2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the First Three Rounds Before Free Agency

The NFL free-agency period kicks off on Tuesday, which means that soon we should start to get a good feel for what offseason strategies each team is going to implement in regards to free agency and the draft.

“Peyton Manning Watch” may be the most interesting and talked about storyline of the offseason, but there are plenty of other moves that will likely have an impact on the power balance within the league.

Since we still have over a month to go before draft weekend, a lot will change between now and then. But as we are now past the NFL Combine and we now know that Washington will be picking at No. 2, things are starting to slowly but surely clear up.

We know that quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be the first two picks in this year’s draft. But outside of that, nothing is set in stone as of yet.

Still, it’s fun to speculate about which prospects each teams will be targeting. Here’s a look at how I think the first three rounds will play out, as we get ready for the free-agency period to begin this week.

First Round

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

Back in December, I said that Robert Griffin III deserved to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. I still believe that Griffin is without a doubt the best overall prospect in this year’s draft.

I said that Griffin would rise up and show that he was in the same class as other elite franchise quarterback prospects. RG3 has done just that in recent months, solidifying his status as the draft’s most exciting and explosive player.

While I think Griffin definitely deserves to be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick, conventional wisdom now seems to indicate that the Indianapolis Colts are intending to select Stanford star signal-caller Andrew Luck.

Because of the unprecedented amount of hype that Luck was able to accumulate over the past year, the Colts would deal with a big public backlash from the many Luck enthusiasts if they passed on the so-called sure thing prospect.

Luck may not be the once-in-a-lifetime prospect that some have made him out to be, as both Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III are just as good if not better than him. But he does deserve the overwhelming amount of publicity he’s received recently.

The two-time Heisman runner-up is a special player who has every trait and skill you look for in a No. 1 overall pick-type of quarterback prospect. Griffin may have the higher upside, but it’s Luck who is the one who makes the most sense for the Indianapolis Colts’ rebuilding plan.

To really get the most out of Griffin's arm and his abilities, you need to surround him with fellow explosive playmakers like he had at Baylor. The Colts aren’t exactly going to be stockpiled with explosive players next season.

Luck doesn’t have a penchant for the big play like RG3 does. But he’s one of the most efficient quarterback prospects of all time and he can immediately step into the Indianapolis offense and run it smoothly as a rookie.

It’s far too early to start chiseling Luck’s bust in Canton, but he does look like he has all the traits to be a future face of a franchise-type of leader. He should be a key piece of the Colts’ rebuilding efforts over the next few years.

2. Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

In three years, I promise that everyone who is now saying that the Redskins gave up too much in the trade to move from the sixth spot to No. 2 will be praising the deal as a franchise saver.

Robert Griffin III was the savior that the Baylor football program so desperately needed and he’s going to be the savior of the Washington Redskins.

God apparently decided that he wanted to toy around and see what it would be like to magically mix Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Chris Johnson into one football player.

World-class athlete, world-class arm and the charisma to match?

Sounds like a pretty good package to me.

Robert Griffin isn’t just one of the fastest quarterback prospects of all time. He has one of the strongest arms of all time, as he showed by routinely torching defenses on deep go-routes throughout the 2011 season.

To put it simply, Robert Griffin might have the highest upside out of any quarterback prospect, ever.

Griffin has a terrific chance to become the LeBron James of the NFL some day.

He’s the type of physical prodigy that deserves a special type of praise and appreciation.

If Griffin puts on a show at his workout, you’re only going to start to see more and more people hop on the RG3 bandwagon.

The debate about who is really the best quarterback prospect of the 2012 class could develop into one of the most epic draft arguments of all time.

3. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil, USC

I wouldn’t be surprised if Minnesota traded down from No. 3, with a deal with St. Louis to swap to six being the most logical trading scenario.

It’s pretty obvious who Minnesota’s two main targets will be if the Viking decide to stay as OT Matt Kalil and CB Mo Claiborne are two elite talents who fill key needs.

Soon, the keys to the offense will be handed over to QB Christian Ponder for real and that means the Vikings are going to have to find their young quarterback some proper bodyguards up front to keep him safe.

The best offensive line prospect in this year’s class is Kalil, a big athletic 6’7’’, 306-pound two-year starter who has the look of a future franchise left tackle.

Kalil is the type of tackle prospect that can be the anchor of an offensive line for the next decade and Minnesota is desperately in need to upgrade Charlie Johnson, who has been a starter by default during his time with both the Vikings and the Colts.

4. Cleveland Browns: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

Cleveland has gotten a good return on its investment in 2010 No. 7 overall pick Joe Haden, as he has developed into a reliable starting cornerback for the Browns.

It’s obvious, though, that the team could use more help at the position, as fellow starter Sheldon Brown will turn 33 this offseason.

When you’re in the same division with quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton, it’s certainly not going to hurt to add a talented young cornerback to the defensive mix.

This year’s top overall corner is LSU’s Morris Claiborne, who has the size, length, raw speed and reaction skills to go toe-to-toe with any receiver in the NFL.

Claiborne is a gifted athlete who is oozing with potential,. If the Browns pick him up at four to team with Haden, they could boast one of the most dynamic cornerback tandems in the NFL for years to come.

5. Tampa Bay Bucs: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

Greg Schiano knows what having a great running back can do for a team, as he experienced his best success at Rutgers when he had Ray Rice and Brian Leonard leading the Scarlet Knights to victory.

Now that Schiano has decided to head down to Tampa and test the NFL head coaching waters, it will be interesting to see what type of offseason strategy he implements in his first year.

The Bucs have some holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but one of Schiano’s key offseason priorities will be to find another quality running back.

LeGarrette Blount took a step backward in his second season and it’s clear that Tampa could use another pair of productive legs.

The one player that Schiano will definitely be thinking about taking at No. 5 is Alabama RB Trent Richardson, who finished third in the Heisman race last year. Richardson has the rare blend of size, power, speed, balance and vision that only top-tier backs can claim.

As the only truly elite back in the 2012 class, Richardson should be able to break into the Top 10 of this year’s draft and one team that would seem to be a terrific fit for him is the Bucs.

6. St. Louis Rams: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

St. Louis will probably have to trade up to the No. 3 pick to land Justin Blackmon, as either the Browns or the Bucs will likely snatch him up if he’s available.

Blackmon belongs in the same class with other recent elite wide receiver prospects like A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. He would definitely be worth an additional second-round pick to attain.

The pure playmaker dominated collegiate competition the past two seasons, hauling in a combined 232 passes for over 3,300 yards and scoring 39 total touchdowns.

Blackmon proved that he was the most explosive receiver in the country and he solidified his spot in the Top 10 with a solid performance in workouts after receiving some unfair criticism for skipping some drills at the combine.

The Rams need to find a true difference-maker at the wide receiver position to aid Sam Bradford’s development and Blackmon would be a perfect solution for the problem. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

The Jaguars know the pain of missing on a pass-rusher with a Top 10 pick, as 2008 No. 8 overall pick Derrick Harvey has turned out to be a huge disappointment in failing to give the team the proper pass-rush it was looking for.

Last year, the Jaguars got that from Jeremy Mincey, who finished the season with a team high eight sacks. But there’s no guarantee that Mincey will be back in a Jacksonville uniform for 2012 and his counterpart, Aaron Kampman, is way past his prime

Finding a young dynamic edge-rusher that can cause havoc in opposing backfields has to be on Jacksonville’s offseason to-do list.

It should be interesting to see what Jacksonville decides to do with the seventh pick then, since both Melvin Ingram and Quinton Coples should be available.

If I were in charge of the Jaguars, I would go with Ingram.

He may not be the physical freak that Coples is, but he’s got a much more consistent motor. He showed last year that he could do just as much damage, as he racked up 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss during his breakout 2011 campaign.

Ingram is the type of top notch pass-rusher that can have an immediate impact as a rookie and he showed scouts this past season that he should be able to justify being a Top 10 pick once he breaks into the league.

8. Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

We know the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, are going to come off the board with the first two picks.

What we don’t know is where the third-rated quarterback, Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill, will end up.

Tannehill is a first-round talent. But the question is which quarterback hungry team will bite on him and how early will they be willing to pick him up.

The Dolphins seem like they could be in the hunt to land either Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning. But if they come up empty on the free-agent market, they could decide to take a look at Tannehill early in the 2012 draft.

Tannehill’s college coach, Mike Sherman, is the new offensive coordinator in Miami and he obviously would love another chance to work with his former pupil.

With Seattle also likely eying Tannehill, the Dolphins may not be able to pass him up at No. 8 and trade down for him.

Also don't be surprised if you start hearing Kirk Cousins' name buzzing around this pick soon

9. Carolina Panthers: DT Dontari Poe, Memphis

Carolina will likely be looking to fix defensive issues, as the Panthers could use help at all three levels of a unit that ranked 28th in the NFL in total defense last season. Defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera certainly can't be happy with that kind of production, especially up front, where the Panthers gave up an average of 4.6 yards per carry.

While Carolina drafted two defensive tackles—Sione Fua and Terrell McClain— in the third round of last year's draft, more help is needed.

The defensive tackle that has caused the biggest buzz since the season ended is Memphis’ Dontari Poe.

The 6’4’’, 346-pound Poe is a monster in the middle with the size, power and athleticism to be a disruptive force in the interior.

Poe could play nose tackle in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 system and he’s the type of impact defender that can add tremendous value to a defensive front.  

10. Buffalo Bills: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

With Dave Wannstedt taking control of Buffalo's defense, it will be interesting to see how much the Bills will change from the base 3-4 scheme they've been using in recent years. Wannstedt will likely use multiple fronts and packages to take advantage of the team's current personnel.

One type of player that the new coordinator will be looking for is a versatile defensive end who is capable of lining up in either a three- or four-man front.

A highly-touted prospect who meets that criteria is Quinton Coples, who played both defensive tackle and defensive end during his time at North Carolina.

Coples has the size and athleticism to fit in well in Buffalo's new look defense. He would fill a crucial need for the Bills, as he's proven that he's one of the top overall pass-rushers in the 2012 class.

Although Coples failed to live up to his preseason hype this past season, the 6'6'', 280-pound senior still had a solid overall campaign in 2011, notching 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

He proved that he's worthy of being a top 15 pick.

11. Kansas City Cheifs: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

Some thought that Kansas City could consider former Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga in the first round of the 2010 draft, but the Chiefs instead took Eric Berry with the No. 5 pick.

This year, the Chiefs could strongly think about taking Iowa’s newest tackle prodigy, Riley Reiff, who has the all the makings of a future standout lineman in the NFL.

Barry Richardson and Ryan O'Callaghan will both be free agents this offseason and the right tackle position could use some reinforcements.

Reiff is a talented enough run blocker to handle the right side, and he could come in and be an immediate starter right from Day 1.

12. Seattle Seahawks: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

If they were somehow allowed to break out the checkbook and throw a lucrative contract at any incoming rookie, the Seahawks would probably sign Ryan Tannehill in a heartbeat right now.

Tanehill’s the top target on Seattle’s board. The problem is they would have to trade up (probably as high as seven with the Jaguars) to get him.

If Miami doesn’t sign Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn, Mike Sherman is sure going to put in the good word with Miami management for his former pupil. In other words, he won’t get past eight.

If Seattle doesn’t trade up for Tannehill and the Seahawks stay at eleven, they will likely take linebacker Luke Kuechly.

It feels like Seattle's entire linebacker corps is set to hit the free-agent market in a few days and the Seahawks could use a new leader of the unit.

Kuechly is a natural defensive leader who could have a Brian Urlacher-like impact early in his career.

The Boston College tackling machine can find the football better than any other prospect in this year’s draft.

13. Arizona Cardinals: LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

An Ahmad Brooks-LaMarr Woodley mashup—that's what I thought of when I watched Alabama's star defender Courtney Upshaw.

Upshaw is the best pure edge-rusher in this year’s draft, better than both Melvin Ingram and Quinton Coples. He's an elite 3-4 outside linebacker prospect that you snag and then watch go to seven or eight times Pro Bowls in the following decade.

Passion, focus, tremendously talented and an effort-player who always makes some sort of impact on basically every snap is a general summary of what Upshaw is as a player.

Both Clark Haggans and Joey Porter could be out the door this offseason and the need for help at the rush-linebacker position is bordering on dire.

Upshaw would compete with San Francisco's Aldon Smith for the title of NFC West’s top pass-rusher for the next 10 years.

14. Dallas Cowboys: CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

From a physical skills perspective, Janoris Jenkins is a top-10 pick. But from a character standpoint, he’s a Day 3 value.

An enormously gifted talent with elite potential, that’s what Jenkins is—but then there’s the three recent marijuana charges.

Your feelings about marijuana will shape your opinion of those offenses, but I will say I don’t hold the fact that Janoris has four kids with three different women against him.

Having four children means you’ve got a lot of child support to pay and that's motivation to succeed and earn money.

Terence Newman is a dinosaur, Mike Jenkins seems like he’ll flirt with breakout expectations for the next three seasons and Orlando Scandrick is interesting but still nothing more than relatively reliable.

The Cowboys cornerback crop could certainly use a makeover or, at the very least, a simple infusion of young talent.

How would Jenkins handle the spotlight in Dallas?

Well, it would certainly be interesting to watch.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Rueben Randle, LSU

Even though the Eagles are franchising star receiver DeSean Jackson, his future in Philadelphia is still uncertain.

If the Eagles can’t come to terms on a long-term deal, they could look to bring in a younger receiver to take over for the future.

One top receiver prospect who is going to continue his ascent up draft boards as we move into April is LSU’s Rueben Randle.

Randle has the makeup to be a go-to receiver for an NFL offense, and he proved that this past season when the former five-star recruit finally lived up to his high school hype in catching 53 passes for 917 yards and eight touchdowns.

The 6’3’’, 210-pound junior has rare physical ability with the size, speed, hands and jumping ability to become a key member of a pro passing game.

16. New York Jets: OT/OG Cordy Glenn, Georgia

The Jets reportedly just signed QB Mark Sanchez to a three-year contract extension, which means that the team will now be looking to do all it can to protect its investment.

New York will likely replace right tackle Wayne Hunter, who was an absolute turnstile last season.

One top lineman prospect who would make a great right tackle in the pros is Georgia’s Cordy Glenn.

Glenn is a tackle-guard tweener who has the athleticism to play outside and the strength and power to handle the interior.

After a great performance at the combine, Glenn’s stock is trending upward.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: OG David DeCastro, Stanford

Cincinnati has three offensive guards—Nate Livings, Bobbie Williams and Mike McGlynn—who will be free agents this offseason. That means that guard could become a big priority if the Bengals were to lose one or two of those guys.

This year's top overall guard prospect is without a doubt Stanford's David DeCastro.

DeCastro could have entered the 2011 draft as a redshirt sophomore and likely been a first-round pick. Instead, he decided to return to Palo Alto and push around a few more college defensive linemen for another year and that's just what he did this past season.

The 6'5'', 310-pound junior possess great footwork and strength and he's the type of mean, mauling interior lineman who should have no trouble flourishing in the NFL trenches.
 

18. San Diego Chargers: OLB Nick Perry, USC

San Diego needs an adequate pass-rusher to complement Shaun Phillips,. So far, Larry English hasn't looked like he's fit for the role.

USC DE Nick Perry would be a much better and more effective counterpart than English. He should be available when the Chargers pick at 18.

Perry is the type of penetrating pass-rusher who always finds a way to get into the backfield and he has the skill set to be phenomenal rush linebacker in a 3-4 system in the NFL.

19. Chicago Bears: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Over the past few years, Chicago Bears fans have been clamoring for wide receiver help, but the front office tried to solve the problem by bringing in aging free agents like Muhsin Muhammad and Roy Williams, which completely backfired.

It's now time for the Bears to add a young game-changer to the wide receiver corps and Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd could do the trick.

Floyd made his fair share of dazzling catches during his time at Notre Dame and the 6'3'', 220-pound senior showed that he has the type of size, speed, hands and overall skills to be a No. 1 receiver at the NFL level.

20. Tennessee Titans: DE Andre Branch, Clemson

The Titans really missed Jason Babin last season and their concerning defensive end situation won’t be helped by the fact that Jason Jones, William Hayes and Dave Ball will all be free agents.

Derrick Morgan has great potential, but he hasn’t come close to reaching it yet.

Adding another pass-rusher would really help Tennessee’s budding defense become even stronger.

One of the premier pass-rushers in this year’s draft is Clemson’s Andre Branch.

During the 2011 season, Branch proved to be the latest star defensive end product from Clemson, as he racked up 9.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Branch and Morgan would make an excellent young pass-rushing duo to build a defense around for the future.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: RB Doug Martin, Boise State

Cedric Benson rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, but it doesn’t mean that the Bengals plan to bring him back. Instead, Cincinnati could be better served bringing in a young back to team with QB Andy Dalton for the future.

One back whose name is continuing to climb up draft boards is Boise State’s Doug Martin.

Martin shares a lot of similar traits to Ravens running back Ray Rice—he’s the type of versatile and effective backfield weapon that can offer a lot to an NFL offense.

Martin may not wow anyone with his overall physical features, but he’s a proven producer that looks to have a bright future in the pros.

22. Cleveland Browns: QB Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

When you watched Kirk Cousins during his three years as a starter at Michigan State, there weren’t a lot of instances when he looked like a surefire starting caliber quarterback prospect. However, you also could have said the same thing about Andy Dalton during his time at TCU.

Like Dalton, Cousins wasn’t a very flashy passer in college, but he was consistent and he was a proven winner—two traits that a team like Cleveland will be looking for in its future starting quarterback.

It will be interesting to see who will be the fourth quarterback to be the next signal-caller selected off the board after Ryan Tannehill.

It will also be interesting to see if the Browns target a quarterback with the 22nd pick, as Tannehill likely won’t be available.

Cousins may not be the 22nd best prospect available, but the Browns may not want to risk losing out on him by waiting for him in the second round.

23. Detroit Lions: OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The Detroit Lions finally took that big step forward that everyone was waiting for last season, as the franchise made its first playoff appearance of the millennium.

After drafting very well in recent years, this team has a lot of great young talent and seems to be on the upswing. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some holes to fill on the roster.

One of the biggest ones is at left tackle, where 34-year-old Jeff Backus will be a free agent.

Whether the team re-signs Backus or not, the Lions should be looking to find a long-term answer at the position early in this year's draft.

There is a host of starting caliber tackles that will be available in the first round this year and one that Detroit would probably like to get its hands on is Stanford's Jonathan Martin.

Martin is one of the most technically sound and athletic linemen in this class The 6'5'', 312-pound junior seems like he was born to be an NFL offensive tackle. With his advanced skill set, he should have no trouble starting in his rookie year.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor

Hines Ward’s time in Pittsburgh has come to an end and the Steelers' No. 1 receiver Mike Wallace will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

That means the team could be looking to give new coordinator Todd Haley a new young receiver to work with. If the Steelers want to add some speed to the offense, they would be wise to take a look at Baylor WR Kendall Wright in the first round.

Wright may have struggled at the combine, but over his four years at Baylor, he’s made just as many big plays as any other receiver available in this year’s draft, including Justin Blackmon.

The former high school track star consistently got behind opposing secondaries this past season, finishing his career with his best season, catching 108 passes for 1,663 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.

Wright would instantly become one of Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite receivers if Pittsburgh decides to take a shot on him.

25. Denver Broncos: RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech

Denver seems to be just about done with former first-round pick Knowshon Moreno, and Willis McGahee may have had a surprisingly productive campaign last season, but he will be 31 next season.

If the Broncos don’t sign a veteran free agent, it would make sense to find a young starting caliber back early in the 2012 draft.

One top back that could catch Denver’s attention is Virginia Tech’s David Wilson, who led the ACC with over 1,700 rushing yards in 2011.

Wilson is an explosive running back who can get to the second level on a regular basis and cause consistent damage to an opposing defense.

26. Houston Texans: WR Chris Givens, Wake Forest

Andre Johnson might just be the best receiver in the NFL, but Johnson was plagued by injuries last season, and when he was out, the receiver corps showed its lack of depth.

The Texans would greatly benefit from adding another dangerous receiver to their passing attack and one player that would fit in well as a reliable No. 2 option next to Johnson is Wake Forest’s Chris Givens.

Givens enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2011, catching 83 passes for 1,330 yards while scoring nine touchdowns and his stock has been steadily climbing over the last few months

The former Wake Forest wide receiver should come off the board somewhere in the late first or early second round.

27. New England Patriots: DT Michael Brockers, LSU

The Patriots won’t be able to bring back all of their key free-agent defensive linemen like Gerard Warren, Andre Branch, Mark Anderson and Shaun Ellis, which means they’ll likely be looking for defensive line help with one of their two first-round picks.

One player that would fit in perfectly in the Patriots’ system is LSU’s Michael Brockers, who is the type of raw young physical specimen who has the potential to develop into an annual Pro Bowler.

Brockers may have only started one season down in Baton Rouge, but he showed enough intriguing flashes and glimpses of dominance to solidify his status as one of the best defensive prospects in this year’s draft.

28. Green Bay Packers: C Peter Konz, Wisconsin

Green Bay’s offensive line was decimated by injuries late in the season, but the Packers should be in good shape for next season as long as younger players like Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod continue to develop.

The one position that could be a concern, though, is center, where starter Scott Wells will be a free agent.

If Wells leaves, the Packers will be on the lookout for his replacement and they couldn’t do any better in the draft that Wisconsin’s Peter Konz, the top center prospect of 2012.

Konz is the type of strong, smart and tough center who can develop into a leader of an NFL offensive line early in his career.

If the Packers lose Wells, they would consider themselves lucky if they see Konz still on the board at 28, as it would be a major break for the front office.

29. Baltimore Ravens: DT/DE Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

The Ravens have one of the best defensive front sevens in the NFL. But the truth is the group has begun to show its age in recent years and adding a few younger players to the mix would be ideal.

The Ravens already have one of the top defensive lineman in the NFL in dominant tackle Haloti Ngata, but they could use some more help up front. 

One defensive line prospect who would be a terrific fit in Baltimore's 3-4 scheme is Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox.

Cox has the strength-athleticism combination to eat up blockers while penetrating into the backfield and he would really add a valuable new element to Baltimore’s already stout defense.

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

The current state of San Francisco’s receiver corps isn’t exactly inspiring. Michael Crabtree is not equipped to handle a No. 1 receiving role, Josh Morgan and Ted Ginn Jr. are free agents and Kyle Williams is a pariah in San Francisco.

The 49ers are likely going to bring back Alex Smith at quarterback and he could obviously use some more weapons—especially red zone weapons— given the team’s struggles in that area this past season.

One of the best red zone receivers in this year’s class is Stephen Hill, a 6’4’’, 215-pound athletic freak, who has shown that he can go up and get the ball as long as it’s thrown anywhere in his general direction.

Hill lit up the combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash, but his speed shouldn’t be much of a surprise. His 29.3 yards per catch average gave us a pretty good indication of just how explosive Hill really is.

Hill’s stock is climbing at a rapid pace and he should end up in the first round mix by the time draft night arrives.

31. New England Patriots: CB Trumaine Johnson, Montana

New England managed to make it all the way to the Super Bowl in spite of having one of the worst secondaries in the NFL last season. 

The Patriots could use help at both cornerback and safety, but they are likely to address the cornerback position early in the draft.

One corner that could move into the late first round conversation by the time April rolls around is Montana’s Trumaine Johnson.

Johnson is this year’s “it” small-school corner prospect, and given his type of size, speed and coverage skills, he might just be better than Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the last non-FBS cornerback to crack the first round (Rodgers-Cromartie was selected with the 16th pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals when he was coming out of Tennessee State).

Johnson may some day be just as good, if not better, than Morris Claiborne. But because he didn’t get to prove himself against top competition during his college career, there will be questions about whether or not he’s really worth a first-round pick.

In my opinion, there's no doubt that he is.

32. New York Giants: RB Lamar Miller, Miami

The Giants decided to release RB Brandon Jacobs after an unproductive campaign this past season. Jacobs became expendable when he failed to get the job done in short yardage far too many times last year.

Ahmad Bradshaw will be back to lead the way in 2012, but the Giants front office could be in search of a back to team with him.

Miami’s Lamar Miller might be the perfect solution, as he‘s got the type of power and strength to replicate Jacobs’ presence in the backfield.

Miller ran for over 1,200 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 2011.

The Giants could use tight end and offensive line help early. But if Miller is available at 32, he’ll be tough to pass up.

Second Round

33. St. Louis Rams: OT/OG Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

34. Indianapolis Colts: TE Coby Fleener, Stanford

35. Minnesota Vikings: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

36. Tampa Bay Bucs: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

37. Cleveland Browns: WR Brian Quick, Appalachian State

38. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

39. St. Louis Rams: DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

40. Carolina Panthers: DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson

41. Buffalo Bills: LB Zach Brown, North Carolina

42. Miami Dolphins: OT Mike Adams, Ohio State

43. Seattle Seahawks: QB Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

44. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Alameda Ta’amu, Washington

45. Dallas Cowboys: LB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

46. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Chris Polk, Washington

47. New York Jets: LB Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

48. New England Patriots: DE/LB Chandler Jones, Syracuse

49. San Diego Chargers: OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

50. Chicago Bears: DT Devon Still, Penn State

51. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

52. Tennessee Titans: S Mark Barron, Alabama

53. Cincinnati Bengals: S George Iloka, Boise State

54. Detroit Lions: DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

55. Atlanta Falcons: TE Dwayne Allen, Clemson

56. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

57. Denver Broncos: QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

58. Houston Texans:  DT Mike Martin, Michigan

59. New Orleans Saints: LB Lavonte David, Nebraska

60. Green Bay Packers: RB Edwin Baker, Michigan State

61. Baltimore Ravens: S Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

62. San Francisco 49ers: OG Joe Looney, Wake Forest

63. New England Patriots: RB LaMichael James, Oregon

64. New York Giants: LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Third Round

65. Indianapolis Colts: WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

66. St. Louis Rams: CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

67. Minnesota Vikings: LB Keenan Robinson, Texas

68. Cleveland Browns: RB Robert Turbin, Utah State

69. Tampa Bay Bucs: WR Nick Toon, Wisconsin

70. Washington Redskins: OT James Brown, Troy

71. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Josh Robinson, Central Florida

72. Buffalo Bills: OT Zebrie Sanders, Florida State

73. Miami Dolphins: DE Vinny Curry, Marshall

74. Chicago Bears: OG Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State

75. Kansas City Chiefs: QB Nick Foles, Arizona

76. Seattle Seahawks: DE Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy

77. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

78. New York Jets: S Janzen Jackson, McNeese State

79. San Diego Chargers: WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

80. Chicago Bears: TE Orson Charles, Georgia

81. Arizona Cardinals: WR Joe Adams, Arkansas

82. Dallas Cowboys: S Antonio Allen, South Carolina

83. Tennessee Titans: OG Adam Gettis, Iowa

84. Cincinnati Bengals: RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

85. Atlanta Falcons: DE Cam Johnson, Virginia

86. Detroit Lions: CB Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech

87. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Bernard Pierce, Temple

88. Denver Broncos: DT Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

89. Houston Texans: LB Mychal Kendricks, California

90. New Orleans Saints: DT Billy Winn, Boise State

91. Green Bay Packers: DT/DE Jared Crick, Nebraska

92. Baltimore Ravens: OT Jeff Allen, Illinois

93. San Francisco 49ers: RB Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State

94. New England Patriots: WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa

95. New York Giants: TE Michael Egnew, Missouri

Position Value Rankings

The Top 15 Quarterbacks

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford (1)
2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor (2)
3. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M (8)
4. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State (37)
5. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State (43)
6. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State (57)
7. Nick Foles, Arizona (75)
8. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State (77)
9. Kellen Moore, Boise State
10. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
11. B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga
12. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois
13. Case Keenum, Houston
14. Patrick Witt, Yale
15. Darron Thomas, Oregon

The Top 15 Running Backs

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama (5)
2. Doug Martin, Boise State (21)
3. David Wilson, Virginia Tech (25)
4. Lamar Miller, Miami (32)
5. Chris Polk, Washington (46)
6. Edwin Baker, Michigan State (60)
7. LaMichael James, Oregon (63)
8. Robert Turbin, Utah State (68)
9. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati (84)
10. Bernard Pierce, Temple (87)
11. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State (93)
12. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
13. Chris Rainey, Florida
14. Terrance Ganaway, Baylor
15. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss

The Top 15 Wide Receivers

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State (6)
2. Rueben Randle, LSU (15)
3. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (19)
4. Kendall Wright, Baylor (24)
5. Chris Givens, Wake Forest (26)
6. Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech (30)
7. Brian Quick, Appalachian State (37)
8. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (38)
9. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers (65)
10. Nick Toon, Wisconsin (69)
11. Tommy Streeter, Miami (79)
12. Joe Adams, Arkansas (81)
13. Marvin McNutt, Iowa (94)
14. Juron Criner, Arizona
15. A.J. Jenkins, Illinois

The Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Coby Fleener, Stanford (34)
2. Dwayne Allen, Clemson  (55)
3. Orson Charles, Georgia (80)
4. Michael Egnew, Missouri (95)
5. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette
6. Brian Linthicum, Michian State
7. Deangelo Peterson, LSU
8. Kevin Koger, Michigan
9. Rhett Ellison, USC
10. David Paulson, Oregon
11. Evan Rodriguez, Temple
12. George Bryan, North Carolina State
13. Emil Igwenagu, Massachusetts
14. James Hanna, Oklahoma
15. Cory Harkey, UCLA

The Top 15 Offensive Tackles

1. Matt Kalil, USC (3)
2. Riley Reiff, Iowa (11)
3. Cordy Glenn, Georgia (16)
4. Jonathan Martin, Stanford (23)
5. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State (33)
6. Mike Adams, Ohio State (42)
7. James Brown, Troy (70)
8. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State (72)
9. Jeff Allen, Illinois (92)
10. Matt McCants, UAB
11. Bobby Massie, Ole Miss
12. Brandon Mosley, Auburn
13. Mitchell Schwartz, California
14. Nate Potter, Boise State
15. Matt Reynolds, BYU

The Top 15 Interior Offensive Linemen

1. David DeCastro, Stanford (17)
2. Peter Konz, Wisconsin (28)
3. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin (49)
4. Joe Looney, Wake Forest (62)
5. Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State (74)
6. Adam Gettis, Iowa (83)
7. Phillip Blake, Baylor
8. Brandon Washington, Miami
9. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
10. Ben Jones, Georgia
11. Senio Kelemete, Washington
12. Brandon Brooks, Miami (Ohio)
13. Ryan Miller, Colorado
14. Mike Brewster, Ohio State
15. Kelvin Beachum, SMU

The Top 15 Defensive Tackles

1. Dontari Poe, Memphis (9)
2. Michael Brockers, LSU (27)
3. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State (29)
4. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State (39)
5. Brandon Thompson, Clemson (40)
6. Alameda Ta’amu, Washington (44)
7. Devon Still, Penn State (50)
8. Mike Martin, Michigan (58)
9. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut (88)
10. Billy Winn, Boise State (90)
11. Jared Crick, Nebraska (91)
12. Josh Chapman, Alabama
13. DaJohn Harris, USC
14. Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati
15. Loni Fangupo, BYU

The Top 15 Defensive Ends

1. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina (7)
2. Quinton Coples, North Carolina (10)
3. Andre Branch, Clemson (20)
4. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois (54)
5. Vinny Curry, Marshall (73)
6. Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy (76)
7. Cam Johnson, Virginia (85)
8. Trevor Guyton, California
9. Tyrone Crawford, Boise State
10. Jake Bequette, Arkansas
11. Derrick Shelby, Utah
12. Taylor Thompson, SMU
13. Jack Crawford, Penn State
14. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina
15. Jamie Blatnick, Oklahoma State

The Top 15 Traditional Linebackers

1. Luke Kuechly, Boston College (12)
2. Zach Brown, North Carolina (41)
3. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama (51)
4. Lavonte David, Nebraska (59)
5. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State  (64)
6. Keenan Robinson, Texas (67)
7. Mychal Kendricks, California (89)
8. Sean Spence, Miami
9. Audie Cole, North Carolina State
10. Bobby Wagner, Utah State
11. Terrell Manning, North Carolina State
12. James-Michael Johnson, Nevada
13. Nigel Bradham, Florida State
14. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
15. Emmanuel Acho, Texas

The Top 15 Rush Linebackers

1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama (13)
2. Nick Perry, USC (18)
3. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (45)
4. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia (47)
5. Chandler Jones, Syracuse (48)
6. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
7. Shea McClellin, Boise State
8. Olivier Vernon, Miami
9. Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest
10. Jacquies Smith, Missouri
11. Miles Burris, San Diego State
12. Frank Alexander, Oklahoma
13. Darius Fleming, Notre Dame
14. Dezman Moses, Tulane
15. Tahir Whitehead, Temple

The Top 15 Cornerbacks

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU (4)
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama (14)
3. Trumaine Johnson, Montana (30)
4. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (35)
5. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (36)
6. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska (56)
7. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt (66)
8. Josh Robinson, Central Florida (71)
9. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech (86)
10. Brandon Boykin, Georgia
11. Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma
12. Chase Minnifield, Virginia
13. Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina
14. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
15. Omar Bolden, Arizona State

The Top 15 Safeties

1. Mark Barron, Alabama (52)
2. George Iloka, Boise State (53)
3. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame (61)
4. Janzen Jackson, McNeese State (78)
5. Antonio Allen, South Carolina (82)
6. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
7. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State
8. Phillip Thomas, Syracuse
9. Brandon Hardin, Oregon State
10. Cyhl Quarles, Wake Forest
11. Christian Thompson, South Carolina State
12. Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State
13. Charles Mitchell, Mississippi State
14. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin
15. Brandon Taylor, LSU