2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Best Second-Round Prospects with Star Potential

After the first-round hoopla is complete on April 26, there will still be plenty of Pro Bowl-caliber players available in the 2012 NFL draft. 

Let's look at the best second-round prospects that have the potential to become stars on Sundays. 

Andre Branch, DE, Clemson 

Branch has a fantastic burst off the ball, one of the best in the 2012 draft class. While he has the tendency to take plays off, when he's on, he's incredibly difficult to stop. Branch exudes athleticism and should be able to get low on his speed dip around left tackles at the next level. 

At 6'5'' and 260 pounds, he has ideal size and shouldn't be much of a liability against the run, although initially he'll most likely be used in passing situations. 

Some team will add a quality, NFL-ready edge-rusher to its team with Branch and it should be able to get him in Round 2. 

Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Polk is a big, punishing runner at 5'11'' and 223 pounds with deceptive lateral agility and quickness through the line. 

He runs a bit high, but that's something that can be fixed at the pro ranks. While he doesn't possess breakaway speed, he has good instincts and knows how to set up and cut off blocks in front of him. 

With teams shying away from drafting running backs in the first round, Polk will be a fine addition to any backfield on Day 2 of the draft. 

He's coming off three straight seasons of more than 1,100 yards rushing for the Huskies and he caught more than 21 passes in each of his last three years in Seattle. 

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers 

Sanu is one of my favorite prospects in this year's draft class. At 6'2'' and a sculpted 211 pounds, Sanu has an NFL-ready body, one that should be able to fight off press coverage in the NFL. He was one of the most physically impressive wideouts at the combine.

Sanu was the do-it-all player for the Scarlet Knights last season and caught 115 passes for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns. 

He projects as an ideal possession receiver who's not afraid to go across the middle. A great find in the second round. 

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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