NFL Draft 2012: Trent Richardson and Players Who Will Make Immediate Impact

There are three players in the 2012 NFL Draft who will make an impact immediately. In fact, in my mind, it isn't even a question if they'll be good as rookies.

Tons of first-year guys take time to adjust to the NFL and find their footing. But the following three players will have no such problems. They will be studs from the day they walk onto NFL fields.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is the rare running back that deserves to be taken with a top-five pick. I currently have him projected to land with the Cleveland Browns at No. 4. That would be a perfect fit for both sides.

The Alabama product is an absolute stud. At 5'9" and 228 pounds, he has a near-perfect blend of size, quickness and breakaway speed. Richardson is a tough, competitive runner who hates to go down and as a result is almost never stopped on first contact.

He excels as a receiver out of the backfield and can pass block when needed. He is essentially the perfect running back and is certainly the best to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson in 2007. In addition to all of that, he fumbled just once in 312 touches during the 2011 season.

Richardson will be the NFL's best offensive rookie in 2012, and within three years I expect him to be one of the league's elite running backs. There is absolutely no reason the Browns should pass him up at No. 4.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon has long been considered the top receiver in the 2012 draft class, and he has only solidified that position during the pre-draft process. I, along with most experts, see the Oklahoma State product landing with the St. Louis Rams at No. 6. 

If Blackmon ends up on the Rams, he'll finally give quarterback Sam Bradford the No. 1 target he has been dreaming of since he entered the league two years ago. Bradford has been scraping by without much in the way of help on the perimeter, and that will change in 2012.

All Blackmon did during his final two seasons in Stillwater was haul in 232 passes for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns. That's simply remarkable.

While he's just a hair under 6'1" and 207 pounds, Blackmon plays much bigger than his size and is a strong, physical receiver who can make plays with the ball in his hands. He has enough quickness to create separation and runs with power once the ball is in his hands. Speaking of those hands, they are as reliable as a pair gets.

Expect Bradford and Blackmon to flourish together.

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

While LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne has more upside, I don't think there is a defender in the 2012 class that is as NFL-ready as Barron. After watching hours of tape on the Alabama safety, I'm convinced he'll be able to step in and own whichever secondary he patrols immediately.

I currently have him going to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 15, but don't be surprised if a team trades ahead of Philly to land him. 

At 6'1" and 213 pounds, Barron has prototypical size for a strong safety, and he plays like it. He has outstanding diagnostic skills and reads plays extremely well. He is strong and physical enough to help in run support but also has the range and ball skills to be an elite coverage safety. He is versatile, smart and a hard-worker. There's not much more you could ask of a safety than that.

I really think Barron could have the same kind of impact Eric Berry did for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010. Both guys are versatile and can make plays all over the field. Berry is more of an interception machine, but I think Barron could be a better vocal leader in the secondary. 

Barron is my early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year.