2012 NFL Mock Draft: Identifying Top Rookie of the Year Prospects

It looks like Cam Newton has the Rookie of the Year award wrapped up for the 2011 season. 

Or does he?

Andy Dalton is piecing together quite the season himself and his team is 5-2. 

Which prospects from the 2012 draft class are the most likely to garner Rookie of the Year attention next season?

Andrew Luck

Pardon me being relatively short with Luck, but chances are, you've seen/read/heard it all regarding this stud prospect.

We've seen rookie signal callers make a quick transition to the NFL recently, so why wouldn't the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning not be able to amass good numbers next season.

Well, I guess there will be a ridiculous amount of hype surrounding him.

How Luck responds to that will likely determine next year's Rookie of the Year award.

Robert Griffin III

This is the smaller, more accurate version of Cam Newton. It's a scary thought. 

Griffin III has done everything as a junior you'd want in what I like to call a "new-age" quarterback. He can scramble, is incredibly efficient out of the shotgun and is laser-like with his accuracy. Griffin III actually excels as a passer throwing the ball down field. 

He has 26 total touchdowns, has only four interceptions and is completing nearly 76 percent of his passes. 

After we've seen the success Newton has had, Griffin III should be in consideration for the award next season. 

Justin Blackmon 

It's likely that Alshon Jeffery goes ahead of Justin Blackmon in next year's draft, so the Oklahoma State Cowboy should be on a slightly better team. 

Although Jeffery is much bigger, Blackmon has played big in every single game over the last three seasons. 

His worst performance game came against Tulane in a blowout win earlier this season. He caught only seven passes for 57 yards with a score. 

He has the skill set to be a more physical Greg Jennings. That's a terrifying thought for opposing defenses.

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck	17. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram
2. St. Louis Rams: Alshon Jeffery	18. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore
3. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones	19. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn
4. Kansas City Chiefs: Robert Griffin III	20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick
5. Denver Broncos: Trent Richardson	21. New York Giants: Janoris Jenkins
6. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin	22. Washington Redskins: David DeCastro
7. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil	23. Oakland Raiders: Cliff Harris
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon	24. San Diego Chargers: Ronnell Lewis
9. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Barkley	25. Houston Texans: Alameda Ta'Amu
10. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne	26. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Toon
11. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict	27. Buffalo Bills: Donte Paige-Moss
12. Cleveland Browns: Riley Reiff	28. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw
13. New York Jets: Jerel Worthy	29. New England Patriots: Quinton Coples
14. Cleveland Browns: Manti Te'o	30. Detroit Lions: Alphonzo Denard
15. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller	31. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly
16. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd	32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Jenkins