2012 NFL Draft Order: Which Top 5 Team Will Make a Shocking Move?

Once the Indianapolis Colts draft Andrew Luck, all bets are off. In this year's draft, with talent that is comparable and needs reaching far and wide, there is no telling how the final four teams will shake out. Here are some possible surprises to be on the lookout for.

Trent Richardson Falls

If the NFL playoffs have proven anything, it’s that a good back can be found anywhere. Frank Gore, Ray Rice, Ahmad Bradshaw and every other postseason back was a late first-round pick or worse. This proves that, in today's football scheme of pass-happy QBs and big brooding offensive lines, a productive back can be found anywhere. 

Trent Richardson certainly has caught the eye of many pro scouts. However, in order to be a Top-Five pick, he’s going to have to convince a team he’s a franchise chaser the way Adrian Peterson has been for the Vikings. While Richardson is good, he might not be that good to a team who holds such a highly coveted spot.

Chaos at No. 3

Don’t be surprised if Minnesota pulls a switch and deals on draft day. While the Vikings are far from perfect, their biggest need at this point is a superior offensive lineman. While the Rams could pass on Matt Kalil, the odds of that are slim, which means Minnesota loses out on it’s only strong draft choice. They could use a top-shelf talent in Justin Blackmon, but No. 3 might be steep for a receiver in this draft. 

The other angle to look at here is that there are plenty of quarterback-starved teams that could be looking to enter the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes. This means that they can swap picks with a starved team like the Dolphins, acquire a later first-round pick and another in later round. For a team that won’t find the best value for themselves at three, this option might be much more attractive as draft day nears. 

It’s clear that Andrew Luck's fate has been sealed. However, there is no one else in this draft, beyond Matt Kahlil, that is a must-draft. This can only mean chaos and intrigue as we head towards draft day.