2012 NFL Draft: 5 Sleepers to Compliment Indianapolis Colts' First Pick

Whether the Indianapolis Colts draft Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III, the rookie will need weapons.

Whichever quarterback comes to town, he will joining a team in complete rebuilding mode.

Receivers Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are free agents, and at least one of them is probably out. Tight end Dallas Clark has struggled to stay on the field the last two years, and Jacob Tamme failed to prove he can be a viable starter in 2011. The offensive line leaves plenty to be desired, and long-time center Jeff Saturday is likely out.

This is a complete overhaul.

So regardless of who Indy picks with the first-overall pick, they still have plenty of work to do. These guys will need some teammates they can rely on to make plays.

And with so many needs on the roster, the Colts will greatly benefit from finding some hidden gems later in the draft.

Ladarius Green, Tight End

Ladarius Green is a guy that many are starting to project into the earlier rounds.

He really showed up at the combine, measuring at 6'6" and 238 pounds. He also clocked a 4.53-second 40-yard dash. He was a standout among tight ends at the combine.

But two questions need to be answered about Green.

First, is he a tight end or a receiver in the NFL?

As tall as he is, he isn't bulky enough (right now) to be a true tight end in the league. That's not to say he can't gain weight and become a better tight end fit, but it depends on what teams see in him.

Because pass-catching is his bread and butter, teams may be more interested in pushing him towards wide receiver. With his frame, he doesn't look unlike the New Orleans Saints Marques Colston.

The second question is, why was he so inconsistent last season?

He posted only 606 receiving yards, though he did have eight touchdowns.

And on top of his low totals, he posted zero or negative yards in four games last season. That is not ideal for a player being picked on the first or second day.

Because of these questions, I think Green ultimately drops into the third or fourth round. With other big name tight ends available like Orson Charles and Coby Fleener, I think teams will wait on Green.

His versatility could really benefit either quarterback that may be selected by the Colts, but particularly Andrew Luck. Luck relied heavily on Coby Fleener at Stanford, another huge target who runs extremely well and plays tight end. Luck would enjoy having that kind of security blanket.

Chris Rainey, Running Back

Chris Rainey could be the next Darren Sproles.

While off-the-field issues clouded his career with the Florida Gators, Rainey's on-field talents are hard to ignore.

He has the ability to line up in the backfield or at any wide receiver position, a la Sproles or C.J. Spiller. He also has natural special teams instincts, both as a returner and a kick-blocking specialist.

He blocked six kicks for Florida.

His size and character concerns will keep him out of the early rounds, but his versatility and athleticism would be an excellent addition to a Colts offense that lacks playmakers.

Jeff Fuller, Wide Receiver

Former Texas A&M Aggie Jeff Fuller had a terrible senior season.

Plagued by hamstring injuries, he showed up to the combine with yet another injury. Due in part to injuries, Fuller's senior year saw him catch 70 passes for 828 yards and six touchdowns.

Not overly impressive.

What is impressive is his 6'4", 223-pound frame. The best part is that he knows how to use it.

Because he was hampered by injuries his senior year, it is reasonable to look at his junior year for more indicators of ability. In that season he caught 72 passes for 1,066 yards and 12 touchdowns.

One of the knocks on him is that he isn't physical at the line of scrimmage, but that can certainly change with the help of NFL coaches. A big guy like him doesn't need a ton of work to learn how to push smaller people off of him.

His senior season really hurt his draft stock, and his new price tag might thoroughly entice the Colts. He's now seen as a late-round pick.

A pick that the Colts might be wise to make.

Ryan Broyles, Wide Receiver

Ryan Broyles is a guy that will shine in the right NFL system.

He shares many of the same strengths and weaknesses as a very successful receiver already in the NFL: Wes Welker.

Both are undersized, but make excellent use of their frames. Both lack top-end straight-line speed, but have elite lateral quickness. And both are extremely sure-handed.

Though he didn't always in college, Broyles will almost certainly have to work out of the slot in the NFL because of size disadvantage, but he does have a fair amount of experience in that regard already.

His production at Oklahoma was insane, but the system they employed doesn't really allow for using it as a point of reference.

Last season, Broyles suffered a torn ACL, ending his college career. This injury, coupled with his size, have hurt his draft stock considerably.

This will give the Colts a perfect chance to get him for a value that befits a rebuilding squad.

Jarius Wright, Wide Receiver

Jarius Wright could be the burner that the next Colts quarterback relies on for years to come.

While he may be picked as high as the late-second round or early-third round, Wright may still be worth the risk.

He showed off that SEC speed at the combine, running a 4.42 second 40-yard dash. He also posted a 38-inch vertical, which could help alleviate some concern about his size.

Wright lists at only 5'10", roughly 180 pounds. He will likely be targeted for slot-play in the NFL due to his lack of height, but his sprinter speed may enable him to be moved around quite a bit.

His speed and quickness allow him to be a red-zone threat, even though he lacks the stature of a typical NFL red-zone target. Marvin Harrison has a similar body-type, but also tore defenses apart in his day. Harrison was a touchdown machine.

Wright caught 12 touchdowns in his senior season, and could definitely be that guy.