2012 NFL Mock Draft: Highlighting Round One Teams Drafting Impact Players

Every team would love to get an impact player in the first round of the NFL draft. But some franchises opt to draft for the future, not with the next season in mind.

Here is my latest mock draft, highlighting teams I think will select players that will make an impact during their rookie seasons. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck will be an impact player, but not as a rookie with the current Colts roster around him.

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

Like Luck, Griffin will take time to develop as the Redskins build up their roster around him.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil will be a player that makes an immediate impact. The Vikings have a huge hole at left tackle and must bring someone in who can protect quarterback Christian Ponder's blind side. Without that kind of protection, Ponder won't have a chance to develop.

Kalil is the best  offensive lineman to enter the NFL since the Miami Dolphins made Jake Long the No. 1 pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. He is so talented and has all the requisite tools an elite left tackle needs, that I could see him reaching the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

The Vikings would regret passing up the chance to land a rock for their offensive line who could be there for the next decade.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson could easily become the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. The Browns lost Peyton Hillis to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency and have no one on the roster capable of being an every-down running back. 

The Alabama product would fix that. Richardson has the all-around skill set that is rare in college running backs. He is a high-value pick at No. 4 and I could see him being one of the NFL's elite backs within two years.

He will give quarterback Colt McCoy someone to lean on to help his development. The Browns must be able to run the ball in the AFC North, and bringing Richardson on board would instantly give them a rushing offense.

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

Claiborne is very good and I believe he will eventually be a Pro Bowler, but it will take him a year or two to get there. 

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

Blackmon is the rare receiver without elite size who could make a serious impact during his first season in the NFL. At a shade under 6'1" and 207 pounds, Blackmon is smaller than some of the other elite receivers who have come through the draft in recent years. But his production at Oklahoma State puts him over the top in terms of considering him a top prospect.

During his final two seasons in Stillwater, all Blackmon did was catch 232 passes for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns. Yes, the team's offensive scheme helped with that, but so did his outstanding hands, precise route-running and his determination in the open field after the catch.

Blackmon is tough, strong and plays much bigger than his size. With the Rams, he will finally give franchise quarterback Sam Bradford a No. 1 target and I expect the two to flourish together. I would rank them higher as a pass-catch combination than Andy Dalton and A.J. Green and those two have taken off together in Cincinnati.

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

Ingram is a versatile defender who was a bona fide playmaker at South Carolina and should help Jacksonville's pass rush immediately.

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

Tannehill will take several years to develop and may not even see the field during his rookie campaign. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe has the size and athleticism to be a force in the NFL, but he too will take some time to develop. When he does, watch out.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff will improve Buffalo's offensive line because he is a steady, reliable tackle. His ceiling isn't far above where he has developed to this point, but he's as solid as they come.

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

Kuechly is far more athletic than experts have given him credit for, and he shocked everyone at the Combine when he checked in at 6'3" and 242 pounds. He should be a tackling machine for the Chiefs and should eventually develop into a leader on defense. 

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

Coples is a big risk because of questions concerning his motor and desire. If someone can figure out how to motivate him, the North Carolina product could be a monster. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals could go in a number of directions here but they desperately need to improve their offensive line and Martin has the most upside of any of the remaining linemen. 

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

Cox is a ready-made defensive lineman who should be able to make a huge impact as a rookie, especially as a member of Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense.

The Mississippi State product measures in at 6'4" and 298 pounds, with long arms, massive hands, explosive quickness and top-end speed for the position. He is an incredible bull-rusher and can get after the quarterback better than most guys his size.

His versatility will allow him to line up in any of the defensive line positions along Dallas' 3-4 front, but he is probably best suited as a defensive end in that scheme. He is relentless in pursuit and just won't give up on plays. 

He finished his final collegiate season with 56 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss. He should be an immediate impact kind of guy.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron will help improve things at the back of Philadelphia's defense as his range and physical toughness will be an upgrade at safety.

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

Upshaw is the kind of tough, rugged edge rusher that Rex Ryan loves to have playing for him.

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

Gilmore will finally give the Bengals someone to replace Jonathan Joseph, who bolted for Houston last offseason. He's a big, physical corner with outstanding ball skills. 

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

Somehow the Chargers will get lucky as DeCastro falls here. If you want to pinpoint an immediate impact kind of guy, here he is.

Along with Kalil, DeCastro is the rare offensive lineman who can step in and make a big difference as a rookie. The only reason he'll last this long is because teams devalue the guard position. And if Kris Dielman hadn't retired this offseason the Stanford product may have fallen even further. 

At almost 6'5" and 316 pounds, DeCastro is a big, physical presence in the middle of the offensive line and will certainly start from his first day in the NFL. He is the kind of guard you can actually build an offensive line around.

He is excellent in pass protection but excels when leading things in the running game. Ryan Mathews will be thrilled to have DeCastro paving the road for him. 

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

Chicago really needs to improve its offensive line and Glenn is the kind of versatile prospect who could start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Cortland Finnegan is gone and the Titans need to replace him. They'll grab Kirkpatrick who should fit perfectly in the team's zone-heavy scheme.

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

In a shocker, Floyd drops down the board and the Bengals grab him here, giving Andy Dalton another target to throw to.

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

Adams has the size and natural talent to be a monster along the offensive line, he just needs to show he wants to actually be a great football player.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz would come in and replace current center Dominic Raiola, who is terrible. This move will greatly improve Detroit's offensive line.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

At 6'5" and 323 pounds, Brockers has the size and versatility to line up all over Pittsburgh's 3-4 front before eventually taking over at nose tackle for Casey Hampton.

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

The Broncos have nothing worth mentioning on their roster at defensive tackle. Worthy is a hard-worker with a non-stop motor who should be an immediate upgrade.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Texans finally get a legitimate No. 2 receiver to pair with Andre Johnson.

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

Bill Belichick must upgrade his front seven and Jones is the kind of raw, ridiculously athletic talent he can mold into a perfect edge rusher for New England's defense.

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

The Packers desperately need to find some help for Clay Matthews at the other outside linebacker position. Perry is the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft and should have no trouble shifting to outside linebacker in Green Bay's 3-4 defense. 

At nearly 6'3" and 271 pounds, Perry played defensive end at USC and when he was on the field he terrorized opposing quarterbacks. He has a very good first step and has an array of pass rushing moves that will help him get into the backfield. I actually think starting from a standing position in a 3-4 will only help his ability to rush the passer.

Perry also has the strength to be an asset against the run as well. He's tough and can anchor when taking on blocks, and is also adept at shedding offensive linemen when they try and push him around.

A pass rushing duo of Perry and Matthews (both USC products) would likely give quarterbacks and offensive coordinators nightmares.

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

Hightower's stock is on the rise but he wouldn't really fit anywhere before this. The Ravens will grab him and stick him on the outside until Ray Lewis retires. Then he'll take over at inside linebacker. 

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

San Francisco must add a deep threat and while he's raw, Hill could be the best field-stretcher in the draft. 

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

Reyes is versatile enough to line up anywhere along the Patriots' 3-4/4-3 hybrid defensive line. 

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

With all of the top offensive tackles off the board, the Giants will add Fleener, a big, athletic target who should help the offense immediately.