2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Where Elite Playmakers Will Go in First Round

Sure, football games are won in the trenches. But let's be honest—we all love watching the flashy and exciting players the most.

Come on, you know its true. Steady and reliable can be boring.

Flashy and athletic is exciting and fun. That's just life.

So who are the flashy and athletic guys that should make plays all over the field and will be selected in the first round at the 2012 NFL draft?

Let's find out.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck proved he was an excellent athlete at the combine along with being an excellent pocket passer—this remains a no-brainer.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor *

Yes, I believe the Redskins will win the RGIII sweepstakes, and have for some time now. Word on the street is that they are willing to offer an arm and a leg to do so.

Griffin not only has all of the intangibles you want in a quarterback—maturity, intelligence, leadership and an engaging public persona—he has off-the-charts athleticism, a fantastic arm and the ability to make the big play.

The Redskins will not regret making this move.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

This pick is so obvious I've run out of things to say about it.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

If they can't make a move up to get Griffin (or don't want to), I believe they'll select the draft's best shutdown corner, Claiborne.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama **

And now things start to get crazy. That's right, I think the Bengals will move their 17th and 21st pick in the first round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this pick.

If you look at the Bengals, where is the one position you look at and think, "Man, that team could really use an upgrade"?

That's right, it's at running back. And with plenty of ammunition to move up, the Bengals will be glad to snag the surest bet at running back since Adrian Peterson and form a truly potent offensive attack.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Not only does St. Louis stockpile a bounty of picks from Washington, they get a player they would have considered drafting had they kept the second-overall pick. Talk about having a good day.

Blackmon is just what Sam Bradford needs, and though I think people slightly overrate him, he remains one of the elite playmakers in this draft.

That Jeff Fisher sure knew what he was doing when he took the Rams' vacant coaching position, huh?

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Jacksonville could go several ways with this pick, but I say they go with the underrated but highly talented corner Kirkpatrick, who is versatile enough that he could even be moved to safety if needed.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Another pick that is so obvious I've run out of things to say about it, considering the team desperately needs an upgrade at right tackle and likely will sign Matt Flynn rather than mortgage the future to trade up for Griffin.

9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Another team that could go in several directions with this pick, Coples would be the perfect complement at defensive end to Charles Johnson.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Ingram is versatile to play either 4-3 end or 3-4 outside linebacker, a huge plus for the Bills considering they are going to play more four-man fronts under new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt.

11. Kansas City Chiefs:  Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

The Chiefs will replace retiring nose tackle Kelly Gregg with the massive Poe, who earned a leap this far up the draft board after impressing everyone with his excellent performance at the NFL Combine.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 

The next shocker of the draft will belong to Seattle, who will look to fill a big need here.

Maybe I'm just to quick to think another team will replicate the Minnesota Vikings' shocking selection of Christian Ponder from last year's draft—or maybe it's that Seattle's most glaring need is at quarterback and I don't see them landing Griffin, Flynn or Peyton Manning—but I really think the Seahawks could go this route.

I wouldn't do it, but they just might.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

It was mediocre while it lasted, Levi Brown.

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

This pick will be much different if they are able to sign Carl Nicks to play guard in free agency, though apparently they aren't that high on Nicks in the first place.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

The Eagles would be better served signing Stephen Tulloch, who has already thrived in their wide nine scheme, but if they don't do that, Kuechly fits the bill for the Eagles both from a talent and team-need standpoint.

The man led the nation in tackles last year and proved how fantastic he was as an athlete—he can step in immediately and fill the team's dire need for a linebacker.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, USC

A great value pick here, Upshaw will be a force for the Jets as a 3-4 outside linebacker for years to come.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame***

After a very solid combine—and an excellent career at Notre Dame—Floyd could end up going even higher than this.

But if he is sitting at 17, the Bucs would be more than happy to snag some much-needed help at wide receiver for Josh Freeman. The team desperately needs playmakers at the skill positions, and Floyd fills that need quite nicely.

18. San Diego Chargers: Dont'a Hightower, MLB, Alabama

Takeo Spikes is old and needs a replacement. Enter Hightower.

19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery

I'm perplexed by Jeffery's choice to bypass running at the combine, but I think he'll wind up in an excellent situation with the Bears.

Well, as long as the team can agree to a long-term deal with Matt Forte and everyone is happy, that is. The trio of Jeffery, Forte and Jay Cutler will make Bears fans very, very happy in 2012.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC

The man who opened eyes at the combine will be too appealing for a Titans team in need of an upgrade to their pass-rush.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama****

Michael Floyd and Janoris Jenkins for Trent Richardson—the Bucs did well for themselves with this trade.

Jenkins may have some character concerns, but there is no questioning his athleticism or ability on the field. A great value pick for Tampa Bay here.

22. Cleveland Browns: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

This could be any number of running backs—the drop-off is fairly steep after Trent Richardson—but Miller's explosiveness makes him the Browns' choice.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

See a need, fill a need. The Lions need a center, and Konz is a good one. Sometimes, it's that simple.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is a steal this late. The Steelers always seem to end up with steals. Maybe they should be called the Stealers.

Then again, maybe not.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

Another steal this late, Still is too good to pass up for Denver.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright will need to run better at his pro day than he did at the combine (he posted a disappointing 4.61 in the 40-yard-dash), but I contend he will run better, and he is a great fit for the Texans.

27. New England Patriots: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 

He's 6'4" and 218 pounds, yet he blistered a 4.36 in his 40-yard-dash, has a 39.5-inch vertical jump and looked natural catching passes at combine drills.

He was stuck in a run-first offense at Georgia Tech and only had 28 catches this past year, but he turned them into 820 yards and led the nation with 29.3 yards per catch.

The Patriots can afford to take a chance on Hill and hope he develops into a poor man's Randy Moss for an offense that could use an outside threat at receiver.

28. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Thompson can play either nose tackle or defensive end in their 3-4 scheme.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

If he hadn't torn his pectoral muscle in the 2011 season, we would probably be talking about the 2010 second-team All-American being selected higher in the draft.

The Ravens will gladly take a player with a lot of talent who slips down the first round.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

San Francisco needs some playmakers at the wide receiver position. Remember the name Chris Givens—I think he'll sneak into the end of the first round.

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Mercilus led the NCAA in sacks in 2011 with 16, and the Patriots could use more production from their 3-4 outside linebackers. Seems a good fit to me.

32. New York Giants: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

Brown will be at his best as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme and is certainly fast enough to cover any tight end in the NFL, something the Giants lacked from their 'backers this year.

* The Redskins hypothetically trade the sixth pick in the first round, along with their second- and third-round pick this year and first-round pick next year to St. Louis for the second overall pick.

** The Bengals hypothetically trade the 17th and 21st picks in the first round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth pick in the first round.

*** From Cincinnati (from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade).

****From Cincinnati.

***** From New Orleans in last year's Mark Ingram trade.

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