2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players That Will Make Massive Impact in Rookie Seasons

The 2012 NFL Draft is just five weeks away, and that means teams are gearing up to select rookies capable of lifting their team to new heights next season.

Although the top of the board looks to be set, with two top-notch quarterbacks stealing the show, there are a handful of underrated prospects primed for big rookie seasons that will find new homes this spring as well.

Join Bleacher Report as we mock the entire first round and highlight some rookies poised for big first years along the way.

No. 1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB

Although it seems that Robert Griffin III gains more ground on Luck every day as the draft nears, he's the prototypical NFL quarterback that Indy lacks.

No. 2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams 2-14): Robert Griffin III, Baylor, QB

With so much invested already in the No. 2 pick, Washington is devoted to landing the Heisman Trophy winner.

No. 3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, USC, OT

USC's Matt Kalil is not a sexy top-five pick for the Vikings, but he is ready to step in and make a massive impact in 2012. Kalil is 6'7", 306 pounds and has impressive 34-inch arms capable of keeping defenders at bay in the passing game and clearing running lanes for Adrian Peterson. 

No. 4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, Alabama, RB

With running back Peyton Hillis lost to the Kansas City Chiefs the Browns could use a solid runner.

No. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB

Morris Claiborne has the potential to make a significant impact right away for the Bucs. The former LSU play-maker can become a force on special teams, in the returning game as well as defense, where he thrives as an athletic corner with long arms and big hands.

No. 6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins 5-11): Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR

Can you name a St. Louis Rams wide receiver? The Rams have to take the obvious deep threat in Blackmon at No. 6.

No. 7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE

Forget about missing out on Tim Tebow, Jags fans, Jacksonville's porous D is the real problem.

No. 8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M, QB

With the Dolphins striking out on landing a quality quarterback during free agency, and Brett Favre good and retired, they will likely take Tannehill, who would be reunited with former Aggies head coach Mike Sherman, who is now the OC in Miami.

No. 9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, DE

For as sensational as Cam Newton was on the offensive end in 2011, the Panthers were equally as horrible at stopping opponents on the ground and through the air.

No. 10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

A fundamental LB with tons of leadership, Boston College's Luke Kuechly will certainly be a target of the Bills, who could use a rock in their linebacking corps. 

No. 11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

In order to get the offense back on track in 2012, KC needs to find a dependable offensive tackle to cap the O-line.

No. 12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB

Upshaw is without a doubt one of the best pass-rushers available this April, and that means he'll make an incredible impact in his rookie year. The Seahawks could use his instincts and toughness, as well as his versatility in the coverage game.

No. 13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

The Cardinals have allowed 50-plus sacks in each of the past two seasons following the departure of Kurt Warner, so offensive line is expected to be a major focus for Arizona in 2012.

No. 14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

Dallas was haunted by its underachieving secondary last season, so a defensive back seems like a no-brainer at No. 14.

No. 15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DT

If you watched any of Philly's games last season, you saw how easy opponents rushed up the middle on them. Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox has the body to dominate, and proved it at the combine where he excelled. Arguably the most talented DT in college football last season, Cox will surely make his presence felt in his rookie season. 

No. 16. New York Jets (8-8): David Wilson, Virginia Tech, RB

The Jets' move to acquire Tim Tebow from the Denver Broncos was definitely a head-scratcher, but they still need to bolster their backfield with some speed.

No. 17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders 8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

Cincinnati will draft defense with their first selection in this round. After all, they play in the AFC North with the Ravens and Steelers. Alabama's Mark Barron is the top safety in the draft and should find a new home by the middle of the round.

No. 18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

Not a sexy pick for the Bolts, who lost wide receiver Vincent Jackson during free agency, but Philip Rivers is only as good as his offensive line.

No. 19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Drafting Notre Dame's Michael Floyd as insurance for the highly-unpredictable Brandon Marshall would be a wise move for the Chicago Bears.

No. 20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Cordy Glenn, Georgia, G

An absolute monster in terms of physical size, Georgia's Cordy Glenn will make waves in his first NFL season in 2012. The big, versatile offensive lineman has 35-inch arms and 10-inch hands. Chris Johnson should find plenty of running room behind the big fella. 

No. 21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Mike Adams, Ohio State, OT

The Bengals have their franchise quarterback in Andy Dalton, so now they just need to protect him. 

No. 22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons 10-6): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Poe is shooting up draft boards because of his ideal NFL frame and size. The Browns have shored up some prospects on the D-line already, but that doesn't mean they cannot improve. Poe has all the traits and characteristics to be great at the next level, and look for him to make a major impact in his rookie year.

No. 23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

A secondary that was torched routinely at season's end in 2011 could use the services of Dre Kirkpatrick, who was a critical part of Alabama's recent national championship.

No. 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

The uncertainty on the outside for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers clearly warrants taking a wideout in the first round, especially one as promising as Baylor's Kendall Wright.

No. 25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers, LSU, DT

Brockers measured up huge at the combine, and can make new Bronco Peyton Manning's life that much easier by terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. 

No. 26. Houston Texans (10-6): Andre Branch, Clemson, DT

A Super Bowl-caliber defense could get even scarier this spring when the Houston Texans build on a dominant D-line that suffered a significant setback when DE Mario Williams signed with the Bills.

No. 27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints (13-3): Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB

It's no surprise that the Pats need help on the defensive side of the ball, where they were pounded a season ago.

No. 28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chandler Jones, Syracuse, DE

Clay Matthews was on double-team island last season, and the result was an early playoff exit for the Green Bay Packers. An underrated pass rusher in DE Chandler Jones would be a quality pickup for a team that always seems to draft well.

No. 29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, CB

The Ravens have kept their renowned defense alive and well through the draft over the years, and 2012 will be no different as they look to find another piece capable of getting them past Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger in the playoffs.

No. 30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Zebrie Sanders, Florida State, OT

The least that Jim Harbaugh and the Niners can do for Alex Smith, after attempting to land Peyton Manning and failing, is provide him with some protection up front. 

No. 31. New England Patriots (13-3): Whitney Mercilus, Illinois, DE

A tall, strong and long defensive end with an impressive college resume—11 forced fumbles during his career, including nine in 2011 alone—Whitney Mercilus would be a solid acquisition for a New England team looking to retool defensively.

No. 32. New York Giants (9-7): Lamar Miller, Miami, RB

With Brandon Jacobs lost to free agency and Eli Manning heading into 2012 as the most wanted passer in the league, the defending Super Bowl champion Giants could easily take a wild card offensive weapon in Miami's Lamar Miller. Miller demonstrated some shifty moves and elusiveness last season with the Hurricanes.