2012 NFL Draft Predictions: Players Guaranteed to Be Overvalued in First Round

Although there isn't much of an explanation for it, there are several players every year who see their respective stocks skyrocket in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft. This is despite the fact that the combine and pro days are in the past.

That being said, while there are always some red flags when a player is a late riser, sometimes it ends up working out.

Whatever the case, there has been plenty of buzz surrounding a few prospects over the past couple of weeks. That buzz may take them from being second or late-first-round prospects to players who will be taken in the first 15-20 picks.

Whether those players deserve it or not, for one reason or another, teams tend to fall in love with them.

Here are three players who are sure to be overvalued in the draft's first round when compared to their true standing within the draft class. 

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been considered the No. 3 signal-caller in the draft behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III since the process started. However, over the last month or so, he has gone from being a likely second-rounder to what looks like a possible Top-10 selection.

Tannehill has an intriguing skill set. He can make all the throws and has great mobility, but there are plenty of question marks with him that don't exist with Luck or Griffin.

Tannehill only played quarterback for a couple seasons with the Aggies. He was previously a wide receiver. Therefore, he'll probably need quite a bit more seasoning before he's ready for the big time.

What's more, nobody knows how well he'll transition from Texas A&M's spread offense to a more traditional style. Despite that, he probably won't slide past the Miami Dolphins at No. 8.

Not only is Miami desperate for a quarterback, but Tannehill's head coach at Texas A&M, Mike Sherman, is now Miami's offensive coordinator. 

Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

Most didn't expect him to go much higher than late in the first round just a few weeks back, but Mississippi State defensive lineman Fletcher Cox is suddenly in the Top-10 conversation.

At 6'4" and 298 pounds, with rare athletic ability to boot, it's easy to see why teams are gaga over the former Bulldog. He has the ability to play almost anywhere along the defensive line in any defensive system, particularly as a penetrating tackle in a 4-3 or a space-eating end in a 3-4.

He seems to have surpassed the likes of Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe in the minds of many pundits, despite not really doing much to warrant such a radical move.

If he has indeed moved up that far on draft boards, his most likely landing spot is with the Carolina Panthers at No. 9. Carolina desperately needs a defensive tackle, but it is just a matter of which one it covets most. If the Panthers buy into the Fletcher Cox hype, it will mark a huge surge in the rankings for the versatile lineman.

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

This year's draft class has plenty of cornerbacks with first-round potential, but none of them have garnered as much late interest as South Carolina defensive back Stephon Gilmore.

LSU corner Morris Claiborne remains the consensus top player at his position, but it looks as though Gilmore has leapfrogged the likes of Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins and others. He seemed like he was probably going to be a second-rounder at best, but Gilmore may be the hottest commodity in the draft right now.

As shocking as it may seem, there have been rumblings that Gilmore could go as high as No. 7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. While that isn't likely, he could easily be taken by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 14 or the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17.

That would put him a bit further down in the draft than the other names on this list, but considering he wasn't really on the first-round radar a month ago, this is a big leap forward for Gilmore.