Mel Kiper Jr. 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Kiper's Overvalued Picks

It's always a process analyzing prospects before an NFL draft.

Mel Kiper of ESPN has changed his mock draft considerably since January. And there's still plenty of work to do.

In his latest 2012 mock draft, Kiper fails to recognize that character and NFL-level size can be be vital when breaking down a prospect. He also places some prospects in the first round that don't belong there.

Here's my take on where Kiper went wrong.

3. Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Everybody raves about Luke Kuechly's instincts, range and tackling ability, but I continue to be amazed that they don't recognize his strength and size at the next level leaves a lot to be desired.

You only have to look at game tape to know that Kuechly even had trouble getting through blocks in the interior in college. He struggles to push past piles and get to the ball-carrier. He's a tremendous tackler in the open field, but the fact of the matter is that he's an inside linebacker, and how can you draft an inside linebacker in the first round who struggles in the interior?

Kiper has him going No. 11 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

2. Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

For a defensive tackle class that is sorely lacking, Kiper has Kendall Reyes (a third-rounder in my book) going No. 31 overall to the New England Patriots.

Kiper is right that Reyes has tremendous strength, but it's about more than that. Reyes' lateral agility, burst and range aren't elite, and he's not the type of finisher yet to seriously disrupt an offense. Beyond that, his pass-rushing skills leave a lot to be desired.

If the Patriots take Reyes this early, it will go down as one of the biggest reaches of the 2012 draft.

1. Quinton Coples, DE/DT, North Carolina

Those of you who have been following my draft assessments know that I'm not a big fan of Quinton Coples

Coples has the sheer strength and athleticism to be a difference-maker as a defensive end, but his work ethic and drive is highly questionable.

Coples took downs off in his last year at UNC and has dropped down my draft board considerably. I considered him the No. 2 overall prospect headed into this past season, but he's not even a first-rounder for me now.

On the line, you have to go to war. Coples has gotten by on his physical ability in college, but the NFL is an entirely different story. I expect Coples to lose a lot of battles as he begins to realize what it really takes to be a game-changer in the NFL.

Kiper has him going No. 7 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.