2012 NFL Mock Draft: Surefire Stars That Will Emerge from This Year's Class

Every NFL team walks away from draft weekend thinking it just selected the best players they could. Over the course of the next few seasons, certain franchises found out they swung and missed while others hit it out of the ballpark.

Making the first pick is the most important thing of all. If a first rounder ends up turning into a bust, it casts a negative shadow on the entire haul a team selected. Even so, there will be a handful of players that just don't pan out for whatever reason.

Here's a mock draft of the first round that highlights some future stars in the making.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-13): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts have no choice but to select Luck despite Peyton Manning's progress.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is the perfect pick to help protect Sam Bradford's blind side.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne has done well to make a name for himself while playing in the same secondary as Tyrann Mathieu.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is far and away the most talented wide receiver in next April's potential class. He's got all the skills to become a dominant force from the first snap and should only continue to improve as he refines his game at the next level.

In just the past two seasons with the Cowboys he's hauled in 224 passes for over 3,100 yards and 35 touchdowns. Some of that has to do with the high-powered offense in which he plays, but a lot of it is because he's really in a class by himself and outplays most corners.

The Jaguars are looking for a top target for Blaine Gabbert, who struggled in his first season under center like so many young signal callers do. Blackmon would help stretch the field, giving Gabbert more passing lanes to exploit.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick could still overtake Claiborne as the top CB, but the Buccaneers will be happy with either one.

6. Cleveland Browns (4-11): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson has the potential to become a truly dominant force if Cleveland's line holds up.

7. Miami Dolphins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin will revitalize the South Beach fanbase much like Cam Newton did in Carolina.

8. Washington Redskins (5-10): Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

The Redskins can't afford to go another season without a fresh face at QB.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Kansas City could be a sleeper team next season if Reiff can bolster the offensive line and Jamaal Charles returns at full strength.

10. Carolina Panthers (6-9): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Speaking of sleeper teams, how about the Panthers? Coples would give them another threat on the defensive line to go along with an improving offense.

11. Buffalo Bills (6-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Bills have plenty of holes to fill, but upgrades in the trenches should be the team's top priority.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

If DeSean Jackson is re-signed, this pick probably becomes a linebacker.

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-8): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Penn State's Still is the most disruptive interior line prospect in the class.

14. San Diego Chargers (7-8): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

With most of the focus on Claiborne and Kirkpatrick vying to become the top corner selected, Dennard has flown under the radar so far. He has top-10 talent but based purely on the needs of each team he'll likely slide to the middle of Round 1.

He hasn't made as big of an impact in his senior season with the Cornhuskers because teams spent a lot of time attacking the team's other corners. That shows how much respect opposing coaches have for him, and should help his stock remain steady as the No. 3 corner.

The Chargers simply don't make enough big plays on defense. One key interception or fumble recovery is all it usually takes to shift momentum in a game and San Diego didn't get many of either. Dennard would help change that pretty quickly upon his arrival.

15. Arizona Cardinals (7-8): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram would have an immediate impact coming out of the SEC.

16. Chicago Bears (7-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz would solidify the center position in Chicago for many years to come.

17. Tennessee Titans (8-7): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The best way to describe Burfict is a solid linebacker with a worrisome temper.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller would go a long way in rejuvenating Cincinnati's rushing attack.

19. New York Jets (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Jets need to give their offensive line a boost before next season.

20. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly will end up being one of the most reliable players to come out of this draft.

21. Detroit Lions (10-5): David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

Wilson deserves to go in the first round, but it's no guarantee with RB value on the decline.

22. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

If he can stay out of trouble off the field, Jenkins would be a steal at No. 22.

23. Denver Broncos (8-7): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Broncos could use a run stuffer like Cox to anchor their defensive line.

24. New York Giants (8-7): Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Brown is an intriguing prospect who could make New York's pass rush even more potent.

25. Houston Texans (10-5): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Houston Texans made major strides on defense in 2011. If it weren't for a key injury to Matt Schaub, they would be one of the most dangerous teams heading into the playoffs. Another addition like Barron could help them challenge the 49ers as the NFL's top unit.

Barron possesses a great combination of speed, size and hitting ability that should ensure he has a long NFL career. Safeties are constantly undervalued on draft day while teams focus more on corners and pass rushers, but a versatile player like him would be tough to pass up this deep in the round.

Houston could also opt for a wide receiver at this spot to play opposite of Andre Johnson, but they would have a better chance of hitting on one of those in another round. Barron could become the last piece of their defensive puzzle.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Upgrading the offensive line should be Pittsburgh's focus during the offseason.

27. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 9-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery would instantly become Cleveland's most talented receiver.

28. New England Patriots (via NO 12-3): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Patriots will attempt to stockpile defensive players because if they can't have quality, they may as well have quantity.

29. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower will be a tackling machine at the NFL level, but needs to improve in other areas.

30. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The 49ers are among the league's elite teams even without many playmakers on offense. Wright would make them even more dangerous.

31. New England Patriots (12-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I continue to believe the Patriots will end up trading this pick to stockpile extra ones later on. Sanu is the best available player at this point in the round, so he lands here.

32. Green Bay Packers (14-1): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry hasn't received much national attention even though he played for USC. Given some time to develop, he'll be an impact player.