2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Top Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidates

The 2012 NFL draft class is loaded with quarterbacks with the skill set and intelligence behind center to be instant impact guys at the next level. 

It also has a myriad of first-round talent at the wide receiver position. 

Don't forget about ultra-talented running backs, either. 

Who are the best Rookie of the Year candidates?

Nick Toon, WR Wisconsin Badgers

Toon is a somewhat overlooked prospect simply because of the immense talent in front of him. 

He has produced for the Badgers the last three years, and he's having a career season with Russell Wilson as his quarterback this fall. 

He has great hands, and his consistency proves that he's a good route runner. 

What intrigues me the most about Toon is his size. 

He's 6'3'' and weighs in at 220 pounds, which will give him a distinct advantage against just about any cornerback at the next level. 

Also, it is likely Toon will slip to the bottom of the first round. 

If a team like the Patriots drafts him, or another team with an established franchise quarterback, he will be in a position to succeed from kickoff weekend. 

Trent Richardson, RB Alabama Crimson Tide

We haven't seen a running back win the Offensive Rookie of the Year since Adrian Peterson in 2007. 

I won't say Richardson is the all-around prospect Peterson was when he entered the league, but the Alabama tailback certainly has been blessed with tremendous speed and has worked extremely hard during his college years to build an Peterson-type body. 

Richardson is a fearsome runner, who welcomes contact but is agile enough to elude tacklers in the open field. 

Just ask this No. 21 of Ole Miss, who missed Richardson twice on this 75-yard TD scamper. 

He's been a reliable receiver at Alabama, too. 

NFL teams have realized they can get quality runners in the later rounds of the draft, but Richardson is an elite prospect that can really do it all and should be a feature back next season on some NFL team. 

Robert Griffin III , QB Baylor

Call me crazy, but after watching a handful of Griffin III's games this season, I have seen a mixture of Cam Newton and Michael Vick. 

The kid is athletic and can seemingly scramble for at least five yards on every play. 

Yet he has chosen to stay in the pocket more this season and is completing nearly 75 percent of his passes. 

Baylor isn't running a dink-or-dunk offense, either. 

Griffin III has thrown 29 touchdowns to only five interceptions. 

After witnessing what Newton has done this season, I don't see why the more accurate Griffin III couldn't do the same next season. 

Andrew Luck, QB Stanford

What is a college football list without Andrew Luck? 

Luck, the probable No. 1 overall pick, has the skills to be an elite quarterback at the next level. 

He's got all the size, arm strength, accuracy, mobility and football IQ any coach would ever want.

What's working against his Rookie of the Year chances is the fact that it's likely he's going to be on a bad team next season.

Sure, Cam Newton has taken the lead in the ROY race this season on the Panthers, but if Luck goes to the Colts, there's a chance he won't even play because of Peyton Manning's possible return.  

Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State Cowboys

Blackmon would have been a Top 20 selection in last year's draft, and he's been padding his stats all season as the Cowboys look to play for a National Championship in January. 

The thing I like about Blackmon is the way he shows up for every game. 

His "worst" game this year came against Tulsa, when he caught seven passes for 57 yards with a touchdown. 

He has four games in which he has caught 11 or more passes and has reached the end zone 14 times. 

At 6'1'', 215 pounds, he's a bigger, more physical Greg Jennings by my estimation. 

Blackmon is as NFL-ready as any receiver could ever be. 

If he goes in the middle of the first round, he'll be his team's No. 1 receiver from the get-go and has a great shot at winning the Rookie of the Year next year. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft

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