2012 NFL Draft: 30 Most Overrated Prospects

At this time of the year, draft projections are starting to become more exact. However, there are many players who are still valued much more than they should be.

In virtually every draft, it happens. A player projected to go early falls, leaving fans and analysts puzzled as to what happened. What these outsiders don't realize is that the player was always overrated outside of NFL circles.

Right now, there are multiple guys who fit this bill. Many players who were highly thought of before this year began have not yet seen their stocks drop to where they should.

Much of this will change eventually, of course. But in the meantime, here's one look at the 30 most overrated draft prospects.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

Projected in the early rounds by some, Cousins is not nearly talented enough to be selected within the first four rounds. The 6'3", 210-pound quarterback has decent physical skills but isn't very accurate and throws an unfortunately high number of interceptions.

Cousins could be a valuable pickup later in the draft, but he is nothing more than a backup in the NFL.

Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon

Harris is an explosive return man and makes plays in the secondary, but he simply lacks the size to be anything more than a nickel defensive back. At just 5'10" and 170 pounds, the Oregon defensive back gets murdered by bigger wide receivers.

Because Harris possesses great speed, he can hang with the fastest of wideouts, but unless he gains a significant amount of weight, he will be limited to being a nickel player and return man.

Jeff Demps, RB, Florida

Though Demps isn't overrated as much by the media as he is by fans, he is still being talked about as too high of a pick. The 5'7" 190-pounder is incredibly small and isn't a good enough receiver out of the backfield to be an ideal third-down back.

Demps has incredible speed and burst, but can't do much else. While Demps can make some defenders miss, he is primarily a track star at running back.

Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Minnifield is not at all a bad player, but he is not deserving of the high praise that many have heaped on him. The son of a former NFL player, Frank Minnifield, the younger cornerback is well-known largely due to his name.

The Virginia cornerback is big and excels in zone coverage, but lacks the quickness and hips to be great in man coverage. Minnifield could easily wind up as a first-round pick, but he is extremely unlikely to go in the top half of the first round as many have.

Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

Lewis is a fast but undersized linebacker. At one point, the Oklahoma star was considered a likely first-round draft pick, but his stock has dramatically dropped.

Lewis' lack of size and strength hurts him against the run, and he does not project as a starting-caliber linebacker.

Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

A 6'2", 215-pound sophomore, Rhodes is incredibly talented, but raw. The Florida State cornerback possesses great athletic ability along with his size, but could use more time in college.

At the moment, some are talking about Rhodes being selected in the first round because of his potential. However, because Rhodes has a long way to go, this would be a huge mistake.

Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU

Though he weighs just 305 pounds, the 6'6" Reynolds is not overly quick in pass protection. Because the BYU lineman isn't powerful in the run game either, this is a big issue.

Reynolds obviously works hard at his craft, but he simply doesn't have the physical talent to warrant a high draft pick. As it stands, many have Reynolds as a second-round pick, but this seems likely to change in the coming months.

Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Even after tearing his ACL, Broyles is widely considered an early-round draft pick. The 5'10" 190-pounder doesn't have great straight-line speed but is quick and makes plays with the ball in his hands.

The Oklahoma State star has good hands, but is limited by his lack of size and deep speed. Broyles' ideal fit in the NFL is as a slot receiver, and he is far from the primary target that many feel he is.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Let me start here by saying that I am a huge fan of Burfict. With the right team, Burfict could easily become one of the game's best middle linebackers.

With this said, Burfict is not a top-five draft pick. With his lack of discipline and less-than-stellar ability in space, Burfict isn't a perfect player.

Burfict is still a top-15 pick, but he isn't the elite linebacker many make him out to be. At least not yet.

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

At 6'2", 218 pounds, Barron has great size but struggles in coverage. Because of his lack of coverage ability, Barron is a pure strong safety in the NFL.

Barron also takes poor angles and allows big plays because of this. Barron isn't bad, but he is not physically talented enough to warrant a first-round selection. In the second round, Barron is a good pick, but he just isn't worthy of being selected any earlier.

Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State

Many have projected Jenkins as a top-15 pick, but he isn't special enough to warrant the selection. Though Jenkins is fairly athletic, he isn't especially explosive and may not adapt well to a 3-4 defense.

At 6'3", 260 pounds, Jenkins's size is ideal for the 3-4, but his style of play isn't perfect for it. Jenkins is a good enough player to go in the first round, but he doesn't deserve to be taken in the first 15 picks.

Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Many feel that Crick is an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle, but he isn't as explosive as most great interior pass-rushers. Though the Nebraska star is praised for his versatility, he is likely limited to playing defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end.

At defensive tackle, Crick struggles against the run and is driven off the ball, but he makes some plays in the backfield. However, there simply aren't enough big plays for the 6'6" 290-pounder to warrant a high draft pick in a 4-3 defense.

Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama

Chapman could develop into a good nose tackle in the NFL, but he isn't a first-round draft pick. Though the 6'1" 310-pounder is stout, he doesn't make many plays in the backfield.

Chapman isn't overly athletic and is best suited to playing in a 3-4 defense, but he could play the 1-tech in a 4-3 scheme. A player so limited just isn't a first-round draft pick. There is no problem with taking Chapman in the second or third round, however.

Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

Foles is a controversial player, and draft experts either seem to love him or hate him as a prospect. The 6'5" 240-pounder rarely throws vertically and doesn't have the elite accuracy that many attribute to him.

The Arizona quarterback doesn't have a very strong arm and plays in a somewhat gimmicky offensive scheme. Foles' numbers are enhanced by this scheme, and though he does not seem like anything more than a mid-round pick, some still believe that Foles is a first-round draft selection.

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Most project Mercilus as a first-round pick purely because of his stats. The Illinois defensive end has been one of the most successful pass-rushers in 2011 and has really burst onto the scene.

Any scout for a 3-4 defense loves Mercilus' production and size, but he isn't as explosive as the stats would suggest. Though he has been talked about as a top-20 pick, Mericilus isn't likely to be a first-round selection.

Bruce Irvin, LB, West Virginia

At 6'3", 245 pounds, Irvin is little more than a situational pass-rusher. The West Virginia defensive end made very few plays in the run game during the 2010 season, but racked up sack numbers.

Irvin is an explosive player with a decent pass-rushing repertoire, but he isn't a good enough threat off the edge to compensate for his lack of ability against the run.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Prior to this season, many projected Worthy as a top-10 draft pick. However, Worthy has done nothing but disappoint and is falling out of the first round entirely. The Michigan State star is quick with good burst, but often takes himself out of a play against the run.

The 310-pounder has decent size, but isn't overly strong at the point of attack and struggles against the run. Worthy is an upper-level interior rusher, but cannot be a high draft pick without first improving in run support.

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

At 6'2", 265 pounds, Upshaw has great bulk but lacks the ideal length for a pass-rusher. Upshaw is overly explosive and is actually more of a thumper and run-stopper.

If Upshaw plays inside linebacker, he may not be as likely to disappoint. As an outside linebacker, however, Upshaw will never produce the expected sack numbers.

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is a solid player with great instincts, but his athleticism holds him back some. Though the 6'3" 235-pounder isn't necessarily a bad athlete, he isn't gifted enough to make a ton of plays.

Kuechly will always rack up tackles and prevent huge plays, but he won't make enough impact plays to be worth the first-round pick it will require to get him.

Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M

Considered a first-round draft pick before this season, Fuller has done nothing but disappoint thus far. The 6'4" 220-pounder isn't fast or explosive and lacks the separation ability to dominate.

It's always difficult to evaluate big wideouts, but Fuller is especially risky. Though the Texas A&M star has the catching ability to make plays, he may not be able to get open.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

I have no problem with Griffin as a first-round draft pick, but I do not believe he is worthy of a top-five selection. Griffin is a phenomenal athlete with spectacular accuracy.

Beyond this, however, Griffin has work to do. He doesn't have a rocket arm and needs to improve at going through his progressions. Though Griffin is definitely raw, he can, however, develop into a good player and is worth a chance in Day 1 of the draft.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

At 6'6", 305 pounds, Reiff isn't powerful and can be bull-rushed by strong defensive linemen. This wouldn't be a huge issue if Reiff possessed elite quickness, but he doesn't.

A former tight end, Reiff is a good athlete, but his footwork isn't as good as one would like. Based on his upside as a left tackle, Reiff is worth a first-round draft pick; he just shouldn't be taken in the top 10.

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Though Kirkpatrick currently plays cornerback, he may have to move to safety in the NFL. Kirkpatrick is great in zone but doesn't do well running with receivers downfield in man coverage.

The 6'3" 190-pounder has great physical tools but is still developing as a player. Kirkpatrick has the length and athletic ability to dominate in press coverage, but can't do so yet. Despite this, Kirkpatrick is still a legitimate top-10 or top-15 pick.

Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State

Some still believe that Brewster is a first-round draft pick, but he isn't a very special center. And in order for a center to be taken so early, he needs to be excellent.

The Ohio State lineman struggles some with snapping the ball and plays too high. At 6'5", 305 pounds, Brewster may be better off at guard than center. If Brewster would move over, his lack of power would be diminished somewhat.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon is a good player and a safe pick, but he doesn't have very high upside. The 6'1" 215-pounder isn't a great athlete and lacks the height to be a true deep threat.

Blackmon is, however, great with the ball after the catch and can become a 1,000-yard receiver. Unfortunately, "good" wide receivers aren't worth top-five or top-10 draft picks. With Blackmon's ceiling, he is more of a mid-first-round selection.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Though Jeffery is an incredibly talented player, he has become too big and slow. The 6'3" 235-pounder has lost much of his speed, burst and quickness.

Jeffery can still catch virtually anything, but his weight and work ethic are legitimate concerns. If Jeffery can't control himself, he could end up busting along the lines of Mike Williams, formerly of the Detroit Lions.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Most have Martin projected as their No. 2 offensive tackle, but he is somewhat overrated. At 6'6", 305 pounds, Martin has great length with the frame to add more weight.

Martin's problems center around his lack of power and average athleticism. As his size indicates, Martin isn't powerful in the run game and can be killed by the bull-rush. In pass protection, Martin isn't as quick as many made him sound, and he can be beaten around the edge.

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Entering this year, most projected Coples as a top-five pick, but the Tar Heels' defensive end has not shown enough pass-rushing ability to warrant such a high pick. The 6'6" 285-pounder is a good all-around player, but he is far from an elite player.

In fact, Coples may actually be better off as a defensive end in a 3-4 defense. He has the size and athletic ability to excel as a 5-tech, and is worthy of a first-round pick in this scheme.

In a 4-3 defense, Coples just doesn't have enough burst to play right end. Because of this, Coples is not worth a high pick in a 4-3 scheme.

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Moore has been extremely successful at Boise State and is one of the most productive players in the country. Unfortunately, Moore lacks talent and is incredibly undersized at 5'11", 190 pounds.

The Boise State star has an awful arm and needs to refine his mechanics. This, along with his tiny stature, make him likely to be undrafted. Draft experts agree on this, but many fans continue to overrate Moore due to his success in college.

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn is a huge guard who is currently playing left tackle for the first time at Georgia. A 6'5", 350-pound mammoth, Glenn is not quick enough to play at a high level in the NFL.

Unlike many other big linemen, Glenn isn't overly athletic and struggles to move in the second level. In addition to this, Glenn can easily be dominated in pass protection.

At the moment, most are still talking about Glenn as a first-round pick. However, it seems likely that Glenn will follow the path of other much-loved oversized linemen, and drop come draft day.