2012 NFL Draft: 25 Bold Predictions for Next Year's Draft Class
It might be the absence of free agency this summer, but chatter surrounding the 2012 NFL draft is already starting.
It could also be that the 2012 NFL draft class has the makings of a historic class.
Led by Stanford redshirt junior quarterback Andrew Luck the 2012 class looks impressive from top to bottom.
Want a crazy-early look at 25 bold predictions surrounding the 2012 draft? We've got 'em.
25. Andrew Luck Will Be Drafted No. 1 Overall
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Starting this out with an easy one.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Seems like a foregone conclusion, right?
So did the thought that Jake Locker would be the first overall choice in 2011 after he turned down the supposed No. 1 overall slot in 2010's draft to return to school.
How is Andrew Luck different? He's simply a more finished product.
Locker's stock fell from No. 1 to No. 8 due to concerns about his accuracy—something Luck does not struggle with.
In fact, we cannot find anything that Luck does struggle with.
24. The Indianapolis Colts Will Draft a Quarterback in Round 1
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Peyton Manning turned 35 this spring, following his worst NFL season since his rookie year in 1997.
It would be easy to say that Manning's skills are regressing...in fact that's exactly what is happening.
The Colts do not want to go back to the days of 2-14 records, and to prevent a massive drop off once Manning retires Bill Polian must draft Manning's replacement while he has time to groom him.
23. The Carolina Panthers Hold the First Pick, Again
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The Carolina Panthers will follow-up their 1-15 performance in 2010 with a solid 3-13 season, landing them with the No. 1 overall pick for the second year in a row.
Only this time the Panthers won't draft a quarterback—although it would be hilarious for them to use three straight high picks on a quarterback.
The Panthers will simply hold an auction for the No. 1 overall pick with the highest bidder walking away with the rights to draft Andrew Luck.
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22. Oakland Raiders Sell the Farm for No. 1 Overall Pick
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Who would be crazy enough to trade their entire 2012 draft class plus a 2012 first-rounder to the Panthers for the No. 1 overall pick and Andrew Luck?
Well, duh, Al Davis is crazy enough to do that!
What's not funny is this would actually be the best draft pick the Raiders have made in the last 20 years.
Luck is, quite simply, worth the Raiders entire 2012 draft class.
21. Three Quarterbacks Are Drafted Top 10
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The 2011 NFL draft featured three quarterbacks—Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert—all being drafted in the first 10 picks.
The 2012 class will match that.
Stanford's Andrew Luck, Oklahoma's Landry Jones and USC passer Matt Barkley will all hear their names called early on Thursday night.
20. Three North Carolina Defenders Will Be Drafted in Round 1
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The North Carolina Tar Heels' have been on a roll as of late when it comes to sending defenders to the NFL.
Their 2012 class just might be the best one yet.
Quinton Coples, Donte Paige-Moss and Zach Brown all grade out as first-round picks before the season.
19. Five Offensive Tackles Will Be Drafted in Round 1
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The 2011 NFL draft class was not known for being talented at the top when it came to offensive tackles, rather having a large group of late-first round players.
In 2012, we will see tackles flying off the board as early as No. 2 overall.
Matt Kalil, Jonathan Martin, Riley Reiff, Nate Potter and Matt Reynolds all figure to be drafted within the first 32 picks.
18. Landry Jones Will Be Drafted Before Matt Barkley
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The USC Trojans may be the media favorites in college football but when it comes to the NFL draft where you played college football rarely matters.
As such, it will be Oklahoma's Landry Jones—coming off a national championship win—who will be drafted as the second quarterback overall (after Andrew Luck).
Jones has the better frame, better body of work and comes from the same system that produced Sam Bradford.
Barkley is a bit undersized and has yet to set the field on fire with superb athletes surrounding him.
17. Matt Kalil Will Be Drafted before Jonathan Martin
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When it comes to offensive tackles, there is little separating Nos. 1 and 2. Those players, Matt Kalil and Jonathan Martin, are both All-Pac 10 players with the credentials to be a top five pick in the 2012 class.
We like Kalil if only slightly more than Martin. The one thing Kalil has going for him that Martin doesn't is NFL pedigree. His brother Ryan is a center for the Carolina Panthers and his father Frank played college ball at Arizona and Arkansas.
Something so small, but it can mean the difference between No. 1 and No. 2.
16. Cliff Harris Will Be Drafted Before Dre Kirkpatrick
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We really, really like 'Dre Kirkpatrick's ability as a No. 1 cornerback. We simply love Cliff Harris.
Both are dominant players in conferences that offer both pro-style schemes and NFL-level players. What separates the two at this time is Harris' pure athleticism and energy when he has the football in his hands.
Kirkpatrick may be the better press cover man, but much like Prince Amukamara and Patrick Peterson from the 2011 draft, athleticism generally wins out.
15. New England Will Trade Both First-Round Picks to Move Up in Round 1
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Bill Belichick's New England Patriots are known for stockpiling future draft picks year after year.
Surely, just once, Belichick will make a shocking move and package two first-round picks to move up the board and snag a roster-changing player, right?
We believe, and we even think 2012 is the year it happens.
The Patriots are a young team and are very close to putting together the pieces around Tom Brady to claim another Super Bowl title. Where could they get better?
Wide receiver.
In the 2012 draft, the Patriots will trade their first-round pick and the selection received from New Orleans to move up and select wide receiver Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State.
14. Surprise Player To Fall out of the Top 10: Justin Blackmon
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Why would the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the first receiver to earn the honor, fall out of the top 10?
Two things.
Blackmon is not as physically imposing as most would assume. At just 6'1" and 211lbs, Blackmon could struggle to get free from press coverage in the NFL. Unlike Alshon Jeffrey of South Carolina, who is 6'4" and 220lbs, Blackmon can be neutralized at the line of scrimmage.
Secondly, Blackmon was arrested for DUI in late October 2010. This could hurt his stock in the eyes of NFL general managers.
13. Surprise Player Drafted in the Top 10: Brandon Jenkins
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Florida State's Brandon Jenkins emerged on the college football scene as a sophomore in 2010.
Jenkins single-handedly turned around the FSU defense, recording 62 tackles, 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. He was named Team MVP, First-team All ACC and Second-team All America.
At 6'4" and 256lbs, Jenkins has the ideal measurables to covert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.
The combination of size, speed and productivity will see Jenkins shooting up draft boards. Just remember you heard it here first.
12. Cleveland Will Trade One of Two First-Rounders for 2013 Pick
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The Cleveland Browns will hold two first-round picks in the 2012 NFL draft—their own and one from the Atlanta Falcons.
We believe Mike Holgrem and co. will trade at least one of these selections for a future first-round pick in the 2013 class.
Why would they do this? Because the NFL is a copycat league and always has been. Every general manager in the NFL has seen Bill Belichick's stranglehold on the NFL draft and his shrewd trading tactics.
Holgrem and Tom Heckert will be tempted to emulate the NFL's best by trading away a pick this year for more in the future.
11. The Denver Broncos Will Draft Champ Bailey's Replacement
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Cornerback Champ Bailey will go down as one of the best to ever play his position and is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer.
He's also turning 33 this summer and has not been as dominant in recent years.
The Broncos rewarded Bailey with a sort of "lifetime achievement" contract this summer, locking him up for four more years.
This will allow Denver time to draft his replacement and also groom said player for the massive shoes he must fill.
10. Oregon Running Back LaMichael James Falls to Round 2
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We have been accused of not being fans of LaMichael James quite a bit this offseason, and while that is not necessarily true, we don't see him as being a real threat as an every down back in the NFL.
At 5'9" and a listed 185lbs (we dispute this number), James would seem to have the measurables to produce in the NFL.
One look at James and it's obvious he was weighed in pads, holding dumb bells, to reach 185lbs.
James is an electric, exciting running back—but he's not an every down back in the NFL and will be drafted as such.
Adding insult to injury, running backs simply aren't valued like they used to be.
9. Oklahoma State Quarterback Brandon Weeden Will Disappoint
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Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State is receiving a lot of hype this preseason as a possible dark-horse candidate for the first-round of the NFL draft. Heck, some are even saying he might have been a first-rounder in 2011 (he wouldn't have been).
So why is Weeden listed as a player who will disappoint?
First off, the expectations are too high for Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Both are expected to shatter Big 12 records this fall, and they will never be able to improve on video game-like numbers from 2010. Defenses simply know what to look for now.
Secondly, Weeden has a new offensive coordinator and lost his star running back Kendall Hunter to the NFL draft.
With defenses able to focus on Weeden and Blackmon, the offense will struggle and Weeden's draft stock will level off as around a fourth-round pick.
8. Zero Centers, Tight Ends and Safeties Are Drafted in Round 1
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The 2011 draft saw a center drafted in the first 15 picks when Florida's Mike Pouncey was selected by the Miami Dolphins. Not one tight end or safety was drafted in Round 1.
In 2012, there will be zero tight ends, centers or safeties drafted in Round 1.
Ohio State's Mike Brewster is the best of the bunch in the 2012 class, and while he looks like an early second-round pick the chances of seeing him in Round 1 are slim.
7. Terrelle Pryor Will Sneak in to Round 1
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Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was suspended by the NCAA, along with four of his teammates, for the first five games of the 2011 season after selling memorabilia.
That won't keep Pryor from being regarded as a first-round pick.
Pryor's rare blend of athleticism, arm strength and field vision will endear him to NFL general managers and coaches.
Added to that his leadership ability and team-first attitude will be a benefit. Pryor agreed to return to Ohio State for his senior season if allowed to play in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
6. Janoris Jenkins Will Not Be Drafted
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Janoris Jenkins has been in the news lately after he was dismissed by the Florida Gators football team, due to his second drug related arrest in 3 months.
Those two drug arrests, as well as his attitude and character issues, will keep Jenkins from being drafted.
Had Jenkins entered the 2011 draft, and kept himself out of jail, he could have been a late first-round pick. Instead, he chose to break the law, again, and will see himself struggling in undrafted free agency.
5. Notre Dame Wide Receiver Michael Floyd Falls to Round 3
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Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd has the ideal size, speed and hands for the NFL. He also has a rap sheet that will keep him from hearing his name called in Round 1 or 2 of the NFL draft.
Floyd has been arrested three times since 2009 over alcohol-related offenses. His third, coming in March of 2011 led to his indefinite suspension from the team.
Arrests happen, unfortunately, but three in two years makes you wonder if there is a larger problem.
4. Boise State Quarterback Kellen Moore Is Drafted in Round 7
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Kellen Moore is a fabulous college football player. And that's all he will ever be.
Moore's status as an NFL prospect is not great, despite what Boise fans may claim.
Moore is small (6'0", 186lbs), he has a weak arm and plays in a system that allows him to deliver the ball quickly and allow his receivers to make plays after the catch.
Moore's ability as an NFL passer, and to stretch the field with his arm, is limited.
Moore is a great story and a fine young man. He may even win the Heisman Trophy in 2011. He just will not hear his name called in the first six rounds of the NFL draft.
3. Trent Richardson Enters Draft and Is a Top 10 Pick
23 of 25We are not generally proponents of drafting a running back in the top half of the first round. Unless that running back has Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson-like skills.
Trent Richardson does.
Richardson was good enough to take carries from Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in 2010. He's also faster, stronger and a better receiver than the No. 28 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Richardson is a rare breed and deserves to be drafted within the top 10 picks of the 2012 draft.
2. 5 Quarterbacks Are Drafted in Round 1
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An early look at team needs for the 2012 NFL draft shows seven teams with a clear-cut need at quarterback, either as a starter or future starter: Buffalo, Miami, Indianapolis, Oakland, Washington, Arizona and Seattle.
You can also add in these four teams looking for a young back up to a veteran quarterback: Houston, Kansas City, Dallas and New Orleans.
That equals 11 teams with a potential need at quarterback.
Adding in free-agent acquisitions this summer, we can easily surmise that at least five quarterbacks will hear their name called in the 2012 first round.
Those players will be, in order, Andrew Luck, Landry Jones, Matt Barkley, Nick Foles and Terrelle Pryor.
1. The Alabama Crimson Tide Will Have 4 First-Rounders
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The Alabama Crimson Tide may not have the experience at quarterback or wide receiver to win a national championship in 2012, but they will have a ton of talent in the first round of the NFL draft.
Alabama features two linebackers, Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, who could be drafted in the top 20 picks. Cornerback 'Dre Kirkpatrick should go within the top 10 selections. Add in running back Trent Richardson, who we also think will go top 10 and things look great in 'Bama.
But that's not all.
Round 2 will be loaded with Crimson Tide players too. Nico Johnson, Mark Barron, Robert Lester and Barrett Jones all carry solid second-round grades right now.
Nick Saban is setting Alabama up as a football factory, with a pipeline heading straight to the NFL.
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