2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Who Will Turn Losers to Winners Quickly

The easiest and most cost-efficient way for NFL teams to turn their bad luck around is to draft and develop their own talent. This year's class is filled with a number of impact players that can turn a downtrodden franchise into a perennial playoff contender. 

But it is not as simple as just finding that one player to make everything better. There has to be talent around him, and he has to be able to fulfill his potential sooner rather than later. 

Here are the top players in this year's class that will make their new teams into playoff contenders. 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Who better to start with than the No. 1 overall pick and arguably the best quarterback prospect that we have ever seen?

The Colts proved in 2011 that they were nothing more than a one-man team, so getting their quarterback of the future should be an easy way to get this team back into the hunt for the postseason. 

Luck is going to make an immediate impact on this franchise, and will have them at or above .500 by the end of his second year.

2. St. Louis Rams (4-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is going to make a difference for this team, but their offensive line is going to have to be addressed before they get back into contention. 

 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne has elite potential at the cornerback position, but questions surrounding the age of the defensive line and the development of Christian Ponder will determine how far this team goes in the future. 

 

4. Cleveland Browns (2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

This is selection comes with an asterisk, because I am combining both picks that the Browns have in the first round. Griffin has more upside than any quarterback that the Browns have ever drafted, and should be a star within three years. 

He is going to give this team an electric playmaker at the quarterback position. He will make everyone around him better, and the defense is already close to being one of the better units in the league with a couple of small tweaks. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

No one knows what to make of the Buccaneers right now, though Richardson will be a welcome addition to the offense. 

 

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Mike Shanahan knows he needs a quarterback to build around. If the Redskins were smart, they would try to trade down to accrue more picks before grabbing Tannehill. 

 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery gives Blaine Gabbert a legitimate receiver to throw to finally.

 

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

After building their offense with Cam Newton at the quarterback position, it is time for the Panthers to fix their defense. 

Coples had a terrific week at the Senior Bowl, displaying his immense physical attributes. The questions about his work ethic will linger, but the talent is too great to ignore. He is the kind of player that can save a defensive line. 

They need help up front, and Coples will be a big piece of the puzzle they need to make noise in the brutal NFC North next season. 

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Dolphins have more pressing needs, but Kalil provides the most value with the ninth pick. 

 

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw will help make this defense credible. They have so many holes, though, that one player alone won't turn things around. 

 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Until the Seahawks find a quarterback, they aren't going to be serious contenders. Still is a good value pick, but doesn't have the sexy name to get fans excited about a playoff push right away. 

 

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Until we see how Matt Cassel and Jamaal Charles look after returning from injuries, and Dwayne Bowe is re-signed, we won't know how good or bad this team really is. 

 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The Cardinals need defensive playmakers to take some pressure off Kevin Kolb and the offense. 

 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro will give Tony Romo some much-needed protection up front. 

 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Nick Perry, LB, USC

It is hard to look at the Eagles and not love the talent they have already. But there are a few glaring holes that must be sealed before they can be serious contenders. 

The biggest hole is at the linebacker position, and Perry is one of the best in this draft. He has the size and versatility to play on the line, but he is at his best lining up behind the front four. He will give this team an attitude that it sorely lacked in 2011. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Jets want to get back to playing hard-nosed defense and running the ball down your throat. Until Mark Sanchez makes plays, this team will be stuck in neutral. 

 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

It was a great season for the Bengals, but there is still a lot of work to be done. They were a playoff team, but only finished 9-7 after losing five of their last eight games. 

Kirkpatrick represents an obvious upgrade for their weak secondary. He has some baggage, but the talent is too great to push him out of the first round. 

They are technically winners already, but there is still plenty of room for them to grow.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Philip Rivers struggled last season because of protection problems. Reiff will fix that problem right away. 

 

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Offensive line is the name of the game for the Bears in the draft yet again. 

 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

At some point, the Titans are going to have to start Jake Locker. They can build a good team around him, but he is going to determine how fast this team makes a playoff push. 

 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller is a star-in-the-making at the running back position. 

 

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The second half of the Browns' rebuild, Floyd will give RG3 a legitimate wide receiver to throw to. It has been years since this team had anyone on the outside that scared opposing teams. Josh Cribbs is a great special teams player, but not exactly a force catching passes. 

Floyd, on the other hand, has the combination of size, speed and pass-catching ability to succeed in the NFL. He is going to be a fan-favorite in Cleveland for a long time to come.

The foundation of this offense will look a lot better after the first round. 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

There are a lot of ways the Lions could go, but Adams is the best available player. 

 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Ben Roethlisberger might be angry at the Steelers now, but he will be smiling when Glenn is protecting him. 

 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

No, Tim Tebow is not a franchise quarterback. Yes, there are still plenty of problems for this team to address before they are serious Super Bowl contenders. That said, there are a number of good building blocks in the fold already. 

Cox will give them a big body in the middle of the defensive line to stop the run that they have been missing the last few years. He will also help Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller increase their production by commanding double teams. 

The Broncos are in much better shape now than they were just one year ago. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron will be a perfect fit for an already-dominant Texans defense. 

 

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Bill Belichick will focus on Jenkins' immense talents, not his off-field baggage. 

 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard is the best senior cornerback in the draft, and is smart enough to be a difference-maker right away. 

 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU

Burfict is one of the best athletes in this draft, but his attitude will push him down the board. 

 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Alex Smith's production will go way up with a real wide receiver to throw to. 

 

+31. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

The front four masks a lot of problems for the Giants defense. Brown has great upside and should start right away. 

 

+32. New England Patriots (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

The Patriots aren't afraid to take the best player available regardless of position, and Sanu gives Brady someone else to throw to on the outside. 

 

* Order determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine

+ Determined by Super Bowl

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