Mel Kiper Jr 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Overrated Prospects in Expert's Second Round

Fans didn't get the usual dose of Mel Kiper Jr. on Day 1 as the draft moved at a rapid pace, which limited the amount of time he had to discuss picks. So they'll have to settle for the ESPN expert's second-round mock draft with his updated predictions after Round 1.

Let's take a look at three prospects that Kiper ranks too high based on the amount of talent still left on the board following yesterday's chaos. As usual, he's on par with most other projections, but has a few players who stand out.

Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall (Pick No. 38)

Curry should develop into a nice situational pass-rusher at the NFL level, but a team wants more than that when they invest an early pick on a prospect. Even though his athleticism allowed him to dominate in Conference USA, the sledding gets much tougher against elite tackles.

He also falls into the dreaded "tweener" category. He doesn't have the size to become an effective linebacker, and he won't bring the speed-rush capabilities to thrive as a defensive end. So it's tough for teams to project where to play him.

Even though his production at Marshall was tremendous, those numbers should be taken with a grain of salt because of the competition level. He's worth a flier on the hope his transition goes smoother than expected, but not until the third round.

Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California (Pick No. 46)

Kendricks is a perfect example of how positional strength can greatly influence a player's draft stock. This class lacks impact inside linebackers aside from Luke Kuechly and Dont'a Hightower, meaning Kendricks was able to establish himself as the next-best option.

His size stands out immediately. At just 5'11'', he's likely the only middle linebacker under six feet that will get drafted this season. A lack of height isn't an automatic sign that he'll struggle, of course, but it's definitely something teams must consider.

He could always shift back outside and become a pure edge rusher using his great speed, but that would put him into the same category as Curry. Teams want more than a one-dimensional player in Round 2. Simply too many question marks for him to get picked inside the top 50.

Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma (Pick No. 53)

One year ago, this pick position would have seemed like a major steal. Broyles was entering his final season, looking to complete his record-breaking college career on a high note, but he suffered an ACL injury, causing his stock to plummet.

Questions were always going to be raised about his lack of size, but most figured he would offset those concerns with his ability to stretch the field. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury means his speed might never return to 100 percent.

Broyles deserves a chance to prove he can still be a reliable target based on his performance before the injury, but not this high. Somewhere in the late third or early fourth would be more fitting since there's basically no bust potential at that point.