Todd McShay 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Breaking Down Expert's Most Shocking Selections

With the NFL draft mere hours away, ESPN analyst Todd McShay has released his final mock draft, and it would be fair to say that there were some sweeping changes late in the game.

McShay is often maligned for going for shock value rather than his true beliefs, and while it's tough to say if that is really the case, there is no doubt that he has some surprising picks projected for the first round.

Teams tend to do some pretty outrageous things in the draft, so it would be unfair to dismiss some of McShay's selections, but most NFL fans would probably be taken aback if they were to come to fruition. Those who follow the draft have pretty much convinced themselves that certain picks are locks, but McShay had no issue going against conventional wisdom.

Here are three shocking picks in McShay's final mock that would wow the crowd at Radio City Music Hall.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Take LB Luke Kuechly at No. 5

For the longest time, most experts have been mocking LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5. The pick makes perfect sense, since the Bucs have a shaky corner situation with Ronde Barber on his last legs and the troubled Aqib Talib on the trade block.

There have been some whispers that the Minnesota Vikings are keen on Claiborne at No. 3, however, and they may elect to take him over USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. If that is the case, then it throws the Buccaneers for a loop.

In that situation, McShay has the Bucs reaching for Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. Few mocks have had Kuechly being taken any higher than No. 10, so this would be a major deviation.

The Buccaneers probably do like Kuechly, though, as the tackling machine would be a great addition in the middle of their cover 2 defense. Not only can he make every tackle, but he is good in pass coverage as well, so he would be an ideal fit, albeit at a higher price than expected.

Seattle Seahawks Take DE Chandler Jones at No. 12

Over the past few weeks, many draft experts have sung the praises of Syracuse hybrid pass-rusher Chandler Jones. He was once considered a likely second-round prospect, but most have him going in the first at this point.

Simply putting him in the first round wasn't good enough for McShay, though, as he decided to make him the Seattle Seahawks pick at No. 12. That would mean that Jones will have gone from a Day 2 pick to the top pass-rusher off the board in a matter of weeks.

I don't doubt that teams like the Seahawks love Jones' skill set, but I have a hard time believing that he'll be taken ahead of more established guys like Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples and Courtney Upshaw. This would be the perfect example of late hype clouding a team's judgment, and that rarely ends well.

For the sake of Seahawks fans everywhere, hopefully McShay was just trying to ruffle some feathers with this pick and doesn't have any inside information.

Baltimore Ravens Take DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw at No. 29

While the two previous picks were surprising since they were significant reaches, this one makes the list because it would be viewed as a major steal.

After a stellar four-year career at Alabama and a Defensive Player of the Game performance in the BCS National Championship Game this past season, pass-rusher Courtney Upshaw's draft stock skyrocketed. For most of the process, he has been considered among the best pass-rushers in the draft along with Melvin Ingram and Quinton Coples.

For some reason, though, McShay believes that he will plummet all the way down to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 29. It wouldn't necessarily be a major need pick for the Ravens, but when you consider Upshaw's immense talent and the fact that Jarret Johnson left via free agency, it would make a lot of sense.

Ravens fans have to be foaming at the mouth at the prospects of this pick, as it would lead to a dynamic pass-rushing duo of Upshaw and Terrell Suggs.