2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best-Case NFL Counterparts for Every 1st-Round Pick

There is a renewed excitement surrounding this year's draft, and not only because two of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory will enter the NFL.

A lot of the talent on this year's board brings to mind some of the current NFL greats, and while it's a given that some of these players will excel and some will doubtlessly be busts, comparisons to players already in the league are unavoidable.

With the draft only a few weeks away, here's a full mock draft with comparisons for every player to current pros.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Pro comparison: Peyton Manning

Obviously, the front office, coaches and fans in Indianapolis would love it if Luck turned out anywhere near as dominant as Manning. He's a no-brainer at No. 1, and some scouts are heralding him as the best quarterback prospect they've ever seen.

In 2011, he had a 169.68 rating after throwing for 3,517 yards and 37 touchdowns. He has the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback (6'4", 234 pounds), and despite being taller and a little heavier than the average of all NFL quarterbacks, he runs a faster 40-yard dash (4.67). Luck is extremely coachable, intelligent and ranks exceptionally in terms of mental makeup, accuracy and pocket mobility.

Though quarterbacks like Manning rarely come around, there's a better-than-good chance Luck will be comparable.

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams) (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Pro comparison: Cam Newton

A Big 12 guy with a very high NFL ceiling, RGIII ranks just behind Luck (or on par with him, in the eyes of some scouts) in terms of potential to be great in the NFL. His arm strength, accuracy and athleticism should all combine to make him into an elite NFL quarterback. Coming out of the short-lived Donovan McNabb era, Washington needs an elite QB.

This year's Heisman Trophy winner, Griffin can start in the NFL in Week 1 and is often compared to Newton. After his performance at the combine, he may be even better, even though he didn't throw. He ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash, registering the fastest time for a quarterback since Michael Vick.

The biggest area of concern with RGIII is his durability. He doesn't have the ideal size for a quarterback at 6'2" and 231 pounds, and he tore his ACL in the 2009 season. Still, he's smart, well-rounded and, if he stays healthy, could be spectacular.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Pro comparison: Jake Long

Minnesota needs a replacement for Charlie Johnson and Kalil is a versatile player who can play on the right or left. He should be a franchise left tackle down the line.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Pro comparison: Adrian Peterson

This has been one of the most frequent comparisons in this year's draft class. Though there are concerns about taking a running back this high, insistence that Richardson is the best since Peterson because of his long-run and blocking ability are making him a pretty safe pick.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Pro comparison: Johnathan Joseph

The Bucs badly need a corner. While Claiborne might not be an unstoppable ball hawk right at the outset, he's a safe pick and can offer them longevity.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Pro comparison: Dez Bryant

He's strong and physical, and at about 6'1" and 207 pounds, he has the perfect build for a pro wideout. He'll be a prime target for Sam Bradford and has the ability to resurrect an offense that struggled in 2011.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Pro comparison: Joe Thomas

He has the upside to be as good an offensive lineman as Thomas, and he's the best tackle available among this year's crop. His durability proved to be one of his greatest assets on an Iowa team that relied on its run game.

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

Tannehill, who used to be a wide receiver, is an extremely athletic prospect whose downside is a lack of experience (19 starts at QB in his college career). Of course, he'd love to be as effective as Rodgers in the NFL, and he could have the intangibles to get there.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Pro comparison: Jamaal Anderson

The Panthers need someone who can stop the run, and Coples is their answer. The UNC product is often described as a sack-machine, as evidenced by the 24 sacks and 40.5 tackles for a loss he compiled during his time in Chapel Hill.

What makes him so appealing is that at 6'6" and 284 pounds, he has the combination of size, speed, athletic ability and versatility necessary to produce in the NFL. He can cover a lot of ground quickly and possesses a natural quickness when working to the inside. Perhaps most importantly, he's good enough to make a difference right now because he can start immediately and overpower linemen, particularly in the run game.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Pro comparison: Marques Colston

At almost 6'3" and 220 pounds, Floyd is similar to Colston in terms of build. He showed off his speed with a 4.40 40-yard dash at the combine and has above-average hand size and arm length for receivers at the last four combines.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Pro comparison: James Laurinaitis

He was a tackling machine at Boston College, and though there are concerns about his athleticism, he's been one of the most productive collegiate linebackers in recent memory.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, DE, North Carolina
Pro comparison: Adalius Thomas

At 6'2" and 272 pounds, his frame resembles that of Thomas and he has the ability to be incredibly effective in the 3-4. One question with him, however, continues to be his speed, and it could cost him on draft day.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
Pro comparison: Dwight Freeney

He's quick like Freeney, and though he may not put up the same sack numbers (who could?), he's been called one of the most athletically-gifted prospects on the board this year.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Pro comparison: LaRon Landry

As the best safety in the draft, Barron can immediately make an impact on Dallas' secondary with his ability to read routes and defend the run.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Pro comparison: Haloti Ngata

Poe's lower-body strength, athleticism and quickness make him a serious threat around the ball. His dominant performance at the combine, speed (he ran a 4.98-second 40) and versatility make him a top prospect.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Chandler Jones, OLB, Syracuse
Pro comparison: Osi Umenyiora

He has the versatility to transition from defensive end to linebacker, and though he's a bit undersized at 6'5", 247 pounds, he has a good wingspan and uses his arms well.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Pro comparison: Logan Mankins

The Bengals are in dire need for help on the pass rush, and after a few years of development, DeCastro could easily become one of the league's better guards. He's polished, disciplined and is quick to get into his block.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
Pro comparison: Josh Sitton

At nearly 6'6" and 345 pounds, Glenn can be a dominant presence at right tackle but has the versatility to line up there or at guard, which makes him more appealing.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Pro comparison: Michael Roos

He helped Andrew Luck excel at Stanford and now will do the same thing with his quarterback in the NFL. He possesses above-average quickness, a natural football intelligence and passion that will make him popular among his teammates.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Pro comparison: Brandon Browner

Kirkpatrick's size gives him the ability to cover both wideouts and tight ends, so despite some character issues stemming from a recent arrest, he's still an appealing prospect for a Titans team that really needs to shore up its secondary.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Pro comparison: Joe Haden

Gilmore's maturity, instincts and above-average coverage skills will help the Bengals fill a hole in the secondary. He also has impressive footwork for his size.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) (4-12): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Pro comparison: Percy Harvin

As one of the featured components of Baylor's high-powered offense this year, Wright proved he has the speed to be effective in the NFL, even against the best defenses.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois
Pro comparison: Tamba Hali

Though he only started for one year at Illinois, Mercilus is fast, athletic and good off the snap.

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

Hightower is very technically sound, can be an impact player at the line of scrimmage and a very physical inside presence.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Pro comparison: Ndamukong Suh

The versatile defensive tackle is massive (6'5", 322 pounds) and can fill a need for the Broncos inside with his ability to play a variety of different roles depending on the scheme.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
Pro comparison: Darrius Heyward-Bey

He gives Houston another weapon next to Andre Johnson, and his big-play ability—he had a 29.3-yard average on 28 receptions—makes him an appealing prospect.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) (13-3) : Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Pro comparison: Marcell Dareus

The Pats need to fill a hole in the pass rush, and Cox is a top prospect who could be a steal at this stage because of his ability to go after the quarterback. He's a raw athlete whose upside is huge because he still has plenty of room to develop.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Nick Perry, DE/LB, USC
Pro comparison: Bradie James

He's one of the better pass-rushers in this draft and, given his superior athleticism, he has a lot of upside.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Pro comparison: Jeff Saturday

He's by far the best center available among this year's crop of talent. His 6'5", 314-pound frame and quickness give him the potential to be a solid center for a long time in the NFL.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
Pro comparison: Jahri Evans

He has an average combination of height (about 6'4"), weight (314 pounds) and speed for an offensive guard prospect, but his above-average instincts and football IQ push him up into the first round.

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

New England needs youth on its defensive line. Though Reyes is shorter than Franklin, he's versatile, smart and is someone who could thrive under Bill Belichick.

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

New York needs a tight end because of injuries, and Fleener is one of very few college tight ends who has the potential to quickly move into a starting role in the NFL.