2012 NFL Mock Draft: College Standouts Who Will Fail to Impress

This mock draft will focus on elite college players who won't find success at the next level in 2012.

Since the inception of the NFL draft, there have been college superstars who failed to make a good impression once they've entered into the league. 

This year won't be any different, and I will highlight the players who'll be selected in the first round but fail to impress their new employers.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

Luck is going to be a Colt for almost as long as Peyton Manning was. He's a keeper.

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

Mike Shanahan loves what RG3 brings to the table, and he'll be jumping for joy after Jim Irsay finally makes up his mind to take Luck.

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

Kalil is about the safest pick in the draft. Barring a major injury, he should be a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle for at least a decade.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

The Browns were lost without a good running game. Richardson is the best running back to come out in a decade, and he will make the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

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

The Buccaneers will have a terrorizing defense in a couple of years. Claiborne is an easy choice here as he's the best player on the board.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is overrated. 

He isn't a big receiver, at 6'1" and 215 pounds. He posted a surprising 4.46 second 40-yard dash time at the combine, but he doesn't play that fast out on the field. As a result, he really isn't a big-time threat to go over the top of NFL safeties.

Blackmon also struggles to separate off the line against physical corners—unlucky for him, the NFL is full of guys like that. 

I'm not saying he's going to be a complete bust, but the closest comparison I can think of when I watch him play is San Francisco 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree.

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

The Jaguars need help all across the board and could take a receiver, but they will take the draft's best pass-rusher instead to bolster their weak defensive line.

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

The Dolphins are desperate for a franchise quarterback after missing out on so many in the past five years. Tannehill may not pan out, but you have to give them credit for continuing to take big swings to try to land their guy.

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

The Panthers were atrocious at stopping the run last year, and Poe's performance at this year's combine vaulted him up into top-10 territory. He will be an instant starter.

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

Ryan Fitzpatrick needs more protection, and Reiff is the second-best tackle in this year's draft. It just makes too much sense.

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

DeCastro is the absolute safest pick in the draft. He excels in both the running game and in pass protection. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, Middle Linebacker, Boston College

Kuechly was one of the most prolific middle linebackers in NCAA history. During his time at Boston College, he logged 532 tackles—a BC and ACC record.

The troubling thing about all those tackles is that only 12 of them came behind the line of scrimmage.

That's not what you're looking for from the potential leader of your defense.

The Seahawks lost David Hawthorne—their leading tackler—to the New Orleans Saints via free agency, leaving them with a massive hole to fill. 

They will take Kuechly, hoping he'll be able to replace Hawthorne, but in the end all they will get is another first-round bust at the linebacker position.

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

The Cardinals need to make pass protection their first priority after missing out on the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. Neither Kevin Kolb or John Skelton are particularly nimble-footed, and as such they need good protection. Martin is a perfect fit.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Nick Perry, Outside Linebacker, USC

Jerry Jones is searching for another pass-rushing demon to pair with DeMarcus Ware. Taking Perry will give him what he wants.

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

The Eagles need a big man to plug up the middle who can also penetrate the pocket. Cox is a good fit to play next to Cullen Jenkins and will start from Day 1.

16. New York Jets: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

The Jets' defensive scheme relies on skilled, diverse safeties. Despite the fact that LaRon Landry was signed, they'll jump at the opportunity to land Barron.

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

Floyd is a bargain here. His size/speed ratio is excellent, and he can catch just about anything thrown his way.

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

The Chargers are in need of another pass-rushing outside linebacker to pair with Shaun Phillips. 

Mercilus was an absolute terror in the college ranks last year, tallying 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles to lead the nation.

Mercilus is a one-year wonder, and I don't expect him to be able to handle NFL offensive tackles. He lacks a quick first step and explosion—crucial aspects to pass-rushing at the next level.

Additionally, Mercilus isn't proficient at using his hands to gain separation from tackles, and he's going to be swallowed up on a regular basis by veteran players who know how to defeat players like him.

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

Although they picked an offensive tackle in the first round last year, the Bears aren't finished revamping that atrocious line. Glenn is the right medicine for their woes.

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

The Titans could go a number of routes with this pick, but Brockers has slid down the board enough. 

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: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

After taking Richardson over Floyd and Blackmon, the Browns are still able to land one of this year's best receivers. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

The Lions need more talent at the cornerback position to compete with the Packers and Bears, and Kirkpatrick is a talented cornerback. Easy pick.

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

The Steelers have put off taking an offensive tackle in the first round for far too long. Adams will be a great addition to their offensive line.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

Still is a big bodied run-stuffer who will complete the Broncos' front seven, making them one of the best in the NFL.

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

The Texans would be crazy to pass up on an Andre Johnson clone. They will be deadly on offense with the two of them running wild on opposing secondaries.

27. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Alabama

The Patriots love versatility, and Upshaw's ability to play as a defensive end or an outside linebacker makes him a perfect fit.

28. Green Bay Packers: Vinny Curry, Outside Linebacker, Marshall

Curry will give the Packers an elite outside linebacker duo paired with 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: Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford

The 49ers certainly don't have the need, but Fleener has shown he's got the skills and talent to become a deadly weapon on offense. The combination of Vernon Davis and Fleener would trump Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in New England. 

31. New England Patriots: Chris Polk, Running Back, Washington

After letting BenJarvus Green-Ellis go via free agency, the Pats are in the market for a bell cow running back. Polk is a power runner with better hands than some receivers and will be well-suited to excel in the Patriots offense.

32. New York Giants: Dont'a Hightower, Middle Linebacker, Alabama

Hightower is a better middle linebacker in my book than Kuechly, and he finally gives the Giants some stability at a position that's been lacking for the last couple of years.

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