2012 NFL Mock Draft: Hidden Gems Who Will Make Impact as Rookies

The 2012 NFL draft is just two weeks away, and the conversation regarding which rookie will have the most impact has seriously heated up. 

This draft class is one of the best in recent memory, laden with players who have the potential to substantially affect their team’s season. There are also some hidden gems this year, as players who would have been highly touted in past years are being overshadowed by prospects with more star power.

Here is a mock draft putting emphasis on the influence each player will have, as well as the hidden gems who will step in and make an impact right away

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stanford)

Andrew Luck will have possibly the greatest impact of any player in this draft class. If he is able to learn the offense in the preseason and start off hot, he has the potential to reverse the course of the Indianapolis Colts franchise.

His football IQ is extremely high and he’ll be able to step in and lead the team like a veteran in his rookie season. The only thing that Luck and the Colts have to worry about is surrounding their new franchise player with the pieces to help him succeed.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB (Baylor)

RG3 is going to be giving NFC East teams nightmares for the next decade. Coach Mike Shanahan will probably come into camp saying Griffin will need to earn his spot as a starter over Rex Grossman, but, barring injury or unforeseen circumstances, the No. 2 overall pick will be under center for the Redskins.

Griffin and the man drafted before him aren’t exactly hidden gems in this year’s draft class as they have received the most coverage, but they will make the most immediate impact in their rookie seasons.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)

Kalil will make a big impact on a subpar offensive line, but he won’t be noticed as much as other players will. Offensive tackle is a crucial position to the success of an offense, but linemen don’t always get the credit they should.

The Vikings let up 49 sacks last season, tied for fifth-most in the league. Kalil will be able to keep defensive ends from getting to whomever the Vikings’ quarterback may be.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB (LSU)

Despite what you may think, the Cleveland Browns have one of the best pass defenses in the league. The team finished second in the league in passing yards allowed per game, surrendering a paltry 185 yards per game.

The Browns already have one shutdown corner in Joe Haden. If they are able to add another lockdown man-to-man coverage guy, they would solidify their secondary as possibly the best in the NFL.

Claiborne is the best defensive back prospect in this draft and, just like Haden, his impact will be huge in his rookie season.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB (Alabama)

Trent Richardson is an absolute beast in the backfield. He once said that he doesn’t know how much he can bench because the training staff won’t let him go above 475 pounds.

He had a great career at Alabama, but will need to continue his dominance in the NFL if he wants to help the Bucs improve their 30th-ranked running game.

Richardson will immediately get touches at the running back spot and should prove to be one of the best rookies in his class, even if some experts doubt him.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

Blackmon is a sleeper pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’ll have a quarterback in Sam Bradford who can get him the ball downfield as well as on short routes. He’s got great hands and size, which make up for his subpar speed.

It’s hard to classify a player as a hidden gem if he goes No. 6 overall, but teams like the Bucs and Browns could regret passing up on him

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)

The Jaguars have too many problems for an offensive lineman to turn their organization around right away.

However, Riley Reiff could provide Blaine Gabbert with the added protection needed for him to get rid of his happy feet in the pocket.

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

If Ryan Tannehill starts off strong and keeps the Miami Dolphins relevant for most of the season, he’s going to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

It’s safe to say he’d be a hidden gem if he were able to accomplish that feat after being the third quarterback taken in the draft.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT (Miss. State)

Here’s another hidden gem in the 2012 NFL draft.

Fletcher Cox is a massive body in the middle and should really help the Carolina Panthers improve on their dreadful rushing defense. Just look at guys like Vince Wilfork and Haloti Ngata. They give their opponents fits.

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

Michael Floyd is another guy who could surprise people with his 2012 output.

He’s got a good quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick to play catch with and would have Stevie Johnson on the opposite side to draw some coverage.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Floyd put up numbers similar to Justin Blackmon.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, NT (Memphis)

Dontari Poe is a boom-or-bust guy who dominated the field at the combine but hasn’t performed all that impressively in games.

He’s another nose tackle who takes up space in the middle. He’s a hidden gem in this draft simply because of how much better he could make Tamba Hali on the outside. When teams have to double up interior and exterior linemen at the same time, it typically doesn’t work out well.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, MLB (Boston College)

Luke Kuechly had a great career at Boston College and will continue to impress at the next level.

The Seahawks don’t have much at the linebacker spot, which means it’ll be mostly up to Kuechly to be the ball hawk on defense. He could turn out to be the most consistent defensive player in this draft.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, OT (Georgia)

Cordy Glenn is huge. At almost 6’6” and 345 pounds, Glenn will be a mainstay on the Arizona line for the foreseeable future.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S (Alabama)

The Cowboys really need help in the secondary. Last season they were hurt by ineptitude at the safety spot in both run stopping and pass coverage.

Mark Barron is great against the run and will prove to be a solid option at the safety spot for Dallas.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)

If Quinton Coples can shed his “underachiever” label, he could be one of the best bargains of the draft. He’ll need to heed the advice of the veterans in the Philadelphia locker room.

Guys like Jason Babin and Trent Cole will benefit from having another pass-rusher to assist them.

After leading the league in sacks last season, adding another defensive end could put the Eagles front seven over the top.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Alabama)

Snatching Courtney Upshaw at No. 16 would be huge for the New York Jets.

Calvin Pace is getting older and the team is going to need a guy to fill in for him in the coming years. Upshaw has the talent to be that guy.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Brockers, DT (LSU)

Cincinnati already has an above-average defense but a surplus never did any harm.

Michael Brockers is 6’5” and well over 300 pounds. As always, a huge defensive tackle has to ability to completely disrupt an offense’s game plan.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, OG (Stanford)

David DeCastro is big and fast. That’s the best way to describe one of the anchors of Andrew Luck’s offensive line at Stanford.

He’s an intelligent player, which gives him a chance to be molded into one of the best offensive linemen in the league in future years.

19. Chicago Bears: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Alabama)

Another defensive prospect out of Alabama, Dre Kirkpatrick would go well with the Bears.

This hidden gem could help them become one of the league’s best defenses once again.

20. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram, DE (South Carolina)

If Melvin Ingram falls to the Titans, he could turn out to be one of the most economically sensible picks in the draft.

He can play pretty much any position in the front seven, upping his value as a jack of all trades.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB (North Alabama)

Looking to add another defensive stalwart, the Bengals could go with Janoris Jenkins.

If a highly touted cornerback out of North Alabama doesn’t scream hidden gem, what does?

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

Oh boy, do the Browns need some help on the offensive side of the ball. Kendall Wright caught passes from Robert Griffin III throughout his Baylor career and did it well.

Wright will be able to open the field up for whomever the Browns quarterback may be at any given time next season.

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB (South Carolina)

Stephon Gilmore has 4.40 speed as well as a tendency to go for big interceptions. He could be this draft class’s Patrick Peterson.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, ILB (Alabama)

James Farrior just got cut, leaving a hole at the linebacker spot for the Steelers. Can you imagine a linebacking corps anchored by James Harrison and Dont’a Hightower?

Look out, AFC North.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT (Mich. State)

Unless Peyton Manning has his way (which he very well might), the Broncos need to grab a defensive tackle.

He can rush the quarterback as well as stop the run. That in itself makes him a hidden gem.

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR (Georgia Tech)

Matt Schaub will be back next season after recovering from injury. That makes the Texans one of the best teams in the AFC in itself.

Andre Johnson will be garnering most of the attention from defensive backs, which could set Stephen Hill up for a 1,000-yard season.

27. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, DE/OLB (USC)

The Pats need help at the defensive end spot. If Nick Perry is still on the board, Bill Belichick will take the oversized, dual-position player.

28. Green Bay Packers: Shea McClellin, DE/OLB (Boise State)

Green Bay doesn’t have much at the outside linebacker spot other than Clay Matthews.

Shea McClellin could prove to be a huge addition for the Packers.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C (Wisconsin)

Matt Burke is old and Peter Konz can play guard until he retires. Konz is a similar player to Burke and should morph into Burke 2.0 after he is taken under his wing.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener, TE (Stanford)

The 49ers don’t have anybody who can catch the ball other than Vernon Davis.

Two tight end sets are all the rage in the NFL now, and Coby Fleener could benefit from receiving single coverage while Davis is doubled.

31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DE/DL (Penn State)

The Patriots will be stacking their defense in this year’s draft, as that was their only flaw in 2011.

Devon Still won’t be the primary defensive lineman on the team, but he can still have a huge impact in a rotation that will probably be pretty intimidating after the draft.

32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio State)

Take the best player available is Jerry Reese’s motto. Mike Adams will be the best player still on the board by the time the New York Giants make the last pick of the first round.

The Giants offensive line has been reliable for the better part of the last decade, but last season was an absolute debacle.

Adams is NFL-ready and will be a nice bookend tackled that the Giants need to protect Eli Manning.