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

The NFL draft order is almost set, and there are still so many questions left to be answered about where teams are going to go, where the surprises will come and who will botch their pick. 

This draft is heavy at the top, with players like Andrew Luck and Justin Blackmon, but there is good depth beyond the best players. Underrated players are what make the draft great—it's why we keep tuning in year after year. 

Here is a projected first-round mock draft, including a look at players not getting enough respect. 

 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There is no doubt that Luck will be the No. 1 pick. The only thing that remains to be seen is what the Colts will do with Peyton Manning. 

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

While it would not be a surprise to see the Rams trade this pick, wherever they pick they will look to get Sam Bradford some wide receiver help. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

While everyone knows Claiborne's name because he has been talked about by all the top draft gurus for a long time, people may not appreciate how good he is. Playing alongside Tyrann Mathieu will do that for a player, but Claiborne deserves all the hype that has been attached to him. 

At just six-feet tall and 175 pounds, he is not the most physically imposing player, but he understands how to use his body and he reads the ball as well as any defensive back in this draft. He is also an asset in the return game. 

While he will not make the kind of instant impact that last year's top cornerback Patrick Peterson did, he will not need a lot of development time before he is anchoring the Vikings' secondary. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 

The Browns are dying to get a playmaking quarterback they can build around. Griffin will bring hope to this franchise for the first time since Derek Anderson led the team to the playoffs in 2007. 

 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

In an ideal world, the Buccaneers would draft a cornerback, but Claiborne is gone and Dre Kirkpatrick's off-field issues will drop his stock. Richardson will give them an offensive playmaker they haven't had in a long time. 

6. Washington Redskins: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick won't have to wait long, because the Redskins are going to upgrade the secondary since their ideal pick—Robert Griffin III—is off the board. 

 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Last year, the Jaguars drafted their quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert. There is still a lot of work to do with the offense, and Jeffery will give Gabbert the safety net he needs. 

Jeffery is a better overall prospect than Justin Blackmon. He is bigger, stronger, faster and succeeded in the best conference in the country for three years. His numbers dipped in 2011 only because the quarterback situation at South Carolina was a mess. 

He is a stud who should have a long, prosperous NFL career. 

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Panthers need a lot of help on defense, both on the line and in the secondary. Brockers is a monster in the middle who will plug up all the holes that 16 teams were able to run through last season. 

 

9. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin will be a nice addition to an offensive line that got better as the season moved along. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama

The Bills need to find pass-rushers. Upshaw can be a great speed rushing linebacker in a 3-4 defense, making an instant impact like Aldon Smith did for San Francisco in 2011. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

When Romeo Crennel was hired as head coach, the pick immediately changed from an offensive lineman to a defensive lineman. Still has the size and power to be a disruptive force in the middle for this team. 

Still is not a great pass-rusher from the defensive tackle position, but he is big enough to take up blockers and free up space for others to get through. His injury history is a concern—he tore his ACL in 2007 and broke his ankle in 2008—but his upside makes him worthy of the No. 11 pick. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples has Top 5 talent, but team needs will push him down to the Seahawks with the No. 12 pick. He could start right away for Pete Carroll. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Kevin Kolb did not have the kind of season the Cardinals were expecting, but he also didn't have a lot of help from the offensive line. Reiff is the best pass-blocker in this year's draft. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

One way or another, the Cowboys are going to address their secondary this offseason. Barron is a hard hitter who plays better than his skills would suggest because he knows how to read the quarterback and the ball. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuelchy, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles got burned up the middle time and again in 2011 because their linebacking corps was so bad. Kuelchy is rising up a lot of draft boards thanks to his athleticism and natural tackling ability. 

Andy Reid knows he is on thin ice after a disappointing season, but there are not a lot of changes that have to be made for this team to succeed next year. Kuelchy could step on the field right away and be the best linebacker on this team. 

16. New York Jets: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

The secondary is a bigger area of need for the Jets, but all of the top defensive backs are gone and they need to maximize their value with this pick. Branch can give them a speed rusher off the edge and take pressure off the secondary by attacking the quarterback. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals via OAK: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

It is not often that we see two running backs go in the first round anymore, but Miller is a special talent that deserves to be talked about with Trent Richardson. He is that good. 

Miller doesn't get as much hype because he didn't play at Alabama, but he is a special talent that can succeed against the tough defenses in the AFC North. He has the ability to run by defenders, make tacklers miss, catch passes out of the backfield and contribute as a blocker. 

The Bengals need to upgrade their running game, and Miller will be a star right away. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Glenn will be Philip Rivers' best friend because he needs someone who can provide consistent protection for him when he drops back to pass. 

 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Another year, another offensive lineman from Wisconsin for the Bears. Konz gives Jay Cutler and (assuming he re-signs) Matt Forte a big body up front so that they have time to make plays happen. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

Perry is another fast-rising prospect in this draft class, and he is going to be a solid addition to a weak Titans defense that struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks last season. 

 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins' stock slipped over the last year due to some character concerns, but Marvin Lewis and the Bengals aren't afraid to take a chance on a questionable person if he can help out on the football field. 

 

22. Cleveland Browns via ATL: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

After drafting their quarterback of the future 18 picks earlier, the Browns will give him someone to throw to with Floyd. He has size, decent speed and good hands. 

 

23. Detroit Lions: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

The secret is starting to get out there about Burfict. He has great physical attributes already, but is still very raw and will need time to develop. The Lions are in an excellent position to help speed up the process because their front four is so good. 

The Lions have to find players in the middle of the field that can make things happen and support an improving secondary. Burfict could end up being the best linebacker in this draft when all is said and done. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Like the Bears, the Steelers' problems on the offensive line have to be addressed in the first round for the second straight year. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Broncos defense made some positive strides this season, but there is still work to be done up front. Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller make a great combination off the edge, and Cox will give them a big body in the middle who can stop the run and make life easier for everyone else around him. 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright gives the Texans a nice complement to Andre Johnson. He is not a physical player, but he has the speed and separation skills to be a big-play threat in this offense. His hands are not great, but they are good enough for him to succeed in the NFL. 

27. New England Patriots via NO: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

It is amazing to look at the Patriots defensive line, aside from Vince Wilfork, and think this group is going to play in a Super Bowl. Ingram is a speed rusher who will give Bill Belichick some versatility to play around with. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Packers have to find someone who can give them a consistent pass rush because they did not have it in 2011, and that ultimately led to their downfall in the postseason. Mercilus led the NCAA in sacks last season and will thrive in this scheme for years to come. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

The Ravens have no immediate need, though they could stand to get younger at a few positions. Sanders may not be the glamorous pick that the fans are looking for, but he will make this team more physical on offense, and Ray Rice will love running behind him. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Alex Smith made great strides this season, but it was obvious in the NFC Championship Game that he needs a lot of help at wide receiver. Sanu will immediately be the team's No. 1 wide receiver and second-best pass-catcher after Vernon Davis. 

31. New York Giants: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The front four is able to mask a lot of the problems that this defense has, particularly in the secondary. Gilmore gives them more depth, and over time he can develop into a solid cover corner thanks to his instincts and ability to play the ball. 

32. New England Patriots: Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

Bill Belichick loves to hoard defensive players, and Crick was one of the best prospects before tearing a pectoral muscle in October. He could end up being a steal with the final pick of the first round. 

Follow @adamwells1985