2012 NFL Mock Draft: Teams That Must Add Speed

Speed is the most difficult to weigh, yet attractive trait, a potential NFL player can have. Most times, it's a huge positive, but other times, it can be overblown.

See the Oakland Raiders' drafts from the last 15 years if you need a reference.

Every team has to have it—at least in spots.

The following spotlighted teams in this mock draft must add speed and play-makers to their teams to improve.

(References to players' 40 times are taken from NFL.com, unless otherwise linked)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck showed somewhat surprising speed at the combine. He ran a 4.67, and the mobility further solidified his spot at the top of the draft.

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

Though he is more than just a speed threat, the 4.38 40 time is what makes him special.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Speed played a huge part in him locking down the consensus spot as the draft's top O-lineman (4.99, 40-time).

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama

The Browns desperately need speed and play-making, but instead they'll likely take Trent Richardson with this pick.

This isn't a knock on Richardson. He is clearly the best RB in the draft, and RB is a position of need for Cleveland. Still, there are more pressing needs, and speed is one of them.

The Browns should take Justin Blackmon here, trade down to take Michael Floyd or even TE Coby Fleener.

The extra assets would help the team in the long run, and the latter two players would help the Browns more than Richardson.

Is Richardson going to have a better 2012 than Peyton Hillis had in 2010? Hillis had 1,177 yards with 11 TDs that year—and the Browns were 5-11.

Translation: A stud RB won't fix Cleveland without some balance on offense; that comes with weapons in the passing game. 

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

More than speed, Claiborne has great ball skills. He ran an adequate 4.50 at the combine, but he plays faster on the field.

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

The Rams had some speed last year, but what they need is a playmaker. Blackmon is actually both. He showed the speed with a 4.46 40 at his pro day.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Jags are yet another team that needs a speed option to improve their anemic offense, yet they'll likely go defense here.

Ingram has tremendous potential, because of his athleticism (4.79 40-time), but Michael Floyd would be a much better pick here.

The Jags rushing offense is solid. They ran for 1970 yards as a team in 2011. To truly evaluate Blaine Gabbert, the Jags must get him some weapons.

Preferably those weapons should have the speed to stretch the field. 

Ingram is a nice prospect, but he doesn't address the Jags' biggest need.

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

Tannehill will likely go here, and it'll either make the Fins geniuses or the fools of the draft.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers would be an outstanding add to the Panthers' defense.

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

The Bills will benefit greatly from other teams passing on Floyd. Everything about Floyd has said he'll be a solid NFL receiver.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Having shot up the draft board, DeCastro is clearly the best guard prospect in the draft.

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

The Seahawks need speed as well, but they need it on the defensive end. You may be thinking, why choose Kuechly?

Kuechly dispelled concerns about his speed at the NFL combine when he ran a surprising 4.58 40-yard dash, which was the third fastest recorded time for a LB.

Kuechly went from being thought of as a slow, tackling machine to being a solid all-around LB prospect.

This would be a great selection for Seattle. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

I really like Reiff, and this would be a sensible pick for the Cardinals. That said, the Cardinals' attack could thrive with a quality speed receiver on the other side of Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitz is the game's best possession receiver and one of the top two receivers overall. He commands tons of attention on every down.

Adding a speed receiver would stretch the field and create a down-by-down dilemma for opponents. 

With Floyd likely gone, trading down to grab Stephen Hill or Kendall Wright would make a ton of sense.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Speed is a huge part of what put Poe at the forefront of many NFL teams' draft boards.

He ran a blistering 4.98 40-yard dash at the combine. If you group that with the insane strength numbers, Poe could be the Cowboys pick here.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi State

Cox is a smart pick for the Eagles as they try to improve their run defense.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE Alabama

The Jets need a pass-rusher badly. Upshaw is likely to be the best available at that time.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Two Bama players in a row? It would make sense as the Bengals have a need for a corner.

18. San Diego Chargers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry staying out west is a possibility. The Chargers haven't had a true stand-out pass-rusher for their scheme since Shawne Merriman was healthy and in San Diego.  

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The Bears seem to have addressed their need at WR, and now they could add a mate for Julius Peppers on the defensive line.

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Glenn is a safe and sensible pick for the Titans. It strengthens the Titans' already solid running game.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

The Bengals need a replacement for the departing Cedric Benson. Martin has emerged as one of the best RBs in the draft

22. Cleveland Browns: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

If the Browns do what I expect they will here, they still won't address their need for a playmaker. However, a solid offensive lineman like Martin can make receivers look faster with more time for the QB to throw.

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

Gilmore is one of the best CBs in the draft, and the Lions need to bolster their pass defense.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Steelers defense needs some youth, and Hightower could be a part of the next generation of solid Steelers defenders.

25. Denver Broncos: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Broncos offense needed speed and playmakers last year, with such a run dominated offense. Insert Peyton Manning and the need disappears right?

Wrong, the Broncos still need someone to stretch the field, and Wright is the best in the draft at that in my opinion.

Because of who his QB is, Wright will have the best season of any rookie WR.

You heard it here first.

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

If Andre Johnson is healthy, he and Hill could combine for a devastating WR tandem.

27. New England Patriots: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

If the Patriots select Coples and they can get him to perform, his impact could be among the biggest in the draft.

28. Green Bay Packers: Chase Minnifield CB, Virginia

The Packers need to draft Charles Woodson's successor, and Minnifield is a solid prospect.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz is a big-time center prospect that can help solidify the Ravens' run game now and into the future. 

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

Fleener and Vernon Davis could be the best TE tandem in the NFL in 2012.

31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still is a solid DT prospect and he fits the mold of run-stuffer. That is type of interior defensive lineman the Pats usually lean towards.

32. New York Giants: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

The G-Men need a new RB, and Wilson is explosive. He would be a great addition to the Giants' offense.