2012 NFL Mock Draft: Stephen Hill and Prospects Who Need Time to Develop

In the NFL, things happen at such a rapid pace that we want all of the draft picks to make significant contributions right away. Fair or unfair, that is how we think because we are so inundated with information on all these players for so long. 

Unfortunately, not all players are able to make the jump from the college ranks to the pros and be instant success stories. You have to give them time to hone their skills and get acclimated to the change in speed and physicality of the NFL. 

Here is our latest mock draft, with a special emphasis on the projects who will take at least two years to start hitting their stride. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is as NFL-ready as any quarterback that has come out in the last 25 years. 

2.  Washington Redskins (via St. Louis): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin isn't quite as polished as you would like for a No. 2 pick, but he won't take long to adjust to the NFL. 

3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

For the longest time, I thought the Vikings were going to take Kalil. Now, I think they will go with the draft's most dominating secondary player. 

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Running backs rarely need time to adjust to the NFL. Richardson is already an NFL back; he just needs the stage to perform. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is as dominant as any left tackle in recent memory. He will give the Buccaneers the tough, physical presence they need up front. 

6. St. Louis Rams (via Washington): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

While Blackmon may not be the sixth-best player in this draft, the Rams are going to do anything they can to help Sam Bradford succeed. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Coples is a big project, but one that can pay dividends in a few years. The Jaguars have a habit of taking low-ceiling, low-risk players, especially in the first round. That is one reason the team has fallen so far behind the rest of the AFC South. 

Even if Coples doesn't turn out to be a star, he has the raw skills that you need to go after in a Top-10 pick. He has strength, speed and quickness off the edge to be a pass-rushing monster. In that division, you need all the help up front you can get. 

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Another big project, Tannehill is actually a safer bet to reach his full potential than Quinton Coples. 

One thing that people tend to neglect when talking about why Tannehill has struggled playing quarterback in college is inexperience. He has only played the position for two years and is a converted wide receiver. 

His measurables are too good for the quarterback-starved Dolphins to pass up right here. 

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers seems to be flying under the radar after the workouts of Dontari Poe and Jerel Worthy, but he is the best defensive tackle prospect available. 

10. Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

A little high for Gilmore, but the Bills need help in the secondary and he is excellent in man-to-man coverage. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

Think of DeCastro as the guard equivalent of Matt Kalil, except DeCastro has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line. 

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly's ceiling isn't worthy of the No. 12 pick, but he is a smart, instinctual middle linebacker who plays above his tools. 

13. Arizona Cardinals: Johnathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The Cardinals need to take a chance to upgrade their offensive line. Kevin Kolb desperately needs help up front if he wants to stay on the field, and Martin can provide him the help he needs. 

If there is one drawback to Martin, it is that he needs to improve his pass-blocking and footwork. He has the size and athleticism to make the pick look like a steal in a few years, but he is going to need at least three years before he comes close to reaching that ceiling. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 

Kirkpatrick is an excellent zone-coverage cornerback right now. He tends to rely more on instincts than pure technique, but he sees the field as well as any cornerback coming out this year. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

This would be a dream scenario for the Eagles, who still desperately need to find a dominating defensive tackle to solve their woes up front. 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram is not going to make you take notice of his all-around game, but there is no better pass-rusher in this draft than him. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland): Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

A bit of a reach here, Smith does not get the credit that he deserved at Notre Dame, and he will get a chance to showcase his ability in the NFL. 

The best part of his game is his ability to read the field and opposing quarterbacks. Smith also has the speed and presence in the secondary that safeties must have to succeed. His star is rising and he will be a great fit for Marvin Lewis' defense. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois 

With the Chargers still searching to find an identity, especially on defense, Mercilus can bring that attitude and swagger back with his relentless effort and speed off the edge. 

19. Chicago Bears: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Bears are still fixing their offensive line, and Konz will give them the lynchpin in the middle they need to keep their playmakers healthy. 

20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is the kind of hard-hitting presence in the defensive backfield the Titans need. He gives them an attitude that has been missing for years. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Bengals have never been afraid to take a chance on anyone, especially when they have the upside of Jenkins. We all know about his off-field issues in the past, but he has been a model citizen since moving to North Alabama. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta): Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

Brown's stock has been all over the place during this process, but it is hard to argue with an outside linebacker who has the speed to keep up with receivers along with great tackling ability. 

23. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

With Jenkins off the board, the Lions will turn their attention to the offensive line. Glenn is versatile, and his youth will benefit their aging offensive line right away. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff needs to be a star for the Steelers, who have yet to figure out a way to patch together an acceptable offensive line. 

There has been a lot of talk this offseason about the size of his arms and how that will affect his performance. Given his athleticism and success in the physical Big Ten conference, that doesn't strike me as a big problem. 

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Peyton Manning might be the talk of the town, but the defense up the middle is going to determine just how far this team goes. Cox is explosive as a defensive end and has the strength and body to play tackle in the NFL. 

26. Houston Texans: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

An unusual pick, but if Floyd gets to the Texans there is no way they let him get by. They need another receiver who can take some pressure off Andre Johnson. 

27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw's speed and versatility makes him a prototypical New England player. 

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Perry is still very raw, but his potential is far greater than the No. 28 player in the draft. 

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

The Ravens need to start building for the future on defense. Hightower is the kind of hard-hitting, athletic player that has been a staple of the Ravens' franchise for years. 

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

There may not be a receiver with a higher ceiling in this draft than Hill. There also isn't a receiver that comes with more risk because of the system he played in at Georgia Tech and where his game currently is. 

It is easy to succeed in the ACC when you are 6'4", 215 pounds and can run in a straight line in an option offense. 

To be as dominant in the NFL as the skills suggest he can be, Hill has to learn the intricacies of the position and become a precise route runner.

31. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State

The Patriots need to get more athleticism and speed at the linebacker position. McClellin boasts first-round tools and incredible instincts to provide this defense with the boost it needs up front. 

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The Giants will enter the season with a lot more depth than they had at the end of 2011, but tight end is one position they can afford to upgrade. 

Fleener is a strong pass-catcher who is going to create problems in the red zone, thanks to his size and sure hands. 

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