The Crown Jewels of the 2012 NFL Draft Class

The 2012 NFL draft class is shaping up to be a good one and, as usual, there is no shortage of quarterbacks and other skill players among the fresh blood.

In fact, there is a lot of early buzz surrounding the QB position, as Andrew Luck of Stanford is as close to being a lock as the overall No. 1 selection as we have seen in a long time.

The Indianapolis Colts will have the first pick, and the developing drama around the whole Peyton Manning-Andrew Luck saga has everyone talking.

An average of five QBs have been selected in the first three rounds from 2009-11, but we could see as many as eight selected over the first three rounds in 2012.

But the draft is also deep in line positions on both sides of the ball, with offensive tackles and defensive ends among the top 10 players.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Heisman trophy winner, RG3, or Robert Griffin III as those of you unfamiliar with his nickname may know him.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at the crown jewels of the 2012 draft class.

The Hope Diamond: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck certainly is the crown jewel of this draft class. He may have finished second in the Heisman voting two years in a row, but he is sure to be No. 1 on this draft board.

Meanwhile, the Colts will likely have the first pick and are said to be high on Luck. This creates a very interesting storyline, since Peyton Manning is still wearing Colts colors, and may come back to play in 2012.

Will Luck request a trade if he is picked by the Colts? I'm sure he would like to avoid the drama of being the guy who moved aside a legend, but then again that hasn't worked out too badly for the Packers' Aaron Rodgers.

Luck has prototypical NFL size, with better than average speed and a strong build. His intangibles are off the charts. He speaks well, is intelligent, and works as hard as anyone on and off the field.

He passed up the opportunity to be the first overall pick in the 2011 draft to come back to Stanford, and he got his degree in architecture.

But I'm not thinking he's going to need that degree. At least, not right away.

The Star of India: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

It is not often that an offensive tackle, especially a Junior, ranks this high on a deep draft board, but the Trojans' tackle Matt Kalil is worthy of such a lofty position.

This 6'7", 300-pound athletic left tackle is a talented pass blocker and a strong, capable run blocker. If he decides to come out, he will be in great demand, especially since the NFL has morphed into such a QB-driven league.

The value placed on the QB position in today's game requires someone worthy of watching over his blind side, and Kalil is that guy. 

Kalil has excellent bloodlines. His father, Frank, played in the league, and his brother, Ryan, is currently playing for the Carolina Panthers and is the highest-paid center in NFL history.

He flashes a nasty side, has great feet, long arms and is strong and powerful.

The Minnesota Vikings are said to be high on Kalil if they get the second pick in the draft.

The Star of Africa: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is a powerful, speedy running back who possesses great vision and is able to break tackles easily.

He ran for 1,583 yards and scored 20 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. For a solidly built back, he possesses terrific speed and sees the field really well with unusual patience.

In short, Richardson is a big, powerful back who can wear a defense down by delivering blows and has good balance. He has good hands catching passes out of the backfield.

The Tiffany Yellow Diamond: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

According to NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., this kid "had a remarkable regular season, eclipsing his 111 catches of a year ago. A better prospect than recent OSU star Dez Bryant. Versatile and explosive."

Blackmon is the top wideout on the board and with the NFL having become such a QB-driven league, the need for an explosive, true No. 1 wide receiver is as great as ever.

Blackmon had 113 receptions for 1,336 yards and 15 TDs. He did have a DUI, but otherwise has solid intangibles as a hard worker and a contributor to his community.

He has terrific hands and enough speed to get behind coverage, with great leaping ability. He is also a strong runner who can break tackles.

Queen Marie of Romania’s Sapphire: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Some feel that Barkley could have a better pro career than even Andrew Luck. But he is a junior, so it is not a sure thing that he will come out.

Still, if he does, he will be the second QB taken in the draft and will certainly go in the top 10 picks. His arm is not great, but is good enough and he throws well on the run.

He is a natural leader who has top-notch intangibles. He runs a pro-style offense, and NFL teams certainly put great value on that.

Star of Asia: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne has really moved up the draft board in 2011 and is now the top corner in the draft. He is an exceptional pure cover corner with impeccable instincts. He also possesses solid ball skills and is very quick, though he is not a burner. 

Can flip his hips quickly and shows the top-end speed to turn and run vertically with faster SEC receivers. He needs to improve his bulk and strength, but he's surprisingly instinctive for a younger corner.

A former WR, he moves to the ball well and shows a good ability to run after interceptions. He displays above-average awareness in zone coverage and will bait the QB to throw his way and take advantage accordingly.

The Koh-I-Noor Diamond: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

As Kiper points out, "Production isn't amazing, but skill set is hard to look past. The size and talent are there, but he'll need to add to his arsenal with increased blocking attention. Great size and length to hold the edge as a 4-3 defensive end."

Coples is a tall athlete with good speed and is the best defensive end in the draft. As I continue to say, the NFL is a QB-driven league, so you need to have players who can get after the QB and apply pressure, and Coples is such a guy.

Coples faces a double-team nearly every down yet is very productive as a pass rusher. While he is still learning as a run stopper, he has quick feet and a powerful upper body.

This kid who is versatile and can play DE in a 4-3 or a five-technique in a 3-4. He is passionate with a strong motor.

The Orlov Diamond: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Yes, another OT in the top 10 and Martin continues the QB-driven NFL's desire to protect the blind side of its star players.

Martin was good enough to be the blind-side protection for Andrew Luck in the passing game, but he also does a great job in the run game.

This is a very athletic kid who gets to the second level and moves extremely well.

The Mughal Emerald: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is taller than most corners and has decent speed. He is a big, physical corner who has a great motor. He is a solid tackler.

This kid is moving up most boards, though Kiper doesn't even have him listed in his top 25. But I have believed in him, since he is a fiery competitor who is great at press coverage.

The Spirit of De Grisogono Black Diamond: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin won the Heisman trophy and has elite athleticism. He has improved his accuracy on downfield throws.

This is a smart kid who threw for just under 4,000 yards, with 36 TDs and six interceptions. He completed 72.4 percent of his passes and his QB rating was 192.3.