2012 NFL Draft: An Early Look at Andrew Luck and the Top 5 at Each Position

For some of us, the NFL draft is never over. We flow from April-to-April, always looking ahead to the next year.

May, June and July are great months to evaluate both incoming rookies and the next year's draft class.

Over at New Era Scouting, we are already started ranking out top 125 players for 2012. Here's a peek at the five best players at each position.

Quarterbacks

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Orange Bowl MVP Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates with his teammates after Stanford won 40-12 against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami,

The 2012 quarterback class will be a good one, with as many as three players carrying a possible top five grade in the preseason.

Stanford's Andrew Luck will get the most attention, and rightfully so, but do not sleep on Landry Jones and Matt Barkley as worthy number twos.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	1	Andrew Luck	Stanford	rJr	6'4"	235	Top Five
2	10	Landry Jones	Oklahoma	rJr	6'4"	220	Top Five
3	16	Matt Barkley	USC	Jr	6'2"	220	Top 10
4	27	Nick Foles	Arizona	rSr	6'5"	245	Late First
5	40	Ryan Lindley	San Diego State	rSr	6'4"	218	Second Round

Running Backs

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 11: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The 2012 running back class features no Heisman Trophy winners (yet) who carried the cache of Mark Ingram in 2011's draft.

Instead, the 2012 class is solid throughout. Ingram's partner in crime at Alabama, Trent Richardson, leads the way.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	13	Trent Richardson	Alabama	Jr	5'11"	220	First Round
2	15	Knile Davis	Arkansas	Jr	6'0"	220	First Round
3	25	Cyrus Gray	Texas A&M	Sr	5'10"	198	Late First
4	50	LaMichael James	Oregon	rJr	5'9"	185	Second Round
5	76	Daniel Herron	Ohio State	rSr	5'10"	205	Third Round

Fullbacks

Darren Carroll/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Running back Cody Johnson #31 of the University of Texas rushes during the second half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Only one fullback made our list of the top 125 players, but there are four more we are watching closely as we make our top 250 rankings for later this summer.

Texas' Cody Johnson leads this pack of do-it-all fullbacks.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	98	Cody Johnson	Texas	rSr	5'11"	250	Fourth Round
2	NR	Taylor Gentry	NC State	Sr	6'2"	250	Fourth Round
3	NR	Devon Ramsay	UNC	Sr	6'2"	250	Sixth Round
4	NR	Joe Suehy	Penn State	Sr	6'1"	227	Sixth Round
5	NR	Lars Anderson	Boston College	Sr	6'3"	245	Seventh Round

Wide Receivers

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks rushes upfield against the Alabama Crimson Tide October 9, 2010 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The 2012 wide receiver class could be similar to the 2011 draft in that two players may very well be drafted in the top 10 picks.

Alshon Jeffrey and Justin Blackmon will battle it out over the season to see who has earned the right to be the first wide receiver off the board and potentially the No. 2 pick overall.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	6	Alshon Jeffrey	South Carolina	Jr	6'4"	232	Top Five
2	8	Justin Blackmon	Oklahoma State	rJr	6'1"	208	Top 10
3	23	Jeff Fuller	Texas A&M	Sr	6'3"	215	First Round
4	45	Michael Floyd	Notre Dame	Sr	6'3"	228	Second Round
5	46	Ryan Broyles	Oklahoma	rSr	5'11"	185	Second Round

Tight Ends

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Wide receiver Michael Egnew #82 of the Missouri Tigers is tackled by James Morris #44 and Brett Greenwood #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes after a 16 yard reception during the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tem

Missouri's Michael Egnew currently ranks as our No. 1 tight end, but he's being pushed by Oregon's David Paulson and George Bryan of North Carolina State.

This three-way battle will be fun to watch during the 2011 season.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	44	Michael Egnew	Missouri	Sr	6'6"	235	Second Round
2	65	David Paulson	Oregon	rSr	6'4"	242	Second Round
3	71	George Bryan	NC State	rSr	6'5"	265	Third Round
4	81	Ladarius Green	La.-Lafatyette	rSr	6'6"	230	Third Round
5	90	Rhett Ellison	USC	rSr	6'5"	245	Third Round

Offensive Linemen

David Purdy/Getty Images

IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes throws under pressure from defensive lineman Solomon Thomas #98 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as offensive lineman Riley Reiff #77 defends during the first half of

The 2012 offensive line crop may not feature six tackles drafted in the first round, but it just might feature five.

The guard class is also very, very strong. Kelechi Osemele looks like a future starter at guard or tackle in the NFL.

Offensive Tackles

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	7	Jonathan Martin	Stanford	rJr	6'6"	305	Top 10
2	11	Matt Kalil	USC	rJr	6'6"	295	Top 10
3	22	Nate Potter	Boise State	rSr	6'6"	295	First Round
4	26	Riley Reiff	Iowa	rJr	6'6"	300	First Round
5	30	Matt Reynolds	BYU	rSr	6'6"	322	First Round

Offensive Guards

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	31	Kelechi Osemele	Iowa State	rSr	6'5"	335	First Round
2	64	Brandon Washington	Miami (FL)	Jr	6'4"	330	Second Round
3	78	Barrett Jones	Alabama	rJr	6'4"	301	Third Round
4	84	Stephen Good	Oklahoma	Sr	6'6"	300	Third Round
5	122	David DeCastro	Stanford	rJr	6'5"	312	Fifth Round

Centers

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	33	Mike Brewster	Ohio State	Sr	6'5"	295	Second Round
2	NR	Ben Jones	Georgia	Sr	6'3"	300	Fourth Round
3	NR	David Molk	Michigan	Sr	6'2"	285	Fifth Round
4	NR	William Vlachos	Alabama	Sr	6'1"	289	Fifth Round
5	NR	Moe Petrus	UConn	Sr	6'2"	292	Seventh Round

Defensive Linemen

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Jerel Worthy #99 of the Michigan State Spartans moves past a block attempt by Brian Mulroe #72 of the Northwestern Wildcats with his sights set on Dan Persa #7 at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan St

The 2012 draft class features two players ranked in the top five, with two others who have the potential to move into that same area.

There is no Ndamukong Suh here, but Quinton Coples at defensive end ranks as one the best pure defensive ends we have seen in quite some time.

The group is made up of true defensive ends, potential outside linebackers and one big-body (Jared Crick) who would fit in a 3-4 defensive line.

Defensive Ends

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	2	Quinton Coples	UNC	Sr	6'6"	272	Top Five
2	14	Donte Paige-Moss	UNC	Jr	6'4"	242	Top 15
3	19	Brandon Jenkins	FSU	Jr	6'3"	245	First Round
4	28	Devin Taylor	South Carolina	rJr	6'6"	250	First Round
5	32	Jared Crick	Nebraska	Sr	6'6"	285	First Round

Defensive Tackles

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	5	Jerel Worthy	Michigan State	rJr	6'3"	305	Top Five
2	12	Marcus Forston	Miami (FL)	rJr	6'3"	305	Top 15
3	34	Kheeston Randall	Texas	Sr	6'5"	295	First Round
4	37	Tydreke Powell	UNC	rSr	6'3"	310	Second Round
5	47	Alameda Ta'amu	Washington	Sr	6'3"	330	Second Round

Linebackers

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 18: John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers is tackled by the face mask by Vontaze Burfict #7 of the Arizona State Sun Devils at Camp Randall Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Image

The 2012 linebacker class is headlined by Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict—who receives the highest ranking we've assigned to an inside linebacker since Patrick Willis.

The outside linebacker class is weaker than in years past and does not feature a "big name" talent.

Inside Linebackers

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	3	Vontaze Burfict	Arizona State	Jr	6'3"	245	Top 5
2	18	Manti Te'o	Notre Dame	Jr	6'2"	245	First Round
3	24	Courtney Upshaw	Alabama	Sr	6'2"	263	First Round
4	29	Dont'a Hightower	Alabama	rJr	6'4"	258	First Round
5	36	Luke Kuechly	Boston College	Jr	6'2"	235	Second Round

Outside Linebackers

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	21	Zach Brown	UNC	Sr	6'2"	225	First Round
2	35	Kenny Tate	Maryland	Sr	6'4"	220	Second Round
3	38	Travis Lewis	Oklahoma	rSr	6'2"	232	Second Round
4	49	Nico Johnson	Alabama	Jr	6'3"	238	Second Round
5	52	Brandon Lindsey	Pitt	rSr	6'2"	250	Second Round

Cornerbacks

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Terrell Zachery #81 of the Auburn Tigers runs against Cliff Harris #13 of the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by

Oregon's Cliff Harris will battle it out with Alabama cornerback 'Dre Kirkpatrick for the No. 1 cornerback position this season—with both players expected to be drafted within the top 10 picks of the 2012 draft.

This year's cornerback crop is talented, with up to 10 players carrying a top 100 grade so far.

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	4	Cliff Harris	Oregon	Jr	5'11"	180	Top Five
2	9	'Dre Kirkpatrick	Alabama	Jr	6'2"	190	Top 10
3	17	Alfonzo Dennard	Nebraska	Sr	5'10"	195	First Round
4	20	Chase Minnifield	Virginia	rSr	6'0"	185	First Round
5	41	Stephon Gilmore	South Carolina	Jr	6'1"	190	Second Round

Safeties

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Wide receiver Jordan Shipley #8 of the Texas Longhorns is tackled by cornerback Mark Barron #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Citi BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, Californ

The 2012 safety class is very similar to the 2011 class. Much like last year, we do not expect to see a safety drafted in the first round and maybe no more than one or two selected in the first two rounds.

Free Safeties

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	43	Robert Lester	Alabama	Jr	6'2"	206	Second Round
2	60	Eddie Whitley	Virginia Tech	Sr	6'1"	195	Second Round
3	88	Lance Mitchell	Oregon State	rSr	6'2"	208	Third Round
4	120	Aaron Henry	Wisconsin	rSr	6'0"	205	Fourth Round
5	123	T.J. McDonald	USC	Jr	6'2"	205	Fourth Round

Strong Safeties

Pos. Rank	Overall Rank	Player	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Rd
1	39	Ray Ray Armstrong	Miami (FL)	Jr	6'4"	220	Second Round
2	55	Mark Barron	Alabama	Sr	6'2"	210	Second Round
3	77	Tony Dye	UCLA	Sr	5'11"	205	Third Round
4	85	Delano Howell	Stanford	Sr	5'11"	198	Third Round
5	119	DeVonte Holloman	South Carolina	Jr	6'2"	228	Fourth Round