2012 NFL Draft: Expert Russ Lande's New Top 100 Breaks from Conventional Wisdom

Russ Lande is not a household name in draft circles, but he should be. Lande was a self-made scout who eventually landed jobs with the Rams and Browns and might be best known for rating Tom Brady as a third-round pick.

In short, Lande does not adhere to draft groupthink, so you can be sure his evaluations are truly his. Lande released his fresh top 100, and there are certainly some rankings to raise some eyebrows.

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1. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

2. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

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My Take: I'm not going to vigorously disagree here, but Luck has a higher floor than RG3 because he has been running a pro-style offense for three years and carries less injury risk. They both have an elite, multiple Super Bowl-winning QB ceiling. I'll still take Luck.

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23. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California

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My Take: Kendricks combine numbers of a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and 39.5" vertical do make him a rare LB prospect and potential surprise first-round pick, but he's unlikely to go that high. Still, this is a good sign that some teams will have him this high on their boards.

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36. Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

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My Take: Upshaw is unanimously mocked as a first-rounder, even a top-15 pick, but I can see why Lande has him this low. He is not a quick twitch player, and while high-floor/low-ceiling players like him make for safe first-round picks, they aren't game-changers.

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41. Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

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My Take: Poe's value is in his projectability as a "dancing bear" on the defensive line that can give offensive coordinators fits. Someone will take him in the top 20-25 even though Lande is probably right when he shared why he is down on him in his Twitter feed:

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Memphis DT D. Poe does not play like an elite talent on film often enough & reminds me of former 1st Rd Picks Ryan Sims & Jimmy Kennedy.

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57. Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

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My Take: Some have been incredulous when I have mocked Reiff falling to the 20s, but he doesn't project well as a left tackle, and I believe Lande's ranking reflects this. Don't be surprised if it is shared around the league.

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77. Dont'a Hightower, MLB, Alabama

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My Take: Steeler fans (like myself) should groan at this one, as he has been heavily linked to the team in the first round. Hightower is not an explosive player and while the combine numbers indicate more athleticism than originally thought, he is a high-floor/low-ceiling player like his aforementioned collegiate teammate Upshaw.