2012 NFL Mock Draft: Stock Watch for Every Top QB Heading into Bowl Season

Now that the regular season is over and we're headed for the bowl portion of the college football schedule, many scouts have started to pour back over this past year and re-evaluate the 2012 NFL draft's top prospects.

First among those evaluations will be the quarterbacks, of which there are four guys who are almost locks to go in the first round. 

Here is a look at where each of those four young signal-callers sit heading into the bowl season.

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Not much to report here, as Luck has been a lock to be the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft ever since he announced his intention to return to school for his redshirt junior year. 

This season Luck completed 261-of-373 passes (70 percent) for 3,170 yards, with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He led Stanford to an 11-1 record and a No. 4 ranking in the BCS. The signal-caller and the Cardinal will face No. 3 Oklahoma State on January 2 at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in what should be a fantastic matchup.

It would be the biggest upset in sports history if Luck is not the first player selected during April's draft. 

Stock: Steady but sky-high

Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Once thought of as a lock to be the second quarterback taken in this draft, Jones has seen his stock slip over the second half of this season.

He has the measureables of a franchise quarterback (6'4" and 229 pounds) and doesn't lack arm strength, but the Oklahoma signal-caller struggled mightily with his accuracy down the stretch. He also hasn't made the best decisions with the ball and finished the season without a touchdown pass in his last three games. 

Still, his numbers for the season were decent, as he completed 339-of-537 passes (63.1 percent) for 4,302 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Those stats are down from last year across the board, but he also lost his top receiver (Ryan Broyles) to a knee injury late in the year.

A good showing against Iowa in the Insight Bowl on December 30 could help right the ship for Jones, and he is sure to do well during the combine and pro-day portion of the draft process. Some big performances could be enough to vault him back into the top 10 of this draft.

Stock: Dropping rapidly

Matt Barkley, USC

No one finished the college football season playing better than Matt Barkley. The USC quarterback led the Trojans to a 10-2 record, and if not for a bowl ban, it's hard to believe that the Trojans wouldn't be representing the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl on January 1.

Barkley answered a ton of questions about himself this season, and if he comes out the 21-year-old is likely to be the second quarterback selected. His intangibles are off the charts and his leadership is one of the main reasons an incredibly young USC team was able to fight through this season and play so well.

On the year, Barkley completed 308-of-446 passes (69.1 percent) for 3,528 yards, with a Pac-12 single-season record of 39 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. 

He has played in a pro-style system and started for three years in it. He won't last long on draft day if he does come out.

Stock: Steadily rising

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Baylor's junior quarterback came out of nowhere to win the 2011 Heisman Trophy and, boy, did he earn it. The 6'1" and 220-pound Griffin put up monster numbers this season and led the Bears to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Alamo Bowl on December 29.

Griffin completed 267-of-369 passes (72.4 percent) this season for 3,998 yards, with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also rushed 161 times for 644 yards and nine more scores.

While he still has some questions to answer about his delivery and arm strength, scouts are drooling over his raw athleticism. He's a smart kid who should excel in interviews and has shown great leadership during his time at Baylor.

He'll wow everyone at the combine if he participates, and that should only raise his stock higher.

Stock: Soaring

Full 2012 NFL Mock Draft

2012 NFL Mock Draft

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