2012 NFL Mock Draft: Best Athletes Ready to Shine Immediately

The 2012 NFL draft is less than three weeks away, and there are a plethora of gifted athletes ready to shine the moment they hit the field.

So which athletes will go where?

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

Andrew Luck has the ideal pocket-passer look and attributes to lure the Colts.

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

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III is arguably the greatest athlete available this spring. He has a gifted arm to go along with untouchable open-field speed and quickness.

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

An athlete in his own right, USC's Matt Kalil will be a mainstay on whatever offensive line he is drafted too this April.

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

A freakish athlete with incredible strength, Trent Richardson leads off an intriguing draft class of running backs.

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

Despite his struggles on the Wonderlic test, Morris Claiborne remains one of the top football players out there in 2012. Claiborne can make game-changing plays in the return game as well as on defense.

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

The Rams' lack of explosion on offense is obvious, and if Justin Blackmon is still on the board at No. 6, they would be clueless to pass on him. 

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

They say that defense wins championships, and regardless of how stout the Jags defense was in 2011, it wasn't good enough to even get Jacksonville to the playoffs.

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

Miami's strikeout in free agency will ultimately lead to it reaching for a big pocket presence in Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill.

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

Cam Newton and the offense are not the problem in Carolina; rather, it's the defense, which gave up far too many yards on the ground and through the air. An athletic and versatile defender like Melvin Ingram is a no-brainer at No. 9 for the Panthers.

No. 10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, Iowa, OT

The Bills will need to protect their long-term quarterback prospect Ryan Fitzpatrick for years to come.

No. 11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB

The Chiefs could use an intelligent linebacker in the middle of their defense, and Kuechly looks to be arguably the best available.

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

Upshaw showed devastating ability at Alabama over the past few years and is another smart choice outside the top 10 for a team like Seattle.

No. 13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): David DeCastro, Stanford, G

The Cardinals have allowed more than 100 sacks combined over the past two seasons, and if that continues they will be drafting early once again in 2013.

No. 14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT

Rob Ryan's defense was the major reason the Cowboys failed to meet expectations and reach the playoffs in 2011 despite leading the NFC East late in the season. Memphis' Dontari Poe is picking up draft steam as the big day approaches, and for good reason—he is a big man with big upside.

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

The Niners were just one of the teams that ran up, over and around the Philadelphia Eagles' defense in 2011. Forget about Michael Vick and the offense, the defense must be shored up before September. 

No. 16. New York Jets (8-8): Mark Barron, Alabama, S

Somewhat of an unheard guy out of Alabama, safety Mark Barron has all the physical abilities scouts and coaches look for in strong defensive secondary players.

No. 17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders 8-8): Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, CB

Secondary help is critical for the Bengals this offseason, as they lack a consistent playmaking talent on the outside of their defense. Janoris Jenkins has off-the-field concerns, but he is a skilled athlete who flourished on the field at Florida and North Alabama. 

No. 18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Jonathan Martin, Stanford, OT

Philip Rivers went down far too many times last season, and the Chargers' 8-8 finish illustrated that. Though Stanford's Jonathan Martin isn't the best offensive tackle prospect out there, he is certainly a helpful pickup. 

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

Although the Bears have acquired Brandon Marshall, their wide receiving corps is still depleted for the most part—that is, unless they draft Notre Dame's big wideout Michael Floyd.

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

A massive offensive lineman, Georgia's Cordy Glenn can provide a running wall for running back Chris Johnson in Tennessee. 

No. 21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Kendall Wright, Baylor, WR

Just like his former Baylor teammate Robert Griffin III, Kendall Wright is a super-talented athlete that will make an impact right away in the NFL. Wright can line up alongside A.J. Green to form a dynamic receiving duo in Cincy.

No. 22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons 10-6): Mike Adams, Ohio State, OT

Colt McCoy took a brutal beating behind the Browns' offensive line in 2011, and in order for Cleveland to have any success next season, it will need a franchise cornerstone up front on the line. 

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

The Lions were torched by the Packers and Saints through the air to end the 2011 season, and adding a quality cornerback prospect like Dre Kirkpatrick is a good step to ensure their defense remains playoff-caliber.

No. 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB

The Steelers can add a great fitting piece to their defense in Alabama's Dont'a Hightower. 

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

Denver needs to fill the space up front on the defensive line, and what better way to do that than by drafting a physical specimen like Michael Brockers?

No. 26. Houston Texans (10-6): Rueben Randle, LSU, WR

Somewhat of a dark horse pick at No. 26, LSU's Rueben Randle has the superior size and athleticism to shine in an offense that is led by Andre Johnson on the outside.

No. 27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints (13-3): Andre Branch, Clemson, DE

The Patriots came oh so close in 2011, but in the end it was their defense that let up a game-winning drive to the Giants. 

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

The Packers lacked the pass rush that helped them win a Super Bowl in 2010, but Syracuse's Chandler Jones can provide another threat to opposing quarterbacks in 2012.

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

The Ravens have a history built on defense and dominant play from the secondary. South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore can learn from the best in Baltimore and help carry the torch in the future. 

No. 30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Whitney Mercilus, Illinois, DE

The Niners need to keep their D-line athletic in 2012 if they are to return to the NFC Championship Game. Illinois' Whitney Mercilus is one of the best athletes in the draft. 

No. 31. New England Patriots (13-3): Jerel Worthy, Michigan State, DT

A long-term backup plan for Vince Wilfork in the middle of the Pats' defense, Michigan State's Jerel Worthy can plug up gaps with the best of them.

No. 32. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB

If the New York Giants want to get back to the Super Bowl next season, they need to build on what got them there in 2012: their defense.