2012 NFL Mock Draft: How Would Matt Kalil's Decision to Stay Shake Up the Board?

Earlier today, reports surfaced that a player listed by many as the second-best talent eligible for the 2012 NFL draft may actually be returning to school. USC left tackle Matt Kalil is reportedly "set to return" for his senior season and hopes to convince quarterback Matt Barkley to do the same. 

If the report about Kalil is true, it could have a huge effect on how the top of the draft shakes out. 

In my current mock draft, I have Kalil going third to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings desperately need offensive line help and have yet to replace Bryant McKinnie, who was cut before the season. If Kalil isn't available, I believe the Vikings could look to trade down to a team in dire need of a quarterback.

Kalil is the only tackle available in this class worthy of a top five pick in my opinion, and both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him ranked only behind Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck on their respective boards. The obvious beneficiary of Kalil's exit would be Luck's teammate, Jonathan Martin. Martin is the second-best offensive lineman on the board, and while most project him as a right tackle at the next level, he could still be targeted by teams in need of someone on the left side. 

Two other guys could see their stock rise if Kalil remains in school: Iowa tackle Riley Reiff and Georgia tackle/guard Cordy Glenn. 

Reiff ranks behind Martin on the board, and he doesn't project as a perennial Pro Bowler. But he is incredibly solid in every aspect of the game and could end up being a long-time starter at the next level. Teams will certainly turn their attention to him if Martin goes off the board early.

Glenn is a massive 6'5" and 348 pounds, and while he projects as a guard in the NFL, the team that takes him could try him at tackle. If Kalil does return to school, Glenn will go from being projected in the 20s to moving well inside the top half of the first round. 

If Kalil's shocking decision to return to school is indeed true, it should shake up the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. If he convinces Barkley to come back with him, most draft boards will go into meltdown mode, as both players have long been ticketed for the top 10 of this draft. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck	17. New York Jets: Quinton Coples
2. St. Louis Rams: Alshon Jeffery	18. New York Giants: David DeCastro
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil	19. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon	20. Detroit Lions: Cordy Glenn
5. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne	21. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins
6. Miami Dolphins: Robert Griffin III	22. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller
7. Washington Redskins: Landry Jones	23. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore
8. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin	24. Cleveland Browns: Devon Still
9. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict	25. Houston Texans: Dontari Poe
10. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff	26. Chicago Bears: Zach Brown
11. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Barkley	27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Luke Kuechly
12. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson	28. New England Patriots: Jared Crick
13. San Diego Chargers: Ronnell Lewis	29. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick	30. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Toon
15. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram	31. Baltimore Ravens: Manti Te'o
16. Tennessee Titans: Michael Floyd	32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Thompson