2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams Desperate for Skilled Athletes

The clock ticks down until NFL draft day, and there are several teams that can't wait for what will be like Christmas Day. Their teams will get the exact athlete their team craves at the moment. 

What we have here is a mock draft with some pizazz. The best athletes and those freaks of the industry are targeted. 

There are some teams that are getting thin on guys that can go all-out beast mode, and we fix that for them by selecting the guys that can flat out amaze with their physicality. 

Here is the 2012 NFL Draft, mocked with skilled athletes for teams that need them most.  

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

Peyton Manning bowed out gracefully. The wounds will one day heal, and Andrew Luck is the man the Colts hope will hasten the healing. 

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

TRADE (Redskins) Skilled Athlete Alert

The Rams are keen on flipping this pick to the highest bidder, and we still have that as the Washington Redskins.

If the Skins strikeout on Peyton Manning, they will push hard for RG3 who is as freaky as athletes come. This franchise is desperate for a star quarterback.

Griffin can flat out fly and has a huge arm, both things that will put people in the stands for as long as RG3 is in Washington.  

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

The Vikings need help on the line. Kalil is that rare player that you can guarantee will infuse his will on the offensive line for years to come. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

Skilled Athlete Alert

Here we have an intriguing selection. Richardson has had minor knee surgery but should be just fine. This man is a beast that is ridiculously hard to bring down. 

The Browns may be in the running for RG3, but they need a running back that can dominate, and that's Richardson. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

Claiborne is the biggest, baddest corner on the board, and a player that can shutdown some of the best in the game is just what the Bucs need.   

6. Washington Redskins (5-10): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

TRADE (Rams) Skilled Athlete Alert

The Rams move back to get another freak on the board. Justin Blackmon has had his overall top speed questioned, but there is no signs of that ever being an issue. 

He is strong and dominates all corners to the ball. He has a great first step and will beat just about anyone with quickness and overall athletic ability. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

He has had his consistency questioned but has been nothing but solid through the draft process. The more we go along, the stronger his case as a top 10 prospect. 

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

The Dolphins are among the leaders to get Peyton Manning. If that happens, they will have to make sure that offensive line is in the best shape possible. 

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

Brockers is sliding down many draft boards, but I still like him at this point. He may not have had the best combine, but I can't ignore his 54 tackles, including 10 for loss and two sacks.  

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

Kuechly came into the combine as the exact opposite of a skilled freak, because speed and size were question marks. After a great week in Indy, those questions are well behind him. 

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

The Chiefs will rely on the run once again, and Martin comes in as the best run blocker on the board.  

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, DE

We hear a lot about motor through the draft process and never stop to think what it means. Take a look at Ingram and his unrelenting passion and you will realize what it looks like. 

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

I could see the Cardinals nabbing a strong linebacker, but they have too many holes in the secondary. Kirkpatrick is exactly what they need to get some youth back on the corners. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, OLB

Upshaw is all over the place on draft boards. I love him for the Cowboys as a player that plays with passion and heart, something that could be useful in Dallas. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

The Eagles would have been far better had they been able to plug the holes and stop the run every now and again. Brown is on his way. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

Skilled Athletes Alert

Mark Barron gives the Jets depth and versatility in what schemes they can run. He is also the most athletic safety in the nation, boasting size, seep and strength.

He will show all those talents in the open field when he drops some devastating tackles. He is perfect for the Jets tough defense.   

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via 8-7 Oakland Raiders): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

I say he is the steal of the draft if he continues to slide. There are the obvious character issues, but his athletic acumen makes it easy for scouts to overlook.  

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

The Chargers need help on the line which was inconsistent at best in 2011. I still have DeCastro as the best available here.  

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Skilled Athlete Alert

The Bears need a star receiver that can infuse some physicality on the wings. I liked Floyd before the combine, and love him now. 

He did enough to solidify his status as a first-round pick, running a the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds and looking fluid in drills.  

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

It's pretty hard to move a mountain, and that is why I love Cordy Glenn. 

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

Skilled Athlete Alert

Miller has some questions on durability, but you can't deny his talents as a running back that can cause frustrations for defenses.

He has breakaway quickness which has him getting to the second level in an instant. He went into the combine with questions on his overall top speed which have now been quieted. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via 9-6 Atlanta Falcons): Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M, QB

The Browns continue to beat the bushes hoping a new quarterback will fall out of them. I don't see them getting Peyton Manning, and I think they will whiff on RG3. 

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB

Dennard looked uncomfortable in back-peddle drills and saw his tremendous stock take a huge hit. He is dropping fast, possibly out of the first round.  

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, ILB

With James Farrior gone, Hightower would bring youth and promise to the defense. This is a match made in defensive heaven. 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Harrison Smith, Notre Dame, Safety

Skilled Athlete Alert

I would never have thought to include Smith on a list of flat-out great athletes before the combine, but then he just killed it. 

Smith looked amazing at the combine and showed the ability to fit in as a corner or safety. His stock is rising as one of the most versatile safeties in the nation.   

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Skilled Athlete Alert

The Texans may not be hurting for freakishly-gifted athletes, but we had to tag Poe for his exploits. He laid down a 4.98 40-yard dash and managed 44 bench press reps. Ridiculous.

27. New England Patriots (via 12-3 New Orleans Saints): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

He finally put all his tools together and is one of the hardest working athletes in the field. 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DE/DT

Fletcher Cox had a solid combine and can fit pretty much anywhere on the line. The Packers could get a great deal of use out of him.  

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

The Ravens can go a number of different ways, but I still think that they need a burner on the outside that can establish himself as a star. That's Wright. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Devon Still, Penn State, DT

He is another player that is slipping towards the second round, but I say that you can't overlook his skill set, which is immense.  

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, S

He had a little set back with minor knee surgery, but he should be just fine and ready to establish himself as a true first rounder. 

32. New York Giants (9-7): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

Branch handles his size well and switches direction with ease. He did enough already to be a first-round selection. 

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