2012 NFL Mock Draft: Likeliest Landing Spots for Skill Position Stars

Skill position players are what NFL drafts are remembered for, and this year's edition of the event has five skill guys who should make a big impact in the league.

Here is my latest mock draft, highlighting the best skill position players and where I think they will end up.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is quite simply the best quarterback I've ever scouted and certainly the most complete signal-caller to enter the NFL in well over a decade. He is the total package.

The Stanford product has prototypical size (6'4" and 234 pounds), has excellent arm strength and not only displays outstanding accuracy but can also put pitch-perfect touch on his throws.

During his final two seasons in Palo Alto, he completed 71 percent of his passes for 6,855 yards, with 69 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions.

There is no way the Colts will pass up the chance to start their rebuilding project with him.

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

After watching Rex Grossman and John Beck combine to set quarterbacking in Washington back a decade, the Redskins made an aggressive move by trading up to the No. 2 pick. They will certainly take Griffin who showed during his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2011 that he was a vastly improved quarterback. 

At 6'3" and 231 pounds, Griffin is big enough to withstand the rigors of the quarterback position in the NFL. He showed ample arm strength, surprisingly good accuracy and off-the-charts athleticism and intangibles at Baylor.

During his final year in school he completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 4,293 yards, with 37 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

His all-around skill set mean the Redskins can't pass up the chance to take him and his franchise-changing ability.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If Andrew Luck wasn't in this draft, I firmly believe Kalil would profile as the best player available. He will be a perennial Pro Bowler and the Vikings have a serious need at left tackle.

A perfect fit.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Cleveland needs something to help offensively and Richardson would immediately become the team's primary offensive weapon. He is as good a running back as the NFL has seen since Adrian Peterson entered the league in 2007.

Richardson has great size (5'9" and 228 pounds) and has outstanding top-end speed for a guy who profiles as an every-down back. He is an all-around threat, as he can power between the tackles and grind for extra yards, but has the breakaway speed to take it to the house once he's through the next level. 

In leading Alabama to a BCS last season he rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns while clearly showing himself to be the best running back in all of college football. 

He is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and can also help out in pass protection.

The Browns need to get Colt McCoy some weapons to work with and I believe Richardson will make the quickest impact of any skill-position player in the 2012 NFL Draft class. 

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

Tampa Bay added Eric Wright in free agency, but with Aqib Talib's future in doubt and Ronde Barber entering his 16th season, the team needs help in the secondary.

Claiborne will be a Pro Bowler and shutdown corner. He's the best cover man in the draft and his ball skills and off-the-charts instincts could make him an interception machine.

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

It's no secret that the Rams want Blackmon and they are probably praying he ends up falling here. All the Oklahoma State product did during his final two seasons in college was catch 232 passes for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns. Those numbers are simply ridiculous.

Blackmon measures in at just a hair under 6'1" and weighs 207 pounds, but he plays like a much bigger wideout. He is strong, has phenomenal hands and is aggressive when going after the ball. He has also developed into an outstanding route-runner and is physical when running, rarely going down on first contact.

Quarterback Sam Bradford needs a No. 1 target and Blackmon is the best receiver in this draft. He is a great kid who is a hard worker and will make himself better in the NFL. The Rams won't let him get past them here.

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

The Jaguars could go for a receiver here, but this would be a reach for Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. They will opt to upgrade their pass rush instead, grabbing the versatile Ingram who was a big-time playmaker at South Carolina.

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

Tannehill is the big question mark in this draft but there is no denying his upside. Despite only making 19 college starts, his stock is soaring thanks to a phenomenal pro day and outstanding individual workouts.

His college coach, Mike Sherman, is Miami's new offensive coordinator which would make this a natural fit. In addition to that, the team's new head coach, Joe Philbin, was responsible for developing Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn as the offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers.

Tannehill is raw but he has prototypical size (6'4" and 222 pounds) for a quarterback, and has enough arm strength and accuracy to make all the throws. He's also a great kid, a hard-worker and someone who could be a great one down the road. He will almost certainly sit for a year but I can't see the Dolphins passing up a chance to land him at No. 8.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe is a once-in-a-generation athlete who will give Carolina the boost in the middle of its defensive line that the team desperately needs.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo's biggest need is offensive tackle and they get lucky that Reiff falls to them here.

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

The Chiefs would love to land Poe, but Kuechly will be a stud and should upgrade the team's linebacking corps immediately.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples could end up being at bust, but given his talent level he's worth the risk at No. 12, especially considering that defensive end is Seattle's biggest need.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals could take Floyd here but their biggest need is offensive tackle and Martin's upside is so high, he's worth the risk here. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Cowboys could take Barron, but Cox is a versatile defensive lineman who could line up anywhere along Rob Ryan's three-man front.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

After landing linebacker DeMeco Ryans through a trade, the Eagles fill a big need by getting a versatile safety line Barron.

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

The Jets like Mark Ingram, but he'll be gone. Upshaw is the kind of tough, rugged edge rusher that Rex Ryan loves.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Cincinnati does have a number of positions they could fill with this pick, but Gilmore is worth it here. He is a big, physical corner with outstanding ball skills who should make an impact right away.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Chargers get lucky as DeCastro falls here. The Stanford product can step in and replace the retired Kris Dielman right away.

19. Chicago Bears: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

The Bears really need help up front on offense and Glenn is a versatile guy who could step in and start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

With Cortland Finnegan gone, cornerback is the team's top need. Kirkpatrick fits Tennessee's zone-heavy scheme well. His size, toughness and instincts will help replace the departed Finnegan.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bengals gambled by letting Floyd pass at No. 17 and get rewarded by landing him here. He'll be a great No. 2 guy to complement A.J. Green.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Browns snagged Richardson and would love to get Floyd here, but he's gone so they fill another need by getting Adams to fill their enormous hole at right tackle.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz is by far the best center in this draft and Detroit's current starter, Dominic Raiola, is terrible.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

They have other needs, but the Steelers will draft Casey Hampton's future replacement here. At 6' and 323 pounds, Brockers can line up at defensive end before taking over for Hampton at nose tackle.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

The Broncos need to get better up front defensively and Worthy is the best defensive tackle available at this point. He has an incredible motor and will improve the team's front immediately.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Andre Johnson is one of the NFL's best receivers but he needs help. Wright profiles as a legitimate No. 2 receiver with big play ability.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

Jones is an underrated prospect who is raw but could make a huge impact in a short amount of time. Bill Belichick will love the chance to develop a guy like Jones as he rebuilds his 3-4 front.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry is the best pure pass rusher in this draft and the Packers desperately need to add someone who can get after the quarterback. Perry will help Clay Matthews do just that.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama 

Hightower has been a hot name in the draft lately and if he is available here the Ravens will take advantage and snag him. He could play all over the team's defense until he eventually takes over at middle linebacker for future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

The 49ers need a legitimate deep threat for their offense and at 6'4" and 215 pounds with elite speed, Hill will give them that.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes is a versatile defensive lineman who will be able to line up all over the front of the Patriots 4-3/3-4 scheme.

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

If one of the top offensive tackles drops here, the Giants will go that route. If not, they'll take the best player available. Fleener is a phenomenal talent and a complete tight end who should make a quick impact as a rookie.