2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players That Will Turn into Awesome 2nd-Round Picks

Every year there are certain players who slip out of the first round and fall into the second round, where teams pick up prospects that have something to prove after many of the NFL teams passed on them.

One of those players is Chase Minnifield, who is a very talented cornerback from Virginia.

Minnifield has good coverage skills, but where he will really help a team is his ability to stop the run. His tackling ability is spectacular and he reads plays well in the secondary.

A team like the Indianapolis Colts or New England Patriots could really use the size and all-around skills Minnifield can provide a defense with.

Another player who can really make an impact in the NFL but will be selected in the second round is South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Gilmore will probably go in the first few picks of the second round, and a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who could use another young corner, would be a good destination for him.

Gilmore has good coverage skills and enough speed to keep up with the speed demons in the pros. Gilmore is one of the more NFL-ready corners in this draft, which will make him a coveted player for many teams.

Jared Crick of Nebraska could be a defensive end that is taken in the middle of the second round who turns out to be a reliable player for many years.

He is strong, can play both the run and the pass and has versatility because he can play both defensive end and tackle efficiently. 

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are two teams who should give Crick a look as the draft approaches.

Now let's look at a complete first-round mock draft.

1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The Indianapolis Colts need a new franchise quarterback with the uncertainty over Peyton Manning's health in the short term, and Andrew Luck of Stanford could be a Pro Bowl player for many years.

2) St. Louis Rams: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Rams need a stud left tackle after quarterback Sam Bradford suffered an injury last season, because protecting him is priority No. 1.

3) Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The Vikings' passing defense needs to improve, and Morris Claiborne of LSU has the potential to be a shutdown cornerback for many seasons.

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

The Browns need a talented quarterback who can create plays, and the Heisman trophy winner from Baylor can make plays with his strong arm and his good running ability.

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

Trent Richardson is the most talented running back in the draft and has game-changing ability, which is something the Buccaneers need at the running back position.

6) Washington Redskins: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Redskins would love to draft a quarterback, but I don't think Griffin will be here at pick No. 6, so they should take the best player available in Justin Blackmon.

7) Jacksonville Jagaurs: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Jaguars need to improve their pass rush, and Quinton Coples of North Carolina has the speed to help improve at the defensive end position.

8) Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins would love to take Riley Reiff of Iowa to give them a stud right tackle to pair with Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.

9) Carolina Panthers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Panthers must upgrade the defensive end position to rush the quarterback and stop the run. Devon Still of Penn State is the best defensive tackle prospect in this draft class.

10) Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

With Stevie Johnson a free agent this offseason, the Bills need to add another playmaking wide receiver, and Michael Floyd of Notre Dame is a big, strong player who makes the clutch catches.

11) Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Seahawks have a good secondary, so the next area to upgrade on the defense is on the line, where Whitney Mercilus of Illinois would fit in nicely.

12) Kansas City Chiefs: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Mike Adams is a talented left tackle who would really upgrade the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Jonathan Martin is a really good left tackle who protected Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck very well and is a smart pick for the Arizona Cardinals.

14) Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dre Kirkpatrick is a great cornerback and is NFL ready. He would add some tremendous talent to a position of need for the Dallas Cowboys.

15) Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Luke Kuechly would add some football intelligence and athleticism to a Philadelphia Eagles linebacking corps that needs to get younger.

16) New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

The Jets need to get more production out of their defensive ends next season, which is why Courtney Upshaw of Alabama is a great pick.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: David Decastro, OG, Stanford

David DeCastro is the best guard prospect in the draft and would significantly improve the Cincinnait Bengals' offensive line with his ability to pass protect and run block.

18) San Diego Chargers: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

The Chargers would rather that DeCastro fall to them here, but if he's not available, they could address their weakness at linebacker by taking Alabama star Dont'a Hightower.

19) Chicago Bears: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Mohamed Sanu would really give the Bears a playmaking threat at wide receiver with his speed and exceptional route-running ability.

20) Tennessee Titans: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Tennessee Titans need a franchise-caliber center, and Peter Konz of Wisconsin is the best player in this draft class for that need.

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

Character issues could cause Janoris Jenkins to drop in the draft, but there's no doubting his talent and the Bengals' need at cornerback.

22) Cleveland Browns: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Zach Brown would give some youth and athleticism to a Cleveland Browns defense that really needs to improve at linebacker.

23) Detroit Lions: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

The Detroit Lions need to improve at guard, and the second-best player at the position in this draft class is Kelechi Osemele of Iowa State.

24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dontari Poe would be a tremendous replacement for the often injured, former star defensive tackle Casey Hampton in Pittsburgh.

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

The Broncos need to upgrade at defensive tackle, and Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State is a run-stuffing lineman who is NFL ready.

26) Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

An improved defense and Andre Johnson's hamstring injury last season makes Baylor star wide receiver Kendall Wright a smart pick at No. 26.

27) New England Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has not drafted cornerbacks well in recent drafts, but that doesn't mean he should ignore that position, especially since it's still a need on the New England defense.

28) Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE, USC

Nick Perry would upgrade the Green Bay Packers' defense by giving them another good pass-rusher to compliment defensive tackle BJ Raji.

29) Baltimore Ravens: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict is an immense talent who would develop nicely under the leadership of Ravens stars Ed Reed and Ray Lewis on defense.

30) San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Stephen Hill would give the 49ers a playmaking wide receiver that can scare opposing defenses with Vernon Davis also commanding attention.

31) New England Patriots: Melvin Ingram, LB, South Carolina

With Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes, the Patriots have some talented inside linebackers, so finding an upgrade at outside linebacker would be a smart idea, and Melvin Ingram of South Carolina is a good choice at this stage of the draft.

32) New York Giants: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Giants' secondary was bad this season and as a result, they were ranked 29th against the pass. Mark Barron of Alabama is one of the better safeties in this draft.