NFL Draft 2012: Andrew Luck and the 9 Smartest Picks This Year

The best formula for building a successful NFL franchise is by being smart in the draft.

Over the weekend, some teams stood out as having successful drafts and successful individual selections.

Of course, nobody will truly know if the picks are successful until five to 10 years down the road.

Obviously, Andrew Luck stood out at the top of the draft, going first overall to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have a franchise quarterback who should be able to lead the organization much like Peyton Manning did for so long.

Finding the quarterback was a huge need for the Colts, but other teams had just as important needs to fill.

Here's a look at the 10 smartest picks from this year's NFL Draft.

10. Matt Kalil

The Minnesota Vikings selected USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the fourth pick in the first round.

The Vikings traded down to the No. 3 pick and picked up an extra three picks. Getting the extra picks was icing on the cake for the Vikings.

Kalil will come in and immediately start for the Vikings on the offensive line.

The Vikings offensive line was near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed last year, and starter Charlie Johnson had a disappointing season.

Many fans were hoping the Vikings would take Morris Claiborne or Justin Blackmon, but the Vikings went the other direction.

It's just as important to nail down the left tackle position and protect their young and fragile quarterback, Christian Ponder.

It wasn't a flashy pick, but it was smart and should pay dividends for the Vikings this season.

9. Orson Charles

Orson Charles fell into the Cincinnati Bengals' lap in the fourth round on Saturday.

Charles lacks great size but makes up for it with his speed and hands. Charles stands at 6'3" and 240 pounds but runs around a 4.6 40-yard dash.

Charles made the Freshman All-American first team and continued to put up solid numbers during his three years at Georgia.

Charles will come in and be another tight end threat for young quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton is coming off an impressive rookie season, and surrounding him with more playmakers will be key for the Bengals.

The Bengals have another good tight end in Jermaine Gresham as well as a future star at wide receiver in A.J. Green.

The Bengals should feel fortunate to get a dynamic tight end that late in the draft. Charles will be an impact player at tight end for the organization.

8. Jerel Worthy

General Manager Ted Thompson went against his normal philosophy of gathering picks and traded up in the 2012 NFL Draft.

One of those picks he traded up was to grab defensive lineman Jerel Worthy out of Michigan State.

Worthy has first-round talent but fell because of his rep for taking off too many plays.

Falling into the second round should serve as extra motivation for Worthy to prove the doubters wrong.

The Packers needed to upgrade their pass-rush, and Worthy will provide that from the defensive end spot in the 3-4 defense.

The Packers got a potential steal in the second round and should have an improved pass-rush in 2012.

7. Jonathan Martin

Jonathan Martin is another prospect who "fell" down in the 2012 NFL draft.

The left tackle from Stanford protected Andrew Luck's blind side and will now protect the revolving quarterback door in Miami.

The Dolphins took Martin in the second round, though many experts saw Martin going somewhere in the first round.

Coming from Stanford, Martin brings a high football IQ as well as quick feet to fend off pass-rushers. Martin also possesses good speed for his size, which allows him to excel in run-blocking downfield.

Jake Long has the left tackle starting position on lock, so Martin will have to adjust to the right side of the line.

However, a smart player like Martin should be able to handle the transition and be a contributor for the Dolphins.

6. Justin Blackmon

Taking wide receivers in the first round is risky as there have been many busts in the past.

However, Justin Blackmon looks like a future successful receiver, which is why the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him fifth overall.

The Jaguars have desperately needed a top receiver for years and have one with Blackmon.

Blackmon doesn't have Calvin Johnson-type size or elite speed, but runs great routes, catches everything thrown at him and doesn't carry extra baggage.

Giving quarterback Blaine Gabbert a primary target should only help him develop as a player. Gabbert struggled mightily in his rookie year and will be feeling pressure to perform like a first-round pick.

Adding Blackmon will help Gabbert and the Jaguars tremendously.

5. Coby Fleener

Coby Fleener will reunite with Andrew Luck as the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round.

Fleener is not as physical as Rob Gronkowski from the New England Patriots but is similar to him in terms of a pass-catching threat.

Fleener's strengths are his good routes, speed at his position and is a tough player who competes for extra yards.

Fleener already has good chemistry with Luck as they were teammates while at Stanford.

Like the Jaguars, the Colts added a weapon to their offense to help out their franchise quarterback.

Fleener going to the Colts in the second round is a smart pick in many different aspects for the Colts.

4. Dont'a Hightower

Dont'a Hightower joins one of the most successful organizations in the NFL in the New England Patriots.

The Patriots have found success with SEC linebackers Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes and now have Hightower in the mix.

Hightower is a natural leader who has good pass-rushing ability. Hightower was the leader of the No. 1-ranked Alabama defense last season and a major reason the Tide won the national championship.

Hightower is also a versatile player, and the Patriots will be able to utilize him in their front seven multiple ways.

The Patriots is another contending team that was looking for an upgrade to their pass-rush.

Hightower will be able to provide some of that, but overall is just a solid, steady football player.

3. Morris Claiborne

The Dallas Cowboys jumped up eight spots to get the No. 6 selection in the draft to take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Many scouts feel that Claiborne is the most solid NFL prospect in the draft, and now the Cowboys have an elite cornerback to help out their poor secondary.

The Cowboys got toasted last year in the secondary and face Michael Vick, Eli Manning and now Robert Griffin III twice a year.

Adding Claiborne with free-agent signing Brandon Carr immediately makes the secondary a strength of the team.

His horrible scoring on the Wonderlic test was well documented, but that is the only red flag surrounding Claiborne who has all the skills to be a shut-down cornerback in the NFL.

Jerry Jones made a bold move to move up in the draft and will look like a brilliant move this season.

2. Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III was the obvious choice at No. 2 in the draft but still should be recognized as a smart pick.

Griffin is a Michael Vick-type prospect with better accuracy. All signs point to Griffin coming into the league and tearing it up.

The Washington Redskins traded high value picks to jump up to the second spot because they feel he's that good.

The Redskins now have a franchise quarterback which they've been lacking. In that division and the NFL in general, you have to have an elite quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Griffin has all the physical tools and the mental makeup to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

The Redskins gave away a lot to get him, but it creates excitement around the organization which has been lacking.

1. Andrew Luck

Once again, it was the obvious selection at No. 1 overall, but the Colts made a great pick with quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Colts are moving on from Peyton Manning with a player who has Manning qualities but better speed.

The Colts are fortunate to be in the situation. After having one of the most consistent quarterbacks ever the last decade, they suffered one bad season and should be set for the next 15 years.

Luck has proven to have the accuracy, arm strength and high football IQ, which all the elite quarterbacks have.

Luck will feel loads of pressure to be a great quarterback, but has a demeanor to handle that pressure.

The Colts have had past success in the draft, and it is no different this year.

The Colts get their quarterback and also the No. 1 spot on this smartest pick list.