NFL Draft 2012: Positions Where Immediate Impact Can Be Expected

It's one thing to fill a need, but when you can fill a need with a prospect who is primed to explode in his first NFL season, you've scored a touchdown.

Heading into the 2012 NFL draft, there are some positions that hold few NFL-ready prospects. But there are also some positions that are brimming with players who can make an immediate impact.

Here's a look at the top three positions holding NFL-ready gold this year.

Note: Position had to have at least three NFL-ready players to be included. Thus, quarterback was not included.

3. Offensive Tackle

Matt Kalil, Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin figure to be impact players from the very beginning.

While Martin didn't perform at an elite level at the combine, he's still a very good prospect. He's a complete offensive tackle, with the ability to hold up well against the run and the pass, and he missed only two games while at Stanford. He's also very technically sound and smart.

Kalil isn't a Joe Thomas-type prospect, but he's certainly an elite one. He was dominant protecting Matt Barkley's weak side at USC, and would be a prize to any NFL team.

Reiff ranks in between Kalil and Martin. He's a durable, smart player, who is powerful, explosive and fluid. There's no way Martin is drafted before him in my mind.

2. Cornerback

You have the elites, like Morris Claiborne and Dre Kirkpatrick, but Stephon Gilmore was impressive during the combine and Janoris Jenkins performed as expected.

In fact, Jenkins owned up to his past arrests for marijuana possession and appeared poised in interviews.

There's also Jamell Fleming of Oklahoma, who starred in the bench press and the broad jump. He has the chance of being selected in the first round.

1. Defensive Ends

I love this year's defensive end class.

Not only do you have 4-3 defensive ends like USC's Nick Perry and Clemson's Andre Branch, you also have defensive ends like Melvin Ingram and Whitney Mercilus, who have the ability to line up at the line or at outside linebacker.

There are also athletic freaks such as North Carolina's Quinton Coples and defensive tackle/3-4 defensive end hybrids like Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox.

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