2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Players Are Dropping Out of the First Round?

In our recent mock drafts, these five guys have fallen out of the first round:

DL Jared Crick, Nebraska

Crick is a top 15 or 20 talent, but a torn pectoral injury cost him his 2011 season. His stock has dropped as a result. A major point of contention in the lead-up to the draft will be his health. If he can prove that he's back to full strength, Crick could find himself back in the first round.  

DL Alameda Ta'amu, Washington

Nose tackles are becoming more and more valuable in today's NFL as both an anchor along the defense line and a pass rushing threat from the inside. That gives Ta'amu value, but he's struggled showing the kind of push it takes to make a first-round impact at the next level.  

WR Nick Toon, Wisconsin

The son of former New York Jets receiver Al Toon, Nick put himself on the first-round radar with a sizzling start to the 2011 season. But, as Russell Wilson has cooled, so has Toon, and his stock has leveled out. If you're taking him in the first round, it's on potential—not a finished product. Toon needs work to become a No. 1 in the NFL down the road. 

LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Upshaw has shown the versatility to play both inside and out in the 3-4 defense, but he hasn't been a standout at either position. The size and measurables are all there for Upshaw, and that could keep him in the first 32 picks. But he needs to show more play-making ability at one of the positions to warrant a top selection. 

CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

Cornerbacks have also become a bigger priority as the NFL transitions into an age of passing football that has never been seen. Jenkins is one of the better ones in the 2012 draft class, but there are serious character question marks that probably will keep him out of the first round. You want playmakers at the position—and Jenkins certainly is that—but you can't afford to sacrifice character for it.