2012 NFL Draft Sleepers: Players Who Will Jump into First Round

The NFL draft is among the most unpredictable events in all of sports. For months, fans and experts attempt to figure out who the best prospects in the draft are and who will go where. Every year we inevitably see a few prospects that are valued much higher by NFL GMs than we expected.

Here are some names that will surprisingly be called on Day 1 of the 2012 NFL draft: 

Brandon Weeden

When it comes to draft-day drama, quarterbacks are king. Because of the importance of the position, they always seemed to be valued a bit higher by front offices than they are by the majority of those that fill out mock drafts.

Based on skills alone, Weeden probably grades out to be a no-brainer first-round selection. However, Weeden has one major flaw—age.

At 28 years old Weeden is significantly older than most rookies. Consequently, his stock has fallen from first-rounder to second-rounder. Because Weeden will be 29 by the time the season starts, it stands to reason that his career will be significantly shorter than most prospects because by the time his second season rolls around he will be in his 30s.

Even so, Weeden could become a target for teams looking to trade back into the first round. A likely scenario that has been brought up by Jason La Confora of NFL.com is that a quarterback-needy team, such as the Browns, could look to trade back up to ensure they get Weeden.

Alshon Jeffery

This year's class is deep at wide receiver so teams looking to add a player at the position will have plenty of options to choose from when they find themselves on the clock on Day 1.

One player who has been lost in the shuffle has been South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.

Once upon a time Jeffrey was rated near the top of this draft class. Jeffery's perceived character issues and lack of dedication due to a fluctuating playing weight throughout his career has seemingly dropped his draft stock a bit.

Despite the plenty of people that are down on Jeffery, there are those who still believe him to be an elite prospect. Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller still has Jeffery ranked as his seventh-best prospect available overall and his top receiver in the draft.

Although Jeffery's playing weight of 230 in his final season at South Carolina may be a bit of a concern, he did trim down to a more svelte 216 pounds for the combine. While he didn't elect to run at the combine, the possibility that a team falls in love with his game tape and makes him a first-round selection is still a distinct possibility.

Vinny Curry

Pass-rushing is at a premium in the NFL.

That phrase may be bordering cliché, as it has been said so much by everyone, but that doesn't make it less true. The New York Giants showed last year just how much an elite pass rush can mean to a team as the team's strategy to acquire a bevy of pass-rushers paid off in a big way last year with their Super Bowl run.

The NFL is a copycat league, which means more and more teams will continue to add elite pass-rushers in hopes of duplicating the success that the Giants have had.

Vinny Curry out of Marshall is the type of pass-rusher that teams love. His initial 40-yard dash time at the combine left him with a lower draft stock than had been initially anticipated but Curry redeemed himself by running in the 4.6 range at his pro day.

At 6'3" and 266 pounds, Curry possesses a great blend of size and athleticism that makes him a perfect fit for a 4-3 defense looking to add a player that can come in right away and apply pressure to a quarterback.

Curry has largely been viewed as a second-round prospect, but with the tools and potential he has its not hard to envision him as a first-round selection—even as an eventual replacement for Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants.