2012 NFL Mock Draft: Vontaze Burfict and More Players Whose Stock Will Plummet

The 2012 NFL draft is drawing ever nearer and it’s time to figure out which star prospects will be falling to earth in NFL scouts’ eyes over the next few months.

With the Super Bowl just two weeks away, the teams that aren’t fighting for anything right now are preparing for an offseason filled with important events.

In the first true offseason since the lockout, teams have to manage free agency and the draft and will not want to deal with any unnecessary drama. Watch out for players whose stock will plummet in this draft.

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

The unquestioned No. 1 pick. Any questions?

2. $$ Cleveland Browns (2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

**TRADE** With the St. Louis Rams knowing how high NFL teams are valuing Griffin, there is no doubt they can move back a few spots but remain in the top 10 as well as get a few solid picks later on.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

With an offensive line in rebuilding mode, the process begins and ends with a franchise left tackle. Christian Ponder, meet Matt Kalil.

4. $$ St. Louis Rams (4-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

With Cleveland falling all over itself to get its hands on Griffin, the Rams will grab stud wideout Blackmon as the weapon former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford so desperately needs.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The glaring weakness at cornerback and the value of Claiborne makes this match perfect.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Mike Shanahan is putting all of his eggs in the Robert Griffin III basket. When Griffin goes at No. 2, Shanahan will be thrown into a tailspin and select Tannehill out of desperation. Just another day of Shanahan draftin’.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Quinton Coples, DE/DT, UNC

While I don’t think the Jaguars will keep this pick, their need at defensive end is strong enough to justify taking a stud like Coples here.

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

Ron Rivera wants a revolution on the defensive side and it starts with a big defensive tackle like Still. Great fit.

9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matt Moore back in Miami next season, especially after gelling well with the skill players the Dolphins already have. An offensive lineman would give Moore the protection he never had before.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The BCS Championship Game MVP is one of the best players in this draft, but is a bit of a tweener at the NFL level. He will fit the Bills 3-4 scheme as a solid outside linebacker.

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

As good as Marshawn Lynch has been, Pete Carroll’s love for running backs would never allow Richardson to slip past him. Beast Mode times 2.

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

It doesn’t matter if you are talking about the passing or running games, the main issue for the Chiefs offense is on the line. Jonathan Martin is a huge Band-Aid.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Stewart Bradley < Anyone. Just ask a Cardinals fan. Eagles don’t look so dumb now.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Cowboys are going to spend a first-round pick on an offensive lineman for the second straight year. Jerry Jones must have bumped his head.

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

Unless Michael Floyd can stop the run, this is just a pick for Andy Reid’s video game offense, though team has much bigger needs than wide receiver.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

I heard a comparison of Dwight Freeney to Melvin Ingram on ESPN. If Rex Ryan heard that, he will fly to South Carolina and carry Ingram to New York on his back.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Cincinnati Bengals don't mind facing trouble head on, so Kirkpatrick will be no trouble at all for Marvin Lewis and the coaching staff.

Kirkpatrick showed how great he could be in the BCS game and then showed how immature he was with an arrest for drug possession just a few weeks ago.

I still believe the Bengals could package one of their first-rounders with a later pick and move up, so depending on whom they take Kirkpatrick could fall to the second round.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Every sign points to the Chargers trying again to draft the pass-rusher they have missed for the past three seasons.

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

Jay Cutler gets sacked a lot. Konz will help avoid so much of that.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers’ stock is rising fast, so I could see him continuing to climb as we get closer to the draft and into the combine.

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

Miller is a strong running back with good speed, but the Bengals have needs on the offensive line. They have to pick between unrestricted free agent Cedric Benson or Lamar Miller.

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

If the Browns get Griffin, they need to give him a weapon. Alshon, meet Robert.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Detroit proved its secondary needs help. Dennard is a good start to the rebuilding process.

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

Do I have to explain why Big Ben and the Steelers need offensive line help? He was the walking wounded this season.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The conversion to John Fox’s 4-3 defense will take another huge step towards fruition when the Broncos select Cox to fill the middle.

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

Wade Phillips gets another weapon for what’s becoming the most dangerous defense in the NFL.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

With the third-worst statistical defense in the NFL, the Patriots need the dual-threat, run- and pass-stopping abilities of Branch.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

While Worthy is a solid pick here, no matter whom Green Bay selects, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be on the defensive side of the ball.

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

With Jim Harbaugh falling in love with Alex Smith, getting him a speedy weapon is a great idea. I think I saw this movie; it was called Ted Ginn, Jr..

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

While I have to admit  Hightower to the Baltimore Ravens is a great fit, I honestly think the allure is wearing off and the Alabama middle linebacker could fall to the second round.

I could see the Ravens grabbing him in the second round to be the eventual replacement for Ray Lewis, but the BCS National Championship Game showed a lot of people that Hightower played in the perfect system for his size and lack of speed.

Defenses that depend on faster linebackers instead of a lumbering middle linebacker who mainly stuffs the run will be out of the running, which means teams can wait until the second round.

31. New York Giants (9-7): Vontaze Burfict, OLB, UNC

As good as the New York Giants' defensive line has been, their linebacker group hasn’t played exceptionally well. That’s where  Burfict comes in.

Burfict is a top-15 talent in this draft, but anger management issues and poor self-control have plagued the young star's career at Arizona State. With so many personal issues, teams are favoring safer picks with less upside.

One team that has proven time and time again that it can handle personalities is the New York Giants. If Tom Coughlin shows a willingness to work with Burfict, he could turn the young pro into a star and into a man.

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

If I were building a team on pure on-field talent alone, not only would  Jenkins be the top cornerback on my board, he would be a top-five pick.

The reason a player this talented has already fallen so far and will continue to fall is that he was kicked out of the University of Florida for two drug arrests. Since his time at the University of North Alabama, where he transferred to, Jenkins has kept a clean record and has slipped off many teams' radars.

Despite the talent, most teams will pass on the young prospect until it comes time for Bill Belichick and the Patriots to make their selection. New England isn’t afraid of the off-field issues and will turn Jenkins into a top-10 cornerback in the NFL within two seasons.

*Order determined by coin flip at NFL scouting combine.

$$—Potential trade

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