2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Top Prospects for a 3-4 Defense

Now that the New York Giants have been crowned kings of the National Football League after their 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, the attention of football fans can now turn toward the hope of next season, beginning with this month's combine and continuing with April's NFL Draft.

The growth of the 3-4 as the base defense of choice continued this season in the NFL, with the Indianapolis Colts eschewing the 4-3 alignment and Tampa 2 defense they've used for years for a "hybrid" 3-4 front similar to that employed by the Baltimore Ravens.

As the number of 3-4 defenses grows, so does the demand for players who are best suited to play in it. Here's a look at 10 such prospects who could thrive as part of a 3-4 front.

10. Alameda Ta'amu: DT, Washington

Defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu was a force to be reckoned with in the the Pac-12 last year, racking up 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks on the way to all-conference honorable mention honors.

The 6'2", 321-lb Ta'amu is just the sort of penetrating defensive tackle that some 3-4 squads prefer, and after a solid Senior Bowl he should find himself chosen the the draft's first three rounds.

9. Ronnell Lewis: DE/OLB, Oklahoma

A first-team All Big-12 performer in 2011, Ronnell Lewis of Oklahoma had an excellent junior season in Norman, tallying 60 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

Lewis played as a DE in college but, at only 242 lbs, seems destined for a switch to 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, where his quickness off the ball and closing speed should be assets.

8. Jared Crick: DT/DE, Nebraska

After tallying 19 sacks over the two preceding seasons Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick was curiously quiet in his first year in the the Big 10, getting only one sack before a December injury ended his 2011 season.

That injury leaves Crick's availability for the combine up in the air, but regardless there's going to a 3-4 team in the first few rounds that rolls the dice on the 285-lb Crick, as five-technique 3-4 defensive ends don't grow on trees.

7. Devon Still: DT/DE, Penn State

The Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year, defensive tackle Devon Still was one of the few bright spots in a very dark season for the Nittany Lions, making 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Still could end up as either a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 defensive end at the next level, but at 6'5" and 310 lbs, Still has the combination of power, size and quickness to make the change to the latter a successful one.

6. Nick Perry: DE/OLB, USC

Some draft pundits, including Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller, have Southern Cal DE/OLB Nick Perry pegged as a top-10 pick headed into April's draft on the heels of his 54-tackle, 8.5-sack, All-Pac-12 2011 season.

I don't know that I see the 6'3" Perry being drafted that early, but there are a number of 3-4 teams looking for upgrades both at OLB and in the pass rush, and Perry's potential to kill two birds with one stone could get him into the first round.

5. Dontari Poe: DT, Memphis

For many 3-4 defenses the cornerstone of the defensive line is a beef-eating nose tackle, a hulk of a man whose task it is to occupy blockers so that the linebackers behind him can penetrate.

Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe is the top prospect in the 2012 class in that regard, as the 6'5", 350-lb Poe is not only tremendously strong but surprisingly agile for his size.

4. Vontaze Burfict: ILB, Arzona State

Were this strictly based on talent, Arizona State inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict might top this list, as the explosive Sun Devil is capable of taking over a game on any given play.

Unfortunately Burfict was just as likely to take plays off or pick up stupid personal fouls at ASU, so if his immense potential is going to be realized, his best landing spot is likely on a veteran defense with a tough-minded coaching staff.

3. Whitney Mercilus: DE/OLB, Illinois

All-American Whitney Mercilus was the NCAA sack leader in 2011, with the 6'4", 265-lb Mercilus racking up 16 sacks after tallying only two in his Illinois career before last season.

That disparity has led some to wonder if Mercilus might be a one-year wonder, but given last year's explosion and Mercilus' burst and array of pass-rushing moves, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him drafted in the first round by a 3-4 team hoping to slide Mercilus to OLB.

2. Dont'a Hightower: ILB, Alabama

This season's top inside linebacker prospect, Dont'a Hightower, was a key component of Alabama's fearsome defense in 2011, amassing 85 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception while being named a first-team All-American.

At 6'4" and 260 lbs, Hightower has the speed and strength to play either linebacker position on the inside of a 3-4, so it's highly unlikely that Hightower will make it out of the first 20 picks.

1. Courtney Upshaw: OLB, Alabama

No wonder Alabama was so damned good.

While Hightower prowled the inside of the Alabama defense, outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw wreaked havoc alongside him, "rolling" up 52 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick, and ending his collegiate career by being named the MVP of the BCS National Championship Game.

There's not much not to like for 3-4 coaches where Upshaw is concerned. He's 6'2" and 265 lbs who sheds blocks with ease and shows explosion off the edge.

Yep, that'll work.