NFL Draft Order: Predicting How Top-5 Picks Shake out After Week 17

It is embarrassing to end up with one of the top-five picks in the NFL Draft because that means you were awful during the season. But we won’t remember your season if you get the correct draft pick that can influence a franchise for 10 years.

The 2012 NFL Draft selection process is just about set up. Let’s predict who will end up with a top-five draft pick.

No. 5: Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers go to Cleveland in hopes of gaining a first-round bye if the Cincinnati Bengals can upset the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh will get the job done even with a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger. This will be your basic Cleveland stinks and Pittsburgh is a good team routine. The Browns' four wins have come against Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami (when they stunk) and Seattle.

The Steelers will ride the wave of having a great crowd in Cleveland, as always, and will do their part in attempting to get the first-round bye.

No. 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay travels to Atlanta Falcons to finish out the season. Their 4-11 record is about to drop to 4-12 after Sunday.

Josh Freeman has arguably taken a bigger step backwards than Mark Sanchez. He has tossed 14 touchdowns to 19 interceptions after throwing for 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions a season ago. It’s been a year to forget for Freeman in his third year as an NFL professional.

The Falcons use their embarrassing Monday Night Football defeat to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints last week to their advantage by having their way with Tampa Bay. Matt Ryan will continue to hook up with his favorite target Roddy White (96 receptions) in an easy victory.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

Nothing has gone the way it was planned for the Minnesota Vikings this season. Donovan McNabb was supposed to bring this team back to the postseason.

It hasn’t worked out.

Now they are 3-12 with a final game against Chicago. This is easily a game they can win, but you can never guess with this year’s team.

Adrian Peterson is done for the season, so the reliable run game won’t be present. Christian Ponder has been up-and-down, which is to be expected from a rookie. He has tossed for 13 touchdowns this season.

No. 2: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts can’t wait for Peyton Manning to return to the football field. Their 2-13 record is indicative to how much he truly means to the organization.

Indianapolis is only averaging 183 yards of passing per game this season, a statistic that won’t get it done in the NFL.

They travel to Jacksonville, which will be a winnable contest seeing how they have won two-straight games.

No. 1: St. Louis Rams

St. Louis will end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, which begs the question: will they really draft another quarterback to lead their franchise?

They should.

Andrew Luck is going to have a magnificent career, and while I like Sam Bradford, I like Luck so much more. Six touchdown passes is pathetic.

Bradford could now be used as a piece to grab more talent to place around Luck like a No. 1 receiver.

St. Louis hosts the San Francisco 49ers to complete their schedule. They will drop to 2-14.