2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Players That'll Make Biggest Impact Instantly

The NFL is all about urgency.

The job of a head coach is never safe and winning now is the only option. So the thought process of a team’s coaching staff when the draft rolls around is, “who can help me stay employed?”

Some players need a few years of seasoning on an established team to truly blossom while other could have played in the league last year.

Here are some of player’s most likely to make a massive splash from Day One in my latest first-round mock draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Colts are all-in on rebuilding the franchise and it starts with Luck. Rarely have you read criticism about him. So how will he react when the Colts lose three of their first four games?

That’s the only thing we don’t know about him at this point.

Luck is everything you want in a No. 1 pick. He has a rocket arm, incredible instincts and is very athletic for a QB. A 4.67 40-yard dash shows he has Cam Newton speed. He has the prototypical frame as well at 6’4’’, 235 pounds.

This guy is going to be a star eventually. If the Colts have any hope of winning more than four games in 2012, Luck has to be great from the minute he steps foot in the Colts’ facilities.  

2. St. Louis Rams (Washington Redskins) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins are mortgaging the franchise on a QB with 4.3 speed and an accurate arm on the run. It’s crazy to think that a year ago few really knew his name and now teams are fighting for his services.

That means RGIII with be expected to kick Rex Grossman and John Beck to the curb instantly. Griffin III will be getting the keys from Day One and the pressure is going to be high.

Like Luck and the Colts, RGIII has to be outstanding from the get-go for the Redskins to compete in the ultra-competitive NFC East.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The problem with the Vikings is that they don‘t seem to like Justin Blackmon. If you can get the next Calvin Johnson you do it.

Instead, the Vikings are going to go conservative with Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon’s senior season in college (121 receptions, 1522 yards, 18 TDs) was one of the greatest in the past 10 years. His Fiesta Bowl performance showed he wasn’t afraid of the moment. Standing at 6’1’’ and 215 pounds, Blackmon is a physical specimen that is rarely seen at any level of the game.

Nobody is going to have as big of an impact right off the bat as Blackmon. He can be the guy that ends up saving Colt McCoy’s career with the Browns. Throw it in the vicinity and he’ll figure out a way to catch it. If anything, his production will not be as high as it should be because of his QB.

Here’s my pick for offensive rookie of the year.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne’s combine performance was a reminder he is the best defensive player in the draft.  

The Bucs need him to be ready to go from Day One to shore up their 21^st ranked pass defense.

6. Washington Redskins (St. Louis Rams) - Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

While I have my concerns with Coples' motivation after landing a huge contract, it seems as if the consensus is that he has the tools to become a premier pass rusher in the NFL.

The Rams have to get more pressure on the quarterback to help out the secondary. Nothing cures a horrific defense quite like a strong pass rush.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Jags need a run-stuffer to hide their other deficiencies and Brockers is the best in the draft. He should have an impact in his first year, but it may take a while.

8. Miami Dolphins- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Will the Dolphins go O-Line in the first round for the second year in a row?

Maybe they made a promise to Peyton Manning that they will get the best available offensive linemen if he came to Miami.

9. Carolina Panthers - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Carolina has to get a high-impact guy to shore up a horrific defense and Poe can dominate quickly. At 6’5’’ and 350 pounds, Poe is incredibly hard to push and is going to be one of the strongest players in the entire NFL. He won the bench press competition at the Combine while also running a blazing fast 40-yard time.

While Poe won’t have to show off his jets very often, he can provide the bulk up the middle to save the weak Carolina run defense.

10. Buffalo Bills - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin is the third best offensive linemen in a draft with plenty of needy teams. Buffalo has to give Ryan Fitzpatrick more time in the pocket and Martin can be part of the solution.

11. Kansas City Chiefs - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Two Stanford O-linemen in a row? Yessir.

12. Seattle Seahawks - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw has received mix reviews of late but it’s hard to ignore one of the best player’s on a historically good defense.

Upshaw is a winner and the Seahawks need more of those guys around.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The knee issues with Richardson are lingering and people are beginning to forget just how strong and fast he was in college.

Richardson has turned into a risky pick of sorts and in a league with mostly conservative owners, that’s not a good thing.

14. Dallas Cowboys - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Despite all of the character issues, Jenkins is an incredible talent and worthy of a top-15 pick. An owner like Jerry Jones could care less how many baby mamas he has.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

The Eagles are ready to win now and need to ensure they draft a player with the ability to make an instant impact. Ingram can come in and shore up a weak defensive front that was one of the main reasons Philly disappointed in 2011.  

16. New York Jets - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd might be better than Blackmon. He is polished and as versatile as they come at the position.

Floyd, who stands at 6’3’’ and 225 pounds, can make an impact instantly. He is the guy you can rely on to net you a first down when it’s third and long with his outstanding route-running ability and instincts.

He has the explosiveness and strength to be one of the most dangerous players in the league rather quickly.

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

One of the fastest players in the draft would be expected to carry the ball 20 to 25 times for the Bengals. Cedric Benson is likely on his way out and backup Bernard Scott is too fragile for that sort of workload.

Miller is a speed demon and big enough to handle 300 carries. With only two years of collegiate experience he is a bit raw, but also has fresh legs and an incredible opportunity.

18. San Diego Chargers - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Vincent Jackson looking to score a huge deal, they take the best available receiver with Wright.

They are crossing their fingers that Michael Floyd is still on the board because the difference between the two is huge.

19 Chicago Bears - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bears need to start planning for the future with their defense and landing Kirkpatrick is a strong place to start.   

20. Tennessee Titans - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

He doesn’t do much damage behind the line of scrimmage and that has scouts wondering if he can do it at the NFL level.

Kuechly is a tackling machine and can help right away, but his ceiling is limited.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Bengals need depth on the line and Glenn is the best available.

22. Cleveland Browns - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Assuming Cleveland loses out on RGIII, they get the next best QB in Tannehill.

This isn’t a smart move.

Tannehill has an erratic release and played in a college system that allowed him to churn out gaudy stats. He is a project and Cleveland has to be patient with him.

Easier said than done.

23. Detroit Lions - Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The secondary fell apart in the playoffs and Barron can start from Day One. He brings a winning attitude and a sense of toughness that is beginning to describe the entire unit.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Standing at 6’5’’ and 310 pounds, Still won’t have to travel far to begin his professional career.

Casey Hampton is on his last legs and now is the time to groom his replacement.

25. Denver Broncos - Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

The Broncos had almost zero production from their tight ends in the passing game and take the best player at the position with Allen.

Here’s another team that may have a secret deal with Peyton Manning to appease his needs.

26. Houston Texans - Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

Once Andre Johnson went down with a leg injury the lack of receiver depth was visible. Randle has first-round value because of his ability to return kicks.  

The junior left school early and doesn’t possess the refinement of Blackmon or Floyd. He ran a mediocre 4.55 40 and scouts have to be concerned with the way his play declined as the season went progressed.

27. New England Patriots - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Pats need to beef up the pass rush and might as well get a specialist. Mercilus has long arms and quick feet, which allowed him to be rather dominating in the Big 10 last season.

28. Green Bay Packers - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.

The Packers were destroyed up the middle last year and landing Cox this far back would be a steal for a team looking to erase the painful memories of last season.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Matt Birk is on the cusp of retiring and Konz can play right away. You won’t be hearing his name very often, but Konz is going to be a big contributor right off the bat for whatever team drafts him.   

30. San Francisco 49ers - Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dennard ended up getting bumped out of the first round before it’s all said and done. He has not had the greatest past couple of months.

31. New England Patriots - Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

The worst secondary in the league needs help and Boykin is a strong fit for the Pats’ system.

32. New York Giants - Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Giants are going to lose multiple players via free agency and their biggest needs are bound to change. For now, they take a reliable lineman that can help right off the bat. 

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