2012 NFL Draft: October Mock Draft and Prospect Position Rankings

We’ve officially reached the midpoint of the 2011 college football season and that means it’s time to take what we learned from the first half of the year and begin to dissect and project which college players have what it takes to become elite NFL talents.

We already know all about Stanford QB Andrew Luck, who has managed to live up to his overwhelming hype and fanfare with a terrific start to his junior season, but Luck isn’t the only player in the 2012 class that we need to get familiar with.

Depending on how many underclassmen decide to come out, next year’s draft class has a chance to be one of the strongest and deepest we’ve seen in years.

Even though draft day is still a long ways away and a lot will change between now and April,  here’s a look at how I would project the first round of the 2012 NFL  draft at this point in the season.

1. Miami Dolphins: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

For over a decade, the Dolphins have been desperately searching for Dan Marino’s proper replacement, but they still haven’t found a quarterback who has come close to filling Marino’s cleats.

Maybe, just maybe, the best quarterback prospect of the millennium will do the trick.

What’s left to say about Stanford’s Andrew Luck that hasn’t already been said?

He’s the total package.

He’s got the arm, the brains, the athleticism and the leadership intangibles that NFL teams crave in a franchise quarterback.

It’s not very often that fans root for an 0-16 season, but Miami fans sure would consider themselves lucky if their team could somehow pull it off.

2. Indianapolis Colts: QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

You could make the argument that from a pure talent and skills standpoint, Peyton Manning may be the best quarterback to ever lace them up.

That makes watching his career slowly slip away so tough to take for die hard Colts fans.

No one is quite sure how Manning will recover from the neck injury that’s kept him sidelined this season, but it’s quite clear, now that Manning’s 35-years-old, it’s time for the Colts to finally start thinking about his future replacement.

Oklahoma’s Landry Jones may not be the same rare once-in-a-decade caliber of quarterback prospect that Andrew Luck is, but he’s a damn good player in his own right, and he’s proven it since being thrust into the spotlight back in 2009 when Sam Bradford went down with an injury.

Jones opened eyes last season when he threw for over 4,700 yards and 38 TDs and he’s started to build on that momentum this year.

The 6’4’’, 230-pound junior may not be the next Peyton Manning or John Elway, but he’s definitely capable of developing into a Matt Schaub-Joe Flacco type of passer.

3. St. Louis Rams: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

It’s no secret, St. Louis could use help at pretty much every position besides quarterback and running back.

Considering they have one of the weakest linebacker corps in the league, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Rams at least mull over the idea of taking a linebacker this high, but finding franchise signal-caller Sam Bradford a true No. 1 go-to target also has to be pretty high on the priority list.

The Rams brought in Mike Sims-Walker with the hopes that he could be that guy, but he’s only managed to haul in 11 passes so far this season.

They also drafted Austin Pettis and Greg Salas this year, but neither of those two seem like they’re ever going to be anything more than secondary options.

St. Louis could use a receiver like Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon.

Since bursting on the scene with a 111-catch campaign last season, Blackmon has established himself as the most dangerous receiver in all of college football.

The 6’1’’, 210-pound junior is physically reminiscent of Anquan Boldin when he was in his prime.

The bottom line is the Bradford-Blackmon combo sure would be exciting to watch for the next few years, and right now, the Rams could use any type of infusion of excitement they can find.

4. Kansas City Chiefs: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Well the bloom sure did fall off of Matt Cassel’s rose awfully quick, didn’t it?

While Cassel hasn’t necessarily been terrible this season, it’s obvious that the offense is going nowhere fast as long as he’s at the helm.

The Chiefs are only averaging 15 points per game through the first five weeks of the season.

Cassel was one of the nice stories last season, as he led Kansas City back to the playoffs, but you can’t live in the past in the NFL. Scott Pioli has to make the tough decision, concerning whether or not he’s the right leader of the team for the future.

Most of Cassel’s contract was front-loaded, so it wouldn’t be terribly difficult to cut ties with him.

One quarterback who would be awfully intriguing is Baylor’s budding superstar Robert Griffin III.

Griffin has taken college football by storm this season, throwing for over 1,500 yards and 19 TDs, and he’s the type of athletic dual-threat quarterback who could add a much-needed explosive element to the Kansas City offense.

5. Minnesota Vikings: OT Matt Kalil, USC

The Vikings let rapidly declining left tackle Bryant McKinnie go this offseason and they replaced him with something called Charlie Johnson.

Johnson has basically been one of those linemen who has earned a starting job by default throughout his entire career and he’s not exactly the type of tackle that you can expect to be a stalwart for years to come.

Finding a franchise left tackle is something that has to be on Minnesota’s wish list and the Vikings won’t be able to do any better than USC’s Matt Kalil, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil.

Kalil is one of the most athletic linemen prospects to come along in years and he’s one of those rare balanced tackles that is equally dominant as both a pass-blocker and a run-blocker.

6. Denver Broncos: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

Hey, in case you haven’t heard one of the 1,976,423 news reports over the last few days, the Tim Tebow era is officially underway in Denver.

Just how long it lasts remains to be seen, though.

Denver will give Tebow every chance to succeed, and if he doesn’t blow the opportunity this year, then Denver may pass on taking a quarterback early on in the 2012 draft.

If the Broncos feel that Tebow is their quarterback for at least the foreseeable future, it will allow the front office to address some other key areas of concern.

One position they could target is cornerback. Champ Bailey is in the twilight of his career and as of now, there are no other true No. 1 corners on the roster.

A wise strategy could be to draft a guy like LSU’s Mo Claiborne, who looks to be every bit as good as his predecessor Patrick Peterson.

Claiborne may not be the same type of physical athletic specimen that Peterson is, but he’s got better pure cornerback skills and he’s stepped up and looked like an elite level prospect early on in the 2011 season.

7. Seattle Seahawks: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

Seattle currently ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 83 yards on the ground per game.

Outside of his one exciting run in last year’s playoffs, Marshawn Lynch hasn’t exactly been anything to write home about.

The Seahawks could be in the hunt for a quarterback in next year’s draft, but if they still can’t find a signal-caller that tickles their fancy, they would be wise to snatch up the best available running back and that’s Alabama’s Trent Richardson.

You can call Richardson a lot of things, but there’s really only one word you need to sufficiently describe him: Beast.

Richardson, who looks like he was born in a weight room and never left, is one of the strongest and most powerful backs in the country, and he packs quite a punch when he meets contact from a would-be tackler.

The 5’11’’, 225-pound junior would be the bell cow back that the Seattle offense so desperately needs.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Jacksonville addressed its dire linebacker situation by bringing in Paul Posluszny this offseason, however, there’s still more work to be done.

Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is the type of player who would definitely help add some stability to the unit.

Kuechly has flourished as an inside backer for the Golden Eagles, racking up an astonishing 440 tackles in just two and half seasons, but he has the versatility to play either inside or outside in the pros.

The 6’3’’, 235-pound junior will never be the best athlete on the field, but he’s got the type of instincts, intangibles and radar for the football that you don’t find very often in young college linebackers.

9. Arizona Cardinals: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

Ken Wisenhunt would love to establish a consistent rushing attack like the one he had during his days as an offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, but to do that, he’s going to need the hogs up front.

The Cardinals are set at left tackle with Levi Brown but right tackle Brandon Keith could certainly be upgraded.

One top-notch linemen prospect who could come in and be an instant success as a right tackle in the NFL is Iowa’s Riley Reiff.

Although he’s not a true road-grader by nature, at this point in his development, Reiff is a considerably better run-blocker than he is a pass-blocker.

He has the natural athleticism, agility and footwork to eventually evolve into a well-rounded tackle, but Reiff could initially come in and add some needed toughness to the Arizona front five right away.

10. Carolina Panthers: LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Early on in the season, Carolina lost its two best linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis for the year (Beason to an Achilles injury and Davis to an ACL tear, his third in two years).

Beason should be back as one of the leaders of the defense next year but no one is quite sure if Davis will be able to recover after so much wear and tear on his knee.

Ron Rivera would love to get his hands on a linebacker like Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict, who plays like a madman and can fly all over the place.

Burfict plays middle linebacker at Arizona State but he has the versatility to move all around the field and track down ball carriers from sideline to sideline.

The 6’3’’, 250-pound junior has also shown a knack for finding his way into the backfield and harassing quarterbacks.

11. Cleveland Browns: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Cleveland was criticized for passing up the opportunity to add Julio Jones in the 2011 draft and the Browns still lack a true No. 1 receiver.

Mohamed Massaquoi and Greg Little both look like nice building blocks for the future, but neither of them has the makeup of a top receiving threat.

If the Browns want quarterback Colt McCoy to succeed, they would be best served to surround him with as many weapons as possible.

One top receiver who the team could look at is Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd.

After hauling in a career-high 79 catches as a junior, Floyd is building on that momentum and really solidifying his status as an elite receiving prospect in his senior season.

Floyd reminds me of a hybrid of Braylon Edwards and Vincent Jackson and he’s one of the best pass-trackers we’ve seen in the college game in quite some time.

The 6’3’’, 225-pound senior can make impossible catches look routine and he’s got the size-speed-hands combo that's reminiscent of some of the NFL’s top receivers.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Lamar Miller, Miami

One things that has become painfully obvious during Philadelphia’s disappointing start to the season has been the fact that the Eagles need a running back who can consistently pound it in between the tackles.

Shady McCoy is developing into one of the best young backs in the league, but his game is based much more on speed than it is on power and the Eagles could use a stronger back that can handle taking it inside.

Philadelphia signed Ronnie Brown to fill that role, but Brown has been a disappointment so far.

One back that could help out the Eagles’ offensive troubles is Miami’s Lamar Miller.

Although he’s just a redshirt sophomore, Miller is already starting to prove himself as one of the top backs in college football.

The 5’11’’, 215-pound powerhouse is averaging a whopping 7.2 yards per carry and he’s displayed a tremendous blend of power and speed.

13. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Chase Minnifield, Virginia

Cincinnati parted ways with talented cornerback Jonathan Joseph this offseason, and while the effects of the loss haven’t really shown up yet this season (the defense ranks 3rd in the NFL against the pass), the Bengals will eventually have to fill the void.

Cincinnati is set at one cornerback position with Leon Hall, who has been a steady starter since first entering the league back in 2007, but opposite him is Nate Clements, who will be 32 at the end of the season.

Adding some fresh blood to the mix would be a wise strategy and one of this year’s most intriguing cornerback prospects is Virginia’s Chase Minnifield.

Minnifield, the son of former Cleveland Browns corner Frank Minnifield, really caught the eyes of scouts last season as he stepped up when teammate Ras-I Dowling went down with an injury.

The talented 6’0’’, 185-pound senior finished second in the ACC with six interceptions in 2010.

Minnifield has a great backpedal for his size and he knows how to use his quick footwork to his advantage.

He may not be a true "shutdown" corner, but Minnifield is smart and instinctive and he knows how to succeed in a variety of different coverages.

14. Tennessee Titans: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

The Tennessee defense took a considerable hit when the front office decided to let Jason Babin go this offseason.

Babin led the Titans with 12.5 sacks in 2010 and that type of production obviously doesn’t just grow on trees.

Tennessee has high hopes for young defensive end Derrick Morgan, who they selected in the first round of the 2010 draft, but due to an injury that sidelined him for most of last season, Morgan is still very much an unproven commodity.

The Titans may look to add another strong pass-rusher in next year's draft and they probably wouldn’t be able to pass up a defensive end the caliber of North Carolina’s Quinton Coples.

Coples entered the season with Top 5-pick type of buzz but he’s had a tough time living up to expectations so far this season because he’s been the main focus of opposing offensive lines.

Still, Coples has already proven that he has the talent to become an annual double-digit sack type of pass-rusher in the NFL.

The 6’6’’, 270-pound senior racked up 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss and was a constant menace to quarterbacks throughout his breakout 2010 campaign.

15. Chicago Bears: WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

I’m still hesitant about whether to buy into the Alshon Jeffery hype or not.

Jeffery looks like Calvin Johnson and Plaxico Burress mutated into one receiver and then went on a Burger King diet for a month, and to be honest, I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

The 6’4’’, 235-pound junior may not necessarily possess field-stretching speed, but he’s the kind of big Burress-type of red-zone target that any NFL team would love to have.

That includes the Chicago Bears, who have been searching for a No. 1 receiver for far too long.

The Bears drafted offensive tackle Gabe Carimi in the first round of this year’s draft to keep Jay Cutler safe, but if they really want to keep Cutler happy, they’ll actually find him a target he can trust on a regular basis.

The Bears are definitely going to have a few talented receivers to choose from in next year’s draft, so there’s no reason to continue to prolong their search.

16. Dallas Cowboys: DT/DE Billy Winn, Boise State

There was a rumor going around that the Cowboys were very interested in Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt this year, but they inevitably decided to sure up their right tackle spot by taking Tyron Smith out of USC with their first round pick.

That means that they could be looking to add some defensive line help early on in next year’s draft, and one defensive linemen who would be a great fit for Rob Ryan’s 3-4 defense is Boise State’s Billy Winn.

Winn is the type of natural defensive tackle that has all the traits you look for in a prototypical 3-4 defensive end.

The 6’4’’, 290-pound senior has the athleticism of an edge-rushing defensive end, coupled with the strength and power of a bull-rushing nose tackle.

Winn is the type of prospect who can come in and add value to a team as an immediate contributor.

17. New York Jets: DE/LB Devin Taylor, South Carolina

The Jets decided to sure up their defensive line early on in the 2011 draft instead of picking up some much-needed help at the rush linebacker position.

That means Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum will be looking to find some depth at that spot early on in next year’s draft.

One tweener pass-rusher they could look at is South Carolina’s Devin Taylor.

Taylor enjoyed a big breakout campaign as a sophomore last year, racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, demonstrating that he’s one of the most athletic and skilled pass-rushers in the country.

He’s still more of a raw athlete than a polished football player at this point in his development, but he’s got the type of potential that will have scouts salivating.

The 6’6’’, 260-pound junior could play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense in the NFL but he’ll definitely have teams like the Jets, who employ a 3-4 defense, taking a hard look at him if he decides to come out early.

18. Washington Redskins: QB Matt Barkley, USC

Rex Grossman has outperformed less-than-modest expectations early on this season and he’s got the Redskins in position to contend for an NFC East division title.

Still, even though Grossman has enjoyed a nice little renaissance this year, he’s obviously not the team’s long-term answer at the position.

Mike Shanahan shockingly passed over Blaine Gabbert in this year’s draft, which might mean he actually has his eye on one of the possible first-round quarterbacks who could be available next year.

It wouldn’t be surprising if that that target is USC’s Matt Barkley.

Barkley, who came in as a freshman and snatched the starting job from Aaron Corp, is a battle-tested field general who is every bit as talented as his highly touted predecessors at USC like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, who were all Top 10 draft picks.

The 6’2’’ 220-pound junior threw for over 5,500 yards and 41 TDs in his first two seasons on the job and the scary thing is, Barkley in on pace to put together his best year yet in 2011.

His lack of prototypical size is a bit concerning but Barkley is a proven leader who can make all the throws and he knows exactly how to march an offense down the field during crunch time.

19. Oakland Raiders: CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

The Raiders let uber-talented cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha go this past offseason and it’s a move that has already come back to bite them.

Oakland currently ranks 29th in the NFL in pass defense and it’s obvious that the Raiders could use some help in the secondary.

The team has faith in Stanford Routt, but more reinforcements are needed.

Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard is the type of speedy, super-athletic prospect that the late Al Davis would have coveted.

Very few players can match Dennard’s natural athletic gifts. His hops, speed and strength combination is one that you don’t see often.

And Dennard is more than just a great athlete who happens to play corner.

His coverage skills are top-notch.

Dennard blanketed almost every receiver he faced last year.
He can play bump-and-run, he can turn his hips and go, plus he has the type of recovery speed that allows him to take some chances on the ball.

Dennard isn’t quite Patrick Peterson, but he’s in that Joe Haden category of being a great athlete who has the potential to turn into a Pro Bowl cornerback down the line.

He started off the year banged up, but now that Dennard is back, all he has to do is perform as well as he did last season and he'll have a great shot to be one of the first cornerbacks off the board in 2012.

20. Cleveland Browns (Via Atlanta Falcons): LB Zach Brown, North Carolina

The Browns decided to address their woeful defensive line situation early on in this year’s draft by picking up DT Phil Taylor and DE Jabaal Sheard in the first two rounds.

Next year, Cleveland would be wise to strengthen the linebacker corps early on.

D’Qwell Jackson is strong in the middle, but both Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong can be upgraded on the outside of the base 4-3 set.

One ‘backer that could grab Mike Holmgren’s attention is North Carolina’s Zach Brown.

Brown wasn’t even a full-time starter in 2010, yet he still finished second on the team with 72 tackles, outperforming both Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, who were both selected in the 2011 draft.

The 6’2’’, 230-pound senior could end up playing either inside or outside in the pros but it’s likely he’ll end up manning the weak side in a 4-3 system like he does now.

Brown is a quick-twitch athlete who has the range to track down ball-carriers from sideline to sideline and he’s strong enough to shed blockers and make tackles in the open field.

D.J. Williams and Jon Beason are two good reference points when trying to project Brown as a pro player.

21. Tampa Bay Bucs: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

You have to give credit to Ronde Barber for sticking around so long and playing at a pretty high level, given that he’s now 36 years of age.

Barber can’t play forever, though, and eventually the Bucs are going to have to find help at the cornerback position early in the draft, especially since the team’s other starting corner, Aqib Talib, has run into his fair share of off the field troubles recently.

One cornerback prospect who would be a great match for the Tampa 2 system is Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick.

Last year, the 6’3’’, 190-pound junior took a major step forward in his first season as a starter after enduring a few early struggles.

The former 5-Star recruit has a great looking frame and he's flashed some eye-catching athleticism.

His size-speed combination will definitely endear him to NFL scouts.

Kirkpatrick reminds me of a younger version of Charles Tillman, who has been a solid player in Chicago’s Cover 2 system for years.

22. Buffalo Bills: DE/LB Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina

The Buffalo Bills would have loved to have gotten their hands on linebacker Von Miller with the third pick in this year’s draft, but the Broncos scooped him up at No. 2 and the Bills had to settle for Marcell Dareus instead.

Since they rank dead last in the NFL with just four sacks so far this season, it’s obvious that the Bills will be looking to add some pass-rushing help in next year’s draft.

One name to watch out for is North Carolina’s Donte Paige-Moss.

Paige-Moss was overshadowed by teammate Quinton Coples last year but he’s really started to come into his own this season.

The 6’4’’, 260-pound junior lines up at defensive end for the Tar Heels but his skill-set seems like it would fit in best as a 3-4 rush linebacker in the pros.

23. New England Patriots (Via New Orleans): WR Kendall Wright, Baylor

New England has one of the most underappreciated players in the league in speedy slot man Wes Welker, but the rest of the Patriots receiver corps does leave something to be desired.

Sure, the Patriots have two great tight ends to build around in Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, but on the outside, Chad Ochocinco has been a massive disappointment and Deion Branch will be 33 next season.

Injecting some more speed into the spread offense couldn’t hurt, and you won’t find many receivers faster than Baylor’s Kendall Wright, a former high school track star.

After three years of solid production, Wright has taken the next step and become a truly dynamic receiver as a senior, hauling in 48 passes for 690 yards and eight TDs in just five games.

The 5’10’’, 190-pound senior would give Tom Brady a great deep threat to really open up the offense.

24. Baltimore Ravens: DT/DE Jared Crick, Nebraska

It’s a shame that Nebraska DT Jared Crick tore his pectoral muscle, an injury which will sideline him for the remainder of the 2011 season.

Even though Crick started off the year slow, he was still shaping up to be one of the most coveted defensive line prospects for next year’s draft.

His stock will obviously take a bit of a hit, but teams saw enough of Crick in 2010 to trust that he’s a first round caliber talent.

Last year, the 6’6’’, 285-pound senior assumed Ndamukong Suh’s role as a dominant defensive force, racking up a team-high 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

Even though he’s not as overwhelmingly destructive as Suh, Crick has all the same traits.

He’s extremely strong, he can shed blocks and most importantly, Crick can cause havoc.

Crick would fit in well as a potential 3-4 defensive end and one team that might have an interest in him is the Baltimore Ravens, who will be looking to put some younger impact players next to Haloti Ngata.

25. New York Giants: TE Dwayne Allen, Clemson

Kevin Boss is by no means an upper-echelon tight end, but at the very least he was a reliable safety valve for quarterback Eli Manning to look to when he got in trouble.

Now, without Boss, you can tell that the Giants are severely lacking at the tight end position and there is definitely a need to upgrade the talent level at the position.

One tight end prospect who is really going to start making some noise over the coming months is Clemson’s Dwayne Allen.

Allen possesses rare athleticism for the position and he’s proven to be a valuable weapon in the passing game throughout his career.

The 6’4’’, 255-pound junior has already hauled in 22 passes for 340 yards and scored four touchdowns.

He’s the type of dangerous receiving tight end that Manning would love to add to the huddle.  

26. Pittsburgh Steelers: OG David DeCastro, Stanford

Outside of Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh’s offensive line has basically been a mess dating all the way back to last season.

The Steelers are in dire need of some young, talented body guards to help protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and one offensive line prospect that really has the type of mentality that the organization is craving is Stanford’s David DeCastro.

DeCastro is only a junior but he’s already established himself as the premier interior offensive line prospect in the country.

The athletic 6’5’’, 310-pound road-grader has been a starter since his redshirt freshman season back in 2009 and he’s consistently improved throughout his career.

DeCastro has developed into a versatile guard who is equally adept at pass-blocking as he is run-blocking and scouts have already started to take notice.

27. San Francisco 49ers: DT Alameda Ta’amu, Washington

Jim Harbaugh knows that having a strong nose tackle that can eat up blockers and occupy space is the key to having a successful 3-4 defense.

The 49ers already have a good one in Isaac Sopoaga but Sopoaga is on the wrong side of 30 and the team could use a younger player to groom behind him.

One player who could fit the mold is Washington behemoth Alameda Ta’amu.

Back when he was coaching at Stanford, Harbaugh got a taste of just how dominant Ta’amu is capable of being and there’s a good chance the big 6’3’’, 335-pound senior left a positive impression on him.

28. New England Patriots: LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

The Patriots will be on the lookout for a versatile linebacker who is capable of lining up in the multitude of different defensive formations they employ and one player who would seem to fit that bill is Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw.

At 6’2’, 265-pounds, Upshaw not only has the size, he also has the edge speed to be a an impact player in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.

Last year, Upshaw was one of the most consistent performers on a superbly talented Alabama defense.

He made a living in the opponent’s backfield, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

He doesn’t have the spectacular athletic package like Aldon Smith offered up this year, but Upshaw makes up for it with his physical demeanor and ability to make crucial stops when it counts.

Plus, Bill Belichick trusts Nick Saban, one of his former disciples, to coach and develop his players properly and prepare them to be successful pros.

29. Houston Texans: S Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

The Houston Texans have had glaring holes in the defensive backfield for years and this past offseason, they finally addressed the problem by bringing in cornerback Jonathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning.

There is still more work to be done, though, and the Texans could use a top-tier safety to stick next to Manning.

Although he’s not in the same class as Eric Berry, Oklahoma State’s Markelle Martin is shaping up to be the top safety available next year.

Martin has displayed great range and instincts during his time in Stillwater and he’s been one of the most dependable DB’s in college football for the past two seasons.

The 6’1’’, 195-pound senior has everything NFL teams are looking for and Martin's proven that he can be a difference-maker in the back end of a defense.

30. Detroit Lions: OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The Lions are finally beginning to reach their potential now that QB Matt Stafford is healthy, and the teams wants to make sure it stays that way.

That means they have to bring in a left tackle for the future to keep Stafford protected.

34-year-old Jeff Backus currently mans the position but he won’t be around for much longer.

Finding a young tackle to groom like Stanford’s Jonathan Martin would be a wise idea.

At this point, Martin is still a better pass-blocker than he is a run-blocker, but he’s got the potential to develop into a versatile bookend who can be the anchor of an NFL offensive line for years to come.

31. Green Bay Packers: DT/DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

Because of Green Bay’s recent success, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the Packers are starting to get old at some key spots on the defensive side of the ball.

One of those positions is at defensive end where the always dependable Ryan Pickett just turned 32.

Green Bay GM Ted Thompson could be looking to add some youth up front next to nose tackle B.J. Raji and South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram would be a perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.

Ingram is one of the most athletic defensive linemen available for next year’s draft and he’s really enjoyed a standout senior campaign so far.

At 6’2’’, 275 lbs., Ingram may not have the sheer size you’re looking for, but he’s got the quickness to penetrate and make plays in the backfield.

32. San Diego Chargers: DE/LB Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

Say what you will about the Chargers being underachievers, but the bottom line is they’re one of the most talented teams in the NFL.

San Diego has no truly glaring weaknesses or holes and they should be able to go with the best player available in next year’s draft.

One spot they could address is the outside linebacker position.

The Chargers have one of the best rush linebackers in the NFL in Shaun Phillips, but he’s going to need some help on the other side.

San Diego drafted Larry English in 2009, hoping that he could take over for Shawne Merriman, but so far, English has failed to live up to expectations.

Drafting a pass-rushing prodigy like Florida State’s Brandon Jenkins could help add some stability to the defensive front seven.

The 6’3’’, 255-pound junior finished the 2010 season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, and he showed that he has a near-unstoppable first step and burst off the ball that most offensive tackles just can’t keep up with.

Jenkins is the type of defensive end who could flourish as an edge rusher in a 4-3 defense or a rush linebacker in a 3-4 system.

Prospect Position Rankings

Quarterbacks

Top 15 Seniors

1. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
2. Nick Foles, Arizona
3. Russell, Wilson, Wisconsin
4. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
5. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
6. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
7. Kellen Moore, Boise State
8. Case Keenum, Houston
9. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois
10. John Brantley, Florida
11. Zach Collaros, Cincinnati
12. Dan Persa, Northwestern
13. Dominique Davis, East Carolina
14. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa
15. Austin Davis, Southern Miss

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
4. Matt Barkley, USC
5. Geno Smith, West Virginia
6. Tajh Boyd, Clemson
7. Darron Thomas, Oregon
8. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
9. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State
10. Aaron Murray, Georgia

Running Backs

Top 15 Seniors

1. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
2. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
3. Doug Martin, Boise State
4. Jeff Demps, Florida
5. Tauren Poole, Tennessee
6. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss
7. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State
8. Montel Harris, Boston College
9. Chris Rainey, Florida
10. Roddy Jones, Georgia Tech
11. Davin Meggett, Maryland
12. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky
13. Boom Herron, Ohio State
14. Victor Anderson, Louisville
15. Jason Ford, Illinois

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama
2. Lamar Miller, Miami
3. Andre Ellington, Clemson
4. David Wilson, Virginia Tech
5. LaMichael James, Oregon
6. Montee Ball, Wisconsin
7. Chris Polk, Washington
8. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford
9. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh
10. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

Wide Receivers

Top 15 Seniors

1. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
2. Kendall Wright, Baylor
3. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
4. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
5. Nick Toon, Wisconsin
6. Jarius Wright, Arkansas
7. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
8. Juron Criner, Arizona
9. Greg Childs, Arkansas
10. Jordan White, Western Michigan
11. Chris Owusu, Stanford
12. Dwight Jones, North Carolina
13. Joe Adams, Arkansas
14. Brian Quick, Appalachian State
15. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
2. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
3. Rueben Randle, LSU
4. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
5. Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech
6. (QB) Denard Robinson, Michigan
7. Eric Page, Toledo
8. Markus Wheaton, Oregon State
9. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
10. Emory Blake, Auburn

Tight Ends

Top 15 Seniors

1. Michael Egnew, Missouri
2. Coby Fleener, Stanford
3. Deangelo Peterson, LSU
4. George Bryan, North Carolina State
5. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette
6. David Paulson, Oregon
7. Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt
8. Kevin Koger, Michigan
9. Rhett Ellison, USC
10. Evan Rodriguez, Temple
11. Eric Lair, Minnesota
12. Tim Biere, Kansas
13. Nick Provo, Syracuse
14. Jake Byrne, Wisconsin
15. (WR) Tyler Urban, West Virginia

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Dwayne Allen, Clemson
2. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
3. Orson Charles, Georgia
4. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State
5. Michael Williams, Alabama
6. Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn
7. Lucas Reed, New Mexico
8. Joseph Fauria, UCLA
9. Kyler Reed, Nebraska
10. Jordan Reed, Florida

Offensive Tackles

Top 15 Seniors

1. Cordy Glenn, Georgia
2. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
3. Nate Potter, Boise State
4. Mike Adams, Ohio State
5. Matt Reynolds, BYU
6. Jeff Allen, Illinois
7. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State
8. Al Netter, Northwestern
9. Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
10. Andrew Datko, Florida State
11. Markus Zusevics, Iowa
12. Matt McCants, UAB
13. Brandon Mosley, Auburn
14. James Brown, Troy
15. Don Barclay, West Virginia

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Matt Kalil, USC
2. Riley Reiff, Iowa
3. Jonathan Martin, Stanford
4. D.J. Fluker, Alabama
5. Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin
6. Bobby Massie, Ole Miss
7. Xavier Nixon, Florida
8. Justin Pugh, Syracuse
9. Morgan Moses, Virginia
10. Cyril Richardson, Baylor

Interior Offensive Linemen

Top 15 Seniors

1. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
2. (OT) Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina
3. Ryan Miller, Colorado
4. Ben Jones, Georgia
5. Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech
6. Ken Plue, Purdue
7. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
8. Mike Brewster, Ohio State
9. Quentin Saulsberry, Mississippi State
10. Joel Foreman, Michigan State
11. Joe Looney, Wake Forest
12. Moe Petrus, Connecticut
13. (OT) Senio Kelemete, Washington
14. Philip Blake, Baylor
15. David Molk, Michigan

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. David DeCastro, Stanford
2. Brandon Washington, Miami
3. Peter Konz, Wisconsin
4. (OT) Barrett Jones, Alabama
5. Larry Warford, Kentucky
6. Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech
7. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
8. Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
9. Patrick Lewis, Texas A&M
10. Khaled Holmes, USC

Defensive Tackles

Top 15 Seniors

1. Billy Winn, Boise State
2. Jared Crick, Nebraska
3. Alameda Ta’amu, Washington
4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
5. Jaye Howard, Florida
6. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina
7. Devon Still, Penn State
8. Kheeston Randall, Texas
9. Josh Chapman, Alabama
10. Mike Martin, Michigan
11. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut
12. Kaleb Ramsey, Boston College
13. Mike Daniels, Iowa
14. Logan Harrell, Fresno State
15. Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
2. Michael Brockers, LSU
3. Kawann Short, Purdue
4. Dontari Poe, Memphis
5. John Simon, Ohio State
6. Josh Boyd, Mississippi State
7. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska
8. Casey Walker, Oklahoma
9. Akeem Spence, Illinois
10. Kwame Geathers, Georgia

Defensive Ends

Top 15 Seniors

1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Frank Alexander, Oklahoma
4. Andre Branch, Clemson
5. Vinny Curry, Marshall
6. Trevor Guyton, California
7. Jake Bequette, Arkansas
8. Vince Browne, Northwestern
9. Cam Johnson, Virginia
10. (DT) Julian Miller, West Virginia
11. Ethan Johnson, Notre Dame
12. Tyrone Crawford, Boise State
13. Ryan Van Bergen, Michigan
14. (DT) Malik Jackson, Tennessee
15. Broderick Binns, Iowa

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Devin Taylor, South Carolina
2. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
3. Brad Madison, Missouri
4. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
5. Alex Okafor, Texas
6. Cameron Meredith, Nebraska
7. Stansly Maponga, TCU
8. Collins Ukwu, Kentucky
9. Wes Horton, USC
10. Chandler Jones, Syracuse

3-4 Rush Linebackers

Top 15 Seniors

1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
3. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
4. Jacquies Smith, Missouri
5. Adrian Robinson, Temple
6. Nathan Williams, Ohio State
7. Darius Fleming, Notre Dame
8. Dezman Moses, Tulane
9. Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest
10. Manny Abreu, Rutgers
11. Wayne Dorsey, Ole Miss
12. Jack Crawford, Penn State
13. Richetti Jones, Oklahoma State
14. Matt Broha, Louisiana Tech
15. Cordarro Law, Southern Miss

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina
2. Michael Buchanan, Illinois
3. Chase Thomas, Stanford
4. Jarvis Jones, Georgia
5. Nick Perry, USC
6. Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy
7. Barkevious Mingo, LSU
8. Nosa Eguae, Auburn
9. Sam Montgomery, LSU
10. Ryne Giddins, South Florida

4-3 Linebackers

Top 15 Seniors

1. Zach Brown, North Carolina
2. Emmanuel Acho, Texas
3. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
4. Kenny Tate, Maryland
5. Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
6. Keenan Robinson, Texas
7. Lavonte David, Nebraska
8. Mychal Kendricks, California
9. Tank Carder, TCU
10. Nigel Bradham, Florida State
11. Korey Williams, Southern Miss
12. Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
13. Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
14. Sean Spence, Miami
15. Audie Cole, North Carolina State

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
3. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
4. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
5. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
6. Arthur Brown, Kansas State
7. Zaviar Gooden, Missouri
8. Kenny Demens, Michigan
9. Jelani Jenkins, Florida
10. Nico Johnson, Alabama

Cornerbacks

Top 15 Seniors

1. Chase Minnifield, Virginia
2. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
3. Janoris Jenkins, Florida
4. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
5. Shaun Prater, Iowa
6. Coryell Judie, Texas A
7. Brandon Boykin, Georgia
8. Keith Tandy, West Virginia
9. Tavon Wilson, Illinois
10. Donnie Fletcher, Boston College
11. Omar Bolden, Arizona State (Injured)
12. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
13. Trevin Wade, Arizona
14. Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma
15. Antonio Fenelus, Wisconsin

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
2. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
3. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
4. Cliff Harris, Oregon
5. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
6. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
7. Johnny Adams, Michigan State
8. Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma
9. Josh Robinson, Central Florida
10. Greg Reid, Florida State

Safeties

Top 15 Seniors

1. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
2. Mark Barron, Alabama
3. Antonio Allen, South Carolina
4. Delano Howell, Stanford
5. George Iloka, Boise State
6. Winston Guy, Kentucky
7. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State
8. Lance Mitchell, Oregon State
9. Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech
10. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
11. Tony Dye, UCLA
12. Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State
13. Robert Golden, Arizona
14. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin
15. Sean Cattouse, California

Top 10 Underclassmen

1. T.J. McDonald, USC
2. (CB) Micah Hyde, Iowa
3. Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami
4. Robert Lester, Alabama
5. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
6. Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee
7. Vaughn Telemaque, Miami
8. Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh
9. John Boyett, Oregon
10. DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina