2012 NFL Mock Draft: 5 Players Who Can Cure Weak Offenses

If there's anything that most football fans love, it's explosive offenses and lots of points. Unfortunately for some fan bases, though, 2011 didn't pan out in regards to yards—let alone points.

But fear not, as it's never too early to talk draft, and 2012 has some prosperous college studs.

With that and some offenses needing help in mind, here are five prospects to cure teams of their inability to move the ball.

Justin Blackmon, Rams

The 2010 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner and a finalist for it in 2011, Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is the best WR in the draft.

Fortunately for the Rams, they could use a dominant wideout to help their lacking offense.

Currently the Rams rank No. 27 in passing (185 yards per game) and No. 28 in rushing (98 yards per game).

Brandon Lloyd is their best target, but without an effective rushing attack, defending the pass against St. Louis is cake.

However, the addition of Blackmon opens everything up. Not only can he stretch the field, but he's reliable across the middle and on quick screens.

In turn, that takes pressure away from the ground game, and could potentially revive RB Steven Jackson's career.

What's also crazy about Blackmon's talent, is that for as great of a WR Dez Bryant is (another former Poke), Blackmon is actually better.

Yikes.

Alshon Jeffery, Cardinals

With Blackmon off the board, the Arizona Cardinals can either go with Notre Dame's Michael Floyd or South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.

It's basically splitting hairs, so Arizona takes Jeffery.

He's not on Blackmon's level where he can be targeted all over the field, but his leaping ability and hands are on the level of Larry Fitzgerald's when Fitz was coming out of Pitt.

What's also interesting about Jeffery? He compiled over 1,500 yards as a sophomore with Stephan Garcia as his QB.

Yeah, exactly.

This season, the Gamecocks have had some injuries (RB Marcus Lattimore, most notably) and with Garcia out, in came sophomore Connor Shaw, most likely a QB you've never heard of.

And still, Jeffery has practically been unstoppable when targeted.

He may only have 45 receptions this season, but he's averaging over 13 yards per catch. In 2010, he caught 88 balls and averaged over 17 per catch.

Scary stuff if he lines up across Larry Fitzgerald for any secondary.

Trent Richarson, Browns

Here's what can happen in Cleveland.

If the Browns draft Alabama RB Trent Richardson, they'll either have one of the best two-back tandems in the game with him and Peyton Hillis, or Hillis will want out and Richardson becomes the main Brahma Bull.

Either way it's a win-win, because Richardson is good enough to take over the role himself, but with many NFL teams using a two-back system (and having success), having Hillis along with the rookie would be dominant.

Cleveland needs a punishing RB to counter Hillis' hurdling, and Trent also provides them with some much needed attitude and swag.

It's obvious the little dump-off screens haven't been working, so going between the tackles is a must.

In turn, that will take much pressure off QB Colt McCoy and open up the passing game. There, McCoy can finally make his WRs better, because he'll actually have more than 0.03 seconds to throw the ball.

Richardson is the best back in the draft, and the Browns haven't had a legitimate and consistent RB since the days of Kevin Mack.

Now that's some '80s nostalgia for you.

Robert Griffin III, Redskins

If Rex Grossman or John Beck is the future in Washington, well, don't count on the playoffs anytime soon.

Grossman's inconsistency has plagued him his whole career, and Beck was figured out in two games by NFL defenses.

Grossman can prevent a complete meltdown for the remainder of 2011, but it's just to keep the starting QB seat warm for Baylor's Robert Griffin.

The man is simply the entire Baylor Bears team.

Baylor has arguably the worst defense in all of college football, and only one of the best offenses...because of Griffin.

He makes every player around him better, and is quite an athlete too.

What's nice about Griffin is that he has a great football IQ. It's arguably his best attribute.

More often than not, he stands tall in the pocket and patiently awaits the open target. He doesn't panic, roll out, then take off.

Not to mention, his accuracy is almost spot on.

Heading into bowl season, Griffin has 36 TDs to just six picks, and a 72.4 completion percentage.

And perhaps this was history in the making, because his 2010 campaign of 22 TDs to just eight picks and a 67.0 completion percentage is also impressive. Washington needs a guy who can dish the rock around with confidence.

Four different receivers have 35-plus receptions and three have seven or more TDs.

Nick Toon, Bears

Wisconsin WR Nick Toon is a great addition to the Chicago Bears, because he's a complete WR.

He's not nearly as explosive as Blackmon or Jeffery, but then again, they're both in pass-heavy offenses.

Toon on the other hand, plays for the Badgers who run the ball heavily and only pass in specific situations (mainly crucial). And Toon has been the most reliable.

On the year, he has 55 receptions for 822 yards and nine TDs, which is a lot coming from a team who has a dual-threat QB in Russell Wilson and two stud RBs in Montee Ball and James White.

In The Windy City, however, Toon would be an excellent stock-blocker on the edge because of his size, strength, and quickness.

And we all know how much Chicago like to use their RBs.

As for the passing game, he may be more known as a possession receiver, but he's tough to bring down and can beat any defender one-on-one.

Plus, with his size, the Bears finally have that fade-route WR when in goal-line situations, as the defense is stacked in the box and on the edge.

2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stan.)	17. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Okla. St.)	18. Tennessee Titans: Jeff Fuller, WR (Tex. A&M)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, DB (LSU)	19. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
4. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB (USC)	20. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, G (Stan.)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Still, DT (Penn St.)	21. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (ND)	22. Cincinnati (From Oak): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stan.)
7. Arizona Cardinals: Alshon Jeffery, WR (S. Car.)	23. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisc.)
8. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	24. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Neb.)
9. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB (Ala.)	25. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)
10. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	26. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
11 .Philadelphia Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB (N.D.)	27. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy, DT (Mich. St.)
12. Carolina Panthers: Brandon Thompson, DT (Clem)	28. N.E. (From N.O.): Cam Johnson, DE (Virginia)
13. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Ala.)	29. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S (Ala.)
14. Kansas City Chiefs: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Ala.)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
15. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB (N. Ala.)	31. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly, LB (B.C.)
16. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio St.)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (S. Car.)

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