2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Rising Stars Will Be Drafted Too High?

In our 2012 NFL mock draft, we highlight some of players in the first round who could be overdrafted.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck may not have the draft's biggest arm, but everything else about his game is in the elite category for college quarterbacks. Easy pick for Indy to replace Peyton Manning.

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

Griffin III is a No. 1 overall pick in most other drafts. In this one, he's the prize of the Redskins, who moved up several spots and desperately need a quarterback.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil might not be a Joe Thomas/Jake Long level, but this is the safest pick Minnesota can make at No. 3 overall.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

It's getting hard to see how the Browns go any other way with this pick. Too much value, too much talent to pass up.

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

New head coach Greg Schiano would love Richardson here. But with the workhorse back off the board, he settles for the draft's top cornerback.

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

Blackmon has been the only receiver in this draft who has consistently been slotted in the top-10, but that doesn't make him bust-proof. In fact, there may be real risk here. Blackmon doesn't have a go-to skill. He's fast enough but far from a burner. He has decent size but won't scare defenses with his length. In a draft with so much depth at receiver, Blackmon will be overdrafted.

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

The Jaguars can't count on getting anything from Aaron Kampman, and they need a pass-rusher opposite Jeremy Mincey.

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

Moving up five spots to No. 3 is craziness if the Dolphins are considering it. Tannehill is probably a reach pick even at No. 8, but they'll have to overdraft the position to finally find a long-term option. Give Tannehill a year or so to work out the kinks, and Miami could have a player. Overall, Tannehill is probably a second round-pick who will go this high just because of the position he plays. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Taking Dontari Poe here is overdrafting. Cox, on the other hand, is a perfect fit at No. 9. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

I think Cordy Glenn could be an option here too if the Bills aren't sold on Reiff. But either way, left tackle is a huge need.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford 

Guards don't usually go this high, but DeCastro is a rare prospect. Chiefs get another huge boost to their running game next season.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Same scenario here. Interior linebackers have become somewhat devalued in this age of professional football, but Kuechly is a top player and one that has that "bust-proof" label. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Perry, OLB/DE, USC

The Cardinals have a couple of young pass-rushers in O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho, but you can never have enough talented guys that can get to the quarterback.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Cowboys' issues at safety make Barron a need pick here. Another cornerback, such as Stephon Gilmore or Dre Kirkpatrick, also makes sense. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Look, there's no denying what Poe did at the NFL combine. The way he moved at almost 350 pounds should have had the shock value it ultimately did. But should it make Poe a first-rounder? There wasn't much in terms of production at Memphis, and he wasn't even facing elite competition. You'd think a guy with that much "ability"—no matter what position along the defensive line he was playing—would have a bigger stamp on games than Poe did at Memphis.  

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

Great value here for the Jets. In terms of pure football players, few defensive players in this draft match up to Upshaw. 

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

The Bengals have acquired some veteran depth at cornerback, but Gilmore is too good of player to pass up at No. 17. 

18. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame (TRADE w/San Diego)

It's tough to find a fit for Floyd in the middle portions, so the Browns make an aggressive move up to nab the talented pass-catcher. With Richardson and Floyd on board, Cleveland has a completely new offensive look.

19. Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples is certainly a guy who get could overdrafted early on. He's a talented pass-rusher and teams drool over those kind of players in the top 15. But if he does fall this far, the Bears won't mind stopping his free-fall. Placing him opposite a guy like Julius Peppers could be the kick-start Coples needs to shake the motor inconsistencies. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

After striking out on a free-agent center, Tennessee finally finds its man at the position in Konz. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia 

The Bengals will love if Glenn gets to their second first-round pick. He's a versatile, monster of a man who can play both inside and out.  

22. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford (trade w/Cleveland)

The Chargers are always a team that looks into moving around, and it makes sense to drop down a few slots here. Getting Martin, who protected Luck for three years at Stanford, gives San Diego a much better tandem at offensive tackle. 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

The Lions could be very tempted to take a pass-rusher here, and I wouldn't blame them if they did. But Kirkpatrick fills a need right now—one that handcuffed Detroit down the stretch last season.

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

Love the fit. Hightower can sit and learn from some of the game's best linebacker and then fill in when his talent eventually overwhelms Larry Foote's hold on a starting position inside.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Broncos have a much bigger need at defensive tackle than they do at any other position. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

Fans of teams in the AFC South should be hoping this marriage doesn't happen. Wright could terrorize the division as the sidekick to Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, OLB/DE, Boise State

I think this pick might come down to McClellin and Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith, but Bill Belichick will enjoy the kind of versatility that McClellin immediately brings.

28. Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois 

It should be surprising to see the kind of interest there is in Mercilus high in the draft. It's hard not to look at Mercilus and not see Aldon Smith, who the 49ers took early last season and who eventually became a big, big factor in the pass-rushing schemes. But the Illinois product isn't on Smith's overall talent level, and he may get over picked despite that fact. If he does fall, however, the Packers won't mind taking the chance he gives a Smith-like impact.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Branch, OLB, Clemson 

Branch probably isn't a first-round value, but the Ravens love restocking the pass rush. He could contribute as a situational rusher next season. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

A huge defensive line prospect with a high ceiling, Brockers may entice a team to take a flier on him early in the draft. But that could be a mistake, as Brockers is so raw as a player. He might need a year or two before he really impacts a defense. The 49ers can take that flier, however, as Brockers could sit behind the likes of Justin Smith and Ray McDonald and learn what it takes to be a pro. If he figures that out, watch out.

31. Chicago Bears: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford (trade w/New England) 

The Patriots love to trade out of the first round, and Chicago gives them that chance here. The Bears really need a tight end to go with a new-look offense. 

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

You have to wonder if some team in the mid-first round will look at Adams and see a starting left tackle. It'd be hard to blame a team for taking that chance, even if Adams has a high bust potential. For the Giants, Adams represents a decent value at a need position.