2012 NFL Draft: Top 5 Players Available in Round 2

Round 1 of the 2012 NFL draft is in the books, and you know what that means: Continuous media scrutiny over every first round pick from almost every angle conceivable. You'll hear about draft winners, draft losers, picks teams should have made and which general managers deserve to be roasted on a spit.

But fear not, draftniks.

Round 2 of the NFL draft begins tomorrow night at 7:30 EST, providing us sports bloggers with fresh ammo. In preparation, here is a list of the 10 best prospects who slipped through the first round and will be among the first to hear their names called tomorrow night.  

1. Stephen Hill

It's surprising that Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill fell out of the first round. While he was never projected to go early or even mid-way through the first round, almost every mock draft had him drafted between picks 20 and 30.

However, the San Francisco 49ers unexpectedly chose wide receive A.J. Jenkins with the 30th pick, dashing Hill's chances of becoming a first rounder. 

Despite this, Hill is the top player available and should come off the board very quickly tomorrow night. Hill has a dangerous combination of size and speed, measuring in at 6'4" and running a blazing 4.36 second 40-yard dash at the combine. Consequently, he'll be both a dangerous red zone and vertical threat.

More importantly, Hill had a great senior year at Georgia Tech, which has recently turned out great NFL receivers like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas.  

Possible Destinations

St. Louis Rams (33), Indianapolis Colts (34), Baltimore Ravens (35), Cleveland Browns (37)

Wide receiver is a top priority for every team that has a top selection in the top 15 picks of the second round, sans the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles. 

2. Jerel Worthy

Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy was projected as an early second rounder for most of the NFL scouting process. However, he snuck inside the first round of many mock drafts published in the week leading up to the draft.

But alas, this scenario did not play out. 

Jerel is certainly a talented player and was certainly Worthy of a first-round selection. However, this year's class of defensive tackles is particularly deep, and many of the DTs selected early in the second round would likely be first round picks any other year. Though he needs to improve on his ability to get to the quarterback, Worthy is a great run-stuffer and projects really well as a 4-3 DT.  

Possible destinations

Denver Broncos (36), Carolina Panthers (40), New England Patriots (48) 

3. Peter Konz

A lot of people mocked Peter Konz to the Ravens at 28. However, the Ravens traded down to 35, and Konz remained undrafted at the end of the first. This doesn't surprise me, even with the Ravens moving down.

Konz is certainly the best center in this class, but he pales in comparison to Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, the only centers selected in the first round of the 2011 and 2010 draft, respectively. Combined with the fact that center just isn't a high priority position, it's easy to see why Konz is still available.

Having said that, Konz is definitely a top 40 prospect and one of the best prospects remaining. Though he won't be a stud center, he'll certainly be very good and will bolster his new team's interior rushing and pass protection. There is some concern about his size (6'5"), as it's easy for defenders to gain leverage against large centers who have to snap the ball and then bring their body up to block. However, that concern is relatively minor and won't severely hinder Konz's play at the next level.  

Possible destinations

Indianapolis Colts (34), Baltimore Ravens (35), Denver Broncos (36) 

4. Cordy Glenn

Cordy Glenn, an offensive tackle/guard, was projected in some mocks to go as high as 13 overall. For that reason, he'll be the top available player on many draft boards.

However, as we saw with Da'Quan Bowers last year and Jason Campbell in 2010, sometimes a player slides down for a reason that's not immediately apparent to the public, but apparent enough to catch the attention of all 32 teams. 

I don't think Glenn has serious character flaws or work ethic issues like Bowers and Campbell. I also don't think there's any reason to believe he will struggle any more than the next rookie at the NFL level. Rather, I think Glenn fell because many teams determined that he was unsuitable as an offensive tackle and should only play guard.

Since guards aren't as high priority as tackles, Glenn fell, alongside fellow prospect David DeCastro. However, both Glenn and DeCastro are talented enough guards to have gone higher, so it's puzzling why so many teams with holes on their offensive lines passed them up. Glenn won't be "the next Steve Hutchinson", a title given to DeCastro, but he will be a very solid guard for years to come.  

Possible destinations

Indianapolis Colts (34), St. Louis Rams (39), Buffalo Bills (41) 

5. Coby Fleener

Heading into the 2012 NFL draft, it looked like tight end Coby Fleener had a 50/50 chance of going in the first round. Unfortunately for him, he's still available, but I would expect that to change shortly after 7:30 tomorrow night.

Like many modern day tight ends, Fleener has a dangerous combination of size (6'6") and speed (4.52 40-yard dash). Fleener is easily the second best pass catcher available, after receiver Steven Hill. He will be a dangerous red zone target and it's hard to imagine many outside linebackers keeping up with him on vertical or slant routs.

Though it's unlikely that Fleener will be the next Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis, he will definitely be part of the second tier of tight ends. I expect him to consistently post 800 yards, 7-10 TD seasons.  

Possible Destinations

St. Louis Rams (33), Indianapolis Colts* (34), Cleveland Browns (37), Miami Dolphins (42)

*Unless the Colts absolutely love Steven Hill, it's highly improbable that they won't select Fleener, Andrew Luck's biggest target at Stanford. 

Best of the Rest: 6-10

6. Devon Still, DT

Like Werth, Still is a great defensive tackle who simply fell because of an overload of talent at the position. 

7. Jonathan Martin, OT

Martin is a steady tackle whose lack of consistency prevented him from being a first-round pick. He could flourish at right tackle in his rookie season. 

8. Andre Branch, DE

One of the best defensive ends available, Branch has a knack for getting to the quarterback.  

9. Janoris Jenkins, CB 

You know the story here: ultra-talented player with an ultra-talented knack for getting himself into trouble. Upside makes him worth a mid second-round pick. 

10. Bobby Wagner, OLB

Bobby Wagner has a knack for making plays and also has great versatility. He's one of the few top prospects available that projects as a true 4-3 OLB. 

Notable Omission: Courtney Upshaw

Like Glenn, Courtney Upshaw was a consensus 15-25 pick before the NFL draft. And like Glenn, Upshaw went undrafted after 32 picks and will undoubtedly be talked about as one of the best players available.

However, I don't think Upshaw is even in the top 10 players available.

While he has great athleticism and had a tremendous collegiate career, Upshaw simply doesn't fit into many teams' defensive schemes. He's too slow to play as a 4-3 outside linebacker, and many consider him too heavy to play as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

That leaves Upshaw as a tremendously talented player with no true "position." Though he's got NFL-level talent, he's a project player who needs at least a year of development and coaching to truly become an impact player.

I doubt he'll fall out of the second round, but with so many talented and NFL-ready players on the board, it's difficult to call Upshaw one of the best prospects available.  

Possible Destinations

Philadelphia Eagles (46), New York Jets (47), Cincinnati Bengals (53)