2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projects Who Will Need Time to Develop in NFL

Being a project in the NFL draft comes with a lot more risk than just a standard prospect. 

By its very definition, a project is not a player who can step into a situation right away and help out. This makes it difficult for fans and analysts, because we like to see results from draft picks right away. 

When teams take on a project and it works out, they are set up to win big for a long time to come. To get these players to succeed, it takes a lot of effort and dedication from both the player and coaching staff. 

Here is a look at our latest mock draft with a special emphasis on the projects who will take time before we see them pay dividends. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is as NFL-ready as any quarterback coming out of college in the last 20 years, including Peyton Manning. 

2. Washington Redskins (from STL): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin is a few steps behind Luck in his development, but given his athleticism and better-than-expected measurables, he will be a star within two years. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is everyone's dream—an offensive tackle you can plug in right away and not have to worry about. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

With running back being the "easiest" position in the NFL to adapt to, Richardson should enter his first season with the odds on favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award. 

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

Even if Claiborne doesn't become a star right away, which is likely given the NFL's stance on defensive backs not being able to stand within 15 yards of a receiver before getting flagged for a penalty, he will adapt and be a star for a long time. 

6. St. Louis Rams (from WAS): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon's stock as the best receiver in the draft, has only been helped by his impressive workouts.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

It is hard not to love Coples' athleticism and potential as a pass-rusher off the edge. His ceiling is higher than any other defensive lineman in this class. 

The problem with Coples is his effort and dedication. There are only a select few players in the history of the game who have been able to get by without working to make themselves into a star. 

Coples has that kind of talent, but until he truly dedicates himself to playing hard every snap, it is going to be an uphill battle for him to make an impression in the NFL. 

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

There seems to be some backlash against the Dolphins taking Tannehill, but given the franchise's desperation to find a long-term solution at quarterback, his impressive workout and his stellar physical attributes, it would be hard to justify passing him up. 

He won't have the immediate impact that Luck will, nor is he as talented as Griffin, but he lifted many concerns about his health and ability to throw the ball during his Pro Day. 

Give Tannehill time to develop before the backlash about whether they should move down to get him really begins. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe is a physical freak, running a 4.87 40-yard dash. His presence on the defensive line will change the attitude for the Panthers defense. 

10. Buffalo Bills: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Bills have a number of spots still to fill after landing Mario Williams, and DeCastro will give Ryan Fitzpatrick more time to get set in the pocket to find Stevie Johnson. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Chiefs want to get back to being a power running team with Jamaal Charles working his way back from a torn ACL. Martin is a stud who can make an immediate impact. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram is a one-dimensional player, but because he is so good at getting after the quarterback he can be a solid player right away. Still, in order for him to reach his full potential he has to at least try to defend the run. 

Pete Carroll has done an outstanding job of building a young defense that plays together and backs each other up on every play. If there is a perfect scenario for Ingram to walk into, this would be it. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia

Kevin Kolb is begging the front office to make upgrades on the offensive line. Glenn is an underrated, athletic big man up front who is effective at blocking for the pass or run. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Cowboys are hoping that Barron develops into a star, or else their secondary is going to be in trouble for a long time. 

Their collapse down the stretch can be directly attributed to their inability to stop teams from throwing the ball. 

Barron is a raw prospect, but his upside is off the charts. He is a big hitter who will intimidate receivers, but he has to get better in coverage. He needs to read the quarterback instead of just always relying on instinct. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Even with DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles need to add depth to their weak linebacking corps. Kuechly is a safe option with room to get better. 

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw just fits what the Jets need their defense to be—a dominant pass-rusher who will give you everything he has when he is on the field. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd could end up being the best bargain of the draft. He is NFL-ready right now and has a similar ceiling to Blackmon but doesn't have the hype behind him because his college numbers weren't as impressive. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

When the Chargers were steamrolling the AFC West, the one constant they had was a dominant pass-rush. They still put up good numbers every year, but there is no consistency at all. 

Mercilus is not going to bring back memories of Shawne Merriman in his prime. Instead, he will need to sit back and learn the intricacies of playing on the line and in a 3-4 defense. When he adapts to the new scheme, watch out because he will be a star. 

19. Chicago Bears: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa  

Reiff is the player the Bears will be hoping gets to them. Their line is still a mess, and they proved how bad they are without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

After losing Cortland Finnegan, the Titans will look to rebuild their secondary. Kirkpatrick made a name for himself at Alabama, but he is going to need work before he can be a starter in the NFL. 

Like Barron, Kirkpatrick doesn't always read the quarterback as well as he could or should. He had enough speed to let his instincts take over for him in college, but that won't work against NFL quarterbacks. 

Given his athleticism and college pedigree, don't bet against Kirkpatrick at least being a regular staring cornerback in the league. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore has risen up draft boards thanks to his speed and coverage skills in workouts. The Bengals will be thrilled to add him to their aging secondary. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright was supposed to come in and be a star right away thanks to his sterling career at Baylor. Unfortunately, a poor 40 time has made him look more like a possession receiver. 

Don't undersell what Wright can do. Even if he isn't going to run past everyone, his hands were better than expected, and his route running is second to none. 

The Browns will have to find a quarterback to get him the ball, but the talent is there for Wright to be the best receiver this franchise has had since it traded Braylon Edwards. 

23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is ready to start right now. His only concern is keeping himself clean off the field. The Lions aren't afraid to gamble on questionable players if they have the talent. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Hightower gives the Steelers depth and youth at the linebacker position. 

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Broncos could look to the offense with this pick to appease Peyton Manning, but their biggest problem right now is in the middle of the defense. 

Brockers is a notch below Poe on the defensive tackle scale in this draft, but he has All-Pro upside. His performance at LSU went largely unnoticed because he didn't play a sexy position, nor did he put up big numbers. 

Still, in the right system, Brockers can be a superstar. Given what the Broncos already have on the defensive line, it shouldn't be hard for him to find his niche. 

26. Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery may not be the lock that everyone thought he was when the college season ended. His weight has been a constant source of speculation. 

Even so, the Texans are an ideal scenario for Jeffery to land. Not only are they the best team in the AFC South and in desperate need of a No. 2 option, but he can learn from Andre Johnson. 

Look for the Texans to use him as a slot receiver in his rookie year before taking over as the No. 2 receiver. 

27. New England Patriots (via NO): Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry's upside doesn't look as good today as it did after USC's season ended, but as an edge-rusher in a 3-4 defense, he is a perfect fit for the New England defense. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson

Branch's strength is stopping the run, but his raw athleticism and quickness off the line give him the potential to be a solid pass-rusher. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz is going to learn behind Matt Birk, one of the best in the business, before taking over as the staring center in the near future. 

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

Hill might be the rawest player in this draft, but his upside is off the charts. Playing in the option offense at Georgia Tech made it easy for him to just run down the field and make a ton of big plays. 

In the NFL, Hill will have to learn about route running and being able to go over the middle to catch the ball. 

It is going to take two years before we see Hill live up to his full potential, but when he gets there watch out. 

Don't think that signing Randy Moss and Mario Manningham means the 49ers are done shopping for wide receivers. Moss is far from a long-term solution and Manningham has only played in all 16 regular season games once in his four-year career. 

31. New England Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard will add depth and character to a secondary that doesn't have much of either one right now. 

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Fleener's size and the fact that he played with Andrew Luck make him a great fit for the Giants offense.

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