2012 NFL Draft: Andrew Luck and 5 Players Who Are Benefiting from Lockout

The fans and current players in the NFL may currently be suffering from the effects of the lockout, but there may be some players who are benefiting from the current dilemma.

Some of those players are undrafted free agents.

Others are those who will be entering the 2012 NFL draft.

Here are five guys who are looking to enter the 2012 draft, who are currently benefiting from the lockout.

5. OT Matt Kalil (Southern Cal)

Without the lockout, Matt Kalil is likely a top-five pick in next year's draft.

With the lockout, Kalil is almost definitely a top-five pick in next year's draft.

Offensive tackle is a position that benefits greatly from offseason workouts.

That's not even considering the fact that many of the offensive tackles in this year's class aren't getting any preparation.

Throw in the fact that at least a few guys will start the season unprepared and out of shape and it's pretty safe to say Kalil is a lock as a top pick.

4. QB Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State)

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by C

Well, this isn't a case for a player in 2012, but actually a guy who could be on a team as soon as this year.

With the recent developments at Ohio State, it appears that Terrelle Pryor may be entering the supplemental draft, which will likely be held in July.

Thanks to the lockout, if a team like the Redskins want to take a chance on Pryor, he won't be at much of a disadvantage from the guys taken in April.

That's not saying Pryor should start right away, or that anyone would want to take the chance on him.

3. WR Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina)

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Alshon Jeffery #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Florida State Seminoles during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There are still a bunch of teams with a bunch of question marks at wide receiver.

The lockout is stopping those teams from going ahead and figuring out what they are going to do with their situations.

This could lead to some struggles at wide receiver around the league. There will likely be a few teams in desperate need of a playmaker at the position next year.

Good news for Alshon Jeffery.

Jeffery finished last year as the best receiver in the SEC. Forget Julio Jones and A.J. Green, Jeffery is the guy to watch.

2. QB Landry Jones (Oklahoma)

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Peters

The position that is hurt the most from the lockout is quarterback.

It's pretty tough to even debate that.

There are plenty of teams that have young talent at quarterback who are unable to practice and get ready for the season ahead.

There are also teams like Arizona who simply don't have a quarterback.

That's good news for the second best quarterback who will be entering the 2012 draft.

Landry Jones may find himself moving from a top-10 pick to the top five thanks to the lockout.

1. QB Andrew Luck (Stanford)

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal rolls out of the pocket against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Phot

Is it really even fair to say that the best player in college football will be benefiting from this lockout?

Andrew Luck, with or without the lockout, is already being named the first overall selection in the 2012 draft.

I suppose this cements his position.

Luck is only benefiting slightly from the actual lockout. What he is greatly benefiting from was his decision to return to college, so he isn't involved in the mess.

Imagine if his career went down the drains if he would have elected to enter the NFL this year.

What was once a puzzling decision now looks like a genius move.