NFL Draft Start Time 2012: Players Expected to Go Early When Round 2 Begins

Thursday's first round of the NFL draft, as expected, featured lots of trades and some surprises as players projected to be sure-fire first-rounders slipped through the cracks. 

The second round begins on Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. ET (check out NFL.com for complete scheduling information), and finally, those who have been waiting anxiously for phone calls since late last night will learn their fates.

Until then, let's speculate about who will be some of the first picks off the board on Friday. 

Jonathan Martin to St. Louis at No. 33

Martin was expected to go as high as the middle of the first round in many mock drafts. Though he wasn't quite up there with Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff—who are regarded as the best available left tackles—he certainly established himself as a capable player after protecting Andrew Luck's blind side at Stanford. But because he doesn't project to be as NFL-ready as some of the other picks, he slipped down the board. 

That is to St. Louis' advantage—and to Sam Bradford's. Martin was projected as the fourth-best prospect prior to the draft, and at almost 6'6" and 312 pounds, he's the right size for the NFL. He ranks above average in terms of quickness and run-blocking skills, and although he may need some time to develop, he has the football IQ to be a cornerstone of the Rams' line for years. 


Cordy Glenn to Baltimore at No. 35

Glenn is another offensive tackle who somehow slipped out of the first round despite projections that he'd go somewhere in the mid-20's. The Georgia product is rated as the third-best tackle available, and given his excellent production, speed and durability, there are surely going to be some GMs kicking themselves for passing on him in the first round. 

Their loss, however, is Baltimore's gain. Glenn has started games on both the right and the left sides, and he could play behind 10-year veteran Bryant McKinnie before becoming his long-term replacement. Or, if Michael Oher takes over on the left, he can fill in at right tackle. 

Glenn, at about 6'6" and 345 pounds, is the ideal size for an NFL offensive lineman and has proven to be extremely durable against the run. He'll pay off big time for Baltimore. 


Andre Branch to Jacksonville at No. 38

Branch has been projected all over the boards prior to this draft. Some had him going late in the first round to a team like the Patriots, while some had him falling all the way to the end of the second round. There was so much talent in this class at defensive end that his slide isn't necessarily surprising, but he'll be one of the first pass-rushers off the board in the second round on Friday. 

In his final three seasons at Clemson, Branch played in all 41 games and is quicker than the average NFL defensive end, which helps offset the fact that he's also taller and leaner than average (6'4", 259 pounds). His recognition skills are still developing, however, so he's a bit more of a risky pick than some of the other prospects, but he's versatile enough to fill in a hole at defensive end or outside linebacker.