2012 NFL Draft Projections: 3 Stars Who Will Slide into Round 2

The 2012 NFL draft is just around the corner.

Teams are continuing to jockey for position so they can draft that next franchise player. Avoiding the busts and drafting the future greats is a challenge to each team and the decisions made will undoubtedly lead to surprises and disappointments.

While Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be off the board quickly, other players won't be so lucky.

Falling out of the first round may come as a rude awakening for these three players.

Stephen Hill

The 6'4" wide receiver out of Georgia Tech is currently projected to go 29th overall to the Baltimore Ravens.

Hill has all the necessary tools to have success in the defensive minded AFC North. His big frame, speed off the line and good hands certainly set him apart from many of his fellow receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft class.

There are two problems with Hill being a lock in the first round.

Firstly, there are some other very talented receivers along with Hill, and secondly, the Baltimore Ravens have some serious issues to address along the offensive line.

There are far too many possibilities lurking for the Ravens to consider Stephen Hill a lock in the first round. Alshon Jeffery seems to be an equally enticing prospect at wide receiver while there are several offensive linemen who could quickly make the transition to the NFL.

Playing for a team that absolutely has a run-first mentality does not help Hill's chances either.

Jerel Worthy

Jerel Worthy would be a huge addition to any defensive line in the NFL.

Literally.

Worthy weighs in at 310 lbs. and was a force to be reckoned with during his time as a Michigan State Spartan.  For his size, Worthy is surprisingly quick and durable for a defensive tackle and has been a target of several NFL teams that lack depth up front.

While Worthy's size and speed are impressive, he lacks the ability to consistently play at that elite level.  He would often disappear at times on the defense which raised questions about the possibility of him "taking plays off."

Worthy's work ethic is a serious concern for teams like Denver, New York, Minnesota, Seattle and New Orleans, who need depth on the defensive line. 

You can condition and train all player until the sun sets but you can't change his work ethic. This might be the downfall of Worthy, as teams may go for the harder working defensive lineman.

Kendall Wright

Kendall Wright was Robert Griffin III's go-to man during the last couple years at Baylor.  Wright's speed and elusiveness led to many of the big plays we have seen from the Bears both on offense and on special teams.

While Wright certainly held his own in college, he enters the NFL draft in a position where there is plenty to choose from.

Stephen Hill and Alshon Jeffery more closely resemble the prototypical receiver, while Wright is a good five or six inches shorter and has a smaller build. The transition from playing against corners in the Big 12 to the more physical corners in the NFL will certainly be a concern for teams because of Wright being undersized.

There are several other picks that would be more "safe" than Kendall Wright, but ultimately, avoiding the slip to the second round will rest in the hands of the team that is ready to take on the high-risk/high-reward gamble.