2012 NFL Draft: First-Round Picks and Draft Debates That They Embody

Debates about the draft rage on in the media, and they are surely going to take place in team war rooms. Many of the first-round rated prospects illuminate distinct divisions in draft philosophy. Where they land should tell us a lot about the approach of their new team to these questions, and how early/late they go should tell us a lot about the presiding beliefs around the league today. Which players best embody these debates?

Positional Value/Scarcity

Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill - There's no doubt that there's a big drop from Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to Tannehill, but there might not be as steep a drop in his draft slot because franchise quarterbacks are so scarce. Tannehill's draft slot will speak volumes on whether the 2011 first round that saw four QBs go in the first 12 picks is the new norm.

Alabama RB Trent Richardson - The depth at RB is strong enough this year that teams can expect to find a possible starter in the second round. Still, Richardson's high absolute grade across draft classes may trump the bargain-seeking instinct in the Browns or Buccaneers war rooms.

Stanford OG David DeCastro - Like Richardson, DeCastro is a once-every-five-years kind of prospect at his position, which also happens to be a low value position that has a deep class in this year's draft. He's a top 10 overall prospect who could fall to the teens.

Boston College LB Luke Kuechly - Kuechly isn't quite as rare as DeCastro or Richardson, but his position doesn't have the quality depth that RB and OG have this year. Like DeCastro, he appears destined to fall out of the top 10 despite clearly being the best at his position in the draft.

Production vs Potential

Texas A&M Ryan Tannehill - He belongs here too, as Tannehill's limited collegiate experience (19 starts) is a counterpoint to his high quality skillset. In reality, almost every QB prospect's stock is based on potential as no position faces a bigger leap in difficulty from college to the pros.

UNC DE Quinton Coples - Coples lost his edge in North Carolina last year and looked unimpressive vs. top competition, but he flashed top five pick overall quality DE skills at the Senior Bowl. Which will carry more weight for teams picking in the top 10?

Memphis DT Dontari Poe, LSU DT Michael Brockers - This pair invokes former Giants GM George Young's "planet theory" about there being only so many athletic giants on the planet. Poe and Brockers failed to turn their gifts into production, but they present a package of size and ability that will have defensive coordinators drooling.

Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill - It's hard to hold Georgia Tech's extreme run-heavy offense against Hill, but it results in a lack of film running the route tree, and fewer career receptions (49) than many draft prospects had in 2011 alone.

Film vs Measureables/Projectability

Iowa OT Riley Reiff - Reiff has the same look on tape as the long line of Iowa offensive lineman who has been successful in the NFL, but his arm length and lateral agility have some questioning whether he can project at left tackle in the NFL.

Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw - Upshaw just plays the game the way every defender should, with intensity and consistency, but he isn't athletic enough to project perfectly as a 3-4 OLB or a sudden edge rusher. 

The One-Year Wonder

Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus - Mercilus had 16 sacks in 2011—14 more than he had in his first two years playing college football. His workouts were impressive as his 2011 performance, but it's always hard to invest a first-round pick in a player that has only performed at a top level for one year.

These lists aren't exhaustive, and just about every player comes up in at least one of them when you start discussing their draft stock. By knowing the central debates to their value, we can better understand the "information" that their pick conveys about the landscape of scouting and choosing prospects in the NFL Draft.