2012 NFL Draft Projections: Predicting the Draft's Top 5 QBs

Every year, when draft hype begins, we realize how valued quarterbacks are at the NFL level. 

In 2011, six signal-callers were chosen in the first 36 selections and three were grabbed in the first 12 picks. 

With Andrew Luck as the headliner, let's take a look at the top five quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL draft class. 

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

As if he didn't do enough during his illustrious career as a member of the Cardinal, Luck's ridiculously efficient Fiesta Bowl all but cemented him as the No. 1 overall selection in April's draft. 

The redshirt junior finished the game 27-of-31 for 347 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. 

He went 15-of-15 on the Cardinal's three touchdown drives.

Yikes. 

While Luck never captured the Heisman Trophy because of Cam Newton's insane 2010 season and Robert Griffin III's epic 2011 campaign, the Stanford star is the clear-cut, top signal-caller in the 2012 draft class. 

Robert Griffin III, Baylor 

Griffin III represents the new-age, Michael Vick and Cam Newton-type of quarterbacks that can hurt you with their feet just as much as they can with their arm. 

RG3 enters the league as a much more polished passer and decision maker than Vick or Newton were, and his near Olympic speed makes him just as dangerous as a scrambler. 

He completed 72.4 percent of his passes and accounted for 47 touchdowns. 

Griffin III is a player with seemingly unlimited potential. 

Landry Jones, Oklahoma 

While Luck and Griffin III are close in their draft prospectus, there is a considerable drop off with Jones. He has the size at 6'4'' and has displayed decent arm strength during his time at Oklahoma, but Jones struggled mightily after receiver Ryan Broyles went down with a severe knee injury.

In his last four games, including the 31-14 Insight Bowl win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, Jones tossed one touchdown with six interceptions. 

He'll be extremely fortunate to be selected in the first round. 

Nick Foles, Arizona 

Foles had a respectable career with the Wildcats and had to carry his team during the 2011 season, mainly because they had such a porous defense. 

He had 48 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his last two seasons with Arizona. 

At 6'5'' and 240 pounds, with a rocket arm, Foles certainly has the skill set to be an NFL pocket passer. 

However, he tends to lock on to his primary receiver and not work through his progressions. That must improve at the next level. 

Foles will likely be selected in the second or third round. 

Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M 

Tannehill flashed brilliance in a few outings this season, most notably in his six-touchdown explosion against Baylor and his three-touchdown effort against Missouri. 

He scared away many scouts with frequent stretches of bad play, too. 

The senior gun-slinger threw three interceptions in a second half collapse against Oklahoma State and had a total of six picks in losses to Texas and Oklahoma. 

At 6'4'' and 215 pounds, Tannehill will need to add a little bulk to his frame before he's throwing the ball on Sundays. 

He needs to improve his decision making, as well. 

With a great arm and surprising mobility, Tannehill has upside, but he is still raw at this juncture.

He will probably be a third-rounder.