2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Potential Offensive Rookie of the Year Winners

This year's NFL draft class has its fair share of future stars, but winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award takes more than simply having a lot of talent. The situation a player gets drafted into plays just as important of a role as anything else.

Here's a complete mock draft of the opening round featuring prospects that will be strong contenders for the honor at season's end. It should be a terrific race based on how many plays have the potential to make an immediate impact.

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

It's crazy that the Colts have the chance to draft two of the best quarterback prospects of the past 15 years, while other teams can't find a reliable starter. Luck's weak supporting cast won't allow him to win ROY, though.

2. Washington Redskins (via STL 2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Rex Grossman and John Beck clearly weren't getting the job done, which forced the Redskins front office to trade a bunch of draft picks for the chance to land Griffin. If his Heisman-winning season is any indication, he'll make them proud.

He walks into an offense with three reliable receivers, including Pierre Garcon, who the team brought in from the Indianapolis Colts to provide some support for Santana Moss. Along with a good young running back in Roy Helu, Washington's offense should be in good shape.

And when you're talking about Rookie of the Year, stats reign supreme. The Redskins will likely open up the offense right away, just like the Panthers did last season with Cam Newton, so Griffin can get his rookie mistakes out of the way early. That will allow him to put up big numbers.

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

Kalil's impact on the Vikings offense will likely warrant consideration for the award, but it's extremely difficult for an offensive lineman to win it because the voters love stats.

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

The Browns' offensive depth chart isn't a pretty sight. Most of the players currently listed as starters are much better served as backups, so the team must focus on adding playmakers in the draft. There's no better place to start than Richardson.

He has all the talent in the world and should continue to improve as he gains valuable experience at the next level. And since he sat behind other talented RBs at Alabama before him, he doesn't have as much mileage on his legs as other players at the position.

Since he'll instantly become the most explosive player on Cleveland's offense, he should receive a boatload of carries right away and put himself well on his the toward the ROY.

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

Claiborne has asserted himself as the top defender in the class and can also make his presence felt on special teams. He's one of the safest picks in the entire draft.

6. St. Louis Rams (via WAS 5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams don't have a receiver worthy of being Sam Braford's top target, so that should be there main focus heading into the draft. Luckily, Blackmon is still on the board.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Even though Coples has gained the reputation of a player who takes plays off, the Jaguars can't ignore his awesome upside. He should be a force for years to come.

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

Drafting Tannehill this high presents plenty of risk because of his limited experience and late rise, but the Dolphins have been searching for a new quarterback all offseason and can't come away empty.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Panthers still have a couple holes to fill before they become a formidable force with Cam Newton leading the way. Cox should provide a nice boost to the defensive line.

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

Buffalo's offense faded quickly after a hot start last season. Adding an anchor like Reiff at left tackle should ensure Ryan Fitzpatrick bounces back from a rocky finish.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

It's no surprise the first couple rounds will be riddled with defensive players from LSU and Alabama. Brockers needs some time to develop, but he should be a star before long.

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw has watched his stock take a hit over the past month or so. His versatility would still make him a good fit for the Seahawks, who struggled to put consistent pressure on QBs last season.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Cardinals were hoping either Andre Roberts or Early Doucet would provide Larry Fitzgerald with enough support to stop defenses from double or triple teaming him all the time, but they couldn't get the job done.

Floyd should surpass those guys on the depth chart immediately. He had a solid career at Notre Dame despite subpar quarterbacking for most his time with the Fighting Irish. So, having to work with Kevin Kolb shouldn't be an issue.

Defensive coordinators won't give him much respect until he earns it. Since they will continue to focus on Fitzgerald, it should open up plenty of space for Floyd to work his magic and jump into the ROY race.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

After fading down the stretch last season to fall short of the playoffs, the Cowboys need to add some toughness to the roster. No prospect personifies that better than Kirkpatrick.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Tackling by linebackers seems like the simplest task in football, but the Eagles have problems with it last season. Kuechly will make sure it becomes an issue of the past.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

Ingram has everything Rex Ryan loves in his defensive players. He can move around the defense, attack the quarterback and has some charisma to top it all off.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Bengals made nice strides last season by earning a playoff berth. They still need to bulk up along both lines, however, and that's where DeCastro comes into play.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois

Sometimes a team gets so desperate to fill a particular need that it's willing to reach to fix the problem. That's the case for the Chargers and the outside linebacker spot.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

What direction the Bears plan to go in with this pick remains unknown, and it will likely depend on the chaos that ensues in front of them. Based on the remaining players, Konz makes the most sense.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Nobody knows exactly how long it will take Poe to adapt to the NFL game after facing inferior competition at Memphis, but he's got all the physical tools a team could want in a defensive tackle.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

While the Bengals might opt to take a running back at this spot to replace Cedric Benson, they would be far better off adding Still to the defensive line and taking a running back later.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Even tough Colt McCoy doesn't look like the answer at quarterback, the Browns shouldn't pass final judgment until they give him some weapons like Hill to work with.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

There are two offensive tackles worth taking here, and that's the biggest need for the Lions right now. Martin helped protect Andrew Luck, so he should do just fine with Matthew Stafford.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia

The Steelers also need a tackle to help solidify their line, and Glenn's the last one of the board that makes sense in Round 1. He had an underrated career at Georgia.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Denver's offense will likely undergo some growing pains while Peyton Manning gets back up to full speed, so the team's defense needs to pick up the slack.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson and Wright have the potential to become a nightmare combination for opposing defensive coordinators. Not to mention make Matt Schaub a happy quarterback.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins will develop into a steal for whatever franchise is willing to give him a chance to prove that his past problems are behind him. No team makes more savvy moves than the Patriots.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Adding a red flag to your résumé right before the draft isn't a smart move. That said, Dennard has enough talent to still warrant getting selected in Round 1.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Hightower will benefit greatly from playing behind Ray Lewis for a season or two before getting a spot in the starting lineup. He can move around on defense and will wreak some havoc.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore has the playmaking skills that San Francisco lacks in the secondary. He still has other areas where he needs to improve before becoming a complete corner, but at this point, he's worth taking.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The Patriots would be ecstatic if Barron was available at this point. It's actually a good representation of his actual value, so it's a matter of whether or not other teams will reach for him.

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

Taking the best player available is usually the route that the Giants chose to go on draft day. Fleener would fit the bill here, and he also fills one of the team's few holes.