2012 NFL Mock Draft: Picks That Will Turn Pretenders into Instant Contenders

The 2012 draft class is littered with players who are capable of one day becoming standouts at their position, but enter the league needing to hone their skills.

But for a select few, they enter the NFL ready to contribute from day one—not just in a part-time role either, we’re talking players who will be counted on to turn around the franchise this year.

As we roll through the latest mock, the emphasis will be placed on players you’ll be hearing about often during the 2012 season as they become the missing piece to a successful season.  

(Biggest Instant Impacts in italics.)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There is no question Luck has the ability to turn around the franchise, but it’s going to take time.

The Colts are undergoing drastic personnel changes and are not going to be competing with the Houston Texans for an AFC South championship right off the bat.

2013 on the other hand…

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

RG3 is the missing ingredient for a Redskins team that really isn’t too far away from competing for a division title.

The defense was very strong last year, and the vast majority of the unit will be returning this season. The offense wasn’t great, but blame Rex Grossman and the weak receiving crew. With an incredibly athletic QB like RG3 who can do it all, on top of adding prolific receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, this team can make the playoffs this year.

Remember, the Redskins beat the Super Bowl champion Giants twice in 2011.  

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is a shoo-in for NFL success, but it’s going to take a lot more than an elite offensive lineman to turn around this franchise.

This is a safe pick.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson can do it all on the football field, whether it be running, blocking or catching passes out of the backfield.

Yet the Browns are littered with holes all over the offense, and until they fix the issues at QB, they’ll be pretenders regardless of what Richardson does.

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

Call me crazy, but the Buccaneers aren’t that far away from competing.

They have a solid foundation with Josh Freeman, LaGarrette Blount and Mike Williams on offense, but need a lockdown corner to beef up one of the worst secondaries in football a season ago.

Claiborne has plenty of big-game experience in the SEC, and enters the league as the premier defensive prospect. He is more ready than Patrick Peterson was last year, and he had an incredible impact on the Cardinals.

Watch out for the Bucs in 2012 if they land Claiborne.

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

Blackmon is a candidate for 1,000 yards in his rookie season, but he plays a position that doesn’t have a huge impact on the overall team.

Too many bigger issues with the Rams to think Blackmon can turn around this franchise.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

With DT Terrance Knighton likely to miss the season as he recovers from a severe eye injury, the Jags need a defensive tackle pronto.

Cox has continued to rise to the point where he’s now the best on the big board at the position.

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

Tannehill should not be drafted this high. He really shouldn’t.

Yet for some reason scouts overvalue a certain QB every year to the point where he gets drafted almost a round too early.

Now having said all that, if the receiver-turned-QB is able to figure out how to limit his turnovers and shaky play in big moments, the Dolphins are going to be dangerous.

After a nightmare start, the ‘Fins came on strong in the second half of last year because of a running game that absolutely shredded opponents.

With a top-10 defense, a halfway decent QB could seriously alter the fortunes of Miami's 2012 season.

Can Tannehill handle all of the pressure?

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Physically, there is no doubt Poe is NFL-ready. But his lack of production against strong opponents has me concerned enough to not pick him in the top-nine picks.

But the combine MVP gets picked by Carolina because of his physical tools.

10. Buffalo Bills: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Ryan Fitzpatrick earned the name "crazy legs" as a member of the Bengals because it seemed like he was running for his life on every play.

Shades of that resurfaced last year in Buffalo, and the season went down the tube because of it. Landing an interior lineman who’s able to start right away, and for the next 10 years, is a great investment for the Bills.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Nick Perry, DE, Stanford

Perry’s relentless motor allows him to live on the other side of the line of scrimmage, and he has the stats to back it up. In only three years, Perry registered 21.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for losses.

That’s the kind of production the Chiefs need for a defense with a lot to improve on.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Seahawks are crossing their fingers Tannehill falls to them, but if not, they can draft a lineman in Reiff who can help shore up the line instantly.

Is he the guy to get Seattle past San Francisco? Not quite.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Warning: bust alert, bust alert.

Coples lacks consistent energy, and his production in college is nothing to write home about. When you only record 7.5 sacks and two of them are against James Madison, you are not worth a top-15 pick.

His potential will blind the Cardinals, but not me.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Cowboys are a team that is always in win-now mode, and adding Gilmore can be the final missing piece of the puzzle.

He passed Dre Kirkpatrick as the second best corner in the draft because of his sound work in the pre-draft process. He aced the combine and looked outstanding at his pro day.

If Gilmore is able to be a shutdown corner at some point during the 2012 season, the Cowboys are going to be a dangerous bunch with an offense that is already one of the best in the league.

With the way he has played in the past four months, I think he can do it.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

Ingram’s versatility makes him very appealing to Philly, but he isn’t going to make or break the Eagles season.

That distinction belongs to a Mr. Michael Vick.

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd would be a steal this far back in the draft, but there are far more pressing issues for the Jets. This pick would be based purely on grabbing the best available talent on the board.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

The Keith Rivers trade signifies that the Bengals plan on addressing the linebacker position in the draft— the only question is, what round?

With Upshaw and his incredibly storied collegiate career and brute strength, the team can’t pass on him at No. 17.

18. San Diego Chargers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Finding more firepower for Phillip Rivers is the top priority, and Wright’s speed makes him a top-20 pick.

Can he contribute right away, though?

19. Chicago Bears: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bears were a championship contender last season before Jay Cutler went down, and will be one once again with Brandon Marshall now in town.

Kirkpatrick provides depth and allows the team time to groom the replacement for the aging Charles Tillman.

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

When you clock in at 6'6" and 345 pounds, there is going to be a spot in the NFL for you.

Glenn is a physical specimen who can eat up a ton of space in the trenches.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The best safety in the draft goes to a team that is in dire need of help at the position. Reggie Nelson needs help back there.

Will Barron make or break the Bengals 2012 season? No.

22. Cleveland Browns: Luke Kuechly, OLB, Boston College

The Browns may select a QB with this pick, but go the conservative route by selecting a linebacker who will give maximum effort on every single play.

While his ceiling is low, Kuechly can be a decent pro in the right system.

23. Detroit Lions: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

There is no way Jahvid Best can carry the ball 200 times in a season; he needs a guy to split the carries 50-50.

Miller holds incredible speed and is more compact and less injury-prone than Miller.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still used his bulk to stand out in college, but can he become anything more than an average player at the next level?

25. Denver Broncos Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Fleming is quietly rising up the draft board to the point where he grades out as a first-round selection.

The Broncos have gone all-in with Peyton Manning; he’s the guy who will determine the success of the 2012 season.

26. Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Texans are a-receiver-like-Jeffery away from being a championship contender. They don’t make the list only because nobody is considering the Texans to be pretenders a year after winning their first postseason game in franchise history.

27. New England Patriots: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Pats historically go with bland positions in the early rounds, and there is nothing telling us it won’t happen yet again.

28. Green Bay Packers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Packers need to clog up the middle of the line, and landing Brockers would cure what ails them. While Brockers is a bit of a project, Green Bay can afford to let him develop without sacrificing their season.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Ravens need a center, and Konz is the best to come along in a while. This would be one of the smartest picks of the first round.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

I struggled deciding between Randle and Stephen Hill with this pick, but I think the kick-return abilities of Randle give him the edge.

Niners fans are more than aware it’s a position that could be upgraded after the NFC championship.

31. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State

McClellin is a very cerebral player, which a very important trait when playing for Bill Belichick. Here is a guy who can be plugged in to start almost right away.  

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

According to Jason LaConfora of The NFL Network, Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine. However, that won't be enough to drop him completely out of the first round. 

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