2012 NFL Mock Draft: Underrated Players Who Will Have Long NFL Careers

Drafting a player who has a long NFL career is a blessing.

The average length of time in the league for a running back is just 2.57 years, which is the lowest of all positions up to kickers and punters, who tend to stick around just 4.87 years.

There is a reason why NFL stars are so rare, and the ones who do make it tend to shine for quite some time.

Even role players and journeymen who bounce around teams for their career are blessed to be in the league for so long.

Let’s take a look at some underrated guys who have a chance to stick around, be it as sleeper stars or serviceable players.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is unquestionably going to be a great player with a long career ahead of him, but he doesn’t fit the criteria of underrated. He is the natural successor to Peyton Manning.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is going to be a stud in this league and will anchor a quarterback's blind side for as long as he can stay healthy and on the football field.

He’s immensely skilled and has an NFL pedigree with size to boot, being listed at 6’7”, 295 pounds.

No one is really talking about the consensus No. 2 pick in the draft, but this underrated monster has a great chance to go to multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Good skills but small size, Claiborne needs some work in the weight room but deserves to go here to a ravaged Vikings secondary.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Prototypical NFL running back can do it all and will be eased on the field behind two other decent running backs already on the roster in Cleveland.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

This Antonio Cromartie-type prospect has a ton of size and upside and will be a force if he can put it all together. Instantly improves the Bucs secondary.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Can a Heisman-winning quarterback really be overrated? If anything, winning the award has vaulted him up draft boards, and he will be the second QB off the board.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is the best receiver in this draft class, but everyone learned his name after he’s demolished records over the past two seasons with the Pokes.

8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

This might be the first year that a defensive tackle doesn’t go in the top 10 since 2006. If one does, it will be Still to the Panthers, who is the best of an underwhelming class.

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*: Nick Perry, DE, USC

Miami cannot get an elite quarterback because of their late-season surge, so look for them to take a high-upside pass-rusher like Perry.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

Reiff is another underrated prospect that a smart team will take in the top 10. The Bills could certainly use him to be the franchise left tackle they direly need in Buffalo.

He will step in and immediately contribute, covering Ryan Fitzpatrick’s back and flattening opposing linemen.

Expect him to have a long, lucrative career in the NFL.

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

One of the best players on one of the best defenses. He isn’t the most skilled athlete but has great instincts.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin has become a top prospect working to keep Andrew Luck safe at Stanford and will get paid for it in the NFL after he is selected in the top half of the draft.

He is 6’6”, 305-pounds and will simply pulverize the opposition.

Kansas City is eventually going to need a QB, but getting someone who can keep him alive when the time comes is important as well.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

This guy was born to get to quarterbacks, although he is undersized for a prototypical NFL pass-rusher. The Cardinals need someone who can take down players in the backfield.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

A heady linebacker who has great instincts, Kuechly will contribute right away on a defense that needs some smarts.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd will help Philly and Michael Vick by giving him a big target to throw at with a lot of strength. Good to partner up with Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Quinton Coples, DE/DT, UNC

This is the most high-upside defensive pick of the draft. He was projected to be in the top five, but he has fallen off after a down year. Best size of any pass-rusher in the draft.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Interior lineman may be the most underrated position in football. That is why DeCastro has fallen so far despite being part of an incredible line in Stanford the past few years.

He’s a 6’5”, 312-pound behemoth that will pancake linemen for years in Cincinnati if they can draft him.

DeCastro will also allow the Bengals to protect second-year QB Andy Dalton and perhaps a new RB if they decide to draft one to replace Cedric Benson.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The senior defensive back would help out a Chargers team that has a lot of needs on defense.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Chicago foolishly lost Olin Kreutz during the offseason and had terrible offensive line play all season.

Konz helps rebuild from the middle.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU

Burfict may be a little crazy and make some boneheaded plays from time to time, but getting in a good system with the right coach means he will have a long, productive career.

It may not be in Tennessee with Mike Munchak, but eventually he will find a place to excel and become a force in the NFL. He is too physically gifted with size and speed to fail.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

This back could replace Benson in Cincy.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

He has the size and skills to be an elite NFL receiver but too inconsistent in college.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Stafford was pummeled this year and still managed to throw for more than 5,000 yards. Detroit must look to protect him better.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn is a hybrid offensive lineman who can play anywhere, and after watching a hobbled Roethlisberger take hit after hit toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, the Steelers know they must save their Super Bowl-winning QB.

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25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy has been excellent down the stretch and proved he’s a first-rounder.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

A great safety with full skill set to make up for lack of fluidity.

27. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

This guy is a project, but so was Jason Pierre-Paul.

28. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu will give the Patriots the No. 1 receiver they need to join Welker and Gronkowski for Tom Brady to throw at.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

This massive backer only lacks sideline-to-sideline speed. Hard and fearsome hitter in the middle.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

This speedster could be another deep threat if the 49ers decide to open their offense up next year.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is a project with off-the-field issues, but Bill Belichick has not been afraid to take those in.

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Green Bay must address their lack of production on the ground, and Polk will help.

*Order determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine