rusher in the draft. 

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

The Panthers must go defense here, and preferably on the defensive line. Still will be an excellent fit. 

9. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin needs to work on his pass-blocking, but he will be an excellent right tackle from the start. That is what the Dolphins need.  

10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick has some big character concerns, but the Bills also have a huge need in their secondary. 

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

The Chiefs must start rebuilding an aging offensive line. DeCastro is a perfect fit. 

12. Seattle Seahawks:  Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The massive Poe showed the athleticism required to be a DT in a 4-3, and the Seahawks could use that. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Kevin Kolb is not the QB they hoped he'd be. They will find a QB to groom for the future. 

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

The instinctive Kuechly will help shore up the Cowboys LB corps.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Eagles have to give Michael Vick more protection. Reiff will be the best available OT. 

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

Ingram will give the Jets some speed on the edge of their front seven. 

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

Lamar Miller will give the Bengals their RB of the future for their young offense. 

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

The Chargers' solid secondary will be complete with the addition of coverage specialist Dennard. 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Bears have to upgrade at center; Konz will do just that. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Titans need a strong safety, and Barron is everything a team looks for at that position. 

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

With multiple picks in the first round, the Bengals have the luxury of taking a flyer on the talented but red flag-surrounded Jenkins.

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

The Browns defense will be potentially dominant with the addition of Claiborne and Brown. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn is going to be a monster in the run game, and the Lions must improve in that area. 

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

Adams has some serious red flags, but the Steelers must add a tackle. 

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

Bold Prediction: Denver will lead the league in sacks. 

With the addition of Cox, the Broncos' defensive front is going to be unblockable in passing situations. Denver already has pass-rush specialists Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. These guys can bring the heat from the edges, and teams can't double both of them. 

Cox will give them a pass-rush specialist on the inside. Cox knows how to get into the backfield. Last season at Mississippi State, he had 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. 

This is going to make blocking the Broncos a nightmare. 

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

The Texans must find someone to help take the defense's attention away from Andre Johnson. 

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

Upshaw is the kind of athletically gifted pass-rusher this defense has lacked for years. 

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

The Packers need to find another pass-rushing threat. Perry is just that. 

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

The 49ers have been bolstering their WR corps with free agents. They will add to that further in the draft. 

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

The Patriots should spend both of their first-round picks on defensive lineman. Crick will be an nice 3-4 end. 

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

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Giants will add more talent to their defensive line.