2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Landing Spots for LaMichael James and Top RBs

Although drafting running backs isn't held in as high regard now it was in the past, there is still a variety of talented guys entering in the 2012 NFL class. 

Here is where I envision them landing in April at this juncture. 

Trent Richardson 

He's the class' headliner and is essentially a lock to be a first-round selection which is really saying something. 

Teams have come to the realization that they can get solid production out of a guy they take in the mid-to-late rounds and don't need to use a high pick on a running back. 

Richardson is a special talent, however. 

The Bengals and Browns seem like the most ideal places for him to land. Each club has two picks in the first round and will most likely be looking to replace veteran backs, Cedric Benson and Peyton Hillis. 

Chris Polk 

Polk has a chance to go in the late first round with a eye-opening performance at the combine, but it's likely he'll be a second- or third-round pick. 

A team that needs a legitimate feature back or wants a fantastic complimentary option would be perfect for Polk. 

The Chiefs could use a guy to spell Jamaal Charles when he returns from injury with Thomas Jones at the end of his career. 

He'd be a great pick for the Giants or Rams, too. 

Lamar Miller 

Miller is easily the best running back "home run" threat in the class. He's more of an outside-the-tackles runner and possesses incredible shiftiness and lateral agility. 

He's not an every-down back, yet, but he has the potential to be a viable situational guy that can be utilized on screen plays. 

Don't be surprised if the team that misses out on Trent Richardson (either Cleveland or Cincinnati) makes Miller, who has tons of upside, one of their first-round selections.

Willis McGahee has experienced a resurgence in Denver, but you'd have to think they're looking for a replacement, especially with Knowshon Moreno's injury history.  

Like Polk, he'd be a good fit in New York with the Giants or on the Rams. 

LaMichael James 

James has "Darren Sproles" written all over him, doesn't he? 

I'm not sure if there's a better runner in the open field and although he lacks elite, top-end speed, James unquestionably can turn the corner and make defenders miss. 

Although the Chargers seem to be content with Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert, they'd love to have that familiar spark plug in their backfield once again and James could be a low-risk, mid-round selection. 

This may be out of their team's character, but wouldn't James work well with the hard-nosed Rashard Mendenhall in Pittsburgh? 

I think so. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck	17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon	18. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd
3. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III	19. Denver Broncos: Lamar Miller
4. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne	20. Cleveland Browns: Dwight Jones
5. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Kalil	21. New York Giants: Janoris Jenkins
6. Carolina Panthers: Vontaze Burfict	22. New York Jets: Alameda Ta'Amu
7. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery	23. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Minnifield
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Johnathan Martin	24. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly
9. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Barkley	25. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy
10. Miami Dolphins: Landry Jones	26. Detroit Lions: Alphonzo Dennard
11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro	27. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore
12. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff	28. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw
13. Buffalo Bills: Zach Brown	29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick	30. San Francisco 49ers: Devon Still
15. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram	31. New England Patriots: Quinton Coples
16. Philadelphia Eagles: Dont'a Hightower	32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Jenkins