2012 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl Projections for Top Impact Players

It is officially 2012 NFL Draft season—a lead you're bound to read numerous times today. 

Oh, how sweet it is. 

The New York Giants triumphed in Super Bowl XLVI, and now, we all (minus the millions of Giants fans) must move on to projecting what our teams will do in April to make their run at the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season.

Let's take a look at the top impact players with an updated, post-Super Bowl mock draft.  

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

The Colts are at the initial stages of their organization reconstruction process, but remember, there Luck is the most polished quarterback prospect to the enter the draft in a decade, give or take a few years. 

We've seen young signal-callers perform well over the last few seasons, and none were as skilled or NFL-ready than the Stanford QB. 

He should make his presence known on the field right away, especially if Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are re-signed. 

2. Washington Redskins (trade with St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

While Luck is the more conventional, traditional, Peyton Manning-type of quarterback prospect. Robert Griffin II is the Michael Vick-Cam Newton new-age-type of quarterback prospect.

He'll need to add a little more weight to his frame, especially because he'll scramble in the NFL, but he's got everything else to be an immediate star on Sundays. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

11. Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Illinois

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro's impact will be instant, but other players will get the praise. He's the best guard prospect in about a decade, and whichever team ultimately drafts him will become better running the football and their quarterback will have more time to throw.

All games are won in the trenches, and there isn't a smarter more technically-sound offensive lineman in this draft than DeCastro.  

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

16. New York Jets: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, Southern California 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright's flat-line speed and elusiveness in the open field will make him a solid contributor immediately, especially if he can go to a team like the Bengals that already has their No. 1 receiver spot solidified.

With the majority of the attention on budding star A.J. Green, Wright will be able to work underneath on quick bubble screens and occasionally work down the field to make huge plays right away.

Regardless of where he goes, he won't be asked to be the go-to guy, but will find his niche as a Welker-esque receiver that comes with the bonus of big-play capabilities. 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford 

25. Denver Broncos: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State 

26. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

28. Green Bay Packers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco 49ers: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31. New England Patriots: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

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