2012 NFL Mock Draft: Trent Richardson and Other RBs Who Make an Immediate Impact

Selecting a running back in the NFL draft is arguably more difficult than any other position.

One main reason lies in the physicality of the game.

Despite the league having all kinds of rule changes to increase safety, running backs are still hitting the trenches hard and getting slammed by defensive lineman and linebackers.

In short, finding that running back who can make an immediate impact and do so for the next eight to 10 seasons is vital to consistent success.

Round 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Trent Richardson (Alabama)

Yes, Tampa Bay already has LeGarrette Blount, however, he was largely inconsistent last year and finished on a low note.

In Tampa's final three games, Blount only managed 44 yards on 17 carries and it was no surprise the Buccaneers were blasted in each contest.

Therefore, to help Blount and take pressure off the improved passing game from free agency, Alabama's Trent Richardson bodes well in Tampa. Richardson comes into the NFL as the best running back prospect and not nearly as beat up as most college ball-carries.

Despite having to play in the SEC, Richardson was a reliable No. 2 back behind Mark Ingram in 2009 and 2010. During those years, Richardson gained 1,451 rushing and 392 receiving yards and scored 18 total touchdowns.

Taking over as the No. 1 back in 2011, Richardson was a Heisman Finalist and compiled over 2,000 total yard and accounted for 24 total touchdowns.

And it's not like the Crimson Tide had a dominating passing attack, as Julio Jones had left for the NFL the year before.

Tampa Bay has upgraded its offense and the addition of Richardson will create multiple threats in the backfield and passing game.

Round 1: New York Giants, Doug Martin (Boise State)

Despite winning the Super Bowl for a second time in four years over the New England Patriots, the New York Giants have a few holes to fill.

The first should be finding that complementary running back to Ahmad Bradshaw after Brandon Jacobs was released earlier this month.

Here, we see Boise State Brahma Bull Doug Martin at the end of Round 1.

Last season, the Giants ranked dead last in rushing offense, averaging just 89.2 yards on the ground per game. Thankfully for Eli Manning and the passing offense, New York was able to win the division while the pass rush took over most games.

That said, if Big Blue wants any shot at defending their title, enhancing the ground attack is imperative.

Combined, Bradshaw and Jacobs totaled just 1,230 rushing yards and averaged under four yards per carry. Adding Martin in 2012 will significantly boost New York's ability to control the trenches, as Boise's Bronco pummeled with consistency.

Martin's final two seasons combined for over 2,500 yards rushing and almost 600 yards receiving. In his final three seasons, Martin scored 43 rushing touchdowns and gaining 5.7 yards per rush.

With excellent size and ball-carrier vision, Martin can bowl over would-be tacklers and possesses the agility to make moves in the open field.

Round 3: Cleveland Browns, LaMichael James (Oregon)

The Cleveland Browns are desperate for help virtually at every position.

However, with two first-round picks, at least one of those will address the receiver position—otherwise Cleveland will continue to lack any kind of passing game.

Defensively there is potential, as Joe Haden remains a stud corner and the front seven still has linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. As long as Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard continue to develop, the Browns will improve against the run.

Therefore, with Peyton Hillis gone to Kansas City, Cleveland's best running back is Brandon Jackson—who didn't even play last season due to injury.

Aside from Hillis, the Browns best ball-carrier was Chris Ogbonnaya with 334 yards and one touchdown.

Taking Oregon's LaMichael James early in Round 3 will certainly spruce up the ground game and their west-coast offense.

In three seasons for the Ducks, James was arguably the most consistent running back in college football. He gained 1,546 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in 2009, 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2010 and 1,805 yards with 18 touchdowns in 2011.

Not to mention, but James also caught 51 passes for 586 yards during his tenure. A dual-threat back with excellent speed, agility, lateral quickness and acceleration, LaMichael in Cleveland takes pressure off the passing game, the defense and is just one exciting player to watch.

Cleveland simply needs to get quarterback Colt McCoy some help, because after having 14 touchdowns to just nine picks and over 2,500 yards with zero help through 12 games in 2011, the man has the potential.

Round 3: Washington Redskins, Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati)

Enhancing their receiving corps via free agency in the expectation of drafting Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Washington Redskins still need that versatile ball-carrier to draw up defenses and make plays out of the backfield.

To that end, Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead comes early in Round 3 for the Redskins, who after selecting No. 2 overall, won't be doing so until this selection.

Pead was Mr. Everything in the Bearcats offense and accounted for 1,578 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011. He was the Bearcats fourth leading receiver and has continued to up his draft stock since the Senior Bowl.

Last year, Washington ranked No. 25 in rushing offense by averaging only 100.9 yards per game on the ground. Additionally, the Redskins' leading rusher was Roy Helu with just 640 yards and two touchdowns.

Pead has the potential to be Washington's franchise back and, with RG3 doing work in the passing game and setting up the run, the Redskins are on the verge of fielding a complete offense.

Considering that the NFC East is loaded with excellent pass-rushers like DeMarcus Ware, Trent Cole and Jason Pierre-Paul, having that dynamic back can limit the pass-rush pressure. And, with Griffin's mobility, Pead will be even more reliable and productive on screens and check downs.

2012 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)	17. Cincinnati Bengals (From OAK): Janoris Jenkins, CB (Northern Alabama)
2. Washington Redskins: (From STL): Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)	18. San Diego Chargers: Dontari Poe, DT (Memphis)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	19. Chicago Bears: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)
4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)	20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)	21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)
6. St. Louis Rams (From WAS): Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)	22. Cleveland Browns (From ATL): Courtney Upshaw, LB (Alabama)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)	23. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (North Carolina)
8. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)	24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB (Alabama)
9. Carolina Panthers: Melvin Ingram, LB/DE (South Carolina)	25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT (Mississippi State)
10. Buffalo Bills: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)	26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR (Baylor)
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)	27. New England Patriots (From NO): Whitney Mercilus, DE (Illinois)
12. Seattle Seahawks: Devon Still, DT (Penn State)	28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE (USC)
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT (Stanford)	29. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Zeitler, OG (Wisconsin)
14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (North Carolina)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB (Boston College)	31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DT (Michigan State)
16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR (Notre Dame)	32. New York Giants: Doug Martin, RB (Boise State)

John Rozum on Twitter.