2012 NFL Draft: Ranking the Drafts Biggest Game Breakers

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

Luck is the top player available in this draft. Even with Petyon Manning under contract, the Colts need to take Luck.

The biggest drawback is that he doesn't have the strongest of arms. Neither does Drew Brees, neither did Joe Montana. One is in the Hall of Fame, the other will be five years after he retires. 

Luck has the intelligence you want from a quarterback, and is deadly accurate. He'll step in and be an impact player immediately.

Grade: A

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

The Rams will not go anywhere until they find a way to keep Sam Bradford upright. Kalil is the man for that job. 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

With Adrian Peterson's injury looking serious, it makes sense that they would consider Trent Richardson, but that's not logical. The Vikings will go nowhere until they get another receiver to compliment Percy Harvin. 

Blackmon is that guy. He's got good size, speed and hands. He'll be an instant big play threat in the NFL. He and Christian Ponder would be a nice duo.

Grade: A-

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

If the Vikings go with Richardson, then Cleveland needs to take Blackmon. But no other receivers are worth taking here, and the Browns need a good back to put everyone else in place. Richardson is that man. 

His combination of size and speed hasn't been seen in a long time. Early in his career, he'll be a good outside runner, but will also have the power to run inside as his speed diminishes.

Grade: A-

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Jaguars need a lot of help. But they are one step away from scouting Jacksonville area high schools to play defensive back. The rest of their needs can be filled in later rounds, this pick has to be a DB.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Buccaneers' defense has looked old this year. That needs to change, and Claiborne is the most fundamentally sound defensive back in the draft. 

7. Washington Redskins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The human highlight reel. He has receiver's speed with a quarterback's arm. The Redskins need a quarterback to compete in the NFL, and Griffin is that guy. With Matt Barkley staying at USC, this is an obvious pick. 

In a division that has many strong pass rushers, a mobile quarterback is essential. Griffin will work well in Washington.

Grade: A-

8. Miami Dolphins (5-10): Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

The last Mock Draft I did had him going No. 25. Then, Matt Barkley stayed at USC. Jones will be reached for, but he won't be a good starter immediately. They'll need time to groom him. 

9. Carolina Panthers (6-9): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

A good man in the middle is what Carolina needs to begin to heal their run defense. Burfict is that man.

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

Give Ryan Fitzpatrick some time, and that contract he signed won't look so bad. Martin helped Andrew Luck to a stellar career. 

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

Whatever the Chiefs decide to do at quarterback, they will need someone to protect him. Reiff is will be the best man available.

12. Arizona Cardinals (7-8): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Opposite Patrick Peterson, this CB tandem would be a nightmare for NFC West quarterbacks.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

He'll thrive in the combines, which will do nothing but help his draft status. The Eagles need a face lift at receiver. It wouldn't surprise me to see them move up for a guy like Burfict. But if not, Jeffery is a logical choice.

Grade: B-

14. Seattle Seahawks (7-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

A little line help will not hurt the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch has to do too much on his own, and Tarvaris Jackson needs more time to throw. DeCastro is a nice option to help fill those voids.

15. San Diego Chargers (7-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Philip Rivers has had a terrible season, but he's been given almost no time all year. Give him a nice lineman to help keep the defense out of his face and Rivers' numbers will improve.

16. Chicago Bears (7-8): Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Brown's overall ability will play well in Chicago. The Packers and Lions aren't going anywhere for a while. Strong defense in Chicago will be a must.

17. Tennessee Titans (8-7): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd is a big play maker. He doesn't have breakaway speed, but he's big enough to where that doesn't matter. He's a good possession type receiver, capable of making a big play. 

The Titans' offense needs more versatility, and Floyd will help with that. Without it, they will continue to hand around .500, but not make any big moves upward.

Grade: B-

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

This is a reach, but the Cowboys need to defend the pass a little better. Okay, a lot better. Their secondary is a joke, and they don't have the corners to compete in the NFC East. 

That division will not be as bad in the future as it was this year. They will need better than 9-7 to win. That won't happen without a better secondary.

19. New York Jets (8-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller has been a good back in Miami, and will be in a good system in New York. They are a team that's lacked the ability to run this year, instead depending too much on Mark Sanchez. 

That needs to change. Miller is a good player to make that change.

Grade: B+

20. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK) (8-7): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

I would strongly suggest that the Bengals move up in the draft for one of the top receivers. But as things stand now, this is the best player for the team. 

Sanu is a good receiver to compliment the dynamic A.J. Green. That duo, along with Jerome Simpson, would make the Bengals a tough offense to prepare for.

21. New York Giants (8-7): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is a quality defender against both the run and pass. The Giants need help in both areas.

22. Denver Broncos (8-7): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

A big man in the middle to plug the run while Denver's speed rushers get to the quarterback will make this defense tough to prepare for.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

This is the kind of player that the Bengals have little to lose on. They're okay defensively if he busts, but stellar on defense if he thrives.

24. Cleveland Browns (via ATL) (9-6): Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

If they don't get Blackmon, this will be Kendall Wright. But here, look for them to go after a quarterback to pressure Colt McCoy. McCoy certainly hasn't done enough this season for the Browns to not consider a QB.

Grade: C+

25. Detroit Lions (9-6): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Lions need to find a way to defend the run. Kuechly is the man to step in and make that impact immediately. 

26. Houston Texans (10-5): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Texans actually don't need a lot of help. But a big man in the middle will only make their defense better. Their offense will be much improved when healthy in 2012.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Courtney Upshaw, DE Alabama

Upshaw will step in and breathe life into an old but good defense. He can be groomed, and will be a big impact guy for a long time. 

28. New England Patriots (via NO) (12-3): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Patriots do need some help in the secondary, but a lot of that will come with a better pass rush. Enter Coples, who has the raw skill to terrorize quarterbacks.

29. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Kendall Wright and Torrey Smith on the outside, the Ravens would be frightening. They already run well and are impossible to score against. 

The addition of a receiver like Smith will make this team a monster in the AFC. They would have an offense to compliment their perennially stellar defense.

Grade: B+

30. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

A team that runs as often as the 49ers will need a guy to dominate the middle. That's Konz in a big way. 

31. New England Patriots (12-3): Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Crick has been hurt for most of the year, but these are the kind of risks that make Bill Belichick a Hall of Fame coach. He'll make the defense instantly better.

32. Green Bay Packers (14-1): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Packers don't need a lot of help, but they need to be better on defense. Ingram will make their pass rush instantly better.

Follow @mdixon1985