5 Teams That Aced the 2012 NFL Draft

It might seem early to say teams passed the draft with flying colors, but based on what we know about the relative values of the players taken, it's easy to say some teams aced the draft. Not surprisingly, most of these teams are franchises that we say that about every year:

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had an outstanding draft by mixing patience, risk-taking and urgency.

David DeCastro, the best guard prospect since Michael Iupati, fell into their laps at No. 24. Mike Adams, an offensive tackle that some mocks had in the first round, fell into their laps at No. 56, which mitigates his risk after a positive drug test at the combine. The Steelers moved up for Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth round, one of the only guys in the draft who can play nose tackle in their 3-4 defense.

And getting Chris Rainey, who is maybe the fastest offensive player in the draft, in the fifth round only added to the list of steals in the Steel City.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals aced a draft they had to make count.

They added at least three starters—CB Dre Kirkpatrick, WR Mohamed Sanu or Marvin Jones and OG Kevin Zeitler—in addition to beefing up their already strong defensive line with Devon Still and Brandon Thompson. TE Orson Charles gives them a quality second tight end, and they also added a top strong safety prospect in the late fifth with George Iloka.

No team will have more impact players from this draft than the Bengals.

Philadelphia Eagles 

The Eagles knew the mission this year: improve the defense.

They moved up in the first to get stud defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Elite defensive line coach Jim Washburn could barely hide how giddy he was with the pick. Philly then added LB Mychal Kendricks, a physical wonder and hard-nosed player in all facets of the game. Top edge-rusher Vinny Curry was a gift in the late second, just as starting quality corner Brandon Boykin was in the fourth.

WR Marvin McNutt and OL Brandon Washington in the sixth round were also two of the best value picks of the late third day.

New York Giants

Jerry Reese does it every year. By sitting back and letting other teams reach for players, the Giants seem to get big discounts on players they wanted anyway.

RB David Wilson was a strong need pick, and then one of the five players Reese considered along with Wilson in the first fell to the Giants in the second: WR Rueben Randle. A positive drug test at the combine caused a rugged ballhawk of a corner, Jayron Hosley, to be there in the third. Reese then parlayed a couple of third-day picks into upside offensive tackles to make sure the offensive line was addressed in the long term.

St. Louis Rams

Jeff Fisher and Les Snead turned the No. 2 overall pick into DT Michael Brockers, CB Janoris Jenkins, RB Isaiah Pead, OT Rokevious Watkins and Washington's first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. Even if some of those players bust, the ability to turn one of the crown jewels of the draft into four prospects and two future premium picks shows a terrific grasp of how to put a new regime's stamp on a team right away.

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