2012 NFL Draft: Late-Round Gems Who Will Get Overlooked on Draft Day

Outside of baseball, the NFL draft is easily the biggest crapshoot of its kind in professional sports. The top of the crop is as prone to yielding busts as the bottom is of giving way to quality contributors, if not outright stars. The 2012 Pro Bowl provided plenty of good examples, from late-round picks like Tom Brady, Jimmy Graham and Mike Wallace, to undrafted stars like Antonio Gates, Wes Welker and Arian Foster.

There figure to be plenty of solid value picks from this year's class, with these three diamonds in the rough just waiting to be found in the later rounds.

Brandon Weeden, QB (Oklahoma State)

For all the talk about Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler, the third-best quarterback in this draft class behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III may well be Brandon Weeden. The former Oklahoma State star has terrific size for the position (6'4", 218 pounds), plus the arm strength and accuracy to make all the necessary throws.

Weeden's greatest quality—his maturity—happens to stem from the one factor that most drastically limits his value: his age.

At 28, Weeden is far older than the average signal-caller just entering the league, though his understanding of how to comport himself as a professional athlete (he spent five years as a minor league baseball player) should serve him well.

Weeden would be an excellent addition to any team looking to upgrade its quarterback competition immediately, especially if he falls into the third round or later.

Chris Polk, RB (Washington)

In a draft as thin at running back as this one, Chris Polk actually ranks as one of the best of the bunch, though that isn't about to boost him into the second or third round. Ball-carriers, even ones as good as Polk, are a dime a dozen in today's NFL, where "running back by committee" is as popular as it has ever been.

Not that the Washington product isn't a worthwhile talent in his own right. At 5'11" and 222 pounds, Polk has the size to both withstand and deliver a beating out of the backfield, not to mention the speed to outpace his defenders. Polk was supremely productive over his final three years in Seattle, during which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and caught no fewer than 22 passes each season.

Polk's no Trent Richardson, but he's no slouch either; he should be productive in the NFL from Day 1.

Kelechi Osemele, OT (Iowa State)

Kelechi Osemele has been up and down mock drafts in recent months, though nothing's exactly changed about the 6'6", 333-pound behemoth. The massive guard started 30 consecutive games at Iowa State, during which he ranked as one of the best offensive linemen in the Big 12.

The 2012 class isn't particularly deep at guard, which should make Osemele a desirable addition more and more so as he tumbles down the draft order.

Follow Josh Martin on Twitter.