2012 NFL Mock Draft: Where Do Top Playmakers Land?

While the 2012 NFL draft is rich with offensive and defensive linemen, those guys aren't as fun to watch as the stars who make plays.

As we now get closer to the final day for players to declare themselves eligible for the draft, here is a look at this year's top playmakers and where they are likely to land. 

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Blackmon may be this draft's best pure playmaker, and unlike some guys who make big plays, he also has produced on a game-to-game basis as well.

This season, with opposing defenses completely game planning to stop him, Blackmon finished the year with 113 catches for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns. That follows a 2010 season when he grabbed 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns. Those are two incredible seasons.

Blackmon measures 6'1" and 211 pounds and he is a physical specimen who plays much bigger than his size. He has phenomenal hands, great ball skills and controls his body as well as anyone. He is also explosive in the open field and breaks tackles with regularity.

He is almost certain to be the first wideout off the board and with a bunch of receiver-needy teams near the top of the draft, he could go in the top five.

Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

Jeffery had a down year in 2011 thanks to a bunch of upheaval at quarterback for the Gamecocks, not to mention today's ejection from the Capital One Bowl for getting in a fight, but he's still as dangerous a receiver as there is in college football.

He finished this season with 45 catches for 614 yards and seven touchdowns. His 2010 numbers are far more indicative of what he is capable of, as he hauled in 88 catches for 1,517 yards and nine scores.

While he doesn't have elite speed, Jeffery is 6'4" and 233 pounds and really is a tough matchup for any secondary. He easily has the best hands of any player in the 2012 draft, and while he isn't super fast, he does possess excellent burst off the line and in and out of breaks. 

Even if he can't really separate from coverage, his ability to go up and get the ball should mean he can be a deep threat in the NFL. He's also really fun to watch.

Again, there are a bunch of teams with young quarterbacks who desperately need receivers. I wouldn't be surprised if Jeffery goes in the top 10.

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

Now that we know Griffin III will be leaving Baylor for the NFL, the 2012 NFL draft just got another big-time playmaker. 

Griffin had a huge year for the Bears, winning the Heisman Trophy and posting incredible numbers. The 21-year-old completed 291 of 402 passes (72.4 percent) for 4,293 yards, with 37 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also run for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns on 179 carries. 

With Matt Barkley deciding to return to USC, Griffin has now become the second-best quarterback on the board. He is an incredible athlete with the ability to make plays outside the pocket or simply extend them long enough to find a receiver.

Right now teams without a chance at Andrew Luck are likely considering Griffin to be their quarterback of the future. He is almost sure to be off the board in the top 10.

Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Richardson has been listed among the draft's best prospects since before the season even started. At 5'11" and 224 pounds, he has prototypical size for an NFL running back and is also incredible in the open field.

While he's not a guy who just runs away from defenders, he is fast, but his ability to break tackles is really something to see. Richardson just shrugs off tacklers with such ease that it is almost comical. He is powerful and has outstanding vision that has continued to improve.

This year Richardson carried the ball 263 times for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns.

While the draft order isn't set as I write this, I don't see Richardson lasting past the Cleveland Browns in the top 10. He would be a perfect fit for the team.

Full 2012 Mock Draft

2012 NFL Mock Draft

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