NFL Draft 2012: 4 Positions That Are Surprisingly Deep

Golden boy Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III may steal the spotlight at the 2012 NFL draft, but after it's all over everyone will be talking about one thing–defense. 

Despite the talent at quarterback, this year's draft is incredibly stacked on the defensive side of the ball.

Teams looking to improve on defense may be able to do so immediately, with plenty of first round picks there for the taking.

The two positions that seem to jump out with a deep talent pool are at defensive end and defensive tackle.

With three players ranked in the Top-15 at DT, and and six players ranked in the Top-30 at DE according to ESPN Scouts Inc., NFL teams will be able to fill holes or add depth on the d-line through the upcoming draft. 

With the draft less than two weeks away, here are four positions that could have deep draft classes.

 Defensive tackle

It seems more and more NFL teams are wanting to add talent in the middle of their line. The Detroit Lions  have used back-to-back first round picks on tackles.

Both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are talented, with Suh winning Rookie of the Year, but both have also seen some bad press.

If 2010 was about a Boy named Suh, then 2012 may be about a Panda named Poe. 

Hollywood aside Dontari Poe impressed scouts at this year's NFL combine, sending the Memphis Tiger hurdling up the mock draft charts. 

Surprisingly Poe may not be the best player at his position. 

In many mock drafts and player rankings, Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox ranks as the top DT prospect with five sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss in his junior season.

There is still more talent at tackle with possible Top-15 pick Michael Brockers and late first-rounders Jerel Worthy and Kendall Reyes.

Overall, defensive tackle may be the bright spot in an already deep draft.

Defensive End

Remember when I said defense earlier, so why not stay on with defensive linemen...

Like their counterparts (the defensive tackles), this year's defensive end class is very talented, and very deep as well. According to CBS Sports there are a possible six first-round drafts picks within the defensive end position.

Two talented ends top the cream of the crop in Melvin Ingram and Quinton Coples.

Ingram had a terrific year for the South Carolina Gamecocks. The senior had 10 sacks and was the anchor of the defense. During his time in college he also had two picks and three touchdowns.

Coples had an impressive senior season as well, registering 59 tackles, 15.5 for a loss to go along with 8.5 sacks.

Looking past the top two picks there is plenty of first-round talent with Courtney Upshaw hot off a record-setting National Championship.

Chandler Jones, Andre Branch and Nick Perry are also ranked in the Top-30 according to ESPN, adding more depth to a deep defensive class.

Offensive Tackle

Yes there is talent on offense, and much of it is stacked at offensive line. Throw aside the centers and guards because this year's lineup of tackles is noteworthy enough to have their own section. 

By now we have all read, or more likely seen "The Blind Side," and as sports fans recognized the significance of the weak side tackle.

Thankfully this year's class has an abundance of players looking to protect their future quarterbacks from this generation of Lawrence Taylors. 

At the top of the heap stands USC tackle Matt Kalil. The AP All-American is projected to be at least a Top-5 pick and may even go as high as No. 3.

After Kalil there is a host of talent who should fall mid-to-late first round.

Riley Reliff and Cordy Gleen may go inside the Top-20 according to ESPN Stats Inc, and Jonathan Martin and Mike Adams should be drafted before the end of first round.

With five players going in the first round, offensive tackle continues to be a talented and needed position in the NFL draft.

Cornerback

And back to the defense we go, because there is legitimate first round talent there.

Though maybe not as deep as the aforementioned positions, the cornerback spot has some serious first round picks to go along with some deep second round talent. 

Leading the pack is Morris Claiborne.

While everyone was talking a possible Heisman for the "honey badger," Claiborne was solidifying himself as the best cornerback in the nation. 

He tied for sixth in the NCAA in interceptions, and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back. 

Three other cornerbacks have first round talent in Stephon Gilmore,  Janoris Jenkins and Dre Kirkpatrick.

The second round holds more cornerback prospects with four more players ranked in the Top-65 overall.

Overall, it's clear if your wanting to improve your team on defense this may be the draft to do so.