2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Top Cornerbacks

With the 5,000-yard passing mark being surpassed with regularity and more 1,000-yard receivers in the NFL than there are crooked politicians, it's become plainly evident that it's the age of "grip it and rip it" in the National Football League.

This aerial assault also means that opposing teams hoping to stem the tide at all need all the capable cornerbacks they can get, adding even more value to what was already a premium position in the NFL.

This April's NFL draft features quite a bit of talent in the defensive backfield, and here's a look at some of the top incoming cornerbacks available and what neighborhood they may find themselves drafted in a few months.

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU

With 49 tackles and seven interceptions, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne had a phenomenal junior season, earning consensus All-American honors and the Jim Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back.

The 6'0" 188-lb Claiborne possesses a tantalizing combination of size, speed and technique, and it's a near-mortal lock that he'll among the first 10 players chosen in April's NFL draft.

2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

Had cornerback Janoris Jenkins not gotten himself kicked out of the University of Florida it may have been the 5'10", 191-lb Jenkins' name, and not Claiborne's, leading off this countdown.

However, he did, and the "character" issues that surround Jenkins have certainly affected his NFL draft stock.

To his credit Jenkins shined at the Senior Bowl, and with such teams as the Detroit Lions already showing interest, it's very possible that the talented youngster may just work his way back in to the NFL draft's first round.

3. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

The 6'3", University of Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick didn't post eye-popping numbers in 2011, but sometimes the numbers can be deceiving, as it's hard for a defensive back to accrue stats if the opposing quarterback avoids him like the plague.

A couple of moths ago Kirkpatrick was a sure first-rounder and potential top-10 pick, but a recent arrest for marijuana possession has caused his stock to slip.

However, while Kirkpatrick may drop from the top 10 he likely won't fall too far, given his size, 4.45 speed and the number of NFL teams desperate for secondary help.

4. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore was a solid performer for the Gamecocks in 2011, logging 46 tackles, three interceptions and showing the potential to be a very good NFL cornerback.

However, the 6'1", 190-lb Gilmore also made his share of mistakes and could stand to improve his press coverage, so he may be best suited for a team selecting in the later part of Round 1 or first part of Round 2 that either plays a lot of zone or can ease the kid in.

5. Chase Minnifield, Virginia

Much like his father before him, University of Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield has evolved into a fine player, making 110 tackles and 14 interceptions in his four years at Virginia while earning first-team All-ACC honors in 2011.

A strong combine and pro day could bump Minnifield into the back of the first round, but it's more likely that he'll be chosen in the second round by an NFL squad hoping that the younger Minnifield becomes half the player that his four-time Pro Bowl pops was.

6. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Before the Senior Bowl Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, the Big Ten defensive back of the year, was widely considered a top-three cornerback and potential top-10 overall pick.

However, an awful week of practice that culminated in Dennard withdrawing from the Senior Bowl with a hip injury sent his NFL draft stock into full-on free fall after he looked slow and was repeatedly beaten off the line in Mobile.

A lights-out combine and pro day may boost that flagging stock somewhat, but there may not be a player with more pressure on him at the position in Indy later this month than Dennard,