2012 NFL Mock Draft: Potential Landing Places for Vontaze Burfict and Top MLBs

There are Hall of Fame-caliber, game-changing, once-a-decade caliber middle linebackers coming out in this year's draft. They've got the raw talent to come in and be the identity of a defense immediately.

Last year put out top-flight defensive talent like Von Miller, Marcel Dareus and Patrick Peterson. The 2012 NFL Draft class will be defined by the incredible crop of quarterbacks it puts forth, but it's time the outstanding interior backers got a little recognition.

Here are the potential landing places for the top three middle linebackers this class has to offer.

Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict has talent we only see once in a blue moon at the middle linebacker position. He's drawn comparisons to Patrick Willis with his ability to bring the hammer and run sideline to sideline. He's an underrated blitzer, a fearless competitor and a nightmare run stopper.

Unfortunately, he has issues keeping his violence between the whistles. Many teams are going to be deterred by his inability to keep from hurting his team with costly personal fouls.

Best Possible Landing Place: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles' defense doesn't have an identity. Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin are phenomenal pieces, but their inability to stop the run for the large majority of the season exposed their shortcomings at linebacker.

Burfict needs to land in the right hands to ensure his success. Andy Reid is a coach who could allow him to remain a recklessness, one-man wrecking crew without putting a governor on him. This would be a great fit for all parties involved.

Most Likely Landing Place: Cincinnati Bengals 

Character issues? Unparalleled talent? Sign the Bengals up.

Nobody loves a guy with huge character issues more than the Bengals. They constantly strike gold with guys who turn off other teams with their character issues. Burfict has an incredibly high ceiling, and Marvin Lewis is going to see flashes of Ray Lewis in his game.

A linebacker corps with Burfict, Ray Mauluga and Keith Rivers would give the Bengals a great core to build around. Their young defense has been spectacular this season, and the addition of Burfict would allow them to quickly overtake the aging defenses in the AFC North.

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Manti Te'o is a tackling machine. He delivers on impact and he knows how to come downhill. Te'o can play sideline to sideline as well, and his instincts are uncanny. He's a sure tackler and has a feel for the game unlike any defender coming out in this class.

Best Landing Place: Chicago Bears

The Bears need to find a successor to the Brian Urlacher era. They've excelled on defense in large part because they've had an elite middle linebacker terrorizing offenses and setting the tone for the entire defense.

Te'o plays the sort of hard-nosed football Bears fans love to see. He doesn't have the upside Burfict does, but he's still got a ton of potential and is true plug-and-play backer who would provide a natural progression away from Urlacher when he decides to hang up his cleats.

Most Likely Landing Place: New York Giants

The Giants haven't had a legitimate middle linebacker since Antonio Peirce was in New York. They still have menaces up front, but they are in desperate need of a guy who can soak up tackles with the front four acquiring the offensive line's attention.

The Giants are ranked 28th against the run. That's just unacceptable for a Tom Coughlin-led team. They need a dominant middle linebacker and Te'o would be able to come into an established defenses with other elite defenders in front of him.

Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Luke Kuechly is so ridiculously productive, he's impossible to ignore. With 183 tackles last season and 150 already this season, teams are going to overlook his athletic shortcomings. He brings nothing to the pass rush and it's uncertain how he's going to handle the transition to the next level, but he's a lock to go in the first round.

Best Landing Place: Jacksonville Jaguars

Kuechly would be a fan favorite immediately in Jacksonville. Their defense is grossly underrated and Kuechly knows a thing or two about being under the radar and written off.

The Jaguars have a top-10 defense and guys like Tyson Alualu who are quietly dominating. Kuechly could come in and contribute right away, further adding to what is quickly becoming a ruthless Jaguars' front.

Most Likely Landing Place: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers need a middle linebacker to replace James Farrior. His leadership is obviously irreplaceable, but Kuechly would be a great backer to join Lawrence Timmons in the middle.

The Steelers are always reloading. Kuechly, Timmons and LaMarr Woodley would give them a great group of linebackers to build around. Investing in the offensive line is crucial for Pittsburgh, but the last thing they want to do is let their star defenders age out and take a hit defensively.

Kyle Vassalo 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts	QB, Andrew Luck
2. Miami Dolphins	QB, Landry Jones
3. St. Louis Rams	T, Matt Kalil
4. Jacksonville Jaguars	DE, Quinton Coples
5. Arizona Cardinals	T, Jonathan Martin
6. Denver Broncos	QB, Matt Barkley
7. Seattle Seahawks	RB, Trent Richardson
8. Carolina Panthers	CB, Morris Claiborn
9. Minnesota Vikings	T, Riley Reiff
10. Cleveland Browns	WR, Justin Blackmon
11. Kansas City Chiefs	QB, Robert Griffin III
12. Washington Redskins	WR, Alshon Jeffery
13. Cincinnati Bengals (via Raiders)	LB, Vontaze Burfict
14. Chicago Bears	G, David Decastro
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneeers	CB, Dre Kirkpatrick
16. Tennessee Titans	WR, Michael Floyd
17. Dallas Cowboys	CB, Janoris Jenkins
18. Cleveland Browns (via Falcons)	LB, Zach Brown
19. New York Giants	LB, Manti Te'o
20. New York Jets	LB, Brandon Jenkins
21. San Diego Chargers	DT, Kendall Reyes
22. Cincinnati Bengals	CB, Alfonzo Dennard
23. Philadelphia Eagles	DT, Jerel Worthy
24. Houston Texans	DT, Brandon Thompson
25. Buffalo Bills	OLB, Courtney Upshaw
26. Detroit Lions	CB, Cliff Harris
27. New England Patriots (via Saints)	DE, Jared Crick
28. New England Patriots	S, Mark Barron
29. San Francisco 49ers	NT, Alameda Ta'amu
30. Pittsburgh Steelers	LB, Luke Kuechly
31. Baltimore Ravens	C, Michael Brewster
32. Green Bay Packers	LB, Ronnell Lewis