2012 NFL Draft Order: Top 10 Teams One Pick Away from Contending Next Season

The 2012 NFL Draft is less than three months away and as the championship race comes to an end in Indianapolis this weekend, fans and teams have a much clearer idea of where they will be picking on the last Thursday of April.

The city hosting Super Bowl XLVI, Indianapolis has been on the clock since wrapping up the league's worst record on New Year's Day. They are joined by nine other under-five-hundred franchises in the top 10 looking to get one step closer to the big game.

So which teams selecting in the top 10 on day 1 are just one pick away from playoff contention in 2012? Check it out.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5)

The Bucs were 14-8 through the 2010 regular season and the first six games of 2011 before falling on hard times. Tampa lost 10-straight to round out the season last year and it cost them their head coach, who went 10-6 in just his second season.

For as poorly as quarterback Josh Freeman played in 2011, throwing just 16 touchdowns to a whopping 22 interceptions, the Bucs know they have their guy under center, he's only 24, stands 6'6" in the pocket, and had a QB rating 21.3 points higher a season ago.

Although the offense could use a boost with the No. 5 pick, focusing on defense is the answer for Tampa Bay. They ranked dead-last against the run in 2011, allowing more than 156 rushing yards per game on average. 

A dynamic defensive lineman like North Carolina's Quinton Coples or LSU's Michael Brockers would be a very wise pick on day 1 for the Bucs, who could easily find themselves back in the NFC playoff race in 2012 with some added firepower on their defensive front.

Miami Dolphins (No. 8/9)

After a 0-7 start to 2011 the Miami Dolphins won six of their last nine games and finished .500 in the AFC East. The quarterback drama in South Beach is likely the most pressing issue heading into April's selection however.

The combination of Matt Moore, Chad Henne and J.P. Losman was only good enough to rank the Fins 23rd in the NFL in passing yards per game. The running back duo of Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas on the other hand had Miami's rushing attack ranked among the best in the league. The Dolphins posted nearly 125 rushing yards per game in 2011, ranking 11th in the NFL.

Defensively, Miami never gave up more than 27 points since its week one thrashing by the AFC champion Patriots. The Dolphins also ranked third against the run, allowing less than 96 yards on the ground by opponents on average.

A boost to their 25th-ranked pass defense would be a great investment with the No. 8 or 9 pick (depending on a coin flip), or of course a quarterback. Baylor's Robert Griffin III is likely on Miami's wish list and could perhaps keep the Dolphins hot heading into next season.

Otherwise, a talented defensive back like LSU's Morris Claiborne or Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick would be solid picks to keep Miami winning. If they draft defense maybe they can win with Matt Moore under center, he threw 16 touchdowns to just nine interceptions down the stretch in 2011.

Buffalo Bills (No. 10)

The surprising and equally depressing Buffalo Bills were 5-2 and playoff-bound it seemed at the season's midway point in 2011. But that was before injuries began to pile up and eventually the losses. A week 9 loss at home to the NY Jets kicked off a seven-game losing streak which would bury the Bills into the draft's top 10.

Offensively the Bills have everything they need to contend with the league's best. They have an emerging passer in Ryan Fitzpatrick, a multi-talented back in Fred Jackson and a number of great receiving options including youngsters Steve Johnson and David Nelson.

Buffalo's defense will need some love this spring if they are to turn things around in 2012 though. The Bills ranked 19th and 28th against the pass and run respectively in 2011, and that means they must get tougher in the front seven.

Boston College's Luke Kuechly or Alabama's Courtney Upshaw could be excellent linebacking targets on day 1 for Buffalo. The Bills have the blueprint in place, but they must fill some holes on their roster and stay healthy as best they can down the stretch to contend in 2012.

2012 NFL Draft Order

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14)

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13)

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)

6. Washington Redskins (5-11)

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

8/9. Carolina Panthers (6-10, pending coin flip)

8/9. Miami Dolphins (6-10, pending coin flip)

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

11/12. Kansas City Chiefs(7-9, pending coin flip)

11/12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9, pending coin flip)

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)

16. New York Jets (8-8)

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from 8-8 Oakland Raiders)

18. San Diego Chargers(8-8)

19. Chicago Bears (8-8)

20. Tennessee Titans(9-7)

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)

22. Cleveland Browns (from 10-6 Atlanta Falcons)

23. Detroit Lions (10-6)

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

25. Denver Broncos (8-8)

26. Houston Texans (10-6)

27. New England Patriots (from 13-3 New Orleans Saints)

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1)

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

31. New York Giants (9-7)

32. New England Patriots (13-3)