NFL Draft 2012: Teams That Are One Pick Away from Playoff Contention

There's only one place NFL teams can build for the future, and that's at the NFL draft. The tricky part is that there are two futures teams can build for: the distant future and the near future.

Teams building for the distant future will be looking for cornerstone players that they can build around for years to come. Teams building for the near future are looking for players they can add to a core that's already strong. If they choose wisely, they may go to the playoffs the following year.

Case in point, see the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers.

So which teams will use the 2012 NFL draft as a launching pad to playoff success? Let's take a look.

5. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers ended up drafting one of the best rookies in NFL history when they picked Cam Newton with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. After a slow start, they finished strong by winning four of their final six games.

You have to like where the Panthers are headed, and they're in a position to significantly upgrade their team in the 2012 draft. They will have either the No. 8 or No. 9 overall pick depending on their coin flip with the Miami Dolphins, but either pick will afford them a chance to grab one of the draft's top prospects.

The Panthers have a number of needs to fill, especially on defense. Since all of them are equally problematic, the best thing they can do is pick the best player available.

Whomever they pick will represent a minor fix in the grand scheme of things, but the Panthers don't need much more than that. If Newton can play as well in his sophomore season as he did in his rookie season, this Panthers team could threaten the 10-win mark.

In the NFC South, that could be good enough. The New Orleans Saints will own the division, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are awful and the Atlanta Falcons are beatable. It won't be hard for the Panthers to catch up to the pack.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Not many people noticed, but the Cardinals finished the 2011 regular season on an absolute tear. A much-improved defense allowed them to keep games close, and that allowed them to win seven of their last nine games.

In the 2012 draft, the Cardinals will be drafting No. 13 overall. That's a good spot for them to grab a much-needed offensive lineman or a pass-rushing linebacker who could help take some pressure off their underrated secondary.

The Cardinals could also draft a wide receiver who could take some pressure off Larry Fitzgerald.

Whichever route the Cardinals pursue, they should be good enough to at least finish .500 in 2012. If they can avoid any slumps, they're another team that will challenge the 10-win mark.

This could be good enough to win the NFC West. The San Francisco 49ers ran away with it in 2011, but they should be considered a serious regression candidate. They're going to need to fix their offense. Even if they do, teams will be gunning for them.

3. Washington Redskins

All the Redskins need is a quarterback. Everything else is already in place.

Getting a quarterback in the draft won't be easy. Robert Griffin III is the ideal pick, but he may be out of reach at the No. 6 pick. The Redskins may have to trade up, or stand pat and hope they get lucky.

If the Redskins get Robert Griffin III, their offense will be as strong as their defense, which made huge strides in 2011. Conceivably, this will mean the Redskins will be able to win some of the close games they lost throughout the course of the 2011 regular season.

Expecting the Redskins to challenge the 10-win mark would be a bit much, but a 9-7 record would be reasonable.

In the NFC East, that could be good enough. The division as a whole was wildly mediocre in 2011, and it could be up for grabs again in 2012 if the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants struggle again.

2. New York Jets

The Jets have a number of issues they need to address this offseason, and relatively few of them will be addressed in the draft. They have coaching issues to take care of, and they also need to determine which veterans they want to keep and which ones they want to jettison.

But contrary to popular belief, the Jets are not categorically doomed as far as the 2012 season is concerned. The team they had this year fell just short of the playoffs, and most of their key players will be returning in 2012.

All the Jets need to do is patch up a couple weak spots, and that process will start with the No. 16 overall pick. That would be a prime place to grab a pass-rushing linebacker, a running back or even a wide receiver if they end up dumping Santonio Holmes.

Whomever the Jets go for, rest assured they will be back in 2012, and the rest of the AFC East is weak enough for them to continue to compete.

1. Tennessee Titans

The Titans just barely missed out on the playoffs in 2011. They finished with a 9-7 record and were denied a playoff berth because of tiebreakers.

In 2012, look for the Titans to make some major noise in the AFC South. They will likely make Jake Locker their starting quarterback, and they should benefit from having Chris Johnson in training camp. To boot, Kenny Britt will be back healthy.

In the draft, the Titans could look to shore up the interior of their offensive line. If they'd rather draft defense, they could complete their young linebacking corps or draft a cornerback. The best idea could be to take the best player available.

Regardless, the Titans will be able to compete with the Houston Texans in the AFC South. Even if they don't win the division, they could easily compete for a wild-card berth again.

A lot of teams in the AFC are getting worse, but the Titans are getting better.