2012 NFL Mock Draft: Where College Football's Biggest Stars Will Land

With the pre-draft process all but complete, it's time to start looking at how the first round will pan out this year.

There are plenty of big names and plenty of sleepers. There are boom-or-bust prospects and athletes drafted purely on their potential. It makes for an exciting time of the year.

Here's my latest 2012 NFL mock draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Don't listen to Jim Irsay. The Colts are going to grab Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick, not Robert Griffin III. Luck's a once-in-a-generation prospect.

2. Washington Redskins (via STL): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins gave up a lot to move up to No. 2 overall this year: Whom do you think they're going to draft? That's a rhetorical question. They're going to draft Griffin and groom their next quarterback of the future. Griffin has all the tools to be a star at the next level and he also has the makeup.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

A legit top-three pick, Matt Kalil is a complete offensive lineman who projects to be a franchise tackle. Young Christian Ponder could use some protection in the pocket.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

With Peyton Hillis leaving the team, the Browns need to find their next star running back. Trent Richardson has the strength, speed, explosiveness, vision, patience and big-play ability to be a superstar at the next level.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Ignore the reports of Morris Claiborne's low score on the Wonderlic Test. Plenty of future stars have scored poorly. The fact of the matter is, Claiborne is an excellent cover corner with the size and speed to translate nicely to the NFL. With Ronde Barber aging and Aqib Talib unreliable, the Bucs need Claiborne.

6. St. Louis Rams (via WAS): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams need a star receiver for Sam Bradford. Justin Blackmon, with his strength, explosiveness after-the-catch and leaping abilities, fits the profile.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Jaguars certainly need to upgrade their pass rush. Quinton Coples is a possibility here, but there are too many questions about his character for him to go this early. Melvin Ingram is an elite pass-rushing prospect...without the character concerns.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

I don't agree with Ryan Tannehill this high, but the Dolphins are desperate and need a quarterback to groom for the future. He certainly has the athleticism and arm strength to be a starting QB in the NFL, but he's still incredibly raw.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Panthers need a dominating interior presence, and if Dontari Poe lives up to his combine performance he will most certainly be a star. He has great size and speed.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

With Mario Williams locked up, the Bills will likely address the O-line here. Riley Reiff is the second-best offensive lineman in the draft. A solid pass blocker and run blocker.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Fletcher Cox, with his athleticism and explosion, continues to soar up draft boards. He showed a tremendous motor and versatility while at Mississippi State. The Chiefs could use someone in the middle.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Quinton Coples may have character concerns, but it's hard to see him falling beyond No. 12 overall. He has the speed and strength to be a force in the NFL. He just needs to learn how to use it. The Seahawks could use a threat on the edge.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Imagine strong, physical Michael Floyd paired up with Larry Fitzgerald. Floyd has the hands and leaping ability to put it all together at the next level.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

David DeCastro is a tremendous prospect with the toughness to match. After scoring a touchdown with Tyron Smith last year, the Cowboys should look to lock up the interior of the line.

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

If Luke Kuechly drops this far, he provides the impact inside linebacker the Eagles have been looking for to shore up their rush defense. Kuechly blew up the combine and he has the instincts, range and tackling ability to be a star.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Jets could go with safety Mark Barron here, but Courtney Upshaw is the better prospect and he provides them with the powerful, explosive pass-rusher off the edge they need.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Bengals failed to address receiver this offseason. Why not grab a dynamic talent in Kendall Wright, then? Wright has the speed and explosiveness to be a DeSean Jackson-like receiver in the NFL.

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia

Jeromey Clary needs to be replaced at right tackle. Glenn, beyond his strength, has the lateral agility to be  tackle in the NFL. He would boost the running game and provide protection for Philip Rivers.

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Jonathan Martin may have slid since the beginning of the combine, but he had three years of experience protecting Andrew Luck, has tremendous size and comes from a pro-style offense. The Bears desperately need to add to the offensive line.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

I prefer South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, but Dre Kirkpatrick played well in the national championship game and he has the size, toughness and instincts to get physical with receivers and blow up the run.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Bengals are still looking for someone to pair up with Leon Hall since Johnathan Joseph's departure, and Stephon Gilmore is an excellent prospect. He has good size, quickness and ball skills, and he even can be used as a return man.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL): Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

The Browns are in dire need of a receiver and I think they go with upside here over an offensive tackle like Mike Adams, who has character concerns and didn't do well in interviews. Randle needs to work on his route-running, but he has the length and fluidity to be a starter in the NFL, perhaps even a star.

23. Detroit Lions: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

With the Lions putting the franchise tag on Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch turning 34, now would be a good time for the Lions to look at their next defensive end. Whitney Mercilus has tons of upside and is one of the premier pass-rushers in the draft.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Dont'a Hightower, at 263 pounds, is extremely quick for his size, and he showed at Alabama that he could get it done in the interior. The Steelers need someone like him.

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The opinion is split on Michael Brockers. His combination of speed and size is hard to ignore, but his pre-draft process did not go well. He showed up overweight at the combine and failed to perform well on the drills. Nonetheless, the Broncos need a stopper in the middle and Brockers has the potential to be just that.

26. Houston Texans: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Mohamed Sanu is a strong receiver with great hands and good leaping ability. His determination on the field completes the package. He would line up opposite Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots (via NO): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Patriots need help at safety and Mark Barron is a legit first-rounder, with the length, physicality, instincts and tackling ability to be a difference-maker. He's also battle-tested.

28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

The Packers need to add some pass-rushers beyond Clay Matthews, and Andre Branch could be a good one, with the size, length, burst and quickness to be dynamic off the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Peter Konz has great size and strength and he's a very experienced, smart football player. It's hard to see much rattling him in the NFL. He's a legit first-rounder who could become a franchise center for the Ravens.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Janoris Jenkins is a top-10 prospect based on his talent alone, but his history at Florida before he was booted is a big red flag for many teams. However, I like how he conducted himself at the combine and I think a clubhouse like the 49ers could straighten him out and make the most of his talents.

31. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Patriots need to address their pass rush. They can't go on ignoring it any longer. Nick Perry, with his quickness and explosiveness, could be a steal late in the first round.

32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Giants need to protect Eli Manning a little better and Mike Adams has the potential to be a solid starter in the NFL. He has the size, length and quickness to match up well at the next level, but he does appear to need veteran leadership.

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