NFL Draft 2012: Ranking the Draft's 5 Biggest Ball Hawks

One of the biggest pieces that can turn around a defense in the NFL today is a ball hawking defensive back. 

With all the passes being thrown by quarterbacks, every team should be looking for a defensive player that can change the game with one big play. 

So who could be the potential Ed Reed's of the 2012 draft?

5. Casey Hayward / CB / Vanderbilt

With 15 career interceptions at Vanderbilt, Hayward has some of the best ball skills of any corner in the draft. 

Hayward has very fluid hips and great instincts that allowed him to put together a very nice career with the Commodores.

Hayward should grade out to be around a second or third round pick, which might turn out to be a steal for some team. Hayward has room to grow and could develop nicely in the right system.  

4. Chase Minnifield / CB / Virginia

Minnifield was once considered a potential first-round pick but fell off to concerns about the scheme he ran at Virginia. 

With the Cavaliers, Minnifield ran a lot of zone coverage, which allowed him to make good breaks on the ball and use his sure hands.

Minnifield had 13 career interceptions at Virginia and could really do well on a team that's primarily a zone cover team.  

3. Morris Claiborne / CB / LSU

Claiborne is clearly the drafts top defensive back prospect and (despite scoring a four on his Wonderlic) is almost guaranteed to be off the board in the top five picks. 

The LSU product has the best man-to-man skills of any defensive back in the draft. His athleticism and great jumping ability led to his 11 picks in the last two years. 

Claiborne is the safest of any of the defensive backs in the 2012 draft and doesn't figure to get past the Bucs with the fifth pick. 

2. Jayron Hosley / CB / Virginia Tech

Jayron Hosley has some of the best ball skills in the 2012 draft. 

Hosley is an exceptional zone defender with great change of direction skills, which allows him break on the ball.

In the last two season with the Hokies, Hosley snagged 12 interceptions, nine of them in 2010.

Hosley's physical size and speed limitations should push him back into the second or third round, but could provide a team with an instant playmaker on the defense.  

1. Janoris Jenkins / CB / Northern Alabama

Everybody knows Jenkins' off-field concerns, but on the field, he has as much talent as any defensive back in this year's draft. 

One of the biggest reasons for that is his uncanny ability to find the football.

Jenkins has some of the best read-and-react skills of anybody in college football and (on the field) seems to have great instincts.

Sometimes Jenkins relies his instincts a little too much and can get beat in coverage. Think along the lines of Asante Samuel.

No doubt that Jenkins goes in the first round after impressing some scouts at the combine with his interviews. The question is will a team be willing to use an early pick on a guy with this many character issues.

His ball hawking ability will surely help his cause.