2012 NFL Mock Draft: Vontaze Burfict and Risks Teams Must Take

Every year, risky players coming into the NFL draft tempt coaches and scouts with their potential. This mock draft is focused on the players worth taking a chance on in the first round.

There are a number of ways a player becomes a risk, most notably due to past injuries, lack of playing time and character concerns.

These players are certainly risks, but their ability to make plays on the gridiron will ultimately lead teams to take a chance.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

Luck to Indy is happening, folks. They will take the safe pick over the potential of RG3.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

Mike Shanahan and RG3 are going to be a deadly combination next year in Washington.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

Kalil is a solid choice here to protect Christian Ponder's blind side for the better part of a decade.

4. Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

Now that we know where Luck and Griffin are going, Tannehill is the man of the hour. 

Per Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, the Browns have reportedly taken a strong interest in Tannehill, and they will gamble on his athleticism and strong arm to do for them what Colt McCoy could not do the last couple of years—push the ball downfield.

The risk with Tannehill is that he's a one-year wonder as a starter at Texas A&M, much in the same way that Mark Sanchez was for USC.

We've all seen how Sanchez has struggled to read NFL defenses, and there's a legitimate concern that Tannehill will face the same challenges.

That won't stop the Browns from making a bold move at the top of the draft.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

LeGarrette Blount won't be happy about this, but the Bucs are going to take Richardson to be their bell cow for the next decade.

6. St. Louis Rams: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

The Rams have a ton of needs—the most pressing being at the wide receiver position—but Claiborne is easily the best player available, and Jeff Fisher won't let him slide.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End, South Carolina

The Jaguars need help all across the board, but they will take the draft's best pass-rusher to bolster their porous defense.

8. Miami Dolphins: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

The Dolphins, having missed out on another potential franchise quarterback, do the next best thing and give Matt Moore another weapon on the outside with Blackmon.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

The Panthers were atrocious at stopping the run last year, and Poe is the biggest body with the most talent in the draft.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

The Bills need help protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick. Reiff is the best pass-protector left on the board and he's a perfect fit.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

DeCastro is a stud who will start from day one. He will be a huge upgrade on the Chiefs' offensive line and will pave many a clear path for Jamaal Charles in 2012. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Vontaze Burfict, Inside Linebacker, Arizona State

Burfict is easily the biggest risk in the draft.

He shows flashes of brilliance—including a knack for huge hits—on some plays while displaying a complete lack of instincts and ability on the very next play.

Burfict reportedly bombed his positional drills at his pro day after completely submarining his interviews and tanking at the combine. 

Still, the Seahawks are in need of an impact player in the middle of their defense after losing David Hawthorne to the New Orleans Saints.

They will take a massive gamble and select Burfict with their first-round pick.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

The Cardinals need to make pass-protection their first priority, and Martin is a solid, if not underrated, prospect that will play from day one.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

The Cowboys are in the habit of taking risks on draft day—the latest being their selection of Dez Bryant a couple of years ago in the first round.

Jenkins is another gamble who Jerry Jones won't be able to resist betting on.

Blessed with some of the most fluid hips since Eric Berry, Jenkins is almost as good a prospect from a pure football standpoint as Claiborne.

Never mind that he's one of the most unstable young men coming out of this year's draft class.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, Defensive End, Mississippi State

The Eagles desperately need to get better in the middle of their defense, and Cox fits their style to perfection.

16. New York Jets: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

The Jets were able to re-sign Sione Pouha, but they still have a need to fill out the defensive line. Still is a big body that eats up space in the middle, and he can also play defensive end in their 3-4 scheme.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Floyd is a tremendous steal here. He gives Andy Dalton another excellent weapon on the outside to pair with A.J. Green, and the Bengals' offense will take off in 2012.

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Illinois

Shaun Phillips is the only true pass-rushing threat currently on the Chargers' roster. Mercilus gives them another threat on the outside.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Tackle, Georgia

If Jay Cutler is on his back, the Bears don't win. That's a fact. Glenn is a talented young man who can play both the guard and tackle position, and he's an easy pick here.

20. Tennessee Titans: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

Brockers could be the next Albert Haynesworth for the Titans. He's disruptive and strong in the middle, and he gives the Titans something to build on for years to come.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

The Bengals signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis in the offseason, but they still need another running back with the ability to hit home runs. Miller is the fastest back in the draft and a good fit.

22. Cleveland Browns: Kelechi Osemele, Offensive Guard, Iowa State

The Browns need a guard after letting Eric Steinbach go in the offseason. Osemele is a bit raw, but his upside is the best in the draft at his position.

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

Playing in the NFC North requires a stable of excellent cornerbacks. Kirkpatrick is a good one, and he will see playing time at the outset.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Ben Roethlisberger must get tired of getting hit. The Steelers need to do something about it, and Adams is the best offensive tackle on the board.

25. Denver Broncos: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Peyton Manning will turn Hill into a Pro Bowl receiver within a few months.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

Wright will be a huge relief to Andre Johnson who has been getting double- and triple-teamed for the last year.

27. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

The Patriots are in need of safety help, and Barron is the best safety in the draft. Easy pick.

28. Green Bay Packers: Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Alabama

The Packers need to upgrade their pass rush or risk getting torn to shreds through the air once again in 2012. Upshaw is a perfect fit to play opposite Clay Matthews.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

The Ravens re-signed Matt Birk, but he's not going to be around much longer. Konz is the best center in the draft, and he can always play guard if need be for a year or two while Birk is still playing.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Perry, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, USC

The 49ers already have Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks, but Perry is too good to pass up this late in the draft.

31. New England Patriots: Jamell Flemming, Cornerback, Oklahoma

The Pats will address their porous secondary once again and take Flemming—an underrated corner who could end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft.

32. New York Giants: Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

After losing Mario Manningham to the 49ers, the Giants need to fill that void. Jeffery is a tall, athletic receiver who should fit in nicely with the players currently on their roster.

Thanks for making Bleacher Report your source for your NFL draft news and analysis. Stay tuned as the NFL draft draws closer for more mock drafts and instant reaction.

Follow @JesseReed78