2012 NFL Mock Draft: Analyzing the Top Playmakers, Pre-Super Bowl Edition

As we get closer to kickoff of Super Bowl XLVI between the New England Patriots and New York Giants, the 2012 NFL draft is heating up as well.

And for any team needing to improve on its 2011 campaign, drafting a playmaker certainly helps regardless of position and side of the ball the prospect plays.

That being said, here's a look at four of the best playmakers who go in Round 1.

St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

Unless it's a kicker, the St. Louis Rams honestly cannot mess up their No. 2 overall pick this draft.

Whether the Rams choose Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne or Matt Kalil, any of those guys will help improve Jeff Fisher's new team.

However, Blackmon is the best option for St. Louis because the receiving corps is extremely weak and although Brandon Lloyd is solid, he's not a No. 1 target. Blackmon has good size, speed and strength to run any pattern on the field and is quite reliable.

Between the 2010 and 2011 seasons with Oklahoma State, Blackmon caught 232 passes for 3,304 yards and scored 38 receiving touchdowns.

Easily the best receiver in the draft, Lloyd is a good complement to him and Blackmon's a great complement in taking pressure off the ground game. Not to mention the Rams had arguably the least productive offense in 2011, so anything to help Sam Bradford out would be appreciated.

Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

Unless the St. Louis Rams do not draft Justin Blackmon, the Cleveland Browns have to really consider LSU's Morris Claiborne.

For starters, Cleveland's No. 2 rank against the pass is deceiving because opponent's game-planned to run the ball heavily. There's no reason to throw the ball against the Browns when you can just dominate them in the trenches, so their pass defense wasn't challenged all that much.

Now, Joe Haden is one of the better young corners in the game but can you imagine how sick the pass defense becomes when pairing Claiborne opposite?

It takes a lot of pressure off the linebackers to worry about helping with underneath double coverage and can focus more energy at stopping the run. As for Claiborne, he picked off 11 passes between the past two years and returned them for 274 yards.

So, he can change the field position after forcing turnovers and is an underrated perimeter run defender. Now include his kickoff return skills (22 attempts for 552 yards, one TD) and Josh Cribbs can focus on being more dangerous on punt returns and offense.

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)

No matter what the Washington Redskins need to do in the 2012 NFL draft, they must find a way to land Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

Now, it's not a major risk in waiting for him to drop as the Rams, Vikings and Buccaneers ahead of them don't need a franchise quarterback. So, if Washington does talk with anyone it will likely be Cleveland. However, the Browns need a receiver or defensive player more than someone under center.

That said, Griffin goes to our nation's capital where he'll be mentored by one of the better offensive minds in recent NFL history, Mike Shanahan. Shanahan orchestrated Steve Young's Super Bowl XXIX MVP performance as well as saving John Elway's career before it ended.

With a fresh start in Griffin, Shanahan can open up the playbook because versatility is an understatement.

Throughout his collegiate career, Griffin never threw more than eight picks in a season and accounted for almost 5,000 total yards while 47 total touchdowns in 2011. He's also deadly accurate with a 72.4 completion percentage and only takes off to scramble when needed.

Griffin's football IQ is arguably his best attribute, which will allow him to quickly develop and learn under Shanahan.

Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, OLB/DE (South Carolina)

If there's one man the Green Bay Packers can't afford to miss in Round 1, it's South Carolina's defensive/special teams utility man, Melvin Ingram.

Even if the cheese have to trade up for him, it's a good idea. The man can play anywhere along the defensive line as well as outside linebacker. He's got the quickness and nose for the ball to rush off the edge or make plays inside while also dropping into coverage.

In 2011, Ingram recorded 10 sacks, 48 tackles, two interceptions and scored three touchdowns. As for special teams, one of Melvin's touchdown's came on a 68-yard fake punt run and he also served on the Gamecocks' hands team.

How many defensive lineman in the SEC, let alone the country, are preventing opponents from recovering onside kicks? Therefore, with the Packers, Ingram would help improve a few special teams areas as well as the pass rush, perimeter run and intermediate pass defenses.

This also, of course, helps with running multiple fronts such as a 4-3, 3-4, 4-2-5 or 3-3-5. Not that the Packers would have to but the luxury would be there.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Cincinnati (From OAK): Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Nebraska)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	18. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)
4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	20. Tennessee Titans: Mohamed Sanu, WR (Rutgers)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
6. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)	22. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
8. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro, G (Stanford)	24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)
9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)	25. Denver Broncos: Janoris Jenkins, CB (Northern Alabama)
10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Nick Perry, DE (USC)	27. New England Patriots (From NO): Whitney Mercilus, DE (Illinois)
12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)	28. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)	29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
14. Dallas Cowboys: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)	31. New York Giants: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)
16. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)	32. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, Safety (Alabama)

John Rozum on Twitter.