2012 NFL Mock Draft: Franchises Guaranteed to Strike Gold in First Round

First-round draft selections are what separate the good teams from the mediocre and poor ones. Hitting on a star and getting a player to build a franchise around is so crucial to sustaining success in the NFL.

By drafting a bust, it can hamstring the team by wasting a a draft pick and roster spot and clogging cap room.

Let’s take a look at the latest mock with a focus on some picks GMs won’t have to worry about and should have no regrets choosing.

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

The Indianapolis Colts can do no wrong by taking Andrew Luck with their well-deserved No. 1 pick after a miserable 2011-12 season was capped off by Peyton Manning being cut and defecting to the Denver Broncos.

He represents the best chance for this franchise to return to prominence.

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

The Redskins made the bold move of trading a ton of future talent to land RGIII and he has to pan out or they have set themselves back years.

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

Kalil is by far the best tackle prospect and will help protect Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder for the forseeable future.

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

Cleveland would have loved to address its QB situation, but Ryan Tannehill is too much of a reach here so it will take the best available offensive player in Richardson.

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

Tampa Bay has had a killer offseason and it will only get better if it gets its hands on the best defensive prospect in the class.

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

The Rams' defense was pitiful last season, but their offense wasn’t much better. Blackmon can immediately fix the latter and become a top target for Sam Bradford.

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

Coples' size and athleticism are so intriguing that someone will reach for him in the top 10, and why not the Jags?

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

This pick reeks of desperation for a franchise that can’t seem to get anything to go its way.

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

Ingram’s combine performance and interviews were stellar and he will boost a Carolina defense that needs all the help it can get.

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

Reiff is looking like the second-best tackle prospect on the board after Kalil and has the ability to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick or whoever the Bills’ QB is for a long time.

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

Poe is more than a workout warrior who put up eye-popping numbers on the bench press and 40-yard dash during the combine.

He’s a big, bad dude who will clog up the middle in a 3-4 and can even play in a 4-3 scheme.

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

The Seahawks need a young, talented pass-rusher with a winning pedigree like Upshaw.

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

Martin is vying to pass Reiff and go earlier, but the Cardinals should have no qualms taking him here and know how good he can be.

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

DeCastro is the best guard prospect in the class and will shore up the middle of Big D’s OL.

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

Kuechly is a steal at No. 15 and promises to be a solid player with a long career ahead of him.

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

If Rex Ryan is really trying to get back to the power rushing game and wants to use Tim Tebow in packages to pound the rock, getting a big guard like Glenn will help a lot.

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

Many mocks had the rangy cornerback in the top five or at least top 10 before his drug arrest following his declaration to turn pro.

Now that his stock fallen, the Bengals would be stupid not to snatch him up here and get insane value for the selection.

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

This freakish athlete has a lot of question marks but enough upside to be worth a gamble. It worked for the Chargers before when they took Antonio Cromartie.

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

The Bears signed a good receiver in Brandon Marshall, but his legal problems are always going to be lingering. They need to get an insurance plan and solid second receiver.

Not that Floyd is the highest character guy (DUI related arrest and suspension), but he’s a great prospect and should be just fine in the NFL.

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

Cox has a ton of versatility and can play multiple positions for the Titans.

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

Miller can make a big play out of nothing and he’ll be a good change of pace to new RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

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

The speedster will be another nice offensive weapon for the Browns if they land Trent Richardson.

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

The Lions have a need to protect Jahvid Best and Matthew Stafford, which is helped by Konz’s presence.

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

Hightower just seems like he was born to be a hard-hitting, take-no-prisoners Pittsburgh Steelers’ LB.

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

Still will contribute to this team from day one and boost an defense that will have it easy with Peyton Manning dominating for the offense.

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

Barron would be another major boost to a Houston secondary that made major strides last season.

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

Brockers doesn’t have a ton of experience but his upside is out of this world.

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

Gilmore is moving up draft boards as a complete corner who can do everything well.

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

Jenkins' off-the-field problems are holding him back from being a top pick. 

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

Jeffery is going to have to prove he can create separation from an NFL defender, because it was tough for him to do in college.

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

Reyes killed it at the combine and now may jump into the first round.

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

Fleener is the best TE prospect but still may not go until the second day of the draft.

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