2012 NFL Draft Grades: Breaking Down Biggest Draft Day Winners

While there is no way of knowing which players will turn into stars in the immediate aftermath of the NFL draft, grading teams based on the value and potential they got is an easy task. 

Everyone has broken down film on everyone, so we all know who should be stars. However, while things will certainly change and injuries can sway anything, there were a few teams who did well to get value and fill some glaring needs. 

Here is a look at the biggest winners from the NFL draft. We will also highlight the best pick(s) for that team, and hand out a grade. 

Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen (Indianapolis Colts)

It's not exactly going out on a limb to say that the best quarterback prospect in a long time is going to be a success right away, but how do you not love what the Colts did to help Andrew Luck out?

How well the Colts were able to fill their needs on the offensive line and on defense is up for debate. After all, the team spent their first four picks on skill position players.

Either way, this team is building around Luck. They have to put him in the best possible position to succeed. 

They did that—and then some—by grabbing the top two tight ends in the draft. With Reggie Wayne on the outside, and Fleener and Allen on the inside, the Colts offense is going to be a lot better than you might think. 

I don't expect to see them back in the playoffs this year. However, that doesn't mean they won't be fun and compelling to watch each week. 

Grade: A-

Courtney Upshaw (Baltimore Ravens)

The steal of this draft is going to end up being Upshaw, who was one of the best 15-20 players available, but who fell to the second round because he didn't appear to have a natural position. 

That is precisely why Upshaw is going to be so good. He has the strength and size to play on the edge of a defensive line, with the speed and wrap-up tackling ability to move to outside linebacker/edge-rusher in a 3-4 defense. 

No matter what happens with Joe Flacco and the offense, you can always count on the Ravens finding great young defensive players every year. It has happened again this year, as we will see when Upshaw takes the field for the first time. 

Grade: A-

Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks (Philadelphia Eagles)

If there was a team that saw its weaknesses and grabbed them by the throat this offseason, it was the Philadelphia Eagles. 

It started with the acquisition of linebacker DeMeco Ryans from Houston in free agency. He was a productive player for the Texans from 2006-2009 when they played a 4-3 defense. His numbers dropped off during the last two years due to injuries and a shift to the 3-4 scheme. 

The Eagles then stole Cox, who was the best interior defensive lineman in this draft. He is going to be a monster up the middle that will cure their woes against the run. 

As if they needed more help at linebacker, Kendricks fell to them in the second round. He is an athletic playmaker who finds the ball and can close as well as anyone in this draft. 

Grade: A

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