2012 NFL Draft Projections: Predicting Landing Spots for the Top Prospects

Every year, scouts, head coaches and even draft nuts like myself salivate over the idea of the NFL draft.

Admittedly, this is a hobby of mine. Not like others where a garden is involved, or a bicycle or something more constructive, I follow the progress of hundreds of college football players trying to make a buck in the NFL. Call it the dream I never got to follow myself.

This year is a bumper crop for teams that need help at receiver and on the offensive and defensive lines. While there are two very good passers at the top of the list, there is a big gap in the rest of the quarterback class after that.

The draft is always a tricky game of poker, teams showing their hand early and then asking for more cards from the deck. They try to bluff, but get caught without a face card and their hand goes up in smoke. Only the strong and experienced can find true gems in the later rounds to fill out their roster of hopefuls.

The top10 of this class can be summed up as strong and maybe the best offensive and defensive linemen to come out in a decade. While there are others who will fill in these gaps at "sexy" positions, this will be a draft dominated by linemen and speed on the outside.

Here is how the first handful of prospects will fare and where they will be chosen to earn that dime in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

We have spoken so much about him, it pains most of us. He is the next John Elway. He is the next Peyton Manning. Why can't he be the "next Andrew Luck?"

Luck is as close to a sure thing as any player ever to come in this league. And for everything he has—a strong arm, speed and a pedigree that is pretty decent—what he doesn't have is a team that will win many games any time soon.

The Colts are going to be bad for a few years. They will need rebuilding. And everyone in the league and fans alike are just going to have to chill and accept this.

The Colts of old are a fading thing.

Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin, III, Quarterback, Baylor

Cleveland will make the trade to get this done. Period.

If there was ever a year where the right quarterback may be going to the wrong team, then this is it.

The Browns are a good defensive team under Pat Shurmur, but the offense is going nowhere and maybe this guy will change all that.

That said, I believe that Griffin will be a better NFL player than Luck. There are intangibles for both players that make them elite, but I get the feeling Griffin is more athletic, faster and will do more with his legs and speed early on than Luck.

Cleveland should be in heaven when his name is called.

Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, Tackle, Southern California

This has been the standing pick of the Vikings for a few months now and doesn't seem to be changing any time soon after the workout he had at the combine.

Matt Kalil now will have to prove he is just as good as USC tackles before him.

If he is a Roy Foster or Tony Boselli, then life is pretty good for the Vikings. He will fill a void at left tackle that opened up when Bryant McKinnie was cut last year.

St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, Receiver, Oklahoma State

There is something about him that is special. But for some reason, I don't think he will be the best receiver to come out of this draft class.

Justin Blackmon has been compared to Terrell Owens without the baggage. Not a bad comparison. But his height may be a concern as he is only slightly taller than 6'0" when he was billed at 6'2" and teams want a taller end-zone threat.

Does the height cause him to fall a few spots? Probably not in this case. The Rams need him to stretch the field and help Sam Bradford reestablish himself as a passer on the rise.

His ability to stretch a defense will also open running lanes for Steven Jackson and Cadillac Williams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

Trent Richardson is either going to be selected with this choice in Tampa Bay, or he will tumble into the second 10 picks of the draft.

The NFL is a two-back league for most teams and LeGarrette Blount is the real deal, but when you have a talent like this and a team that needs a spark, the two must marry somehow.

Tampa Bay was a 10-win team two years ago, but last season head coach Raheem Morris lost control of the ship.

Greg Schiano was hired to reel in the talent again and Buccaneers brass wanted to do so with a splash.

Washington Redskins: Morris Claiborne, Defensive Back, LSU

By process of elimination. Claiborne falls into the hands of Daniel Snyder and the Redskins. But don't think the owner did not want Richardson one slot ahead.

Claiborne is the best defensive player coming out this year in the draft and a great athlete altogether. He can also aid in the return game. While the defense under Jim Haslett is pretty good already, teams cannot pass on opportunities to nab a player of Claiborne's skill set.

Another scenario still has Snyder trading the bank to move to the second slot to take RGIII, which will unravel this draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

Matt Miller has Coples being chosen at the eighth slot with Miami and states he hates this pick of Coples. I feel the same way, only one slot higher.

There is something to be said for being able to make a Top 10 selection in the draft. That said, being seventh does not have its advantages. The Jaguars' needs are simple: receiver, defensive end, defensive back and guard...in that order.

There are speed-rushers on this draft board who could be good fits for this team (Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram) who are not worthy of a Top 10 choice. Jacksonville's best option may be to trade down.

And there is not another receiver who should be chosen in the next seven or eight slots.

So Coples is the choice by default.

Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, Tackle, Iowa

The Dolphins need a defensive end and help on the offensive line. They are a lot closer to the playoffs than their 6-10 record would indicate.

Reiff at right tackle with Jake Long gives this team blockers for the next decade. All good teams have sound tackles and a strong running game. Reiff is the second best lineman on this draft board.

Reggie Bush has to be excited about having another big blocker in front of him as he tries to reach 1,000 yards for the second consecutive year with the Dolphins.

Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Poe is this year's fast riser. And for good reason.

While he was a mid-first-round pick on many draft boards before the combine, he was as impressive as anyone in Indianapolis. And he should only get better. Every year there is one player from a smaller school who just has "it" and Poe is that player.

Last season, the Panthers made a splash with Cam Newton and tripled the win total with six on the season. Can a sharp defensive tackle help upgrade the defense and maybe push this team toward a playoff run? It is possible.

And Poe would be a great fit in the Panthers' scheme.

Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Martin, Tackle, Stanford

There are many ways the Bills can go with this pick. Courtney Upshaw and Melvin Ingram help a defense that gave up too many points last season.

Michael Brockers could be the best defensive tackle in this league three years from now.

But Martin is the safe pick who can help fortify an offensive line. You need a strong line to open holes for the running game of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

If the team can get solid line play and defensive improvement, this is a borderline playoff team.