2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Top Offensive Playmakers

Vincent FrankJun 7, 2018

The 2012 NFL Draft promises to feature a tremendous amount of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. You have two franchise quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Additionally, the running back position seems to be stacked more so than any draft in recent memory.

While there are some question marks in regards to the wide receiver position, there is a lot of talent, albeit raw.

Today, I plan to take a look at the top 20 playmakers from the 2012 NFL Draft. I will also provide a projection as to where each player is going and give you a final slide with a full first-round mock draft.

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

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First overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts

Accuracy: Andrew Luck is extremely accurate on intermediate routes. He continually puts the ball in the receiver's hands so that they are in position to make a play after the catch. The future No. 1 overall pick also has the ability to put a nice touch on downfield passes.

Pocket awareness: More so than any quarterback in recent memory, Andrew Luck understands how to play in the pocket. He steps up when facing pressure on the outside and gets rid of the ball quick.

Field Awareness: Stanford ran a pro-style offense during Luck's career at "The Farm." This means that he didn't just look at one read a majority of the time. Instead, Luck went through NFL-level progressions on nearly every play.

Athleticism: One of the most underrated aspects of Luck's game is the fact that he is surprisingly athletic. This is a quarterback that can beat you with his legs once the pocket collapses.

2. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

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Projected to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fifth overall pick.

Trent Richardson is one of the best running back prospects that I have ever seen. He has the ability to break it the distance on every play, recognizes when to burst to the outside, has tremendous field vision and is extremely hard to bring down.

Look for Richardson to be a perennial 1,500-yard rusher in the NFL. He is probably the most complete back since Adrian Peterson came out in 2007.

3. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

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Projected to go to the Washington Redskins with the sixth overall pick.

If it wasn't for Andrew Luck entering the 2012 NFL Draft, Robert Griffin III would be the unquestioned top prospect in the draft.

He has the ability to dominate the game with his physical ability alone. However, what makes Robert Griffin III a true stud is his level of intelligence on the football field. This is a quarterback that can make every throw on the field, but also understands the nuances of the position.

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4. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

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Projected to go to the Cleveland Browns with the fourth overall pick.

Justin Blackmon might struggle to get off the line against bump/run coverage, but once he does, the former Oklahoma State star can make defenses pay for playing to close to the vest.

He is elite in space, runs crisp routes and fully understands exactly when to sit down in front of over-the-top coverage.

He will be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

5. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

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Projected to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the seventh overall pick.

I must be much higher on Michael Floyd than other pundits, but I really do believe that he is going to be one amazing player at the next level. While not having elite speed, Floyd has good "on-field speed," runs extremely good routes and uses his frame to fend off opposing defenders.

One thing that a lot of teams are missing in the NFL is a true red-zone threat on the outside. Michael Floyd will bring this at the next level.

6. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

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Projected to be selected by the Chicago Bears with the 19th overall pick.

Size, strength and speed are three things that best characterize the physical attribute of an elite wide receiver. Alshon Jeffery has all three of these.

It isn't just this. The former South Carolina receiver has soft hands, gains separation on the outside and is really dynamic bringing the ball down.

7. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (F)

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Projected to be selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th overall pick.

You can fully expect to see Lamar Miller be a star running back in the NFL. He has all the physical characteristics that you want in a running back at this level.

Miller has tremendous field vision, can get to his second gear extremely quickly and has a pronounced ability to shift on a dime, leaving opposing defenders in the dust.

8. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

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Projected to be selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 20th overall pick.

While some might say that Kendall Wright is a product of playing with Robert Griffin III, he is probably one of my favorite players in the entire draft.

The former Baylor standout doesn't necessarily have the size to dominate against larger defensive backs. However, he has the speed and hands to be elite. I really love the way he plays the game and he should shoot up the draft board as April approaches.

9. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

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Projected to be selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round.

I am still going to go with Dwayne Allen as the best tight end in the draft despite Orson Charles (Georgia) recently declaring.

Allen reminds me a great deal of Vernon Davis. He is an athletic freak up the seam and can cause tremendous matchup problems against linebackers and safeties downfield.

10. Chris Polk, RB, Washington

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Projected to be selected by the New York Jets with the 16th overall pick.

Another one of my favorites, Chris Polk had a stellar all-around career at Washington. He doesn't seem to have a real weakness at this point. Rather, No. 1 is strong when it comes to nearly every aspect.

He blocks well, has great hands out of the backfield and won't be brought down after initial contact.

11. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

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Projected to be selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round.

At this point, David Wilson is more of a runner than a running back. Another season at Virginia Tech really would have done him well. However, we all know that a running back's shelf life is small, so it is vital to get the most out of your ability.

There are a lot of things that Wilson needs to fix in order to be a good running back in the NFL. That said, his talent level is right up there with any other running back in the draft not named Trent Richardson.

12. Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

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Projected to be selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round.

Man, this guy's tape impresses the hell out of me. He has an incredibly high ceiling and is as physically intimidating as tight end prospects come.

One of the most impressive aspects of his game is the fact that Charles runs a 4.6/40, which doesn't seem incredibly impressive on its own. However, he can get to a second tier and cause matchup problems for opposing defenders between the hashes.

Extremely good hands and route-running ability as well.

13. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

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Projected to be selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round.

My initial mock draft about a month ago had Ryan Tannehill going in the first round. However, an injury that cost him the Senior Bowl has really hurt his stock.

Senior Bowl week is one of a few opportunities for players to show scouts, in person, what they are all about. It was a really bad break for the former Texas A&M signal-caller.

While still raw, Tannehill has all the physical attributes that you look for in a quarterback. He has an incredibly strong arm, is pretty damn accurate in the intermediate routes and possesses surprising mobility for a player with his build.

Could be a real gem.

14. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

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Projected to be selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round.

Nick Foles can make every throw on the field and makes solid reads and progressions while being able to remain calm in the pocket.

He didn't progress as much as many thought heading into 2011, which could be a cause for concern.

15. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

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Projected to be selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round.

One of the best things about Mohamed Sanu's game is the fact that he can play both on the outside and in the slot. He isn't uncomfortable doing multiple things throughout the duration of the game.

Corners have a hard time playing press coverage against Sanu at the line. This coupled with his speed makes it a difficult task to cover him.

You can expect a lot of talk about Sanu becoming a first-round lock if his offseason performance is anything like what I have seen on tape.

16. Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina

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Projected to be selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round.

Dwight Jones is big, really big. The former North Carolina star stands at 6'4" and is already 225 pounds, with the ability to add to that frame.

One of the most impressive aspects of Jones' game is the fact that he is able to make cuts, remains fluid in the route and has tremendous athletic ability. This is extremely surprising considering his size.

17. Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin

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Projected to be selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round.

Nick Toon saw his draft stock drop a great deal during the 2011 season. This doesn't mean that the former Wisconsin star isn't going to be a really good player at the next level.

Toon uses his frame to shield defenders from the ball in traffic, which makes him a huge contributor in in traffic. This is something that a lot of NFL receivers struggle with.

18. Rueben Randle, WR, Louisiana State

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Projected to be selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round.

I am not nearly as high on Rueben Randle as some other "experts" are. He was inconsistent this season with LSU, but a lot of that could have to do with their poor quarterback play.

What I do like about Randle is that he can make plays downfield and is a threat to take it the distance on every play. Look for a team like the Indianapolis Colts to utilize these talents.

19. Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas

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Projected to be selected by the New England Patriots in the second round.

Speed, speed and more speed. This is the name of the game when it comes to Jarius Wright. He has a ton of big-play potential and could be utilized by a team like the Patriots that need to find someone to stretch the field.

Look for his draft stock to rise as April approaches.

20. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

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Projected to be selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in third round.

If you have not seen Brian Quick play football, you are missing something. This wide receiver has everything that you want in a standout wide receiver.

Just look at this tape.

He is 6'5", already runs pro-ready routes, dominates smaller corners and has extremely soft hands. I am not sure I have seen such a complete receiver from a small school.

I am pretty sure that you will be hearing a great deal about Quick as the postseason progresses.