2012 NFL Mock Draft: Impact Meter for Every 1st-Round Pick

Guys like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Melvin Ingram and Morris Claiborne have been dubbed "impact players"—but specifically, how much impact are we talking here?

I've used my last mock draft and implemented an "impact grading system" to give you the projected impact each player will have in the professional ranks. 

The system is four-fold: low impact, moderate impact, great impact and immense impact.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (Final Pre-Draft Update)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

Luck's the best quarterback to enter the NFL in over a decade and has the arm, accuracy and smarts to become the league's next elite signal-caller. 

Immense Impact

2. Washington Redskins (trade with St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin III has traits most humans don't. His athleticism is nearly Olympic caliber. He's got a lightning-quick release, and his touch on all throws, especially the deep ones, is exceptional.

The epitome of the "new-age" QB. 

Immense Impact

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California 

Kalil, another sure thing, is the premier left tackle in this class with size, experience and NFL bloodlines. We saw at the combine that he's fleet of foot, too. Christian Ponder will adore him. 

Great Impact 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is the do-it-all feature back prospect. He's not a home-run hitter per se, but he's deceptively elusive and runs as hard as anyone.

I'm lowering his overall impact because of the added emphasis on the passing game and the prevalence of injuries at the running back position. Still, a future Pro Bowler. 

Great Impact

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

Claiborne isn't as physically gifted as former teammate Patrick Peterson, but he has more lockdown-cover corner potential. There's not much that he does wrong from his defensive back spot. 

Immense Impact 

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe wowed us with his athletic talents at the 2012 combine, but his tape isn't quite as impressive.

He'll demand double-teams at the next level and is an imposing figure, that's for sure. I just don't think he'll influence the game the way Vince Wilfork or Haloti Ngata do. 

Moderate Impact

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon's stock, for some reason, has been dropping over the last month. I still don't get how and why that happens when games aren't being played.

Sure, he's not a true speedster that will be able to separate from every corner, but he's extremely physical against press coverage as well as when he's going after the ball in traffic. 

Great Impact

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

Tannehill is a project QB with intriguing upside. To me, he's similar to Jake Locker, but with a longer road ahead of him.

He's got above-average athleticism, size and a strong arm. With the right coach, Tannehill can be come a fine starter. 

Moderate Impact

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

Cox is extremely versatile and is ready to play from day one. At 6'4'' and nearly 300 pounds, he can line up at any position across the defensive line and contribute. 

Great Impact

10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd's another big outside receiving target who excels at reeling in jump balls and running after the catch. If he matures from the off-field issues he had during the beginning of his career at Notre Dame, we're talking about a premier wideout here. 

Great Impact

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly has been labeled as one of the safest, linebackers in this class. While I'm not of the belief that he's got big-time, game-changing ability, Kuechly can stay on the field for three downs—that's vital. His surprising athleticism coupled with a great work ethic will morph him into a productive NFLer. 

Immense Impact

12. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

Perry has a rare combination of size (6'3'', 270 pounds) and speed off the edge. His pass-rushing skills need refinement—relying on a speed rush won't always work in the NFL—but he's what you want in a rookie defensive end. 

Great Impact

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

If DeCastro doesn't make the Pro Bowl in 2012, I'll be flabbergasted. He'll be in the elite category of interior offensive linemen in the league the moment he steps on the field.

He's ideal to play the guard spot at 6'4'' and 315 pounds, blocks meaner and with more power than any collegian I've ever seen and understands where he has to be on every play.

A true technician with overwhelming strength and agility. 

Immense Impact 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

At 6'2'' and 185 pounds, Kirkpatrick has the frame to match up with the game's bigger wideouts. His length will help him with press coverage in the pros, but he can't rely on his size to overmatch the better receivers. A solid pro, but I don't see him entering lockdown status. 

Moderate Impact

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

Brockers' upside is more interesting than anything else at this point. He flashed moments of pure dominance in the SEC last season, but he vanished for stretches, as most defensive tackles do.

With coaching on the techniques of battling in the trenches, Brockers could become a dominant interior defensive lineman, but it may take a while. 

Moderate Impact 

16. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff, to me, is a right tackle or guard. He doesn't have any glaring weak spots; watching his tape from the 2011 season, Reiff was dominating his opponents on a regular basis.

However, he's got the size at 6'5'' and 313 pounds to manhandle smaller opponents and is a good run-blocker that needs to add power to become a great one in the NFL. 

Moderate Impact 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB South Carolina

Ingram is a special talent. To me, he's the defensive version of Robert Griffin III. Yes, Ingram's a bit smaller (6'1'') with shorter arms than what coaches would like, but his athleticism is totally off the charts.

He can play defensive end and utilize a variety of pass-rushing moves while staying disciplined setting the edge against the run. He's comfortable attacking straight downhill on a blitz and just as smoothly drops back into coverage.

Immense Impact  

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB Alabama

Upshaw isn't as physically stunning as Ingram or some of the other hybrids in this draft class, but he's an extremely well-rounded football player who produced on the nation's best defense in college's most competitive conference. 

Moderate Impact

19. Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

It's hard to peg a specific impact for Coples. He has the tools and potential to become an elite edge rusher, but does he really want it? 

Moderate Impact

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Brown's yet another remarkable athlete, but really, I'd put him at safety after watching him try to tackle last season. 

Moderate Impact

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is a rangy cornerback with ball-hawking skills who loves making his presence felt against the run. What's not to like? 

Great Impact

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright's an absolutely terrorizing deep threat who can really get down the field in a hurry. He's also in that DeSean Jackson mold due to his abilities as a bubble-screen guy or when he's got open space in front of him. 

Great Impact

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

Glenn's about as multidimensional as they come in this year's class. He's nearly 6'6'', weighs 345 pounds and played guard and left tackle during his illustrious career with the Bulldogs. 

Immense Impact

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Not many linebackers have the size (6'2'', 265 pounds) and range of Hightower, although he's far from a speedy sideline-to-sideline guy. 

He's a true thumper and will be a force in the middle of whichever defense he finds himself in next season. 

Great Impact

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT Penn State

Still can be a disruptive force when he wants to be. Can a coach truly motivate him to go hard on every snap? 

Moderate Impact

26. Houston Texans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford 

In the right system, Fleener has star potential. At 6'6'' and nearly 250 pounds, he runs like a wideout and has great hands.

I'm a little worried about his injury past, but he's the premier pass-catching tight end in this class and will be a matchup nightmare in the NFL. 

Great Impact

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Barron's an intimidating strong safety prospect who showed signs of decent ball skills during his time with the Crimson Tide. Playing alongside a veteran free safety, Barron could become a hard hitter who makes plays all over the field. 

Moderate Impact

28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson

If Branch gets picked by a team with an already established pass-rusher, he'll absolutely flourish. He and Clay Matthews coming off the edge? Yikes. 

Great Impact

29. Baltimore Ravens: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Jones has interesting upside, but is he a defensive end or an outside linebacker? I'm not sure. 

Low Impact

30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

Zeitler was one of the anchors on Wisconsin's powerful offensive line last season. In a downhill running scheme, he'll thrive. 

Great Impact

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

As a situational pass-rusher, Mercilus could have an Aldon Smith-like impact on games next season. 

Great Impact

32. New York Giants, Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin's stock has dropped due to lower bench-press numbers. Yes, he could add strength, but he was a fabulous blindside protector for Andrew Luck the last two seasons and is a fantastic and technical run-blocker. 

Great Impact

Follow @ChrisTrapasso