NFL Draft 2012: Highlighting the Draft's Deepest Positions

What are the deepest positions in the 2012 NFL draft class? At what spots can you get a high-quality player even if you aren't selecting in the top 10 of each round?

I've got them right here. 

Guard 

If you need a big-bodied, mauling guard to fortify your running game and provide quality interior protection for your quarterback, this is the draft class for you. 

David DeCastro is the headliner of this group loaded with depth. He's got all the physical traits, football intelligence and overall mean streak to be a day one starter and a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. We may see him go in the top 15. 

Behind him is Georgia's massive yet deceptively athletic Cordy Glenn. At nearly 6'6'' and 345 pounds, he has the look of Carl Nicks and was a four-year starter in the SEC. During the Combine workouts, Glenn shined, displaying better athletic ability than anyone expected. There's a chance he's moved to tackle at the next level, but his backpedal right now isn't quite fast enough to handle elite NFL speed rushers. 

Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler is a sound technician who paved the way for one of the nation's best rushing attacks in 2011. Although his skills don't put him in that elite category, he's one of the safest offensive line prospects in this year's class.

Amini Silatolu is the sleeper of the group, coming out of the smaller Midwestern State. At 6'3'' and 311 pounds, he possesses that brute Polynesian strength and will be a road-grader in a power running scheme. He could clean up some of his technique, but has the core skills and aggression to be a fantastic guard in the NFL. 

The depth doesn't end there. Miami of Ohio's Brandon Brooks, a player who stunningly wasn't even invited to the combine, has created quite a stir over the last month. He's 6'5'' and 345 pounds and demonstrated ridiculous power, drive and burst on the interior in 2011. 

He could play tackle at the pro ranks, but will likely be slotted on the inside to handle bulkier defensive lineman. Don't be surprised if he's off the board in the second round. 

Other superb guard prospects include Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele and Tony Bergstrom from Utah. 

Running Back 

I'm not completely sold on taking a running back in the top of the first round, although Trent Richardson may be the exception. The NFL is a passing league and running backs role in almost all offenses have slowly diminished. 

However, that doesn't mean they aren't important to a team's offensive attack anymore. Their value has just decreased. 

Richardson's the most well-rounded feature back prospect since Adrian Peterson. Hard to argue that. After him, there are a variety of multifaceted, nimble runners with great agility that should go in the second or third rounds. 

Remember, Matt Forte, LeSean McCoy and Ray Rice were all second-round selections. 

Lamar Miller of Miami has an exceptional burst through the line of scrimmage and doesn't leave anything to be desired athletically. The same goes for Virginia Tech's David Wilson. He's even more quick side to side and if he can correct his fumbling issues, can be a dynamic NFL runner. 

Boise State's Doug Martin and Washington's Chris Polk, are bigger, more physical runners that have experience catching balls out of the backfield, something they'll certainly be asked to do on Sundays. 

Even Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead, the Senior Bowl's MVP, and Temple's Bernard Pierce have the potential to be dangerous scat-backs at the next level. 

San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman, Oregon's phenomenal lightning bug LaMichael James and Cyrus Gray intrigue me, too. Taking a mid- to late-round pick on these players could pay major dividends down the road.

Running backs might not be held in as high regard as they used to be, but that doesn't mean teams won't target them in this year's draft. 

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