2012 NFL Draft Results: 10 Potentially Surprising Week 1 Starters

The 2012 NFL draft has been knocked as a shallow one in terms of talent, but rest assured there will be players surprisingly emerging from its ranks to starting positions when the season kicks off.

Hitting or missing on first-round draft prospects is what keeps or loses jobs for executives in the NFL, but winning games is determined by the amount of starters found in the later rounds.

Obviously teams wouldn't use the draft pick on a player if they didn't believe there was some potential there, but they would be lying if they told you that they expect all of them to become starters one day.

Here is a list of 10 players who may not wait for "one day," and instead may just come out of the gate starting in the NFL.

Ryan Broyles, WR, Detroit Lions

Broyles is one of the most accomplished Big 12 receivers of all time coming out of Oklahoma, which is saying a lot for a conference that boasts player like Justin Blackmon, Dez Bryant and Kendall Wright as alumnus.

Going into an offense that loves to put the ball in the air, Broyles could have a chance to edge past aging veteran Nate Burleson or even fellow youngster Titus Young if he shows the same ability that he displayed as a Sooner.

Don't be surprised to see Broyles starting as the third, or even second, receiver for the Lions in September.

Lavonte David, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers knew exactly what they were doing trading up for Lavonte David from Nebraska, and what they were doing was acquiring a potential Week 1 starter.

New head coach Greg Schiano is attempting to remake the defense in his own image, which could be bad news for incumbent starters Quincy Black and Geno Hayes at outside linebacker.

David is a tackling machine and might make it hard for fellow rookie starter Mark Barron at safety to even see ball-carriers break through and need tackling in the secondary. 

Brandon Hardin, FS, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears defense could have a few new faces, and one of them may be Brandon Hardin, the hard-hitting free safety from Oregon State.

Major Wright could have his hands full trying to defend his position on the Bears defense as the bigger, and potentially faster, Hardin joins the ranks of the Monsters of the Midway.

Has Hardin not been injured last season, the fans of Chicago might be hearing more hype about this pick.

Sean Spence, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The buzz around Pittsburgh websites and news outlets is that Stevenson Sylvester had better be prepared to fight for his linebacker position next season.

This is not an indictment on Sylvester, who is a fine player, but the more people are seeing the way Spence plays the game, the more they like.

Spence's draft stock fell because he is completely underwhelming in traditional draft evaluation metrics, but when he steps between the lines on the field, he is a solid as they come. Don't be surprised to see the Steel Curtain boast a new weapon for the opening weekend.

Brandon Thompson, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted a starter at defensive tackle in the draft this year. The question is whether he came in the second or third round?

Most will give the nod to the second-rounder, Devon Still out of Penn State, but do not count out the third-rounder, Brandon Thompson from Clemson, snatching the starting duties away.

Still is the player who has the higher upside, but Thompson is stronger and potentially more NFL-ready than most other defensive linemen in the draft.

Joe Adams, WR, Carolina Panthers

Those who watched Joe Adams at the Senior Bowl saw the kind of game-breaking potential he has as a receiver with the ball in his hands.

Moving to Carolina and teaming up with a mobile quarterback like Cam Newton could create fireworks on extended plays for the Panthers.

Beyond Steve Smith, the Panthers only have what you would call good receivers in Brandon LaFell and David Gettis. Adams should be able to find his way on the field from the get-go and make an impact in Carolina.

Philip Blake, C, Denver Broncos

A minor subplot of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes during this offseason, was the speculation as to how many of his former teammates would become Broncos? To date that number is only two, and Jeff Saturday is not one of them.

However, the fact that Denver entertained the offer of signing Saturday means that it is not in love with JD Walton and may be tempted to go with Blake.

The reason this could happen is simple: Manning asks a lot of his center and now both players, Walton and Blake, will have the same offseason to learn the system.

The position is Walton's to lose, but its an interesting position battle to watch at least.

Dan Herron, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals knew that Cedric Benson was not coming back and tried to replace him via free agency with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The "Law Firm" and Bernard Scott are going to be tabbed to handle the brunt of the load in training camp, but don't count out Dan "Boom" Herron of Ohio State.

Apart from the certainty that Trent Richardson will start as a rookie in Cleveland, Herron has as good a shot as any running back drafted ahead of him of getting on the field early and often.

In fact, if you look at all the ball-carriers taken ahead of him, it can be argued that his road to the starting lineup is as favorable as any (depending on your feelings about Green-Ellis).

Danny Coale, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo was starting to develop a chemistry with third receiver Laurent Robinson, but the latter took off to Jacksonville for greener pastures and an increased role in an offense. That leaves Romo still looking for a third receiver he can trust.

Danny Coale is one of the most productive receivers in Virginia Tech history and is a high-effort player who possesses solid hands and has a will to keep balls from hitting the ground.

If Coale develops, it could be like having Jason Witten lining up at wide receiver...which could make Tony Romo very happy.

PS It could also revive the debate about whether or not the pictured catch was a touchdown or not in the Sugar Bowl...

Alfonzo Dennard, CB, New England Patriots

Extreme character issues were what cost Alfonzo Dennard precious draft position coming out of Nebraska, but heading to New England and the no-nonsense style of Bill Belichick might be just what the doctor ordered.

It will be hard to crack the starting lineup over Devin McCourty or Kyle Arrington at cornerback, but in nickel packages where another cover man is needed, it wouldn't be a shock to the see former Husker standout trot onto the field.