2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Who Will Help Winning Teams Immediately

The NFL Draft is a good place for terrible teams to improve, but playoff teams have holes, too.

Just look at the Green Bay Packers' secondary. Or the New England Patriots' secondary, for that matter.

Or the San Francisco 49ers' wide receivers.

Or... you get the idea. Good teams aren't perfect teams. They still have plenty of weaknesses, and just like it is for every other team, the draft is an opportunity to improve those weaknesses. 

So here's a full first-round mock draft with a closer look at guys who will immediately help good teams.

1) Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

No one in the Indianapolis organization really knows what they are going to do with Peyton Manning at this point, but there's still no way they will pass on Andrew Luck, an All-World talent. 

2) Saint Louis Rams

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

This might hinge on whether or not Brandon Lloyd re-signs with the Rams, but Sam Bradford needs all the weapons he can get. Blackmon is the best wide-out in this draft. 

3) Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Minnesota Vikings really need a franchise left tackle to protect Christian Ponder. Otherwise, Ponder won't be around for much longer. 

4) Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Cleveland Browns are going to stay pat at quarterback with Colt McCoy, but the running back situation isn't as clear. Peyton Hillis is likely gone to free agency and Montario Hardesty is an injury waiting to happen.

Enter Trent Richardson, the best running back prospect in a long time. The Browns can't afford to pass on him here, even though Robert Griffin III is an attractive pick here. 

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Ronde Barber should be falling in the footsteps of his twin brother very soon, and I don't mean that he will make a ridiculous comeback attempt. I mean that he'll retire. 

Claiborne, who was the best cover corner on a defense that featured Tyrann Mathieu, is the perfect replacement pick. 

6) Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins "luck out" as they desperately need a franchise quarterback. Griffin, who is an elite talent, will fall to them at No. 6.

John Beck and/or Rex Grossman will then go somewhere else to haunt another NFL franchise. 

7) Jacksonville Jaguars

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

A lot of people don't like Jeffery, but he's a true No. 1 threat, and that's exactly what Blaine Gabbert and the Jacksonville Jaguars need.

If he falls to the end of the first round or later, like many people think he will, Jeffery will be a steal. 

8) Carolina Panthers

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

That picture just says it all.

Brockers, who declared after his redshirt-sophomore season, is an absolutely menacing figure. He's large, but he also has quickness and agility that let him get to the quarterback better than any other defensive tackle in the draft.

The Panthers could use another receiver for Cam Newton, but bolstering a shaky D-line will be a much smarter move here. 

9) Miami Dolphins

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins need a quarterback, but there's no one who would make sense here. Trading down could be an option. If they don't trade the pick, however, Reiff would immediately bolster a disappointing offensive line.

10) Buffalo Bills

Courtney Upshaw, LB/DE, Alabama

Despite their final ranking, the Bills proved this year that they are on the brink of contention. They really tapered off near the end of the season, but they are just a couple of players away from being a threat.

Courtney Upshaw, who is NFL-ready, is the first of those players.

He has a special mix of athleticism and talent that allows him to get to the quarterback with consistency. At this year's Senior Bowl, he proved he can play defensive end as well as outside linebacker.

Upshaw was the leader of that Alabama defense, which ranked in the top three in pretty much every major category. 

He will immediately take over for Shawne Merriman on the outside. Upshaw's upside and versatility make this a no-brainer for Buffalo's defense. 

11) Seattle Seahawks

Whitney Mercilus, LB, Illinois

The Seahawks need a quarterback, but there's no justifiable pick at this spot. Instead, they'll bolster an already solid young defense with the addition of college football's sack leader, Mercilus. 

12) Kansas City Chiefs

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Chiefs were 23rd in the NFL in yards per pass allowed, so taking Kirkpatrick to line up across from Brandon Flowers makes sense.

Can't (expletive) with Dre.

13) Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin was a stud in Stanford's pro-style offense, so this would be a solid pick for the Cardinals, who need help protecting Kevin Kolb or whoever is behind center.

14) Dallas Cowboys

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins greatly improved his stock at the Senior Bowl, and Jerry Jones won't be afraid to go after a guy who still has character concerns if the potential payout is great.

There is no limit to Jenkins' upside. 

15) Philadelphia Eagles

David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Eagles have a lot of holes, and the offensive line is one of them. Philly had trouble both running the ball and protecting quarterback Michael Vick.

DeCastro would help plug those holes.

16) New York Jets

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram adds a good pass rusher to a defense that didn't perform as well as it usually does this season. He is another player who was very impressive at the Senior Bowl. Even at No. 16, he might be a bit of a steal.

17) Cincinnati Bengals

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn was incredibly impressive at the Senior Bowl and helped his stock immensely. For the Bengals, Bobbie Williams is a free agent and probably won't be back.

Glenn, who has incredible size and great footwork, would be an instant starter at right guard for this team. Cincy struggled at times to run the ball, so Glenn would immediately make this good team even better in that aspect. 

18) San Diego Chargers

Alonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The San Diego Chargers were atrocious against the pass this season, so Dennard, who is one of the best cover corners in the draft, makes sense. 

19) Chicago Bears

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Unless they went to max protect, the Bears were atrocious in giving quarterback Jay Cutler any time in the pocket. If they want to improve, they have to go offensive line.

I originally had Mike Adams here, but he could have been better at the Senior Bowl. His stock shouldn't drop much, but I'm replacing him here. Instead, the Bears will go with Konz, who will immediately make an impact.

He is about as NFL-ready as it gets, as is the case with most Big 10 linemen. Konz will anchor this Bears offensive line for a long time. 

20) Tennessee Titans

Nick Perry, LB, USC

The Titans were good on the defensive side of the ball this season, but didn't get to the quarterback enough. Perry is rising up draft boards and has an uncanny ability to get into opposing teams' backfields. 

21) Cincinnati Bengals

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller, who will likely be asked to replace Cedric Benson, will be the perfect fit for this offense. He has home-run ability with his terrific burst and he also catches the ball well out of the backfield.

Essentially, he's the opposite of Benson.

Combine Miller with Andy Dalton and A.J Green, and this offense will be very scary for a very long time. If the Bengals go with Glenn and Miller in the first round, they will immediately have the offense to overtake the Steelers and Ravens in the AFC North. 

22) Cleveland Browns

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Browns already got Trent Richardson, so why not add another exciting offensive threat with wide reciever Kendall Wright out of Baylor? He is the definition of big-play receiver. 

Wright will be a good compliment to Greg Little, who is more of an underneath receiver.

23) Detroit Lions

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams has good combination of strength and quickness that will allow him to settle in on the left side of Detroit's offensive line. 

24) Pittsburgh Steelers

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still has been terrific during his time with the Nittany Lions, and he will help Pittsburgh's aging D-line (Casey Hampton, most notably).  

25) Denver Broncos

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Champ Bailey isn't going to last forever, and Gilmore serves as a terrific backup who can step in and return kicks, as well. 

26) Houston Texans

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

I'm not a huge fan of Floyd, but there's no denying his talent. The Houston Texans don't have a whole lot of holes, but adding another weapon opposite Andre Johnson is a good idea.

Floyd would provide very good value if he drops this far. 

27) New England Patriots

Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

The New England Patriots' secondary is absolutely atrocious, and picking a cornerback is the only logical choice here. Fleming would be a perfect pick her for Bill Belichick and company. 

28) Green Bay Packers

Chris Polk, RB, Green Bay Packers

The Packers need some help on the defensive side of the ball and Chris Polk had a terrible showing at the Senior Bowl. Still, I'm not about to let one game change the opinion I've had of Polk for three years.

He is extremely tough to bring down and provides good pass-catching skills. The Packers' running back situation isn't pretty, so there's no way they'll pass on Polk. 

29) Baltimore Ravens

Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Aaand the Ravens, who will eventually need a replacement for Ray Lewis, commit highway robbery by getting Hightower at this spot. 

It's unlikely he falls this far, but sometimes it works out that way because of team needs. The Ravens defense will get even better.

Sorry, rest of NFL.

30) San Francisco 49ers

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu is a perfect third-down target for San Fran's conservative offense. He strikes me as a Wes Welker-type of player, just bigger.

31) New England Patriots

Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples was absolutely unblockable at the Senior Bowl, and New England could use some more physically-gifted athletes on its defense. He would immediately improve the Pats' pass rush, which in turn will help their lacking secondary. 

32) New York Giants

Chandler Jones, LB/DE, Syracuse

The Giants love their linebacker/defensive end hybrids, and Jones is just that. He is terrific at getting to the quarterback, and New York will jump all over him, regardless of need.