2012 NFL Mock Draft: Elite Defenders with Hall of Fame Potential

NFL teams are always hoping to land a game-changing prospect in the draft. It's the best way to revitalize the team without spending a massive amount of money on a free agent or trying to work out a trade, which are rare in the league.

There are several elite players in this year's class with the potential to have memorable careers. As several busts have illustrated in the past, Hall of Fame potential doesn't always equate to huge statistics, but there's always a chance they develop into an all-time great.

Here's a full mock draft of the first round with a focus on draftees with the best chance of leaving a major mark on the NFL when it's all said and done.

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

Luck will give Jim Irsay a new franchise quarterback to depend on. It worked out well with Peyton Manning and there's no reason the Stanford product can't produce similar success.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Out of all the picks in the draft, this one will be the most coveted. Several teams will be looking to trade up for Robert Griffin. If a deal isn't made, the Rams should select Blackmon

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil has done a nice job separating himself from the other talented offensive tackles in the class. The Vikings need to protect Christian Ponder, making this a perfect match.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

After watching Griffin make big play after big play at Baylor, there's no chance the Browns would be able to pass on him if he makes it to their pick.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Something obviously went haywire with Tampa Bay's offense this season. Richardson would give it an instant jump start with his tremendous playmaking ability.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

This is a tough spot for the Redskins. Tannehill probably doesn't deserve to be drafted this high, but Washington desperately needs a new Q leading the way.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

By now it's clear Claiborne has asserted himself at the draft's top defender. It would take a dramatic change between now and draft day for somebody to overtake him, and for good reason. He has all the tools to become a shutdown corner at the next level.

That's more important than ever in today's NFL. Offenses are throwing the ball at a previously unseen rate, which means any team that doesn't have a secondary that can slow those high-powered attacks is at a distinct disadvantage.

The Jaguars know all about that having to deal with Peyton Manning for so many years. Claiborne has the potential to excel in any system, and is the perfect play to offset Matt Schaub and likely Andrew Luck. He's a player who could turn everything around for Jacksonville.

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

The versatile Coples will be a welcome addition to a Carolina defense that lacks major impact players, which turned out to be a serious problem.

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

Miami would probably prefer to upgrade another position first. However, the combination of Reiff's talent and the lack of skill position players left at this point will lead them to the Iowa star.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Buffalo hasn't been in the playoffs in more than a decade and one of the main reasons is due to the team's useless pass rush. Upshaw would go a long way in fixing that problem.

11. Seattle Seahawks* (7-9): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still continues to impress scouts with him all-around ability for a defensive tackle. Don't be surprised if he eventually cracks the top 10.

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

Martin would provide a massive boost to a chiefs offensive line that has been plagued by inconsistent play in recent seasons.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick was giving Claiborne a run for the top cornerback spot before an off-field incident slowed his ascent. That's behind him now, so as long as teams are pleased with his explanation during the interview process it shouldn't cause him to slip too far.

He's still an amazing talent who will shine wherever he lands. Everybody knows about his speed and ball skills after watching him during Alabama's title run, but what makes him stand out is his rare combination of height and athleticism.

While most corners of his size struggle to keep up with elite receivers, that shouldn't be a problem for Kirkpatrick. If he's able to clean up a couple of tackling issues, there's no reason to believe he can't develop into a generational talent.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is a polarizing prospect because not everybody can agree if his skills will translate well to the next level. The Cowboys need an insider backer, which will force them to take a chance.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Eagles made a late-season charge to prove they did in fact have enough talent on the roster to win a lot of games. The chemistry should continue to improve and Floyd will give Vick a big target.

16. New York Jets (8-8): David DeCastro, G, Stanford

When the Jets aren't running the ball effectively they are a below average squad. DeCastro will help them get back to the ground-and-pound tactics.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Bengals could use one more pass rusher to solidify that portion of their team. Ingram will be able to contribute right away for the playoff contender.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

San Diego has struggled to get pressure on the quarterback for several seasons now, which is why they constantly underachieve.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz will bring a dominant interior force to a Bears offensive line that allows Jay Cutler to get hit far too often.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

It's no mistake that all three highlighted players come from LSU or Alabama, the two dominant defensive forces in college football last season. The only reason Brockers slides this deep into the round is because he's a little more raw than the other stars.

He's not a player who's going to step into the starting lineup next season and make waves. There will be a transition period before he reaches his high ceiling, but once he does there's good reason to believe he'll be an unstoppable force along the defensive line.

The Titans have other needs, most notably at the wide receiver position, but if Brockers were available at this spot they simply couldn't pass on him. If he progresses quickly, it will be looked back on as a monster draft day steal.

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

Miller is a perfect fit for the Bengals, who shouldn't even think about signing Cedric Benson to another contract.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery's poor numbers in his final season were a reflection of the offense around him, not a lack of talent. He'd be a steal for the Browns.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Protecting Matthew Stafford is Detroit's biggest concern. Adams has enough talent to step in immediately to help make sure Stafford remains healthy.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Big Ben likes to hold onto the ball longer than most quarterbacks, making the Pittsburgh offensive line essential to the team's success.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Broncos need to upgrade their run defense, that's no secret. Deciding on which prospect to take is a tougher question to answer, but Cox seems like the most likely choice right now.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

After years of being a one-man attack on the outside for Houston, it's about time Andre Johnson starts to get some help. Wright would provide terrific value this deep in the round.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

It took until the final drive of the Super Bowl before New England's secondary was exposed in the playoffs, but it's an issue that must be addressed quickly.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins has top-15 talent, but some off-field issues during his time at Florida will cause his stock to slip. That will allow the CB-needy Packers to get him deep in the round.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict, and his temper, are a perfect fit for Baltimore's defensive scheme. He'll benefit from playing alongside a bunch of fiery guys like himself.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

The 49ers need to upgrade their receiving corps before next season to help Alex Smith. Sanu is a powerful wideout who's willing to work underneath the coverage.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is another upgrade for New England's porous secondary. He was one of the key cogs in Alabama's vaunted defense.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

New York could go several directions with this selection, but Allen appears to be the best fit to provide Eli Manning with another weapon.