Tracking Stanford Football Players in the 2012 NFL Draft

If you are a Stanford Cardinal fan, then today is the day that you have been waiting for. Today, when the NFL draft gets underway, your program will be put in the spotlight as four players from the program have a chance of going in the first round of the draft, including the first overall pick.

At this point, it is no secret that the Indianapolis Colts are preparing to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with their first overall pick. What many people may not realize is that three of Luck's teammates are not that far behind.

Players like David DeCastro, Coby Fleener and Jonathan Martin all have high hopes and are being projected as possible first-round picks as well.

Along with those players, Chris Owusu will find a home in the NFL during the draft.

Stanford fans need to make sure that they enjoy this weekend. While a great showing in the draft is great for a program and its recruiting efforts, it also means that the team has lost a significant amount of talent. In this case, the Cardinal offense will be picked apart, as all five players projected to be drafted come from that side of the ball.

Stay tuned to this slideshow as the draft progresses. As soon as a Stanford Cardinal comes off the board, we will update it here live, letting you know where and when they went in this year's NFL draft. 

Andrew Luck, QB, Drafted by Indianapolis Colts, No. 1 Overall

Andrew Luck is the best NFL draft prospect of all time.

While many have called him the best draft prospect of the last 10 years, no matter how many years you want to go back, you will not find a prospect who can match Luck's readiness and ability.

Luck will be tasked with taking on the face of a franchise and leading them back to contention. He's ready to do it with exceptional pre-snap intelligence, great command of his arm, and the size and speed to be a factor getting outside the pocket.

The Stanford product has no real weaknesses. The only argument you could make is that he doesn't have great room to grow and improve as a player once he's in the NFL. Is that picky? Yes, exceptionally so. Many have looked for two years to find a weakness in the game of this all-time great, and there are none that stick.

He enters the NFL with incredible pressure to perform, but if his college career and pre-draft workouts are any indication, Luck will quickly be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. And that's a good thing, as he'll be expected to step in immediately and put the team and city on his back. 

Pick Analysis:

The Colts didn't overthink this and took one of the best QB prospects of the last fifteen years. Barring any major unforeseen development, Luck will be the Colts' day one starter, and stay in that spot for the next decade plus.  

David DeCastro, OG, Drafted by Pittburgh Steelers, No. 24 Overall

If the names Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca do anything for you, then you'll love David DeCastro. 

As talented a guard as you could ever expect to find in the NFL draft. He's big, strong and, most importantly, a technician. DeCastro doesn't live off of his athleticism, instead making his plays with great hand placement, leverage and angles.

DeCastro has the ideal size and strength for the position, combining excellent reach with the power at the point of attack to dominate defensive linemen when he fires off the line of scrimmage. If you had to complain about anything DeCastro doesn't do great, it would be that he will sometimes miss when asked to pull and hit a defender. If he can increase his hit rate when pulling, he'll be a flawless player at the position.

Worst case scenario? DeCastro makes four or five Pro Bowls.

Pick Analysis:

Great value pick for the Steelers at 24, as they bolster their offensive line with one of the best guard prospects of the last decade. Will be a ten year starter in Pittsburgh. 

Coby Fleener, TE, Drafted by Indianapolis Colts, No. 34 Overall

Andrew Luck dominated the coverage of Stanford draft prospects this year, but another member of the Cardinal emerged as the top option at his position during the draft postseason. Coby Fleener was a lethal downfield threat for Luck with 10 touchdowns and 667 yards in his senior season. With only 34 receptions, that is almost a 20-yard-per-catch average, outstanding for a tight end. Fleener's 4.5 40 speed and 37" vertical in a 6'6" 247 lb. frame will create mismatches no matter who tries to cover him on defense.

Tight end used to be one of the toughest positions to make an early impact at in the NFL because of the need for young players to basically learn two positions: receiver and offensive lineman. With the "joker" tight end position coming into vogue, players like Fleener will get a chance to make plays from day one on passing downs, much like New England TE Aaron Hernandez.

Fleener may never be an every-down tight end who helps his offensive tackles and opens holes in the running game, but in a league that continues to emphasize the pass, he might be just as important in a high-octane air attack. A Jimmy Graham/Rob Gronkowski trajectory might be asking too much, but Fleener can still be one of the most productive receiving tight ends in the league by the end of his second season.

Given that he'll be joining his college teammate Andrew Luck in Indianapolis—not to mention the Colts' traditional dependence on tight ends in the passing game—Fleener is a wonderful fit on both sides. 

Jonathan Martin, OT, Drafted by Miami Dolphins, No. 42 Overall

Andrew Luck's blindside protector, offensive tackle Jonathan Martin decided to make the jump to the NFL after his junior season, but would probably have benefited from another year in college to refine his game. 

At 6'6" and 308 pounds, the former Cardinal certainly looks the part. Tall and lean with excellent awareness and experience in a pro-style protection scheme, Martin may be best suited to start on the right side in the pros while refining his game. 

Martin could develop into a solid swing tackle in time, but probably should not be thrown into a starting lineup right away. With that said, he could most likely play early, and well enough at the pro level for a team that employs a zone/slide protection scheme.

Martin has a pro-ready body and will be a quick learner with the Dolphins. First-round pick Ryan Tannehill will thank Miami's front office for bringing in some serious protection.