2012 NFL Mock Draft: December Mock Draft and Position Rankings

The college football bowl season is upon us, which can only mean one thing: the NFL draft can’t be too far away.

It seems like just yesterday that we were all debating whether or not Cam Newton deserved to be the No. 1 pick of the 2011 draft, and now here we are, eight months later, preparing to evaluate a whole new crop of NFL-ready talent.

Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck may have come up short in his quest to win the Heisman Trophy for the second year in a row, but Luck is still the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft.

Well, at least for now.

I’ve already said that I think Baylor QB Robert Griffin III deserves to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, and it’s an argument that I think more people will start to make in the coming months.

Luck is certainly an elite quarterback prospect, and he deserves all of the hype he’s received, but I have to say, Griffin is the most exciting and explosive player I’ve seen since I started seriously following college football and the NFL draft back in 2004.

We’ll see how it all turns out, but one thing’s for sure, it should be an interesting four months that are sure to be full of debate.

Obviously, with the Senior Bowl, the NFL combine and numerous pro days still to come, a lot is going to change as the process unfolds and stocks rise and fall. But here’s a look at how I would project the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, and how I would rank the top prospects at this point in time.

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Robert Griffin III

Jump on the Robert Griffin III bandwagon while you still can, folks, because it's only going to get more crowded in the coming months.

Like I said, Griffin is the most exciting and explosive player I've seen in the college game since I started following the sport seriously back in 2004, and he's the most captivating draft prospect I've seen come along during that time.

Cam Newton was close, but RG3 is just on his own level.

Hopefully, the media won't typecast Griffin as just your average dual-threat quarterback, because that's certainly not the case.

Yes, he possesses almost world-class speed, but the 6'2'', 220-pound junior has proven this year that he doesn't have to rely on his legs for success, as he's flourished as a pocket-passer.

Accuracy, arm strength, pocket awareness—he’s got plenty of all three.

Griffin has one of the strongest arms in college football, which he proved by torching defenses with deep ball after deep ball all season long.

The breakout star signal-caller wound up totaling 4,657 yards of offense and scoring 45 touchdowns during his Heisman-winning campaign, and he's definitely done enough this year to enter the No. 1 pick discussion with Andrew Luck.

Griffin's got everything you're looking for in a future franchise quarterback, and I look forward to arguing about why he deserves to be the No. 1 pick for the next four months.

2. (Trade) Washington Redskins: QB Andrew Luck

If the Indianapolis Colts do pass on Andrew Luck and he falls to No. 2, obviously it will create the most dramatic and entertaining 10 minutes in the history of the NFL draft.

Tons of teams would throw big-time trade packages together to try to get up to No. 2 and land Luck, and one of the teams that would love to trade up to snag the Stanford star is the Washington Redskins.

I'll simply ask this, could you imagine what a Mike Shanahan-Andrew Luck pairing would be capable of?

It may not be the most realistic scenario right now, but it's certainly scary to think about.

3. St. Louis Rams: OT Matt Kalil

The St. Louis Rams drafted an offensive tackle with their first-round pick in two out of the previous three drafts, but neither Jason Smith nor Rodger Saffold played like a first-rounder this season, as the Rams have given up a league-leading 49 sacks this season.

That’s not something you want to see if you just recently drafted QB Sam Bradford, and paid him the most lucrative contract for any NFL draft pick in the history of the league.

The Rams have a lot invested in Bradford, and if that means that they’ve got to spend another high-pick on an offensive tackle, and shuffle up their offensive line in order to keep him safe, then that’s what they may just have to do.

If USC's Matt Kalil, one of the most athletic tackle prospects in years, is available for St. Louis, the Rams better give him some strong consideration.

They would always have the option of putting Kalil at left tackle and kicking Saffold inside to guard, where he might just be a better fit anyway.

Yes, they’ve got plenty of other needs, but if Sam Bradford spends another season on his back, it won’t matter what other holes you filled with this pick.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon

Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert hasn't exactly set the world on fire down in Jacksonville this season, but Gabbert does have the excuse of not having a true No. 1 receiver to throw to. 

If the Jaguars want to get their young quarterback some receiving help for the future, they won't be able to to do any better than Oklahoma State star Justin Blackmon, who looks like the best receiver we've seen emerge from the college ranks since Calvin Johnson. 

Blackmon is a true playmaker in every sense of the word, and although he may lack the breakaway speed you're looking for in a Top-5 pick type of receiving prospect, he hasn't let that stop him from tearing his way through almost every secondary he's gone up against these past two years. 

Since emerging on the scene last season, Blackmon has absolutely taken over college football and showed everyone around the nation who the true No. 1 receiver in the country really is. 

Over the last two years, the 6’1’’, 205-pound junior caught 224 passes for 3,118 yards and scored 36 total touchdowns. 

Blackmon's numbers don't tell his whole story, though. 

It only takes one look at him blowing by an entire secondary on a deep go route, or embarrassing a poor cornerback on his unstoppable end-zone fade route to realize that Blackmon is a special receiver who deserves Top-5 pick consideration. 

5. Carolina Panthers: CB Mo Claiborne

The Carolina Panthers need to add some reinforcements to all three levels of their defense, and that's where they will likely look in the first round of the draft.

Cornerback is definitely a spot that could use some help, as the Panthers have two decent corners in Chris Gamble and Captain Munnerlyn, but they lack a true elite player at the position.

Elite is definitely how you would describe LSU's Morris Claiborne, who has the size, length, speed and athleticism that are sure to make scouts drool.

The 6'1'', 185-pound junior may have been a bit overshadowed by fellow defensive backfield mate Tyrann Mathieu this offseason, but if Claiborne declares for the draft as expected, he'll get all the attention he deserves, as he's destined to be a sure-fire Top-10 pick.

Physically, you can't build them much better than him, and he's shown this year that it's going to take a lot of luck to beat him on any type of route, whether it be a screen pass, a short slant, or a deep go.

Claiborne has great instincts and he's got the type of natural speed to run and mirror basically any receiver he goes up against.

6. Cleveland Browns: RB Trent Richardson

Call it the Madden curse, or just call it being overrated (I'll personally go with the latter), the point is, RB Peyton Hillis has been a big disappointment for the Cleveland Browns this year, and it doesn't seem like he'll be welcome back after his contract expires at the end of the year.

That means that Cleveland will either have to find a new starting running back, or rely on Montario Hardesty, who is only averaging 3.1 yards per carry in his first season of action. 

If the Browns want to find a running back they can rely on, drafting Alabama's Trent Richardson, one of the top running back prospects to come out of the college ranks since the turn of the millennium, would be a good start.

These days, teams usually stay away from running backs in the Top 10 of the draft, but they don’t often see a running back prospect the caliber of Trent Richardson.

The NFL may be a passing league nowadays, but that’s because backs like the 5'11'', 225-pound junior don’t come along very often. 

Richardson is an absolute powerhouse and his combination of speed, balance, power, strength and agility is almost unprecedented. 

If the Browns can land Richardson, it won't take long for Cleveland fans to start asking "Peyton who?"

7. (Trade) Minnesota Vikings: OT Jonathan Martin

The Vikings let rapidly declining left tackle Bryant McKinnie go this offseason and they replaced him with Charlie Johnson.

Johnson has basically been one of those linemen who has earned a starting job by default throughout his entire career and he’s not exactly the type of tackle that you can expect to be a stalwart for years to come.

Finding a franchise left tackle is something that has to be on Minnesota’s wish list, and the Vikings won’t be able to do much better than Stanford's Jonathan Martin. 

Martin has the type of makeup and physical traits—athleticism, great footwork, strength and agility—that you're looking for in a franchise left tackle, and the 6'6'', 305-pound junior did a terrific job of protecting Andrew Luck's blindside for the past three years. 

8. Tampa Bay Bucs: LB Vontaze Burfict

As a Tampa Bay fan, I have to say, I’m obviously disappointed with the way this year’s season turned out, but I’ll admit, I am excited that the Bucs should end up in good position to get one of the draft’s premier talents.

The player that has been on the top of my wish list for the past few months has been Arizona State LB Vontaze Burfict.

Sure, Burfict didn’t have the type of junior season that everyone was expecting, but he showed enough flashes of his immense talent to keep teams in need of linebacker help interested.

The Top 10 may be a reach for Burfict right now, but if he performs well in postseason workouts, and interviews well with different teams, he should regain the respect he had in the scouting community before the 2011 season.

If he can keep his focus and learn how to channel his energy, the 6’3’’, 250-pound junior has the potential to become one of the top impact linebackers in the NFL.

Burfict could play either inside or outside in the NFL, but putting him at the strong-side position and pairing him with budding star rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster would give the Bucs two great young linebackers to work with in the coming years.

9. Miami Dolphins: QB Matt Barkley

For over a decade, the Miami Dolphins have been searching for a quarterback to replace the legendary Dan Marino, but they just haven't had any luck in their quest to find his heir apparent. 

That could change in the 2012 draft, though, depending on how the quarterback shuffle ultimately plays out. 

If Miami is in position to land a big name like USC's Matt Barkley, you better believe that the front office would pull the trigger in a second. 

Barkley is a cerebral quarterback with great intangibles, and most importantly, he's proven that he's a clutch player who can handle the spotlight and win you a bunch of ball games. 

Barkley flourishes in crunch time when the pressure's on, and he's got the mental makeup to handle being the guy who has to make fans forget about one of the most legendary quarterbacks in NFL history. 

10. Buffalo Bills: LB Courtney Upshaw

It's no secret that the Buffalo Bills were all set to take Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, but the Broncos beat them to the punch, and the Bills had to settle for DT Marcell Dareus instead. 

The Bills still have a glaring hole at rush-linebacker, though, and it's one that they could fill with a guy like Alabama's Courtney Upshaw. 

When I look at Upshaw, I see the next LaMarr Woodley, and it's easy to like what you see out of the Alabama defensive star.

The 6'2'', 265-pound senior racked up a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his final season in Tuscaloosa, as he made a living in opponents' backfields all season long. 

Upshaw may not possess elite edge speed, but he's got the toughness and tenacity to make up for it, and he always seems to be making a key play at some point in every game.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Devon Still

Kansas City would love to add a big body to put in the middle of its 3-4 defense, and one player the Chiefs could be interested in is Penn State's Devon Still, who enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2011.

The 6'5'', 310-pound monster is a ferocious interior defender who can eat up double teams and cause havoc in opposing backfields.

Still racked up 4.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in his swan song season, and he really boosted and elevated his NFL stock this year.

The big, intimidating defensive tackle is the type of defender who literally looks like he could eat a running back for breakfast.

Still may not fit the exact traditional mold of a true 3-4 nose tackle, but he's got the type of size and strength to flourish at the position if given the chance.

12. Arizona Cardinals: OT Riley Reiff

Ken Whisenhunt would love to establish a consistent rushing attack like the one he had during his days as an offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, but to do that, he’s going to need the hogs up front.

The Cardinals are set at left tackle with Levi Brown, but right tackle Brandon Keith could certainly be upgraded.

One top-notch lineman prospect who could come in and be an instant success as a right tackle in the NFL is Iowa’s Riley Reiff.

Although he’s not a true road-grader by nature, at this point in his development, Reiff is a considerably better run-blocker than he is a pass-blocker.

He has the natural athleticism, agility and footwork to evolve into a well-rounded tackle, and Reiff could add some needed toughness to the Arizona front five right away.

13. Tennessee Titans: DE Quinton Coples

The Tennessee defense took a considerable hit when the front office decided to let Jason Babin go this past offseason.

Babin led the Titans with 12.5 sacks in 2010, and that type of production obviously doesn’t just grow on trees.

Tennessee has high hopes for young defensive end Derrick Morgan, who they selected in the first round of the 2010 draft, but due to an injury that sidelined him for most of last season, Morgan is still very much an unproven commodity.

The Titans may look to add another strong pass-rusher in next year's draft, and they probably wouldn’t be able to pass up a defensive end the caliber of North Carolina’s Quinton Coples.

Coples entered this season with Top 5-pick type of buzz, but he had a tough time living up to expectations, because he was the main focus of opposing offensive lines and was constantly double-teamed.

Still, Coples has already proven that he has the talent to become a double-digit sack type of pass-rusher in the NFL, as he's got the type of size-strength-speed combination that NFL scouts crave.

The 6’6’’, 270-pound senior racked up 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss and was a constant menace to quarterbacks throughout his breakout 2010 campaign, and although he had a bit of a drop-off in production as a senior, he still did enough to warrant interest as a Top-15 pick.

14. Chicago Bears: WR Kendall Wright

The Chicago Bears wide receiver corps doesn’t exactly look all that promising right now.

Free agent pickup Roy Williams has been a major disappointment, Sam Hurd is facing the possibility of spending the foreseeable future in a federal prison for allegedly trying to buy loads of marijuana and cocaine from an undercover agent and Johnny Knox just got broken in half this past weekend and required season-ending back surgery.

Needless to say, the Bears could use a little help at the receiver position, which is something Chicago fans have been clamoring about for the last few years.

The Bears have lacked a true No. 1 receiver for the past few seasons, and they could be in search of one early in next year’s draft.

One player they might want to look at is Baylor’s super-speedster Kendall Wright.

Wright has the type of game-breaking speed that can truly stretch a secondary to its limits, and he’s had the production throughout his four years with the Bears (295 catches, 3,913 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns) that will make franchises feel safe picking him in the first round.

QB Robert Griffin III may have gotten most of the attention this year, but Kendall Wright played a huge part in Baylor’s resurgence this season, and he really opened the eyes of NFL scouts with the huge plays he made all season long.

15. Seattle Seahawks: LB Zach Brown

Pete Carroll sent former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry packing this season, which has left a bit of a hole in Seattle's linebacker corps.

That hole could become even bigger if the Seahawks don't bring back Leroy Hill, whose contract will be up at the end of the season.

Rookie K.J. Wright has been a pleasant surprise this season, but Seattle could be in the market for some more outside linebacker help early in next year's draft, and one player Carroll could consider is North Carolina's Zach Brown.

Brown has the lateral speed and natural instincts to track down ball-carriers from sideline to sideline, and the 6'2'', 230-pound senior ended up racking up 91 tackles and 5.5 sacks this season.

He's pretty much the perfect weakside linebacker prospect, and Zach Brown is certainly a name to remember as the draft draws closer.

16. Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland): CB Dre Kirkpatrick

Cincinnati took a big blow when cornerback Jonathan Joseph left for Houston this offseason, and the Bengals will likely be looking to find a replacement for the aging Nate Clements early in the draft.

One corner they could take a look at is Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, who has the type of size, speed and range that will really catch the eyes of scouts.

This year, Kirkpatrick didn't have the truly dominant campaign that you're looking for out of an upper-echelon type of corner, but then again, teams rarely tested him this season.

The 6'2'', 190-pound senior is a physical and tenacious corner who can play bump-and-run coverage well and shows no fear playing the run, and he brings the type of attitude and swagger that would be a perfect complement to the more subdued Leon Hall.

17. New York Giants: OT Zebrie Sanders

The New York Giants chose to neglect their offensive line needs early in the 2011 draft, but if the team keeps delaying the inevitable, it will eventually come back to haunt them.

The Giants could use a right tackle replacement for the aging Kareem McKenzie, and one player who has the perfect makeup for the position is Florida State's Zebrie Sanders.

Sanders is set to become one of the fastest risers of the offseason, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him end up in the Top 20 by the time draft night rolls around.

The 6'6'', 305-pound senior has manned the right side spot for the Seminoles since his freshman year, and during his career, he's really managed to refine his technique and grow into a coveted tackle prospect.

If Sanders performs well at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine, he's really going to distinguish himself as one of the top tackles available for the 2012 draft.

18. Denver Broncos: DT Brandon Thompson

In the days leading up to the 2011 draft, most people were expecting the Denver Broncos to take DT Marcell Dareus with the No. 2 overall pick, but the Broncos decided to go with Von Miller, even though he wasn't the greatest fit for the team's new 4-3 defense. 

Miller has proved to be a valuable selection for Denver, but there is still a hole in the middle of the defensive line that needs to be filled. 

Broderick Bunkley, Marcus Thomas and Ryan McBean have all been serviceable tackles for the Broncos this year, but none of them are true standouts. 

Now that Tim Tebow has received an endorsement from John Elway as the team's quarterback of the future, look for Denver to address some defensive needs early in the draft once again. 

One tackle who could be enticing is Clemson's Brandon Thompson, the latest in a developing line of standout defensive linemen to come out of the South Carolina school. 

Thompson stepped out of the shadow of former teammate Da'Quan Bowers this season, and the 6'2'', 310-pound senior was able to show scouts that he's got first-round type of talent. 

19. Dallas Cowboys: CB Janoris Jenkins

If you've watched a Dallas Cowboys game this season, then you know that their secondary has been an absolute mess in 2011, and it's obvious that they're going to need to find help in the defensive backfield early in next year's draft.

Mike Jenkins is a pretty decent cornerback, but 33-year-old Terrence Newman is way past his prime, and he can certainly be upgraded.

Since the Cowboys have shown that they don't exactly shy away from players with checkered pasts, one talented corner they might take a look at is North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins.

Jenkins became a star prospect at Florida last season, before multiple marijuana-related incidents got him booted from the team this past offseason.

The 5'10'', 185-pound senior managed to resurrect his career at North Alabama, though, and if he interviews well, he should be right back in the first-round mix by the time April rolls around.

20. Cincinnati Bengals: RB Lamar Miller

RB Cedric Benson is playing on a one-year contract this season, and it will be very interesting to see if Cincinnati decides to bring him back next year.

Benson is on track to put up another 1,000-yard rushing season, but he'll be 29 next year, and he has had a few run-ins with the law recently.

If the Bengals choose to find a new main man for their backfield, one player they should definitely take a look at with one of their two first-round picks is Miami's Lamar Miller.

Miller is the latest in a long line of great Miami running backs, and although he was only a redshirt sophomore this season, he still managed to establish himself as one of the best backs in the sport.

The 5'11'', 210-pound bull-like back powered his way to 1,272 yards on the ground and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011.

Miller may not be in the same class as Alabama's Trent Richardson, but he's definitely still got all the things that you're looking for in a first-round back.

21. Detroit Lions: DE Whitney Mercilus

After drafting Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in consecutive years, the Detroit Lions now have two stud young defensive tackles to stick in the middle of their defense for the next decade, however, with Cliff Avril set to become a free agent after this season and with the 33-year-old Kyle Vanden Bosch getting up there in age, the Lions are likely going to need to find a defensive end early on in the draft.

One player they could definitely take a look at in the first round is Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus, who turned out to be one of the breakout defensive stars of 2011.

Following in the footsteps of last year's breakout Illinois defensive linemen Corey Liuget, Mercilus made a name for himself in 2011 by racking up 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.

His exploits earned him All-American honors, and they'll also earn him a nice hefty first-round contract.

Some may wonder if Mercilus is simply a one-year wonder, but the 6'4'', 265-pound junior is definitely worth taking a chance on, especially for a team that needs some defensive-end help.

22. San Diego Chargers: WR Michael Floyd

One of the more interesting storylines to watch this offseason will be whether San Diego decides to re-sign No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson, who is going to be looking for a big guaranteed contract once his one-year deal expires after this season.

If the Chargers decide that Jackson isn't worth the money, they will likely turn their attention to the draft to find his replacement, and one player they would probably love to get their hands on is Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, who actually shares a lot of similar traits with Jackson.

Floyd could have entered the 2011 draft and likely cracked the first round, but he decided to return to school and continue to show off his skills for scouts, and ended up having another great year, as he hauled in 95 passes for 1,106 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

There's not a catch that the 6'3'', 225-pound senior can't make, and he's shown time and time again that if you put the pall in his general vicinity, he's going to find a way to come down with it.

Floyd has all the traits that you're looking for in a No. 1 go-to receiver, and if he tests out well in workouts, he's going to have a lot of teams interested in his services.

23. Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta): QB Ryan Tannehill

If the Browns opt to pass on one of the elite quarterbacks with their first pick, the team could look to pick up one of the second-tier signal-callers with the later pick they have courtesy of that big trade they made with Atlanta last year.

I tried to tell Browns fans that Colt McCoy wasn’t the long-term answer, and now I finally think they’ve all come to that realization.

McCoy may be a suitable backup, but if Mike Holmgren actually wants to build this team into a winner, he’s got a find a better option to put under center.

One quarterback that could catch Holmgren’s eye is Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill, the top senior quarterback available for the 2012 draft.

The Aggies may have been college football’s most disappointing team of 2011, but Tannehill still managed to have a pretty solid season as a senior, as he threw for 3,415 yards and hit 28 touchdown strikes.

The converted receiver has the type of size, athleticism and arm strength that will really have scouts intrigued, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up in the later part of Round 1 when all is said and done.

24. Baltimore Ravens: OG David DeCastro

Baltimore guard Ben Grubbs had some high expectations to live up to as a first-round pick, but overall, he's been about as good as the team could have hoped in his five seasons with the club, even though there have been a few times when his play has wavered a bit.

Still, Grubbs is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and if the Ravens lose him, they're going to need to find some interior offensive line help to keep RB Ray Rice happy. 

Solid Stanford technician David DeCastro is one of the best guard prospects we've seen in years, and he's got first-round pick written all over him.

The 6'5'', 310-pound junior has already declared for the draft, and if he's available when Baltimore is picking, DeCastro will definitely be the type of prospect that the Ravens have to take a hard look at.

25. New York Jets: OT Cordy Glenn

Since I live in New Jersey, I've gotten the chance to see a lot of Jets games this season, which hasn't always been a good thing. From what I've seen out of Gang Green this year, I have to say that this is far from a perfect football team, even though Rex Ryan may not agree with me.

On defense, the Jets have glaring holes at rush-linebacker and safety (Eric Smith might be the worst starting safety in the league; there are about 15 colleges he wouldn't start for), but one position I think the Jets are going to have to look at early in the draft is right tackle.

Wayne Hunter has redefined the word awful this year, as he's been an absolute sieve in 2011.

If QB Mark Sanchez wants to survive another season, he better go begging the front office to find a right tackle that isn't a complete turnstile.

One tackle who will be available, who fits the right tackle mold, is Georgia's Cordy Glenn.

Glenn may not be the fleetest of foot, but the big 6'5'', 345-pound senior is a physical and strong blocker who has shown that he can hold his own in pass protection, and that's the type of right tackle that the Jets are in dire need of right now.

26. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Luke Kuechly

The Philadelphia Eagles haven't selected a linebacker in the first round of the draft since 1979, when they took Jerry Robinson out of UCLA.

If ever there was a time to break that trend, though, it'll be in 2012.

Philadelphia has neglected its linebacker corps while the team's tried to strengthen the defensive line and the secondary, and the lack of true playmakers at the position has become painfully obvious this season.

One linebacker who would fit in perfectly in Philadelphia's defense is Boston College's tackling machine, Luke Kuechly.

Kuechly, who has racked up over 500 tackles during his three years at Boston College, can play either inside or outside linebacker in the NFL, and he would become an instant defensive leader in Philadelphia if the Eagles selected him.

27. Houston Texans: DT Jerel Worthy

The Houston Texans made the switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme when they hired defensive coordinator Wade Phillips before the start of the season, and so far, the switch has worked to perfection, as the Texans' defense currently ranks second in the NFL.

The move has paid off, but there is still some 3-4 personnel that needs to be added in the coming draft.

One defensive lineman who could catch Phillips' eye is Michigan State's Jerel Worthy.

Worthy has the type of size, strength and agility to fit in as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL, and he could probably even play the nose for passing situations, and it's that type of versatility that could endear him to a team like Houston.

The 6'3'', 310-pound junior has only just started to tap his potential, but he showed enough flashes this year to warrant considerable first-round interest.

If you pair Worthy with 2011 first-rounder J.J. Watt in Houston, the Texans will have quite an intriguing young defensive line duo to build the defense around for the future.

28. San Francisco 49ers: DT Dontari Poe

San Francisco has been dominant against the run this year, but if the 49ers want to remain stout in the coming years, Jim Harbaugh is going to have to go out there and find himself a true big nose tackle to stick in the middle of his defense.

Isaac Sopoaga has been a quality middle-man this year, but he's also over 30 and he'll be in the last year of his contract next season, which makes finding his eventual replacement even more of a priority.

If San Francisco goes shopping for nose tackles early in 2012, one of the names they will definitely consider is Memphis monster Dontari Poe.

Poe is a true freak of nature, and he's undoubtedly one of the strongest players in college football.

The 6'5'', 350-pound junior hasn't received a ton of national publicity, but if he decides to leave school early, you're going to be hearing a lot more about him in the months leading up to the 2012 draft.

29. New England Patriots: DE Melvin Ingram

New England’s defensive front seven doesn’t intimidate opponents the way it used to back when the Patriots were a Super Bowl-winning dynasty, and the front office is definitely going to have to find a few young pieces to add to the mix

South Carolina defensive tackle-end tweener Melvin Ingram is the type of versatile lineman who would fit in well in New England’s multiple-front system, and he’s got the quickness and power combination to line up all over the line.

Ingram has really opened the eyes of scouts with his sensational play this year, and the 6'2'', 275-pound senior turned out to be one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2011 season.

30. Green Bay Packers: LB Bruce Irvin

Green Bay has one of the elite young edge-rushers in the NFL in Clay Matthews, but the Packers could use another 3-4 rush-linebacker on the other side of the defense to complement him.

West Virginia's Bruce Irvin played defensive end during his time in Morgantown, where he racked up 21 sacks in two years, but the 6'3'', 240-pound senior is best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 system in the NFL.

Irvin is one of the most athletic pass-rushing prospects who will be available for the 2012 draft, and his top-notch edge speed is something that should really interest the Packers.

31. New England Patriots (From New Orleans): C Peter Konz

New England addressed its offensive tackle woes by adding Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon in the 2011 draft, but now the Patriots will have to turn to the center position to find a replacement for Dan Connolly, who is in the last year of his deal and set to become a free agent after this season.

If the team lets Connolly go, they could look at a center like Wisconsin's Peter Konz, one of the top interior linemen in the country.

If Konz decides to enter the 2012 draft, and if he can show teams that he is completely healed from the injury that nagged him late in the season, he could find himself in the late first-round conversation.

This year, the 6'5'', 315-pound junior was the undisputed leader of Wisconsin's offensive line, which was one of the best in all of college football, and he's got the type of makeup that would fit in well in New England's huddle.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Mark Barron

One of the things that makes the Pittsburgh Steelers such a consistently successful organization is that they are great at addressing problems before they actually become problems.

The Steelers are one of the best drafting franchises in the NFL, which usually means that they don’t have too many huge glaring needs, which allows them to solidify positions that could become holes down the road.

We saw that strategy on display once again in the 2011 draft, when Pittsburgh snagged DE Cameron Heyward to become the eventual replacement for Brett Kiesel.

Right now, the Steelers have a solid situation at safety with Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark, but Polamalu has been banged up in recent years, and both players are on the wrong side of 30.

Finding an eventual starting safety for the future could be in Pittsburgh’s best interests, and Alabama’s Mark Barron happens to be the type of safety that would fit in well in Dick LeBeau’s scheme.

Barron plays the run as well as any safety in the college ranks and he has the skill-set to handle coming down into the box and lining up close to the line of scrimmage like Polamalu does so often.

P.S. Yes, I still think Pittsburgh will win the Super Bowl.

Quarterbacks: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

2. Nick Foles, Arizona

3. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

4. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

5. Kellen Moore, Boise State

6. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

7. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

8. Case Keenum, Houston

9. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois

10. John Brantley, Florida

Quarterbacks: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

2. Andrew Luck, Stanford

3. Matt Barkley, USC

4. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

5. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

6. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

7. E.J. Manuel, Florida State

8. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

9. Geno Smith, West Virginia

10. Darron Thomas, Oregon

Running Backs: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Doug Martin, Boise State

2. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

3. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

4. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

5. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss

6. Jeff Demps, Florida

7. Boom Herron, Ohio State

8. Tauren Poole, Tennessee

9. Davin Meggett, Maryland

10. Terrance Gannaway, Baylor

Running Backs: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

2. Lamar Miller, Miami

3. Chris Polk, Washington

4. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

5. Bernard Pierce, Temple

6. LaMichael James, Oregon

7. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

8. Knile Davis, Arkansas (Injured)

9. Robert Turbin, Utah State

10. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

Wide Receivers: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Kendall Wright, Baylor

2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

3. Joe Adams, Arkansas

4. Nick Toon, Wisconsin

5. A.J. Jenkins, Illinois

6. Dwight Jones, North Carolina

7. Jermaine Kearse, Washington

8. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

9. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma (Injured)

10. Marvin McNutt, Iowa

Wide Receivers: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

2. Rueben Randle, LSU

3. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

4. Chris Givens, Wake Forest

5. Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

6. Tommy Streeter, Miami

7. Tavon Austin, West Virginia

8. Roy Roundtree, Michigan

9. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

10. Eric Page, Toledo

Tight Ends: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette

2. Coby Fleener, Stanford

3. Michael Egnew, Missouri

4. Brian Linthicum, Michigan State

5. Rhett Ellison, USC

6. David Paulson, Oregon

7. George Bryan, North Carolina State

8. Deangelo Peterson, LSU

9. Kevin Koger, Michigan

10. Josh Chichester, Louisville

Tight Ends: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Dwayne Allen, Clemson

2. Orson Charles, Georgia

3. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

4. Chris Gragg, Arkansas

5. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State

6. Michael Williams, Alabama

7. Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn

8. Ryan Otten, San Jose State

9. Lucas Reed, New Mexico

10. Joseph Fauria, UCLA

Offensive Tackles: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State

2. Cordy Glenn, Georgia

3. Mike Adams, Ohio State

4. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

5. Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State

6. Jeff Allen, Illinois

7. Nate Potter, Boise State

8. Andrew Datko, Florida State

9. Matt McCants, UAB

10. James Carmon, Mississippi State

Offensive Tackles: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Matt Kalil, USC

2. Jonathan Martin, Stanford

3. Riley Reiff, Iowa

4. D.J. Fluker, Alabama

5. Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

6. Justin Pugh, Syracuse

7. Alex Hurst, LSU

8. Bobby Massie, Ole Miss

9. Morgan Moses, Virginia

10. LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

Interior Linemen: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

2. (OT) Senio Kelemete, Washington

3. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh

4. Ryan Miller, Colorado

5. Ben Jones, Georgia

6. Joe Looney, Wake Forest

7. Mike Brewster, Ohio State

8. Kelvin Beachum, SMU

9. Phillip Blake, Baylor

10. David Molk, Michigan

Interior Linemen: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. David DeCastro, Stanford

2. Peter Konz, Wisconsin

3. (OT) Barrett Jones, Alabama

4. (OT) Brandon Washington, Miami

5. Chris Barker, Nevada

6. Larry Warford, Kentucky

7. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

8. Ben Habern, Oklahoma

9. Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech

10. Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State

Defensive Tackles: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Devon Still, Penn State

2. Brandon Thompson, Clemson

3. Billy Winn, Boise State

4. Alameda Ta’amu, Washington

5. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

6. Jared Crick, Nebraska (Injured)

7. Jaye Howard, Florida

8. Josh Chapman, Alabama

9. Mike Martin, Michigan

10. Matt Conrath, Virginia

Defensive Tackles: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

2. Dontari Poe, Memphis

3. Kawann Short, Purdue

4. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

5. Michael Brockers, LSU

6. Sylvester Williams, North Carolina

7. Marcus Forston, Miami

8. John Simon, Ohio State

9. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska

10. Joe Vellano, Maryland

Defensive Ends: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina

2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

3. Vinny Curry, Marshall

4. Andre Branch, Clemson

5. Trevor Guyton, California

6. (DT) Julian Miller, West Virginia

7. Cam Johnson, Virginia

8. Jake Bequette, Arkansas

9. Tyrone Crawford, Boise State

10. Ryan Van Bergen, Michigan

Defensive Ends: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

2. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

3. Alex Okafor, Texas

4. Dion Jordan, Oregon

5. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina

6. Stansly Maponga, TCU

7. Devin Taylor, South Carolina

8. Malliciah Goodman, Clemson

9. Brad Madison, Missouri

10. Cameron Meredith, Nebraska

3-4 Rush Linebackers: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

2. (DE) Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

3. (DE) Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh

4. Sammy Brown, Houston

5. (DE) Jacquies Smith, Missouri

6. (DE) Frank Alexander, Oklahoma

7. (DE) Cordarro Law, Southern Miss

8. Darius Fleming, Notre Dame

9. (DE) Shea McLellin, Boise State

10. (DE) Adrian Robinson, Temple

3-4 Rush Linebackers: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. (DE) Nick Perry, USC

2. (DE) Sam Montgomery, LSU

3. (DE) Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

4. Sean Porter, Texas A&M

5. (DE) Barkevious Mingo, LSU

6. Michael Buchanan, Illinois

7. Chase Thomas, Stanford

8. (DE) Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy

9. (DE) Trevardo Williams, Connecticut

10. (DE) Walter Stewart, Cincinnati

Traditional Linebackers: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Zach Brown, North Carolina

2. Emmanuel Acho, Texas

3. James-Michael Johnson, Nevada

4. Audie Cole, North Carolina State

5. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

6. Lavonte David, Nebraska

7. Bobby Wagner, Utah State

8. Keenan Robinson, Texas

9. Sean Spence, Miami

10. Danny Trevathan, Kentucky

Traditional Linebackers: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

2. Luke Kuechly, Boston College

3. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

4. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina

5. Nico Johnson, Alabama

6. Terrell Manning, North Carolina State

7. Gerald Hodges, Penn State

8. Arthur Brown, Kansas State

9. Jelani Jenkins, Florida

10. Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Cornerbacks: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

2. Chase Minnifield, Virginia

3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

4. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

5. Brandon Boykin, Georgia

6. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State

7. Tavon Wilson, Illinois

8. Coryell Judie, Texas A&M

9. Shaun Prater, Iowa

10. Omar Bolden, Arizona State (Injured)

Cornerbacks: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU

2. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

3. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech

4. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

5. Jonathan Banks, Mississippi State

6. Cliff Harris, Oregon

7. Johnny Adams, Michigan State

8. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State

9. Desmond Trufant, Washington

10. Josh Robinson, Central Florida

Safeties: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Mark Barron, Alabama

2. Antonio Allen, South Carolina

3. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

4. George Iloka, Boise State

5. Winston Guy Jr., Kentucky

6. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

7. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

8. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin

9. Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State

10. Jerrell Young, South Florida

Safeties: The Top 10 Underclassmen

1. T.J. McDonald, USC

2. Robert Lester, Alabama

3. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

4. (CB) Micah Hyde, Iowa

5. (LB) Khaseem Greene, Rutgers

6. Hakeem Smith, Louisville

7. DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina

8. John Boyett, Oregon

9. Orhian Johnson, Ohio State

10. Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh

The Top 10 Senior Kickers

1. Derek Dimke, Illinois

2. Blair Walsh, Georgia

3. Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss

4. Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

5. David Ruffer, Notre Dame

6. Justin Tucker, Texas

7. Carson Wiggs, Purdue

8. Phillip Welch, Wisconsin

9. Kevin Goessling, Fresno State

10. Will Snyderwine, Duke

The Top 10 Senior Punters

1. Shawn Powell, Florida State

2. Brian Stahovich, San Diego State

3. Drew Butler, Georgia

4. Bryan Anger, California

5. Kyle Martens, Rice

6. Dawsom Zimmerman, Clemson

7. Brad Nortman, Wisconsin

8. Kiel Rasp, Washingotn

9. Mickey Groody, Florida Atlantic

10. Johnny Hekker, Oregon State

Who’s Heading Out?

Here’s a look at the underclassmen who have already said that they are leaving for the draft.

WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

OG David DeCastro, Stanford

OT Matt Kalil, USC

DE/LB Nick Perry, USC

DT Marcus Forston, Miami

WR Tommy Streeter, Miami

RB Lamar Miller, Miami

DE/LB Oliver Vernon, Miami

OT/OG Brandon Washington, Miami

Who’s Going Back?

Here’s a look at the underclassmen who have said that they plan to return to school.

LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

S Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami

DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

QB Aaron Murray,  Georgia

LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

OT Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

LB Kenny Tate, Maryland (Medical Hardship)