2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Every First-Round Pro Bowl Player

The 2012 NFL draft is loaded with talent and several guys are sure-fire Pro Bowlers. Here is my latest mock draft, highlighting the five guys I think are most likely to reach the Pro Bowl.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck has the tools to be one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in a short time. If the Colts can surround him with some decent weapons over the next few years, he could have a very short learning curve.

With competent talent around him, Luck could easily develop into a Pro Bowler within five years. 

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin is much more of a boom-or-bust candidate than Luck, but the Redskins traded up to get a franchise quarterback and they will take him.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Plain and simple: Kalil is the best offensive lineman to enter the NFL since the Miami Dolphins selected Jake Long with the No. 1 overall pick back in 2008. The Vikings have to take the USC product because he fills the team's biggest need.

With Kalil's size and overall skill set, he is the biggest lock to end up as a Pro Bowler in the 2012 draft class. His brother, Ryan, is already a Pro Bowl center in Carolina and it shouldn't take long for Kalil to get to join him at that level as well.

No player is more NFL-ready and Pro Bowl-ready in this draft than Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is by far the best back in this year's draft class and he is the most complete runner to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson in 2007. Richardson has everything you could possibly want in an NFL back and the Browns simply have to take him at this spot.

Given how good Richardson is and how versatile he can be as a receiver and blocker in the passing game, he could be one of the league's best backs in a short period of time. I see him having a similar impact that Peterson had for the Vikings when he came into the NFL.

During his final season at Alabama, Richardson was relied upon to provide a ton for the team's offense. With the Browns the same will likely be true with Colt McCoy under center and an overall lack of weapons offensively.

Richardson could be headed to the Pro Bowl very quickly given his ability and how often he will get the ball in the team's offense.

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

Claiborne may have scored a four (out of 50) on his Wonderlic Test, but that doesn't reflect his incredible ability on the football field. His instincts are some of the best I've ever seen from a pure cornerback prospect and that has made his closing speed even better.

The LSU product should quickly turn into a true shutdown corner for the Bucs, and learning from 16-year veteran Ronde Barber will only help his development. Last year former teammate Patrick Peterson was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. While I don't expect Claiborne to have that kind of impact immediately, I see him becoming one of the NFL's best corners.

He has everything you could want in a lockdown defender, and with his excellent ball skills Claiborne could rack up some interceptions as well. He's a lock to reach the Pro Bowl eventually.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

St. Louis needs a receiver, and Blackmon will give quarterback Sam Bradford the No. 1 option he has been missing.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is a risk but his upside is worth it. He could turn into the next Julius Peppers.

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

Miami will make this pick and pray that it works out. After he aced his pro day Tannehill has become a legitimate top-10 pick.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe's combine workout was something to behold. Head coach Ron Rivera knows the importance of good interior linemen and he'll get the rock his defense will be built upon here. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo's top need is an offensive tackle, and it gets a gift when Reiff falls to the bottom of the top 10.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Kansas City wants Poe, but Kuechly is a nice consolation prize and will help fill out a weak middle of the team's defense.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Seahawks badly need a pass-rusher and Ingram is the most versatile sack man in the draft.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals still need offensive line help even after re-signing Levi Brown. Martin's upside is extremely high though he still has work to do to prove he can be a great pass protector. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is the most versatile interior defensive linemen in the draft and Rob Ryan will be able to deploy him all over Dallas' front.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

By trading for DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles began the process of shoring up the middle of their defense. Adding Barron, who can help against the run while having the range to be excellent in coverage, is the next step. 

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

The Jets need to add an edge-rusher here. While I think USC's Nick Perry is the best pure pass-rusher in the draft, Upshaw seems like more of a Rex Ryan-type player. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Cincinnati will have some choices here, but I think Kirkpatrick—who is a top-10 talent—will be the pick. Before his arrest for possession of marijuana, the Alabama corner was in competition with Claiborne to be the first defensive back to come off the board.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

With the re-signing of Antonio Garay, offensive line help is now San Diego's first priority. DeCastro somehow falls this far and slots in perfectly as a replacement for the retired Kris Dielman.

DeCastro was the nation's best interior lineman (on either side of the football) in 2011 and will be a stud in the NFL. If guard was a more highly valued position, he would be a top 10 pick. The Stanford product is incredibly strong and, at nearly 6'5" and 316 pounds, he is massive for his position.

His blue-collar mentality and outstanding work ethic will help him get even better in the NFL. He is one of the most technically sound mauling run-blockers I've ever scouted. He is sound in pass protection and almost never misses an assignment when blitzes come.

DeCastro will be a perennial Pro Bowler once he settles in.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

Chicago needs offensive line help as much as any team in the NFL, and adding Glenn will give it a guy who could immediately start at either guard spot or right tackle. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The Titans could use help at corner and safety, but Fleener fits what they are trying to do offensively. He will also give young quarterback Jake Locker a target to grow with.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

With BenJarvus Green-Ellis on board, the Bengals need a game-breaking running back. Miller fits that description better than anyone else available.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With Richardson and Floyd on board, Colt McCoy won't have any more excuses if he doesn't develop quickly.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Current center Dominic Raiola is terrible, and pairing a smart snapper like Konz with franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford could create a dynamic duo.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Casey Hampton is aging and under his tutelage Still will develop into an excellent replacement. 

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Denver needs to get stronger up front and at 6'5" and 323 pounds Brockers will help it do just that.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson needs help and Wright will slot in as a perfect complement as a No. 2 wideout.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Patriots need to upgrade their front seven and Mercilus will give them a relentless edge-rusher who can get to the quarterback. 

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

The Packers will take an edge-rusher with this pick, and Perry—the best pure pass-rusher in the draft—should be available.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama 

The Ravens have other needs, but they also must select Ray Lewis' successor at some point. Hightower is a worthy candidate to take over the position in the future. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Hill will be the big, fast deep threat the 49ers are missing in the passing game.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes is a versatile lineman who can fit anywhere along New England's front. The rebuilding of the team's front seven continues with this pick.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

The Giants could go running back here, but Brown is so fast that he will instantly upgrade the linebacking corps. His speed and playmaking ability will boost the team's defense.