2012 NFL Draft Projections: Where Top Offensive Stars Will Land

Offensive players should dominate the top 10 of the 2012 NFL Draft. While this year's draft class is heavy on defensive talent, the first few picks are most likely to come from the offensive ranks. 

Here is a look at where the top offensive stars will end up going. This list is focused on skill position players who have made headlines in college. 

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been tossing tweets out that suggest the team could take either of the top quarterbacks available in this year's draft with the No. 1 overall pick. While that is sure to raise some eyebrows, don't buy whatever Irsay is trying to sell. 

The Colts will take Luck with the top pick because he is the best player available. The Stanford quarterback has been projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft for well over a year now and nothing has changed. He is the most polished, complete quarterback prospect to enter the NFL in more than a decade and there should be no doubt that he will end up under center for the Colts next season.

Luck has it all: accuracy, arm strength, leadership ability, smarts and mobility. That is everything you could want from a franchise quarterback. The Colts not only have to take him, they will.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

In 2011 Griffin put up monster numbers for the Baylor Bears and won the Heisman Trophy as a result. He showed improved arm strength and accuracy and used his 4.41 speed to make plays when things broke down in the passing game.

He has the size, athleticism and arm to be a special player in the NFL and while he still needs to develop, he is the second-best quarterback in the 2012 draft class right now. 

The Colts will take Luck and the Washington Redskins surrendered a lot to the St. Louis Rams to move up to the No. 2 pick and take a franchise quarterback. There is no way Griffin makes it past them.

The Baylor product will end up in Washington and the team will build around him, hoping that a young core of Griffin, tight end Fred Davis, running back Roy Helu and receiver Pierre Garcon can develop into a force. 

Trent Richardson, Alabama

I'll just give it to you straight: Richardson is the best, most complete running back to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson in 2007. He is a strong runner between the tackles who has the speed to run away from defenders at the second level. His balance is incredible and he almost never goes down on first contact. 

Richardson is the rare running back that warrants selection within the first 10 picks of the draft. While the only non-elite trait is his vision, that aspect of his game is rapidly developing and should reach a high level in short order. He is a hard worker who takes pride in his craft and is the kind of runner teammates can feed off of because of his explosive ability and the way he delivers hits to opponents.

The Cleveland Browns currently sit at No. 4 in the draft and if they let Richardson go by the entire front office should be fired. He will be there for the taking and now that Peyton Hillis is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Richardson has to be the pick. The team needs a running game and while Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon will be attractive, he won't have the kind of immediate impact Richardson will.

If Cleveland passes on the Alabama star, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't let him fall past them at No. 5.

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

All Blackmon did over his final two seasons at Oklahoma State was catch 232 balls for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns. That's just flat-out ridiculous.

Blackmon is by far the best receiver in the 2012 draft and at his Pro Day he answered any questions evaluators had about his speed with a 4.46 40-yard dash. He has phenomenal hands, is a polished route runner and plays far bigger than his 6'1" and 208 pounds would suggest. 

He is a physical receiver who relishes the ability to break from contact in the secondary and will out-muscle corners to get to the ball and get down the field. 

Right now the Browns could take Blackmon at No. 4. but I think they will do the smart thing and take Richardson. That means the Oklahoma State product will drop to No. 6 where the St. Louis Rams will grab him. 

The Rams' top need is a No. 1 wide receiver to pair with quarterback Sam Bradford and in Blackmon they will get just that.