NFL Draft 2012: Comparing First Round Stud Prospects to NFL Stars

Comparing NFL draft prospects to already finished professional stars is a difficult task, but giving a range between two players is much easier and gives you a much better grasp on the type of player a certain guy has the potential to become. 

I'll look at five of the draft's most highly coveted stars and give their best case projection along with their worst case projection. 

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

Best Case - Aaron Rodgers 

Instead of boring you with the same paragraph on how awesome and refined Luck is as a prospect, I'll give you the reasoning as to why he closely projects to Rodgers. 

Both are fundamentally sound in their more over-the-top delivery that allows them to get rid of the ball quickly. Although they're known as premier pocket passers due to their accuracy and football intelligence, they're both deceptive athletes who can make plays with their feet. 

Worst Case - Rich Gannon 

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 

Best Case - Bigger, more accurate Mike Vick 

Griffin III will challenge Vick as the most athletic quarterback in the NFL, but Griffin III is already more developed as a pocket passer. Yes, Vick has improved his pocket awareness and willingness to stay between the tackles during his time in Philadelphia, but Griffin III is far more accurate downfield. 

His elusiveness and ability as a scrambler mirrors Vick, but RGIII is a little taller and more put together. 

Worst Case - Shorter Randall Cunningham

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama 

Best Case - Beefier Curtis Martin 

Jones-Drew has been one of the league's best backs since entering the NFL in 2006. Richardson is more of a complete runner with slightly better agility and breakaway speed. Both are tremendously powerful and although they can dodge tacklers in the open field, they certainly aren't afraid to bulldoze a guy head on. 

Worst Case - Maurice Jones-Drew

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State 

Best Case - Anquan Boldin

People are incorrect projecting Blackmon to Calvin Johnson or even Andre Johnson just because he may go in the top-five like those wideouts did. 

Blackmon's only 6'1'' and between 210-215 pounds although he plays much bigger. 

He's got adequate speed, is aggressive going after the football in traffic and on jump balls, and is a train in the open field. 

Sound like anyone?

Worst Case - Faster T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

Best Case - Better pass-rushing Karlos Dansby

Luke Kuechly is probably the better all-around linebacker, but Hightower's size, rare speed and athletic talents will translate well to the NFL. 

Dansby is one of the bigger inside linebackers in the league at 6'4'' and 250 pounds, and Hightower weighed in at 6'2'' and 265 at the combine. 

Hightower isn't a pure sideline-to-sideline guy and Dansby isn't either. But their bigger bodies allow them to get off blocks and devour running backs. 

Hightower is a better natural pass-rusher, which will help him become a great asset on any defense. 

Worst Case - Rolando McClain/Brandon Spikes

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