2012 NFL Mock Draft: Brandon Weeden and the 5 Biggest Project Players

The only thing for certain about the NFL Draft is that it's an inexact science. The test of real, live-game action in the NFL is the only true revelation about a rookie's legitimacy.

However, one season does not answer all the questions either. So, before any rookie does take the field in pro football, there are those who are "projects."

Whether on or off the field, the tangibles/intangibles need fixing. To that end, here are five of the biggest project players in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Ryan Broyles: WR, Oklahoma

It's not so much Ryan Broyles' ability as it is his injury and the lack of Big 12 pass defense.

Throughout the entire conference, the best Big 12 pass defense was the Texas Longhorns, who ranked No. 47 in the FBS and allowed 211 pass yards per game.

The next best was not until Texas Tech at No. 65.

So, despite playing in a BCS conference, the defensive competition for Broyles was barely mediocre (at best). Now include injury and it will make the transition into the NFL only that much more difficult.

However, Broyles does have great strengths in effort and attitude, and despite lacking size, he has the willingness to run block when asked to do so.

The project lies within getting him healthy, not overusing him to the point that he gets re-injured, and putting him up against much better defenders than the Big 12 has to offer. Make no mistake about it, Broyles has the potential to be a great NFL WR.

But there is a lot more for him to overcome than being undersized and sidelined with an injury.

Bruce Irvin: DE/OLB, West Virginia

West Virginia pass-rusher Bruce Irvin is just that, a pass-rusher and nothing more.

And that's great playing in an extremely weak conference like the Big East, but being a one-dimensional defensive player won't last in the NFL.

Even some of the most prestigious pass-rushers drop into coverage on occasion, but do it well also (with the exception of Jared Allen). Thing is, Allen isn't just a sack-master either. He knows how to tackle on every play.

Irvin may have totaled 14 sacks in 2010 and 7.5 in 2011, but he only had 22 tackles last year and has only 38 this year.

So despite improving, he still has a long way to go. He'll definitely be a great situational pass-rusher in crunch-time on third-downs, but until he becomes an every-down player where he can anticipate the play, read and react quicker and be a more sure tackler, he'll never see the field.

Defensive coordinators need guys they can count on all the time with so many passing offenses and mobile QBs to face. Irvin definitely has the size, quickness and hand finesse to wreck havoc on NFL QBs and offensive tackles.

It's just going to take a while before he learns how to become more aware and not get himself out of position. 

Cliff Harris: CB, Oregon

Here, we get to the man with the off-the-field issues.

According to Ted Miller of ESPN, Cliff Harris was dismissed from the Oregon Ducks earlier this week:

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"The school announced his dismissal from the team Monday for 'a violation of team rules,' though the press release didn't say whether it was something new or just a general accumulation of past transgressions."

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It's an unfortunate ending to a player with such breathtaking talent on the field. After the 2010 season, Harris was an All-American despite being just a sophomore and there he picked off six passes while returning one for a TD, including 30 tackles.

The same year, Harris was also the Ducks return specialist. He took four punts back for a TD and also added 143 kickoff return yards.

2011 was expected to be an off-the-charts year for him, however 'twas not the case and 2010 appears to be all for naught. That being said, Harris does have one year of eligibility remaining.

If he forgoes that final year, he's still slated to be anywhere from a third- to fifth-round pick, simply because...well, he's that amazing on the field.

Had Harris kept his head on straight, he most definitely would have been a first-rounder in the 2012 draft.

Although we have yet to see his decision, his off-the-field issues are clearly an extra-baggage project for whoever risks drafting him.

Jeff Demps: RB, Florida

One thing that really helps out Florida RB Jeff Demps is his top speed, acceleration and quickness. However, he's mainly a track star playing football.

That being said, Demps has been a dynamic RB for the Gators since his freshman campaign.

Although he's never compiled more than 800 rushing yards, he does have an average of almost 120 receiving yards per year. Another aspect against his yards is that his first two years, Tim Tebow was under center.

And we all know how much Tebow was used in virtually every aspect of offensive football.

Getting back to Demps, he needs to add that lateral dimension to his game. Sure, he can beat any LB to the hole or the edge, but what if that's not there?

Change of direction such as a cut-backs, counter-treys, or zone-reads are where he needs to improve. However, Demps will get drafted because of his track speed and acceleration.

If he can't improve his backfield vision, become more patient and have more lateral agility, he won't be an every-down back.

Brandon Weeden: QB, Oklahoma State

Obviously the Big 12 having weak pass defenses it makes life even easier for a solid QB such as Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden.

Thing is, every year Weeden has been under center as the full-time starter, he had Justin Blackmon to rely on. Blackmon won the 2010 Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation's top WR and is a candidate for the award once again.

So, without always having Blackmon to rely on, how good is Brandon Weeden?

Well, he does have potential, but he's also INT-prone more than most believe. In game one of 2011 he threw three INTs against Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt Conference, two against Tulsa of the Conference USA and three in the Pokes' road loss to Iowa State (including the one that cost them the game).

By that token, he's choked in big games and did so in 2010 also. There, Weeden had a three INT game against Oklahoma that once again cost Okie State a W.

Now he does have 68 TDs thrown the past two season as well, but until he can cut down on being turnover prone (25 INTs in two years), Brandon Weeden remains a work-in-progress.

2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stan.)	17. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Okla. St.)	18. Tennessee Titans: Jeff Fuller, WR (Tex. A&M)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, DB (LSU)	19. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
4. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB (USC)	20. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, G (Stan.)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Still, DT (Penn St.)	21. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (ND)	22. Cincinnati (From Oak): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stan.)
7. Arizona Cardinals: Alshon Jeffery, WR (S. Car.)	23. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisc.)
8. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Kalil, OT (USC)	24. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Neb.)
9. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB (Ala.)	25. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)
10. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	26. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
11 .Philadelphia Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB (N.D.)	27. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy, DT (Mich. St.)
12. Carolina Panthers: Brandon Thompson, DT (Clem)	28. N.E. (From N.O): Cam Johnson, DE (Virginia)
13. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Ala.)	29. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S (Ala.)
14. Kansas City Chiefs: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Ala.)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
15. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB (N. Ala.)	31. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly, LB (B.C.)
16. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio St.)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (S. Car.)

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