2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Top Defensive Playmakers Post-Super Bowl Edition

Whether it's an interception, sack, forced fumble or broken-up pass, defensive playmakers can change a game just as much, if not more, than an offensive player.

As we saw in Super Bowl XLVI, an interception and sack of Tom Brady gave the New York Giants that little extra edge to come out on top. Well, here are some of college football's top defensive playmakers in the 2012 NFL Draft who can have the same effect.

Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

The Cleveland Browns may have had a better pass defense than expected. However, it was a deceiving strength because they allowed so many rush yards on the season.

After all, opponents had no reason to throw against Cleveland when they could just win by controlling the game tempo on the ground. That being said, LSU's Morris Claiborne takes a lot of pressure away from the front seven.

In the past two seasons, Claiborne recorded 11 picks and returned them for a total of 274 yards. That's an average of just under 25 yards per interception return, so in other words, 2.5 first downs.

When a guy can change the field position by one-fourth of its length, that's a playmaker. In addition, Claiborne is a solid run defender on the edge and can press cover the receiver to read the developing play.

Plus, how great of a cornerback tandem would he and Joe Haden make?

Pretty damn good one.

Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)

Although North Carolina's Zach Brown is an expected late first-round-to-early-second-round pick, he's one of the more underrated playmakers in the draft.

As a junior in 2010, Brown had a respectable year with 72 tackles and three picks returned for 113 yards. In 2011, however, he only enhanced production to another level.

With three more picks, Brown also forced three fumbles, made 105 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks.

The man plays well against the run, simply because he knows how to find the football and he reacts quickly when defending the pass. Brown's size and raw ability allows him to cover tight ends one-on-one, blitz off the edge and keep contain.

For the Lions, Brown would immediately improve Detroit's run defense and intermediate pass defense.

Right now Brown is on the cusp of becoming a complete linebacker, and his ability to do all things well pays more dividends than someone who has an extreme weakness.

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

Here's a guy who isn't under the radar but, at the same time, isn't getting as much recognition as he deserves.

South Carolina's Melvin Ingram recorded 19 sacks and 76 tackles combined between 2010 and 2011.

He's a dynamic player who can line up anywhere along the defensive line as well as outside linebacker, and be productive.

Ingram, in short, has a knack for being around the football as evidenced by two interceptions, three touchdowns (two on fumble recoveries) and the ability to recover onside kicks. His size of 6'2", 275 pounds allows him to be quick and agile to match up against anyone.

The Green Bay Packers are a great fit because they need a stud pass rusher opposite Clay Matthews, a guy who can drop underneath the crossing routes and a sure tackle on the edge against the run.

Green Bay, straight up, desperately needs to improve its front seven versus the rush and pass, so there's no wrong in selecting a guy who can give you the luxury of running a 3-4, 4-3 or 3-3-5 look.

New England Patriots: Mark Barron, Safety (Alabama)

More known for his ability to hit and make tackles as he got older, Alabama's Mark Barron began as a playmaker but then was challenged less, so he was forced to adjust.

Well, as a sophomore in 2009, Barron recorded seven picks returning them for 125 yards and a touchdown. Altogether he defended 18 passes that year while also recording 76 tackles.

Needless to say, opponents tested him and failed.

The next two seasons, Barron became more of a sure-tackler and a safety who had the ability to roll down and play even more against the run. With 143 tackles between 2010 and 2011, along with five interceptions, Barron's presence alone would force most plays to go away from him.

Fortunately for Barron, this wasn't a bad thing and he's considered a first-round pick. There, the New England Patriots are a suitable team because of their vulnerable pass defense.

Barron can patrol the middle in zone, roll down and take on a tight end, running back or slot receiver in man coverage, as well as provide edge run support. During the early days with Bill Belichick, the Patriots had other tough safeties such as Lawyer Milloy and Rodney Harrison.

Barron has that kind of potential, and the Pats desperately need a guy who can bring attitude to their defense.

San Diego Chargers: Vinny Curry, DE (Marshall)

Right now he's considered a late-second-rounder, but Marshall's Vinny Curry is worthy of at least a mid-second-rounder.

This past season Curry compiled 11 sacks, forced seven fumbles, made 77 tackles and had three blocked kicks. Coming off the edge, Curry is a brute force with the quickness to slip past any blindside left tackle or running back.

What's even more impressive about his 2011 campaign, though, is that his 2010 performance was arguably better. There, Curry had 94 tackles, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles.

So, despite offenses needing to game-plan more for him in 2011, Curry still dominated. As for the NFL, he's just what the San Diego Chargers need.

In 2011, the Bolts' defense recorded just 32 sacks and forced only seven fumbles. Curry, however, is a good enough athlete to play their 3-4 scheme but also allows the Chargers to switch into the 4-3 if needed.

And he's not just a sack-master. Curry defends the run well on the edge and is consistent at making plays in the backfield. Being that San Diego ranked No. 20 against the run, the Bolts need all the help they can get.

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 England Patriots: Mark Barron, Safety (Alabama)
16. New York Jets: Brandon Thompson, DE (Clemson)	32. New York Giants: Jerel Worth, DT (Michigan State)

John Rozum on Twitter.