2012 NFL Mock Draft: Biggest Risers and Fallers Heading into April

Despite the fact that the focus of the NFL offseason has been directed at free agency, we are quickly coming to April where the NFL draft is going to take most of our attention.

Few things have changed since the end of the combine, but pro days are becoming prevalent in the discussion of prospects. Additionally, a lot of us have been able to look at more in-depth tapes of the top players in the 2012 NFL draft.

Now that the proverbial dust has cleared in regards to two of the most important postseason events for prospects, the combine and Senior Bowl, I have decided to take a look at what players stocks are rising and falling in the draft. This will also take into account free-agent signings, in which certain positions of previous need are not longer as important.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, Offensive Tackle, Southern California

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, Louisiana State

6. St. Louis Rams: Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

Following a great performance at the combine, Floyd has seen his stock rise considerably. With that said, I did have the Notre Dame prospect as a top 10 prospect at season's end. There is a reason for this. Floyd has the most pro-ready game of any receiver in the entire draft. He gains separation at the line, runs tight routes and has soft hands. These factors coupled with the fact that Floyd was strong in the skill specific drills in Indianapolis has led me to believe he will indeed go in the top ten.

The Rams have struck out a great deal in terms of adding a top-tier receiver in free agency. There aren't many more of those types, if any, left in the market. They need to get Sam Bradford more weapons on the outside, and Floyd offers that.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

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

This is more need-based than anything that Tannehill has done to improve his stock. The Dolphins face a real possibility of missing out on both Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning, which means they are in a relatively precarious quarterback position.

Sure, Miami could easily make a play for another quarterback, but there doesn't seem to be the market out there for that. While Matt Moore may be the short-term answer, he really doesn't give them any value in the future. This is a pick that the Dolphins might be forced to make.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Poe has become of the odds-on favorite to be the first interior defensive lineman taken in the 2012 NFL draft. He has pure brute strength and can dominate opposing offenses in the trenches. This is something that the Panthers desperately need.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Linebacker, South Carolina

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, Guard, Stanford

12. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

I previously had Richardson going in the top five just a couple short weeks ago. Things have changed significantly in regards to this. He didn't perform at the combine due to an injury, while other running backs performed at an extremely high level. This has quickly closed the gap between the Alabama product and the rest of the running back class.

Team needs prior to the Seahawks selection here also leads me to believe he will slip to this slot. If that happens, you can expect Seattle to jump all over the talented back.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

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

16. New York Jets: Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

A dazzling performance at the combine has led many people to conclude that Hill has the most upside of any receiver in the draft, this might be true. You also have to take into account that the Jets are in desperate need of adding young talent at the wide receiver position. This is pretty much a no-brain pick in my humble option.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, Linebacker, Alabama

This outstanding linebacker just hasn't had a really good postseason. I had Upshaw as a top 10 prospect prior to the Senior Bowl and combine. This has since changed a great deal. While he still has the upside, the former Alabama star isn't a sure bet anymore. Either way, you can fully expect the Chargers to take a look at him. They did sign Jarret Johnson from the Ravens on Wednesday, but that is more as a complement to the Chargers defense.

19. Chicago Bears: Mike Adams, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

20. Tennessee Titans: Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, North Alabama

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama

22. Cleveland Browns: Doug Martin, Running Back, Boise State

Some people may say I am far off in comparing Martin to Ray Rice and they might be correct in that assumption. What I do see in the former Boise State back is someone that has the ability to change the outcome of the game due to his all-around abilities. Martin is a solid blocker, gains yardage after initial contact and has tremendous field vision.

Peyton Hillis is no longer a member of the Browns. This means they are going to have to go running back early in the 2012 NFL draft. Martin is my second-ranked running back behind Trent Richardson.

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, Louisiana State

A pedestrian performance at the combine quieted a lot of speculation that Brockers was going to go in the top 10. He looked relatively slow in the generic skills and wasn't as impressive in the position specific drills. While the talent is still there, it looks like Brockers needs more seasoning.

With that said, the Steelers get great value at a need position here. It remains to be seen if the LSU product can play nose tackle at the next level. That really doesn't matter at the point—Pittsburgh needs help along all fronts of the defensive line.

25. Denver Broncos: Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

For the purpose of full disclosure, I no longer have a first-round grade on Jeffery. He seems to have topped out in terms of value heading into April, which isn't good for the draft stock of the receiver. I am not a fan of the South Carolina alum in terms of paying immediate dividends in the NFL. He is going to have to show better ability to run tight routes, get off the line quicker and prove that his game translates to the next level.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Baylor

27. New England Patriots: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback, South Carolina

28. Green Bay Packers: Vinny Curry, Linebacker, Marshall

29. Baltimore Ravens: Bobby Wagner, Linebacker, Utah State

30. San Francisco 49ers: Cordy Glenn, Guard, Georgia

This is mostly due to the fact that David DeCastro fell out of the top 10 in this mock draft. If he was selected by the Miami Dolphins then I probably would have had Glenn going to the Kansas City Chiefs. After those two teams I just don't see a team valuing the guard position that much.

He would give the 49ers tremendous value at a need position here at 30.

31. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, Defensive End, Southern California

Some "experts" still have Perry as a top 10 prospect. I just don't see that to be honest. In watching tape I noticed that he struggles a great deal getting leverage at the point of contact and cannot shed blocks on the outside. These are two things young defensive ends tend to struggle with. What worries me more is that Perry appears to be more of a one-dimensional player—he isn't suited to play outside linebacker. This surprised me a great deal and I had to watch a few sets of plays over again before drawing that conclusion.

32. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College