Undrafted NFL Free Agents 2012: Players That Will Make an Immediate Impact

When it comes to an undrafted free agent, the best signing isn't always necessarily the best available player. The prospect that ends up making the biggest impact will come from a team that isn't strong at that respective position.

Take Oklahoma State's Josh Cooper for example. The Cleveland Browns don't have an outstanding receiving corps, and Cooper has a solid career for the Cowboys and is reunited with his quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Along with Cooper though, we see other undrafted free agents with great opportunities to contribute as rookies also. So, let's take a dive and see what situation these players are getting into.

View list of undrafted free agents, courtesy of NFL.com.

Buffalo Bills: Delano Howell, Safety (Stanford)

Considering Buffalo's impressively upgraded defense, the safety position remains a need to boost the secondary. Now, Stephon Gilmore is a complete player that can also contribute at safety, but he's a bigger need for the Bills at cornerback.

This then brings us to former Stanford safety Delano Howell. Last season, the Bills ranked No. 19 against the pass and allowed an average of 232 pass yards per game. With the stellar front seven and Gilmore taking away half the field, Howell can have more luxury to roam in a Cover 1, 2 or 3 zone for making plays.

At Stanford, Howell defended 19 passes between 2009 and 2011, as well as intercepting seven passes and recording 190 tackles during that span. Buffalo needs a technically sound safety that can be consistently reliable behind the front seven, and Howell possesses the skill set to make noise during training camp.

Cleveland Browns: Josh Cooper, WR (Oklahoma State)

The Cleveland Browns could use all the help they can get at the receiver position. Snagging Oklahoma State's Josh Cooper as a free agent was a big move after selecting his quarterback Brandon Weeden in Round 1.

Once Weeden got under center for the Pokes, Cooper's production took off, albeit being drastically overshadowed by Justin Blackmon. Still, Cooper finished his final two seasons with 139 receptions for 1,451 yards and eight touchdowns.

He's as productive of a No. 2 receiver as any team will find and all the Browns now need is a true No. 1 target. Cooper has the route-running fluidity and quickness to make plays over the middle and occasionally downfield. But he's a possessions receiver more than anything which bodes well at moving the chains.

St. Louis Rams: Matt Daniels, DB (Duke)

Despite ranking No. 7 against the pass in 2011, the St. Louis Rams ranked No. 31 against the run and allowed an average of 152 rush yards per game. The good news is that the Rams made a sweet addition to the secondary in Duke defensive back Matt Daniels.

Having great size and solid acceleration with top speed, Daniels accumulated 302 tackles between 2009 and 2011 for the Blue Devils and forced seven career fumbles with 30 defended passes.

The Rams need Daniels' ability to roll down into the box and defend the run on the outside, while also rolling down to zone off in coverage for a blitzing linebacker. The NFC West presents impressively balanced offenses to St. Louie, so Daniels will have to make an immediate impact for the Rams to improve defensively.

Providing that he continues to develop as a Cover 1, 2 and 3 defender back deep, Daniels has an extreme amount of potential.

Washington Redskins: Lennon Creer, RB (Louisiana Tech)

The biggest concern for Washington is whether its running backs will remain healthy throughout the course of a season. Tim Hightower has great ability and Roy Helu is a solid No. 2 back, but the Redskins need a consistently dependable back they can count on.

Getting Louisiana Tech's Lennon Creer after the draft however, provides that reliability to Robert Griffin III's offense. During his final two college seasons (first two at Tennessee), Creer totaled over 2,000 rushing yards and scored 19 touchdowns on the ground. An underrated aspect of his game is making plays out of the backfield.

While with Louisiana Tech, Creer caught 43 passes for 274 yards and scored one time. He's not a major threat on third-down, but with his size Creer can work well off of play-action. Washington needs a promising dual-threat back and Creer can make a significant contribution in a rebuilding offense.

John Rozum on Twitter.