2012 NFL Mock Draft: Most Dangerous Athletic Freaks in the First Round

This NFL mock draft is all about the freaks. 

Soon, we will get a full blast of athletic talent at the NFL combine. That is where we will see just how fast these guys can fly and how much weight they can throw around the air. 

Marvel and DC would be proud to master a comic book after some of these guys. Every last man on the board is already a finely-tuned athlete, but these next guys are straight up ridiculous. 

This is a regular mock draft, with the real athletic superstars picked out and identified. 

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

It seems ridiculous that the Colts would ever be another man's team, but Peyton Manning is on his way out, and Andrew Luck is the man tasked with wearing his shoes. He is the easiest pick of this draft, and quite possibly any draft before it. 

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Matt Kalil, USC, OT

I am not so sure if the Rams will deal this draft selection, and Matt Kalil is the reason why. He is the best offensive lineman around and provides insurance for Sam Bradford's health.   

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

The Vikings need to get big and bad on the corners. The best part of Claiborne is his play-making ability. The former receiver is adept at reading routes and pouncing on the ball. Great instincts. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

FREAK ALERT 

Richardson may not land in Cleveland if the Browns decide to nab Robert Griffin III. I still think he is the play here and his ability to find holes on the line is just one reason. 

Richardson comes in as one of the better-built prospects. He is extremely hard to tackle, making me believe we are going to see some ridiculous power numbers at the combine. 

Speed is just one thing this back brings to the table. He's like a cannonball getting shot out of the backfield. His explosiveness is unparalleled. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

The Bucs need a cornerback badly, one that will provide some physicality on the wings. There is no need to trade when you have the big, bad figure on the corner in Dre Kirkpatrick. 

6. Washington Redskins (5-10): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

The Redskins are drooling over the chance to draft RG3, and that is why a trade with the Rams is entirely likely. Griffin is a great athlete with underrated arm strength. This is a fine pick for the perfect team available. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR 

FREAK ALERT

The Jaguars need a long, lean receiver who can bully his way down field. This would be the perfect tandem to build on.

The book on him is that he has average speed for his size, but I beg to differ. If we aren't amazed by his 40-yard dash time, we may be looking at some great power numbers. This guy is a brute at the point of contact with corners.  

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

Coples nailed the Senior Bowl. Forget thoughts on his consistency, because he is the real deal and threatening to solidify his status as a top-10 draft choice. He really only needed a solid showing last week and instead stole the show. The Panthers have their man. 

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

Reiff is as solid and dependable as they come. The Dolphins could be another team to trade up for quarterback glory in RG3, but they could also use a great deal of help on the line.   

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

Kuechly is the anti-hero in this mock draft. Questions remain on his size and speed. I am hoping (for his sake) that he proves detractors wrong shortly.

The Bills need a great deal more toughness on defense. Kuechly has a mind for the game and is adept at being at the right place at the right time. 

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

FREAK ALERT

Brokers is huge. That is all you can say about a man that plays like he is on a mission each and every play. It's unfair that a beast could be this big and also be as quick as he is. 

Brockers continues to rise, and his size and ability to breach the line are reasons why. 

The Seahawks may also be in play on Griffin talks, but they could use a beast on the line, and Brockers is that unrelenting force. The Seahawks would get a gritty player that is simply impossible to consistently contain. 

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

The best part about Martin is his run-blocking, which should help the Chiefs move the ball all next season. If he has a great showing in the combine, we could see his stock rise to top-10 standards. 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

FREAK ALERT

It isn't the Pac-12 bias that has me in love with Burfict, it's the way he plays the game. Sure, he has his anger issues during games and they sometimes serve to derail his team's efforts, but he is the real deal at linebacker. 

If he can handle his emotions, he is a true superstar in waiting. I am very eager to push him up the board but want to see how the draft process treats him. 

I would like to place him in the "struggles" category, but I continue to think that his on-the-field anger issues actually give him an edge that may be harnessed in the right way at the next level. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, OLB

The Cowboys need to get tougher and deeper on defense, and they could use a workhorse who is as versatile as he is tough. Upshaw is a hungry player that would uplift a spiraling franchise. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

Zach Brown helped his cause at the Senior Bowl during practices. He remains the answer for the Eagles.

They were abysmal up the gap last season. They had the star corners last year, but their linebacker core was a joke. Zach Brown will not let running backs demolish the Eagles next year. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

The Alabaman fits the bill for the Jets. Barron covers ground well and has a nose for the ball. This pick would add depth to a team that could use a strong safety to allow a more versatile approach on defense.  

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via 8-7 Oakland Raiders): Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB

This is another player that needs to assert himself as a certified athletic talent going forward. He does things well, but nothing great. That could change shortly. 

Dennard is big and powerful and can dominate receivers at the line, but he was suspect on double-move coverages at the Senior Bowl. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

The only way to ensure the same Philip Rivers malaise is negated to next year is to beef up the offensive line. DeCastro will be a solid addition to the Chargers' pocket protection.    

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR 

Michael Floyd is my favorite to rule this draft class. He is a sneaky receiver who creates a ton of room in coverage. He has the speed and power to mix it up at the line.  

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

A huge looming presence that stays in front of rushers with top-notch footwork. 

*Playoff Teams Subject to change

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

Miller is a burner that will no doubt kill it at the combine. The worry for me in his rookie year is that he is a back that really kills you in getting to that second level. He will fight to find holes in year one. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Devon Still, Penn State, DE 

Still is a multi-talented athlete that will bring versatility to the defensive front. The jury is still out whether he is a star or bust in waiting. It would have been great to see him at the Senior Bowl.  

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

Janoris Jenkins may have wrapped up a trip to the first round with fine Senior Bowl practices. He is just as fast and explosive as you would hope and isn't getting fooled. Character-issue questions aside, we may have ourselves a small-school first-rounder.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, OT

The Steelers' offensive line needs depth after a season mired in inconsistency. Sanders was my pick heading into the Senior Bowl, and we will see what the weekend holds before we start dropping him from lofty precipices.  

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

FREAK ALERT

I would love the Broncos to get a corner here, but none remain worth taking. They also need some talent at receiver, and Wright continues to get first-round love (and yes, I like him more than Alshon Jeffrey). 

The reason is simple: Wright is a jack rabbit on the wings. His speed will separate him from all other recruits. You can't teach this type of swiftness. 

He may have issues with his hands, but that can be overlooked when you see him fly. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Poe is big and strong, making him the perfect person to clog the middle. The Texans' marvelous defense in 2011 gets all the more fierce. He is the perfect huge asset to stick in their 3-4 scheme. 

27. New England Patriots (via 12-3 New Orleans Saints): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Mercilus is coming off a break-out year where he finally figured out how to use his size and wingspan. His dynamic reach will affect a great many passes at the next level. 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DE/DT

Many have Cox as a borderline first-round pick, and that is why I have the Packers seeing the value in a defender that is keyed in on where to be. He is a tackles-for-a-loss machine and will be a fine addition to a Green Bay team that slays this time of year. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, Wisconsin, C 

The Ravens started the year in need of offensive line depth, and Konz would go a long way to ensure this team never goes hungry in that way again (well, for the foreseeable future at least). 

Linebacker and receiver will also be looked at, so I could see Alshon Jeffrey or Kendall Wright getting nabbed here as well. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Jared Crick, Nebraska, DE

The 'Niners get a versatile machine in Crick. He will go nicely with the new team motif of killing quarterbacks.  

31. New York Giants (9-7): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

With the offensive line looking stout, it's time to address the defense. There is a good chance that a solid linebacker comes falling to the back of the first round, but if not, Branch is a solid pick. He doesn't fill a specific need but is the best player out there. 

32. New England Patriots (13-3): Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, S

The Patriots' woes this Super Bowl weekend will be traced back to a soft secondary. The Patriots simply have to address their pass defense, which was once again deplorable. Martin goes a long way to shoring up such things.

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