2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting 1st-Round Studs and Sleepers

When the NFL draft kicks off on April 26, 2012, we're going to see a full spectrum of players taken in the first round. Some studs will fall lower than we expect, and we're bound to witness a few sleepers make their way into the main event.

Every NFL team evaluates talent in a unique way according to their schemes and preferences. Some teams may have a particular player graded as a high-first round pick, while others may not even see the same player worth a first-round grade at all.

Here are this year's studs and sleepers for the first round of action.

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

Luck is a stud. He is going to succeed in the NFL, come hell or high water. He has the smarts and the physical tools to make the most of any situation, and his experience in Stanford's pro-style system will pay dividends during his rookie campaign.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

Another stud, RGIII has more speed than Michael Vick, a stronger arm than Peyton Manning and the confidence and swagger of Cam Newton. He should have an excellent career, provided he and the Shanahans get along.

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

The Vikings will take care of their need for quarterback protection by taking the best offensive tackle off the board. They could just as easily take Morris Claiborne, but in the end they'll consider the safety of their franchise quarterback as a greater priority.

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

Richardson may be the biggest stud on offense in the entire draft.

He is built like a tank—5'11" and 227 pounds—and runs faster than most linebackers and safeties. He ran the 40-yard dash between 4.45-4.49 seconds at his pro day, per ESPN, which was faster than scouts were expecting.

Richardson also proved he is as strong as an ox, raising the 225-pound bar 25 times and destroying a scout in one of the blocking drills (YouTube video here).

He is the complete package. He can run between the tackles, bounce it outside, pass-block like a champ, catch balls out of the backfield and is a threat to take it to the house on any given play.

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

Claiborne may be the best cornerback prospect to come out of the college ranks since Darrelle Revis. The Bucs won't hesitate to pull the trigger on this one. 

6. St. Louis Rams: Fletcher Cox, DT (Mississippi State)

Cox is one of the biggest sleepers in the draft, and that's saying something considering the Rams are foaming at the mouth to snag him (h/t NFL.com).

They aren't the only team interested, either.

Per ESPN, the Eagles are also reportedly interested in him should Cox fall to them in the middle of the first round. He won't be there when they pick, though, and the Eagles will have to trade up if they want to land him.

Leading up to the combine and going into April, Cox was considered to be a late-first-round pick by most "experts." Then, he suddenly started vaulting up the board, and he's now a surefire lock to be selected in the Top 10.

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

The Jaguars have multiple needs, but they missed out on the chance to land Mario Williams in free agency and won't be able to resist the urge to land this year's premier pass-rushing defensive end.

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

Let me be clear: I hate this pick. Nevertheless, per Peter King of SI.com, Stephen Ross is reportedly dead-set on drafting Tannehill here, so I expect the Dolphins to pull the trigger.

9. Carolina Panthers: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

The Panthers could go in a number of directions here, but they will be content with themselves by taking the best player left on the board at a position of need—not to mention the fact that they play in the NFC South, home of Drew Brees, Josh Freeman and Cam Newton. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)

The Bills need another receiver to stretch the field for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Floyd showed he's capable of doing just that by posting excellent 40-yard dash times at the scouting combine, and he's the best fit for the Bills.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

The Chiefs will further bolster their offensive line by adding one of this year's safest and best players.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Dont'a Hightower, MLB (Alabama)

One of the biggest sleepers of the draft, Hightower will be a better middle linebacker at the next level than Luke Kuechly.

Hightower is an instinctive player who is going to make plenty of plays behind the line of scrimmage—unlike Kuechly, who makes most of his tackles well beyond the line.

The Alabama product is a three-down backer who can play the run as well as the pass. Just don't ask him to go one-on-one against the quicker backs and tight ends of the NFL.

Hightower will excel with the Seahawks, who have a stout front line.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

Blackmon will give the Cards what they've been missing since Anquan Boldin left a few years ago. He is a physical, strong receiver who'll fight for every ball and give Larry Fitzgerald some breathing room on the other side of the field.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

The Cowboys need help to tighten things up in their secondary. Barron's abilities to play in the box and in space up top make him a perfect fit for Rob Ryan's multiple-look defensive scheme.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)

The Eagles want Fletcher Cox, but he's long gone by this point.

Poe is a bit of a project and is one of the rawest talents in the draft. That being said, he has the potential to be a dominant force in the middle—something the Eagles desperately need.

16. New York Jets: Shea McClellin, OLB (Boise State)

The Jets are hot to trot for Melvin Ingram, but they won't even get a whiff of him at this point in the draft. 

McClellin is another sleeper pick who is ready to explode onto the NFL scene in 2012.

He is faster than most people realize, posting a 4.66-second 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine (h/t ProFootballWeekly.com). Not only will he give the Jets a much-needed boost in the pass-rushing department but McClellin is also a strong run defender who will hold the edge to make sure runners are forced back to the middle of the field on stretch plays to his side.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Luke Kuechly, MLB (Boston College)

The Bengals have the type of front four that will help Kuechly thrive in the NFL. As long as they keep him unblocked, he'll make plenty of plays.

18. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

The Chargers are thrilled to see Reiff fall to them in the middle of the first. He will likely start on the right side from the first day of training camp.

19. Chicago Bears: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)

The Bears could draft an offensive lineman here, but Wright will be too tempting to pass up. He will be an instant upgrade over every other receiver on the roster besides Brandon Marshall.

20. Tennessee Titans: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)

The Titans felt the loss of Jason Babin last year and need a big-time pass-rusher to drive their defense. 

Coples is a stud. He reminds me of a mix between Aldon Smith and Jason Pierre-Paul. Not only can he get around the corner but Coples can also swim to the inside, bull rush and spin with the best of them. 

He will make an instant impact on the Titans' defensive front, and I expect him to eclipse double-digit sack totals in his rookie campaign.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin, RB (Boise State)

The Bengals signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis via free agency from the Patriots, but they still need another back. Martin is a complete running back, and he could step in right away to start if they needed him to do so.

22. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)

After taking Richardson at the top of the draft, the Browns will continue building their offense by drafting one of the most underrated players in this class.

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

The Lions need more talent in their secondary to defend the Packers' elite wide receiving corps. Kirkpatrick is a physical player who fits in nicely with the Lions' scheme.

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

Ben Roethlisberger needs better protection. Glenn is going to be an excellent player, and I can see him ultimately becoming the best guard in this year's draft class if he truly dedicates himself to the craft.

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

Jon Fox loves pass-rushing defensive tackles. Brockers is raw, but his ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage on running plays and passing plays makes him a perfect fit.

26. Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus, OLB (Illinois)

After losing Mario Williams via free agency, the Texans are looking for another pass-rusher. Mercilus tore it up last year in the college ranks, and under the tutelage of Wade Phillips, he'll do the same in the NFL.

27. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE (Alabama)

The Patriots love diverse defenders, and Upshaw can play as a defensive end in 4-3 schemes and as an outside linebacker in a 3-4.

Heck, he can also handle middle linebacker duties should the need ever arise—as long as you don't ask him to drop back in coverage.

28. Green Bay Packers: Vinny Curry, OLB (Marshall)

The Packers will struggle on defense as long as Clay Matthews is the only guy on the field who can rush the passer. Curry is a sack artist, and his addition will give the team the spark they need.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Matt Birk won't be around much longer, and the Ravens have the luxury of taking a player who won't even start this year.

Konz could play some guard if needed, though, and he is the best center in the draft.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, OG (Wisconsin)

Two Wisconsin offensive linemen in a row—that should tell you all you need to know about the program's propensity to pump out NFL starters.

Zeitler is a sleeper whom some people are expecting to fall into the bottom half of the second round.

That isn't going to happen, though. He's way too good to fall that far.

The 49ers have a need at right guard, and Zeitler's affinity for run-blocking makes him a perfect fit. He will start from the first day of training camp, and his addition to the team's line gives them one of the NFL's premier groups.

31. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith, S (Notre Dame)

The Pats have played some games with nothing but paper-mache out there in their secondary. Smith is a top-flight talent, and his arrival significantly boosts the secondary's overall talent pool.

32. New York Giants: Chandler Jones, DE (Syracuse)

The Giants love to stockpile defensive ends. Jones is extremely raw, but he won't have to start right away, making New York a perfect landing spot for the talented pass-rusher.

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