2012 NFL Mock Draft: Comparing the Top Linebackers to Their Pro Counterparts

To get a better understanding of what type of prospects we're dealing with in the 2012 NFL draft, let's compare them to some current professional players. 

With this mock draft, I'll look at the top linebackers in the 2012 class and peg them to their NFL counterparts. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft (Last Pre-Combine Update)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (trade with St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

NFL Comparison: Chris Long, St. Louis Rams 

Each guy measures out at roughly the same size. Upshaw is currently listed at 6'2'' and 265 pounds, while Long is 6'3'' and 270. 

Both have a knack for getting to the quarterback. What's more, they do so with power, a surprise first step and their overall speed. 

Neither excels in any one area of getting into the backfield, but seemingly does so with relative ease.

Each guy is bulky and smart enough that they're not liabilities against the run. 

Overall, both Upshaw and Long are simply solid football players. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

11. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

NFL Comparison: Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Saints

Kuechly is listed at 6'3'' and 237 pounds. Meanwhile, Vilma has played relatively small during his career at around 6'0'' and 235 pounds. 

Both are heady middle linebackers that make impact plays against the run by correctly positioning themselves and slipping around bigger blockers. 

At Boston College, Kuechly was a tackling machine. That being said, he's not the most athletically-gifted player. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

NFL Comparison: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Burfict has a ways to go before he's at Willis' level, but in terms of size and ability to move sideline-to-sideline, Burfict is right there.

This Arizona State star, who battled penalties during his collegiate career, is 6'3'', 250 pounds, fluid and deceptively fast when tracking the football.

He has a tendency to overpursue in an attempt to lay the huge hit. However, if he can curtail that desire and simply wrap up, he has the chance to be a Pro Bowler early in his career like Willis.  

16. New York Jets: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

NFL Comparison: Ernie Sims, Indianapolis Colts

Sims has been somewhat of a disappointment due to his inability to get off blocks at 6'0'' and 230 pounds. That's something I think the 6'2'', 230-pound Brown will struggle with at the pro ranks. 

However, both players are blazing fast and I wouldn't be surprised if Brown ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at this year's Combine. 

Each guy is a tremendous athlete and has to work around blocks, not through them, to make plays in the NFL. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

25. Denver Broncos: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State 

26. Houston Texans: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

28. Green Bay Packers: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco 49ers: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

32. New York Giants, Kelechi Osemele, OL, Iowa State

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