NFL Mock Draft 2012: Bold Predictions for Top Playmakers in the Class

There are some dynamic playmakers in the 2012 NFL draft that are ready to explode onto the scene with huge rookie seasons.

These young men already have the athletic abilities to become dominant at the next level. All that remains to be seen is whether or not they can withstand the mental and physical rigors of a 16-game NFL season.

This mock draft is focused on those playmakers.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

Despite the recent rumblings about the possibility of RG3 to Indy, Luck is clearly the top dog in this race.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

The Redskins have recently set up multiple meetings with Luck (H/T ProFootballTalk), but in the end they will get their guy.

Griffin should excel within Mike and Kyle Shanahan's offense. Their rollout-happy scheme fits his natural abilities to a "T" and I expect him to have a better rookie season than Luck.

Bold prediction: Griffin will pass for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he's also going to throw 20-plus interceptions.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, USC

I'm sure you've all heard the rumors about the possibility of the third pick being traded, but that is just a result of Ryan Tannehill mania, and no team will actually make that deal. Kalil is the best and most obvious choice for the Vikings. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Floyd is a better NFL prospect and playmaker than Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery.

He proved that once and for all with a fantastic showing at his pro day, posting quality numbers in the short shuttle and three-cone drill, while standing on his 4.47 second 40-yard dash time from the combine.

Floyd gives the Browns a tremendous boost in their receiving corps, and his speed and athleticism on the outside should open things up tremendously for the running game and underneath passes.

Bold prediction: Floyd will catch 60-plus balls and eight touchdowns in his rookie year.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

The Bucs have been threatening to draft Trent Richardson here, but in the end, Claiborne is too good a player to pass up. Premier cornerbacks are much more valuable than premier running backs. Period.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

Blackmon will give Sam Bradford the help he needs to get back to the form we all saw in his rookie campaign.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End, South Carolina

Ingram is the best pass-rusher in the draft. He will give the Jaguars defense a big boost in that department, a true need.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, Texas A&M

After missing the combine while recovering from minor surgery, Tannehill blew scouts away at his pro day. The Dolphins are desperate for a franchise quarterback and they won't hesitate to pull the trigger on Tannehill.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Poe may not be the best defensive tackle in the draft, but he has the most upside. The Panthers had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year, and Poe gives them the beefcake in the middle they so desperately need.

10. Buffalo Bills: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Richardson is easily the best player on the board.

General manager Buddy Nix recently gave an interview to SiriusXM NFL Radio with Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, via Buffalobills.com, where he said the team wants to re-sign Fred Jackson before the start of training camp. 

That's not going to happen if Richardson falls to the Bills. 

Richardson is the best running back to come out of the draft. He's young and healthy, whereas Jackson is 31 years old and coming off of a major injury. Easy choice.

Bold prediction: Richardson will run for 1,600-plus yards, catch 35-plus passes, score 12-plus touchdowns and make the All-Pro team as a rookie.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, Stanford

One of the sure things in this year's draft, DeCastro is an incredible prospect. He will be productive from day one, and I expect him to be a yearly invitee to the Pro Bowl.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, Middle Linebacker, Boston College

David Hawthorne, the team's leading tackler, was just signed by the New Orleans Saints. This makes middle linebacker a massive need, and Kuechly has been rocketing up draft boards since his fantastic showing at the combine.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, Offensive Tackle, Georgia

The Cardinals are in desperate need of an offensive tackle, and Glenn is the best one left on the board. It may be a bit of a reach, but sometimes need is more important than drafting the best available.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, North Carolina

The Cowboys are searching for another dominant pass-rusher to pair with DeMarcus Ware. Coples possesses tantalizing athletic abilities, and Jerry Jones will become enamored.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State

The Eagles like to use their first-round picks on defense and they also like defensive tackles that can penetrate the pocket. Cox is their man.

16. New York Jets: Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

The Jets have been looking for a bell cow running back for a couple of years now. Miller isn't talked about much around the water cooler due to Richardson's presence in this year's draft, but he is a talented young man with much to offer.

Miller ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine, and he is easily the fastest running back in the draft. Not only is he fast, but Miller is also extremely fluid, changing direction with ease. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and should become an elite back given the right coaching.

Bold prediction: Miller will run for 1,300-plus yards and score eight or more touchdowns in his rookie year.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

Kirkpatrick's stock took a dive after pot charges were leveled against him, but they have since been dropped (H/T ESPN). He followed that up with a phenomenal pro day, and he will give the Bengals and Mike Zimmer another good cornerback to play with.

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, USC

The Chargers were hopelessly lost on defense when Shaun Phillips went down with an injury; they need another pass-rushing outside linebacker. Perry is a phenomenal prospect, and they will run to the podium to select him.

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

The Bears will be better off if Jay Cutler is on his feet. Martin is an underrated prospect that will shine once he's given the opportunity, and he's the best offensive tackle left on the board.

20. Tennessee Titans: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU

The Titans will be thrilled to see Brockers fall in their laps here. He is a raw, but talented prospect as a penetrating defensive tackle very much in the same vein as a young Albert Haynesworth.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

Jay Gruden and Andy Dalton get a shiny new toy. Jeffery is a steal here, and the Bengals' offensive production will continue to improve in 2012 with him opposite A.J. Green.

22. Cleveland Browns: Kevin Zeitler, Offensive Guard, Wisconsin

The Browns let Eric Steinbach go, creating a need at offensive guard position. Zeitler paved many a wide road for Montee Ball at Wisconsin, and he will be a good player for a long time.

23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

Jenkins has too many red flags to be taken this high, but Jim Schwartz would love the challenge of turning this kid into an All-Pro.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Ben Roethlisberger deserves to be protected. It's about time the Steelers did something about that, and Adams has the potential to become the best offensive tackle in the draft with some hard work and dedication.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, Defensive Tackle, Penn State

The Broncos need a run-stuffer in the middle of their defense. Still gives them just what they're looking for, and he should be a starter from day one.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

Wright is an impressive prospect. He will be a perfect fit to play opposite Andre Johnson in the Texans' explosive offense.

Wright is quick, agile and can make some spectacular catches. He will be deadly as a slot receiver, and with Johnson and Jacoby Jones on the roster, you can be sure he'd get plenty of chances to line up all over the field.

Bold prediction: Wright will catch 75-plus balls for over 1,000 yards and catch eight-plus touchdowns in his rookie season.

27. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Alabama

Upshaw has his limitations, but as a pure pass-rusher, he's one of the best in the draft. He is also versatile, and his ability to play both the 3-4 and 4-3 makes him a perfect fit for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

28. Green Bay Packers: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

The Packers were atrocious in pass coverage last year, and Gilmore is a highly skilled, underrated prospect they'd be lucky to land here at the end of the first round.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

Matt Birk doesn't have much left in his old bones, and Konz is the best prospect in the draft to replace him. Konz can also play guard if need be, and he is a perfect fit for the Ravens.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Hill is a prospect that reminds me of a young Terrell Owens. Let's hope he doesn't have the same kind of attitude, because with natural abilities like his, he could become one of the most dangerous playmakers in the NFL.

31. New England Patriots: Chris Polk, Running Back, Washington

The Patriots haven't really had issues with production on offense despite the fact that they haven't had an elite running back since the early 2000s. 

That doesn't mean they wouldn't be even better with one. Polk has all the tools to become one of the league's best running backs.

He's not the fastest guy on the field, but he possesses excellent patience and vision when waiting on his blocks to develop. Once the hole is clear, Polk can pop through that sucker as well as any back in the league.

The best part about his skill set is that Polk is an excellent pass-catching running back, making him a perfect fit for Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.

Bold Prediction: Polk will rush for 1,000-plus yards, catch 50-plus balls for over 500 yards and score over 12 total touchdowns.

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, Tight End, Stanford

The Giants have been deadly on offense the last few years, but losing Mario Manningham to the 49ers will be more than a bit inconvenient. Fleener gives Eli Manning another big target, and as a tight end, he's as fast as most wide receivers.

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