2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Stephon Gilmore and Draft's Top DBs

Thanks to Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, among others, having a solid secondary has become arguably the most vital aspect of a NFL club's defense. 

Teams need talented cornerbacks now more than ever.

Let's look at the best cornerbacks in the 2012 draft class and project where they'll land. 

Stephon Gilmore

A rangy athlete, the 6'1'', 195-pound Gilmore will bring a lot to the field in the NFL. Not only does he project as an ideal zone corner that can also matchup with bigger possession receivers, but can be used as return man, too. 

Gilmore demonstrated a willingness to play the run and that has become one of his strengths. 

He had seven interceptions in his final two seasons with the Gamecocks and definitely will enter the pros with the "playmaker" label. 

The junior is not the most consistent player, however. 

After a few impact plays, he has the tendency to lose focus and get burned down the field. 

The Detroit Lions weren't atrocious against the pass in 2011, but the front office would certainly like to bolster their secondary. 

With their aggressive pass rush, Gilmore will be given ample opportunities to utilize his tremendous ball skills. 

Playing in the NFC North against Aaron Rodgers, the Lions can never have enough secondary members. 

Morris Claiborne

Claiborne is the cream of the cornerback crop in 2012. Playing for one of the best defenses in the country, he was the most reliable guy in the secondary. 

Tyrann Mathieu is the dynamic ballhawk, but Claiborne is more steady and manages to make the game-altering play, too. 

At 6'0'' and 190 pounds, adding some muscle to his frame would be beneficial. 

He's polished, both in man-to-man and zone coverage mainly because of his sound football IQ and elite athleticism. Claiborne reads the quarterback well and has enough acceleration to catch any receiver that happens to blow by him, although it rarely happens.

I have him as the first defensive player off the board to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While many believe quarterback Josh Freeman needs more help on offense, their secondary was a disaster in 2011. With the NFC loaded with tremendous quarterbacks, it is imperative they add more skilled defensive backs.

Dre Kirkpatrick 

At 6'3'' and 195 pounds, Kirkpatrick is undoubtedly an interesting prospect. After his 2010 season in which he reeled in three interceptions, opposing defenses rarely threw Kirkpatrick's way in 2011. That can explain why he doesn't have a pick this year.

He's physical at the line and doesn't shy away from contact in the run game.

Although he's not as fluid or polished as Claiborne, he's probably just as fast and is certainly a good athlete in his own right.

Because he's such a big corner, he'll matchup with possession guys at the next level and has the leaping ability to challenge them for jump balls at the next level.

The Chicago Bears finished with the 28th-ranked secondary in football, and like the Lions, they need as many talented cornerbacks as they can get with Aaron Rodgers in the division. 

Kirkpatrick has lock-down potential and is an ideal fit for the Bears. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6.  Washington Redskins—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

8.  Carolina Panthers—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Seattle Seahawks—Nick Perry, DE, USC

12.  Kansas City Chiefs—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

16.  New York Jets—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

17.  Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland Raiders)—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama  

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford  

19.  Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

20.  Tennessee Titans—Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

21.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT, Penn State

22.  New York Giants—Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia 

23.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

24.  Houston Texans—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

25.  Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons)—Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

26.  Detroit Lions—Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

27.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

29.  New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints)—Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

30.  San Francisco 49ers—Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois