2012 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting This Year's Draft Surprises Based on the Past

Over the years, the NFL draft has provided some astonishing surprises that have stunned the masses, especially in the first round. 

Let's project the players and teams that could mirror some more recent memorable draft day decisions this April.

2009 - Tyson Jackson No. 3 overall Kansas City Chiefs 

Who will be this year's Tyson Jackson? You know, the LSU defensive linemen who was a fringe first-rounder before seeing an absolute sky-rocket in his draft stock that made him the No. 3 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009? 

Yeah, him. 

Jackson was the ideal 3-4 defensive end prospect and apparently the must-have player for the Kansas City Chiefs that year.

After Matthew Stafford and Jason Smith were off the board, Jackson came off the board. 

Memphis' Dontari Poe has a chance to be this year's Jackson. He was expected to be picked in the late stages of the first round before the combine, but after he ran a sub 5.00 40-yard dash, he could be a Top-10 selection. 

He'll be a defensive tackle at the pro ranks, but he did experiment with end during his collegiate career and is clearly a terrific athlete. Don't be surprised if it takes him a few years to become acclimated to the NFL game, just like Jackson. 

2011 - Jake Locker No. 8 overall Tennessee Titans 

I, personally, loved Locker coming into the draft last year and thought he deserved being a first-round pick all along. I was in the minority. When the Titans called his name at No. 8 overall, it undoubtedly came as quite the surprise. 

The Titans weren't in a dire need of a quarterback with Matt Hasselbeck being acquired in free agency, but Tennessee's front office saw Locker as a franchise signal-caller and pulled the trigger. I'd say the Minnesota Vikings grabbing Christian Ponder at No. 12 was a more eye-opening decision. 

Who could be this year's Locker? 

Without question, it's got to be Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will probably go No. 1 and No. 2, then there's a considerable gap before you find the next QB prospect.

Tannehill only started 19 games under center for the Aggies, but he was productive as the starter (42 touchdowns over the last two seasons) has a strong arm and is extremely mobile as a former wide receiver. 

A team like the Seattle Seahawks, who hold the No. 11 overall selection could possibly grab Tannehill with their first pick. 

Tarvaris Jackson was a decent stop-gap option, but is clearly not a franchise quarterback. 

2011 - Mike Pouncey No. 15 overall Miami Dolphins 

It wasn't that Pouncey wasn't a good interior offensive line prospect, it's was the fact that Dolphins were willing to use such an early selection on him that made this move somewhat surprising. 

The 49ers grabbed guard Mike Iupati at No. 17 overall in the 2010 draft, but for the most part, centers and guards had been relegated to the end of first round at the earliest. 

Which interior offensive lineman could warrant a early first-round choice this year? 

OK, I'm cheating a little. Not a huge surprise. It's obvious, too. None other than Stanford's David DeCastro. He'll play guard in the NFL and you can read just about anyone's scouting report on this guy—he's a monster. About as NFL-ready as they come. 

I won't be surprised if he's picked before No. 15. 

The Kansas City Chiefs could use him at No. 12. So could the Dallas Cowboys at No. 14. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft (March 1, Post-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, Southern California

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

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

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame  

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

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

10. Buffalo Bills: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California 

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

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

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

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

19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina 

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

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

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

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 

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

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

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