2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Where Robert Griffin III and Top QBs Land

2011 is most certainly the year of the QB, and the 2012 NFL Draft certainly has its fair share of talented prospects.

The two that were in the Heisman Trophy race (Robert Griffin, Andrew Luck) are the most notable. However, there are quite a few to choose from.

That said, here are the landing spots for five of the draft's best QBs.

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Stanford

So the Colts finally got a win behind the golden right arm of Dan Orlovsky. Surely they'll pass on Andrew Luck, right? Um, no.

Luck may have missed out on the Heisman Trophy once again, but that doesn't discount him from being the top prospect. For a second straight season, he threw for over 3,100 yards with some average (at best) receiving targets and had two straight years of 30-plus TDs with less than 10 interceptions.

Regardless of the situation with Peyton Manning, Luck will make the Colts much better no matter what. Whether it's learning from Manning for a year or two or taking control right away, his football IQ will allow him to manage Indy's complex offense rather quickly.

Now, no rookie is going to come in and dominate right away with their offense. However, being that Luck is the expected top prospect and the Colts are slated to get the No. 1 pick, it's a perfect fit.

And if he has to sit under Manning, well, then Indy will hit the ground running quite well whenever Luck would takeover. There's always room for improvement, and with Indy's solid receiving targets, learning from a legend will only help him transition into pro football.

Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, USC

The question right now is whether Matt Moore is the long-term answer in Miami. We at least know this much: Based on how 2011 has played out, he's a better option than Chad Henne.

That being said, USC's Matt Barkley will, at the very least, create competition during training camp. Any way you slice it, the Dolphins will have a solid QB under center when 2012 kicks off. Barkley and Moore will definitely make each other better and if you're Brandon Marshall, get excited.

Add in Reggie Bush's recent surge in becoming a legit rushing threat and the Dolphins are really close to becoming a complete offense. With an already respectable defense, they're simply missing a franchise QB.

In his first two college seasons, Barkley threw for over 2,700 yards each year but only 41 TDs to 26 interceptions. This season, however, he's exploded onto the scene with over 3,500 passing yards to go with 39 TDs and just seven picks.

A significant improvement much like we've seen from Matt Moore will bode well for 2012. As long as it doesn't turn into a heated QB controversy, the Dolphins will be set regardless of who's under center.

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, Baylor

With a solid defense to go with a decent ground game, all the Redskins are really missing is a franchise QB.

Let's face it: Rex Grossman is not the long-term answer, especially because he'll be 32 next season on top of his inconsistency.

Therefore, allow Baylor's Robert Griffin to take center stage in the nation's capital. A big reason why it's a perfect fit is because Griffin didn't have the luxury of a stout ground game and defense to help him in college.

If it weren't for Griffin, Baylor would not be bowl eligible. As a true freshman he tossed for over 2,000 yards, hit 15 TDs and only had three picks. After an injury cut his sophomore campaign short, he picked up right where he left off in 2010.

There, Griffin threw for over 3,500 yards, connected on 22 TDs and only threw eight picks. 2011, however, was even better. This season RG3 tossed 36 TDs to just six interceptions and compiled just under 4,000 yards (will surpass that in bowl game).

For his career, he also has accounted for 32 rushing TDs on 2,202 rushing yards. Griffin may be a dual-threat QB, but he's a pocket-passer first and foremost while dominating without much help.

In Washington, he has a defense that's got his back and ground game to rely on in crunch time.

Baltimore Ravens: Nick Foles, Arizona

After the first three QBs get selected, there's a significant drop off, but still some solid talent available. Arizona's Nick Foles is one guy who can light it up pretty good considering the Wildcats had zero talent around him.

Still, Foles threw for over 4,300 yards, had a 69.1 completion percentage and threw 28 TDs to 14 picks.

Perhaps his most notable games were against USC and Oregon, where he matched Matt Barkley and threw for 425 yards and four TDs (two picks). Against the Ducks, Foles threw for 398 yards with three TDs and no picks against a fast Oregon defense.

Late in the second round, a good fit for Foles is the Baltimore Ravens, who have Tyrod Taylor backing Joe Flacco. Here, Taylor would be more suitable as a slot WR, since he's not a prototypical NFL QB and Foles is a more feasible backup.

Taylor would add depth, talent and quickness to the receiving corps and with Foles backing Flacco, the Ravens are more prepared to maintain as a passing offense. Taylor may have done well in college under center, but let's face it, he's not a pocket-passing NFL QB.

Use his athleticism as a receiver and allow Foles to sit and learn from a great game-managing QB.

Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

Early in the fourth round is where you'll most likely find Michigan State's Kirk Cousins. He's going overlooked because he plays in the Big Ten—a conference more known for running the ball.

Additionally, Cousins isn't a QB who's known for airing it out like Robert Griffin or Matt Barkley. However, he's as effective and efficient as a QB there is in college football.

This season he topped over 3,000 yards, threw 24 TDs to just seven picks and had a 65 percent completion rate. As for the Cleveland Browns, before drafting Cousins, they need a WR who can stretch the field and help out their vehemently weak passing game.

Cousins is a good fit as a mid-round pick because of his maturity. He provides talented depth to the QB position. Along with Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace, Cleveland needs another QB to rely on.

With McCoy now being injury-prone and Seneca Wallace having yet to be a consistent NFL QB, having a third reliable option is needed. We saw that in Cleveland when McCoy was a rookie and we saw it happen in Houston this season.

As for Cousins, he has the arm strength, vision, accuracy and mobility to get the job done. Give him one stud WR (like with BJ Cunningham right now) and he can pick a part any solid pass defense.

Against Wisconsin, who ranks No. 4 in pass defense, Kirk Cousins threw for over 280 yards and three TDs each game.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisconsin)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	18. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. New York Giants: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)	20. Cincinnati Bengals: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	21. Dallas Cowboys: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)
6. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	22. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)
7. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB (USC)	23. Denver Broncos: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
8. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	24. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
9. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	25. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)	26. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)
11. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)	27. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
12. Kansas City Chiefs: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	28. New England Patriots: Cam Johnson, DE (UVA)
13. San Diego Chargers: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)
14. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G (Stanford)	30. New England Patriots (From NO): Jayron Hosley, CB (Virginia Tech)
15. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)	31. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
16. Cincinnati (From OAK): Cordy Glenn, OG (UGA)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

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