NFL Draft 2012: Most Underrated Prospects Who Will Star in NFL

There's nothing like watching an underrated prospect drop in your lap in the NFL draft and go on to star for your team at the next level.

Several prospects are being overlooked in the 2012 NFL draft, for whatever reason, when they should be high up draft boards. Whether it be tremendous upside or the ability to star immediately, these three prospects will make whoever grabs them happy in the coming years.

3. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Stephon Gilmore has started to rise up draft boards, but it took Dre Kirkpatrick getting arrested for marijuana possession for Gilmore's stock to rise.

In reality, I had Gilmore slated as a mid first-round pick from the start. He has great size, speed and athletic ability, he's an effective blitzer and effective tackler, and he has good coverage skills and balance. He even has the ability to serve as a return man.

He still needs to improve his technique a bit, but he performed well against top receivers in college and has a lot of upside. Drafting him before Kirkpatrick is not out of the question for me.

2. Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

A freakish athlete with blazing speed, Nick Perry has the ability to blast past many NFL offensive linemen. He has great bend and balance, is quick and agile and has exceptional burst.

There are some questions about Perry's consistency in college and his ability to defend the run, but he left college a year early and has tremendous upside. He's a top-20 pick for me on upside alone.

1. Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

For some reason, Whitney Mercilus has slid down draft boards. I still can't tell why. He's one of the top pass-rushers in the draft, he's an outstanding athlete, he's a tireless worker and he performed well at the NFL Combine. Did I mention he led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles last season?

Mercilus is being projected by some top draft experts as a late first-round to early second-round prospect, which frankly boggles my mind. He would be an absolute steal, even in the late first round. He has tremendous potential.

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