2012 NFL Draft Prospects: Guys That Could Be Used as Legitimate Smoke Screens

Before the 2012 NFL draft begins tonight, don't forget about smoke screens—the term that yields the most mystery at this time of year.  

While we never know a team's true intentions, they certainly love showing disingenuous interest in prospects in hopes that clubs behind them will be enticed to trade up. 

Two of these guys are currently being used as smoke screens, while the last two listed have serious smoke-screen potential. 

Mark Barron, S, Alabama 

Recent reports (here from Adam Schefter of ESPN) have surfaced suggesting that the Buffalo Bills are high on the Alabama safety prospect. While Buddy Nix typically goes with the best player available, his club already has four respectable safeties on the roster in Jairus Byrd, George Wilson, Bryan Scott and promising second-year guy Da'Norris Searcy. 

Barron's a legit possibility to land in Buffalo, but it seems like more of a smoke screen than anything else. The San Diego Chargers are reportedly interested at No. 18, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Many Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles fans and media members alike have pegged Barron to their respective teams as well. 

The Bills have already driven up interest in Barron and are potentially looking at three trade partners. They'd be able to get one a quality starter in Round 1 as well as additional picks in Rounds 2-4. 

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU 

On Tuesday, B/R's Matt Miller posted the following on Twitter, also in reference to the Bills: 

"Hearing Buffalo Bills like Michael Brockers. Would consider moving Kyle Williams to DE."

With Marcell Dareus, the team's other menacing defensive tackle, and free-agent acquisitions Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, it's unlikely the team is realistically thinking about moving Williams to defensive end. 

Many teams need beef along their defensive front, but the Bills certainly don't. 

Again, it looks like Buddy Nix is setting up another smoke screen to lure another team to possibly trade up. 

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College 

While there's no substantiated evidence that a team is using Kuechly as a smoke screen, he definitely could be used as one this evening. 

He's one of the cleanest prospects in the draft, and although linebackers aren't held in as high regard as they were in the past, this BC product can stay on the field for three downs and play any LB position.

Kuechly would be a valuable asset to just about any team.

A team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Seattle Seahawks could pick him, or show fake interest to get a team to trade up.  

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 

Everyone's pegged Tannehill to the Dolphins for a while now. He'd seemingly make sense playing for his former college coach Mike Sherman in Miami, but there's a chance the Dolphins aren't as enamored with him as much as everyone thinks. 

If that's the case, Tannehill could draw interest from teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns as a developmental guy with, potentially, a bright future. 

The Dolphins could acquire more picks and move back a few spots in the first round, which isn't a huge negative. 

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