2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players That Will Make the Biggest Immediate Impact

Some teams don’t have the time to wait for their first-round draft picks to pan out.

They need instant production or can expect to be picking even higher the following year. In 2012 there are five sure fire first-rounders with the potential to not only start from Day 1, but have a strong chance to make the Pro Bowl.

Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Von Miller and Julio Jones were just a few 2011 rookies to have a major impact on the league. Who’s next?

Here are five players sure to follow in their footsteps as we take a look at my latest mock draft (selections are in italics).

Note: The first 30 picks are set in stone (with the exception of a few coin flips marked with asterisks*). Picks 31-32 are based off playoff projections.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

This one is easy.

Luck is drawing comparisons to John Elway and is as polished a college player as there is in the 2012 class. What makes him so special?

Not only is he 6’4’, 235 pounds, he has an incredibly strong arm that is capable of making every throw necessary of a professional quarterback. He threw a grand total of 22 interceptions in college and has proven to be a sound decision maker in even the most crucial of situations.

Toss in exquisite leadership skills and it would be a shock if Luck failed to deliver on the hype. Will he begin his career with the Colts or another team via a trade? That is the million dollar question sure to debated each and every day for the next four months.

2. St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

As the Rams learned the hard way, protecting your quarterback is everything in the NFL and they owe Sam Bradford the top tackle in the draft to fix one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Bradford’s health is vital to their 2012 success.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State 

The Vikings season was over from the second management decided Michael Jenkins could be their No. 2 receiver. It’s time to address this glaring need.

Blackmon is the top playmaker available in the entire draft. There isn’t a single knock the guy. He caught eight passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns while dealing with an injury in the Fiesta Bowl. At 6'1", 215 pounds, he has the prototypical size for a receiver with breakaway speed and a strong stiff arm to boot.

He could have been a top pick last year, but with an extra season of college experience, 1,000 yards his rookie season is almost the expectation. Blackmon is the early favorite for 2012 rookie of the year in my eyes.

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

The Browns have to realize that Colt McCoy isn’t their guy and drafting the quarterback of the future needs to happen now. RGIII is far from a sure thing, but it’s the sort of risk the Browns have to make if they ever want to sniff .500.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The marijuana possession charge is a big deal now, but the draft is still 90-plus days away. After he shows his ridiculous athletic attributes at the NFL combine, all will be forgotten. The Bucs have to go for defense with their first pick.

6. Washington Redskins: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The 5’11’, 225 pound back is the most complete player at the position to come out of college since Adrian Peterson. He has the strength to bowl over linebackers and the speed to out-run cornerbacks.

There is no doubt he will be able to handle the rigors of a 16-game schedule, and he already has the experience of playing in two championship games. What’s there not to like?

Don’t forget that he caught 29 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. He is the complete package and would be a top fantasy draft pick if he lands in the run-heavy Redskins offense that is predicated on a strong running back.  

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Jaguars need a playmaker desperately on offense, but will go with the best available pick with Claiborne still on the board. Claiborne solidifies an underrated Jaguars defense.

8. Carolina Panthers* (subject to coin flip): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Panthers defense was one of the worst in the league in 2011. Ingram can produce consistent pressure on the opponents' quarterback and be a solid contributor against the run as well.

9. Miami Dolphins*: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins have a resilient defense, but lack several pieces on offense to even consider making the playoffs. Landing Reiff produces constancy on the line and the sort of work ethic that can rub off on his teammates.

10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

One of the biggest risk/reward picks in the draft, few players have the raw strength of Coples. His reach at 6’6" is intriguing as well. If the Bills can convince him to play hard every down, their defensive line will be set for years after drafting Marcell Dareus No. 3 overall a season ago.

11. Kansas City Chiefs* (subject to coin flip): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Chiefs could use a ton of help on the offensive line, and Martin did a remarkable job of protecting Luck in college. This pick makes a lot of sense.

12. Seattle Seahawks*: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery could go in the top 10 or not even in the first round. The ugly finish to his college career is still fresh on the minds of scouts—but so is his ability.

At 6'4", 230 pounds, Jeffery has the sort of size and raw athletic ability that can’t be taught. Few NFL cornerbacks will be able to beat him physically. With his height, he can go up and snag any jump ball coming his way and that makes him deadly around the end zone.

Sure, his character issues are a concern, but if there was ever a coach he would take a huge risk on Jeffery, it would be Pete Carroll.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The best interior lineman in the draft should help clear up the unpredictability of the Cardinals' running game. A healthy Beanie Wells would help, too.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Cowboys defense is what needs the most changes, and the pass rush was one of the main culprits for the problem. The 6'2", 265-pound pass-rusher can team up with DeMarcus Ware to form a lethal 1-2 punch.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

The Eagles No. 1 priority has to be at linebacker, and it has to be addressed in the first round. The 6'3", 240-pound Kuechly has the speed and size to be a contributor right away.

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame 

The decision to skip the Senior Bowl may hurt his stock right now, but in the end his talent will conquer. He holds plenty of records at Notre Dame, and his senior season (1,147 yards, nine TDs) was more than enough to warrant a first-round pick.

He has ideal size (6'3", 225 pounds) and the sort of hands that allow him to catch anything remotely thrown in his direction. He also has the speed and explosiveness out if his breaks to create separation from corners. His skills are NFL ready.

Past alcohol-related arrests are going to be brought up time and time again during the pre-draft interviews, but ultimately it won’t scare away a Jets team that may be cutting a disgruntled Santonio Holmes in the near future.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia

Long-time guard Bobbie Williams isn’t getting any younger, and they may be cutting ties with Andre Smith as well. With the potential of losing 40 percent of their starting line, Glenn is a strong value pick at No. 17.

18. San Diego Chargers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

No team dealt with more changes on the offensive line, and no team needs a tackle in the first round more than the Chargers.

19. Chicago Bears: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Matt Forte is not happy with the Bears, and it will be interesting to see how the organization handles the situation. After Richardson, Miller is the best back to help them move on quickly.

20. Tennessee Titans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

The Titans need help on the interior line and Still is the sort of bulky and strong player Tennessee could use. At 6'5", 310 pounds, he can start from day one and help get the Titans over the hump and back into the postseason.

Still has the sort of strength that will translate instantly. He will be a standout in this category during the combine. He had the terrible luck of getting overshadowed by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, but there is little doubt Still can occupy multiple blockers on every snap for the next decade.

He can help the Titans become an elite defense against the run instantly.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Bengals still haven’t overcome the loss of Jonathan Joseph, and they might as well replace him with another Gamecock.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins was a top-10 pick last year but smoked that chance away with a marijuana bust. He is still a first-round talent, but needs to mature in a hurry. No player has more at stake in pre-draft interviews and the NFL combine than Jenkins.

23. Detroit Lions: Baylor Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

The Lions need help in the middle of their defense and could use a sure tackler with tremendous fundamentals like Burfict. The Arizona State product can be a solid contributor quickly for a team that’s on the cusp of making some serious noise in the postseason.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Casey Hampton’s age really showed during the 2011 season and drafting his replacement now is a strong idea. Poe is hands down the best tackle in the entire draft and could slide in right away.

25. Denver Broncos: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Blazing fast at 5'10", 190 pounds, Wright had an eye-popping 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior season, but how much of that was because of RGIII?

Wright needs to have a robust combine to prove to scouts he isn’t just a speed-freak who had a good college quarterback. His size already puts him behind the likes of Blackmon, Floyd and Jeffery. Wright has a major chip on his shoulder entering the draft.

26. Houston Texans: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Texans have a well-rounded team with few holes, but adding cornerback depth is a smart move to make with such a late pick. Dennard has the speed and strength to be a strong contributor right away.

27. New England Patriots (from Saints): Chris Polk, RB, Washington

The Pats need help on the defensive line, but it’s hard to pass on Polk this late in the draft. He had a tremendous college career and possesses the foot speed to break off a huge run on any given play.

When was the last time New England had a back like that? Corey Dillon?

28. Green Bay Packers: Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State 

The Packers had the worst pass defense in the NFL this season and their safeties were a big offender. Martin is the best available and can help turnaround a Packers team that is going to play extremely angry in 2012.

29. San Francisco 49ers: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Call me crazy, but the 49ers defense can get even better. Adding more depth to keep everybody fresh would make the No. 1 rush defense even deadlier. The 49ers were oh so close to the big game in 2011-2012, and only need to tinker a little bit with the roster to get over the hump.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

I hate to break the news Ravens fans, but Ray Lewis is old. At age 36, he only has so many years left in the tank. Grooming a potential replacement here would be ideal. Hightower is a athletic freak that could have the opportunity to learn from one of the all-time greats.

31. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The Giants could go with either outside linebacker or cornerback here and will likely go for whoever is the top talent still on the board. Brown is a strong tackler who fits in well to Tom Coughlin’s 4-3 scheme.

32. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

If it wasn’t for a season-ending injury in October, Crick would be much higher. It’s a perfect blend of drafting for need and best available player. The only reason I believe he will fall so far is his injury. Crick is going to end up as one of the big surprises in the 2012 draft regardless of where he’s drafted.