2012 NFL Mock Draft: College Stars Who'll Dazzle Immediately

NFL rookies tend to have up-and-down rookie seasons in their first year as true professionals. There are only a certain few who can remain consistent throughout the course of a rookie season.

The 2012 NFL draft has a few of those players capable of being consistent in their first year.

The players who will dazzle can be found with an asterisk (*) beside their school.  

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

Andrew Luck will be a better professional than Robert Griffin III.

He is more of a "can't-miss prospect" in my estimation, and the Colts will see it in the same light.  

2. Washington Redskins (From 2-14 St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

Robert Griffin III will be a great professional in the NFL. He won't be better than Andrew Luck but his ceiling is very high.

His efficient passing skills often get overlooked because of his overall speed. Don't be surprised when Griffin tears up the league from the pocket in the near future.  

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT (USC)*

If the Vikings decide to stay pat, Matt Kalil will be their choice with the No. 3 pick. Not a bad selection if I say so myself.

He has great size, agility and a high ceiling. When he gets his hands to a defender, it might as well be over for that down.

We are looking at a prospect who will dominate in the NFL and dazzle from the get-go.

Kalil is the real deal in this draft; he is a future Pro Bowl player.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)*

Assuming Trent Richardson is still on the board, Cleveland would be wise to use a selection to get the best running back in the 2012 class.

I love how Richardson plays the game. What makes him so special is the fact he's a physical specimen with great speed and power.

Richardson will be a playmaking running back in his first year in the NFL.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)*

Forget about the Wonderlic test for a second, because that's garbage anyway. Morris Claiborne will be a future Pro Bowl player in the league at the cornerback position.

He has great football instincts to go along with unbelievable talent.

His ability to close on defenders is second-to-none. Claiborne is an exceptional talent who will immediately help Tampa Bay. 

6. St. Louis Rams (from 5-11 Washington Redskins): Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

Justin Blackmon heading to St. Louis to join forces with Sam Bradford looks like a done deal at this point.

I love the fit and would love to see St. Louis give Bradford a legitimate weapon. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

Jacksonville has many needs to address in the draft this season. Their defense was solid in 2011, but I think they will continue to upgrade on that side of the ball.

Melvin Ingram is one of the better defensive ends in the draft.  

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

Ryan Tannehill will be a solid professional for the Miami Dolphins.

I don't see it happening in his first year, however. He will have a steep learning curve.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Devon Still, DT (Penn State)

I love Devon Still. Dontari Poe may be the selection with this pick, but I give the edge to Still.

Penn State and Memphis comprised of different situations for both defensive tackles. I'll go with the player who played in a better conference if the skill sets are similar.  

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)*

Buffalo added defensive line help in the offseason, so that's not an option for a first-round selection.

The other side of the spectrum, however, needs to be upgraded, and Riley Reiff is the second-best offensive lineman in the draft.

Offensive linemen rarely get their due for being special at the professional level. They are quietly the most important players behind the quarterback.

Reiff will have a special NFL career and a memorable rookie season for Bills fans. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)

Jonathan Martin played extremely well in front of Andrew Luck at Stanford.

Kansas City would be wise to select Martin with the No. 11 pick because he should be a solid player for years.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

I have been like a ball-and-chain with Quinton Coples—one day he's high on my mock draft, and another day he's not. It's tough to tell with the defensive end.

I'm worried about his character issues on and off the field. Some speculated that he didn't give 100 percent efforts last season at North Carolina. I don't like hearing that at all. 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Alabama)

Courtney Upshaw will be given a look from Arizona.

The Cardinals need to solidify its defense especially at the linebacker position.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Tony Romo had a lot of issues with his offensive line, especially the center position last season.

Peter Konz should be looked at with the 14th pick.  

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT (Mississippi State)

I love Mark Barron, but Philadelphia and Andy Reid tend to secure offensive and defensive linemen early in the NFL draft.

Fletcher Cox may have flown under the radar of defensive tackles, but he will still be a decent addition.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

Michael Floyd dominated at Notre Dame when defenses knew he was their only option. New York needs help in a couple of areas, but wide receiving threats like Floyd don't come often.  

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

Cincinnati is going to be a great team in the next few seasons. However, they play in a division full of great defenses and players known for rushing the quarterback.

They need to address the offensive line, and David DeCastro is a solid player.

Sounds like a good fit.  

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)

Janoris Jenkins will be an intriguing prospect for the San Diego Chargers if they decide to go that route. The former Florida star has loads of talent.  

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB (Illinois)

Whitney Mercilus of Illinois can play multiple positions, provide pressure on the quarterback and can fill a potential need for the Bears in the future.

Assuming that Michael Floyd is off the board, Mercilus should be the selection here.  

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Nick Perry, DE/OLB (USC)

Teams need speed-rushers off the edge in today's NFL. Tennessee should add Nick Perry.  

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

If the Bengals select DeCastro with the No. 17 pick, they will be looking to solidify another need: cornerback.

Dre Kirkpatrick may be on the board at this point. Good pick for Cincinnati.  

22. Cleveland Browns (from 10-6 Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

This is what I have had since the beginning, and I'm going to stay the course.

Kendall Wright to the Browns is a decent selection, but he's not No. 1 wide receiver quality in my opinion.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

Detroit will take the best cornerback available with this pick.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

Pittsburgh has drafted defensive linemen in recent years. I think the trend continues with the pick of Dontari Poe.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

Denver needs to add defensive line depth, and Michael Brockers should be on the board with this pick.

Easy selection if he's still on the board. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)

Houston needs a wide receiving weapon opposite of Andre Johnson. I thought that Alshon Jeffery would be a good selection here, but he has since had the bottom fall out of his draft stock.

Stephen Hill has great size and athleticism. He will be a good fit with the Texans.  

27. New England Patriots (from 13-3 New Orleans): Andre Branch, DE (Clemson)

Andre Branch is severely underrated. He has the potential to play multiple positions and get to the quarterback.

His instincts allow for the defensive end to play on either side of the defense.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chase Minnifield, CB (Virginia)

Chase Minnifield would be an ideal selection for the Packers with this pick.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Mohamed Sanu, WR (Rutgers)

I still believe Baltimore needs help on offense. They could add an offensive lineman or could select a wide receiver.

It might not be the most popular decision, but I like Mohamed Sanu from Rutgers.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler, G (Wisconsin)

San Francisco will be looking to address its offensive line. This may be a reach but I think it could happen.  

31. New England Patriots (13-3):  Derek Wolfe, DL (Wisconsin)

New England should look heavily into taking a player to address the secondary, but adding a defensive lineman would also be ideal.

32. New York Giants (9-7): David Wilson, RB (Virginia Tech)

New York could go in multiple directions here. Maybe they draft another tight end, maybe they draft a lineman.

I think they draft David Wilson of Virginia Tech.