2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Prospects Are Set to Become Instant Starters?

This 2012 NFL mock draft will analyze which players would likely become instant starters if drafted by the right team:

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams passing offense took a huge step back in 2011, and a big part of that decline was the lack of weapons around whoever played quarterback. That needs to change next season. Adding Blackmon, the consensus No. 1 receiver in the 2012 class, would solve that problem. He would make a decent tandem with Brandon Lloyd if they brought him back next season.

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

No tackle in this draft is more ready to start from day one than Kalil. If the Vikings take him at No. 3 overall, he'd almost certainly be slated as Minnesota's starting left tackle to open 2012.  

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

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

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

8.  Carolina Panthers—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina 

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Seattle Seahawks—Brandon Weeden QB, Oklahoma State

12.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

A tackling machine at BC, Kuechly would be drafted by the Eagles to help fix a linebacking corps that routinely let Philadelphia down this season. His combination of instincts, motor and football IQ would likely make him an immediate starter on the Eagles' defense. Think James Laurinaitis but with better tracking to the ball-carrier.    

15.  New York Jets—Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

16.  Oakland Raiders—Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

17.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG Stanford

18.  Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

19.  Dallas Cowboys—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Cowboys have suffered through another poor season from their secondary, and they stand to lose Terence Newman this offseason. Both of those factors make it likely that Dallas will target a cornerback. Owner/GM Jerry Jones would have no problems drafting and then inserting Jenkins, who has somewhat of a checkered past, into the Cowboys' starting lineup in 2012. 

20.  Tennessee Titans—Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

21.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT, Penn State

22.  New York Giants—Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina  

23.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

24.  Houston Texans—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

25.  Cleveland Browns—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

26.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

It's very possible that the final two games of the Lions' 2011 season are going to end by the arm of the opposing quarterback. Green Bay's Matt Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in Week 17, and the Lions travel to New Orleans in the Wild Card to face Drew Brees. If they get shredded again, and even if they don't, expect Detroit to look at adding a polished cornerback like Dennard.  

27.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

29.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin 

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

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB, USC

A central reason for the Packers' decline on defense in 2011 was their complete lack of a pass-rush opposite Clay Matthews. GM Ted Thompson will likely look to rectify that problem in April. Perry, who many think will shoot up board, would be counted on to start immediately at ROLB.