2012 NFL Mock Draft: Offensive Studs Who Are Fading Fast

When a prospect's stock falls leading up to the NFL draft it can lead to catastrophy.

Three offensive players who were safely considered top-20 picks just weeks ago are now experiencing that kind of drop in their draft stock.

Here is a look at my latest mock draft, highlighting the offensive players who are falling rapidly.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck has been projected to be the top pick in this draft for more than a year now. He deserves that distinction and should eventually become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

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

The Redskins will take Griffin and hand him the keys to the franchise. As long as he continues to develop as a passer, that will be a wise decision.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is flat out the best offensive lineman I've ever scouted and he is certainly the best to enter the NFL since Joe Thomas in 2007.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is the rare running back worth taking with a top-five pick. He will be one of the league's best backs within three years.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne will be a shutdown corner and a Pro Bowler and should help upgrade Tampa Bay's secondary.

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

Blackmon will give Sam Bradford the No. 1 receiver he has been longing for. Those two should flourish together. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Jacksonville needs to improve its pass rush and the versatile Ingram was a big-time playmaker in college. He should add some punch to a defensive line that only had 31 sacks in 2011.

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

After missing out on Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith this offseason, the Dolphins must land Tannehill. He will give Miami a signal-caller to build around for the future.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is a stud who should improve the weak interior of Carolina's defensive line.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Bills need to improve their offensive line and Reiff is this draft's second-best tackle. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Kuechly is a stud who should vastly improve Kansas City's linebacking corps.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

The Seahawks need a pass rusher for their 4-3 defense and Coples is probably the most talented guy at that position in the draft. At 6'6" and 285 pounds, the North Carolina product could turn into a monster if properly motivated.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd will give the Cardinals a solid No. 2 receiver who should take pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald. 

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe's ridiculous performance at the NFL Scouting Combine has put him solidly into the top 15. The Cowboys will grab the Memphis product and install him as their nose tackle in Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Eagles traded for DeMeco Ryans to improve the middle of their defense, drafting a versatile safety like Barron will continue that process.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw is a strong, tough, rugged player that Rex Ryan will love. He profiles as an outstanding edge rusher who will also be a solid run-stuffer. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore is a legitimate top-15 player in this draft and the Bengals will be getting a steal here. They will be upgrading a secondary that has needed help since Jonathan Joseph left for Houston last offseason.

18. San Diego Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

DeCastro will step in and replace the retired Kris Dielman at left guard immediately. Don't be surprised if the Stanford product is one of the NFL's best guards right away.

19. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

At the end of the 2011 college football season, some evaluators had Martin listed as the top offensive tackle in this class. Since then, he has been steadily dropping.

Martin measures in at 6'5" and 312 pounds, and has average measureables and speed. He is a passionate, team player who works hard and was well liked by his teammates and coaches at Stanford. 

The problem with Martin is that he's not exceptional in pass protection and will need some polish. He is a decent run blocker as well, but that is largely due to his initial quickness. He moves well from side-to-side but isn't a mauler who looks to punish guys on the second level. 

Martin is the kind of guy who has a high ceiling and could be a stud if he develops well. The problem is his downside, which could be on par with a guy like Levi Brown. 

The Bears will take a chance on him at No. 19 and hope he pays off.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick's strength is zone coverage, which makes him a perfect fit for the Titans. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

The Bengals need help along the offensive line and Glenn will give them a versatile player who could start at either guard spot or right tackle immediately. 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams is 6'7" and 323 pounds and possesses the natural talent of a tackle any franchise could build around. The problem? He has never come close to living up to his immense talent level. That lack of performance on tape has sent Adams' stock plummeting. 

The Ohio State product just doesn't seem focused on or off the field and watching tape on him is frustrating because of it.

He should be a dominant force given his physical gifts, but he was never anything above average during his time in Columbus. He is decent in pass protection thanks to his size and long arms, but is a bit slower than you would like and he doesn't keep a good pad level.

When run blocking, he doesn't continue to drive his legs, and when facing strong defenders he has problems pushing them back. His overall awareness and intangibles leave much to be desired.

Still, at No. 22 the Browns need some help along the offensive line. When paired with five-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, maybe Adams could develop. 

23. Detroit Lions: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Detroit's current center, Dominic Raiola, is awful and Konz would be an immediate upgrade. With his ability to diagnose and break down defenses, the Wisconsin product will greatly help quarterback Matthew Stafford's development. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers will eventually take over for aging nose tackle Casey Hampton but in the meantime he can line up all over the defensive line.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy is a guy with a non-stop motor who will immediately upgrade the interior of Denver's defensive line.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright had some of the best game tape of any college player in 2011. He finished the season with 108 receptions for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns. At one point he was pegged as the second-best receiver in this draft, but his stock has since taken a hit.

The Baylor product did not have a great showing at the combine as he turned in a 4.61-second time in the 40-yard dash, and finished in the middle of the pack among receivers in the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. 

He did turn in a time of 4.44 seconds at his pro day, but for a guy at his size (5'10" and 196 pounds) that combine performance was disappointing. In addition, he has short arms and small hands, while his ball skills leave much to be desired.

Still, Wright showed big play ability all season for Baylor and that 4.44-second time in the 40 at his pro day is more indicative of his speed on film. 

The Texans need a legitimate No. 2 wideout and Wright fits that profile.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

The Patriots need to upgrade their front seven and Jones is an impressive athlete who should help immediately. While he is raw, the Syracuse product could be molded into a perfect edge rusher for New England's defense.

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

Perry is the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft and the Packers are in serious need of an edge rusher to help Clay Matthews get to the quarterback.

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

Hightower will likely man an outside linebacking spot until Ray Lewis retires. When that time comes, he'll replace the future Hall of Famer on the inside.

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

The 49ers need a deep threat and at 6'4" and 215 pounds with elite speed, Hill could be the best field-stretcher in this year's draft.

31. New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Reyes is a smart, versatile defender who will be able to line up all along the defensive line in New England's hybrid 3-4/4-3 front.

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

With Mario Manningham gone to San Francisco, Eli Manning is in need of another target. Fleener is a big, athletic tight end who should make an impact early in his NFL career.