2012 NFL Draft Order: Projecting First Round of Picks

Though the 2012 NFL draft is months away, talk of which players might declare and where they might end up is heating up.

This discussion is currently shifting on a weekly basis, as much of it has to do with draft order as it does who has emerged as a first-round prospect. Indeed, we've known for some time just which players would be likely to go in the first round.

Four quarterbacks top that list: Stanford's Andrew Luck, Baylor's Robert Griffin III, Oklahoma's Landry Jones and USC's Matt Barkley. All four are projected to go in the first half of the first round, where a concentration of teams with serious quarterback issues are likely to pick.

All four quarterbacks have skill sets necessary for success in the pros, and at least three of them will likely be thrust into a starting role in their first year in the league.

Luck is the only wild card in that respect, with his status dependent solely on the health of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and the team's willingness to draft Luck just to keep him on their bench should Manning be able to play in 2012.

The 2012 draft class is a bit short on elite-level running backs, but they do exist, most notably Alabama's Trent Richardson, who already plays the game like a prototypical starting NFL rusher.

Richardson is both powerful and fast, capable of breaking tackles and making quick cuts. With over 1,500 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2011, Richardson is going to be a difference-maker for whatever team fortunate enough to draft him.

On defense, two cornerbacks look likely to be selected in the first round. LSU's Morris Claiborne, though a bit undersized, is an excellent cover corner, with great speed and instincts. A shutdown corner type of player in the mold of Darrelle Revis, he's an instant upgrade to whatever secondary he joins.

The same can be said for Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama. Though he's got the size, he's a bit slower than Claiborne and would be more useful as a zone corner rather than in man-to-man coverage. The fact that he's a solid tackler is a major plus.

Also of note in the first round is the presence of two elite offensive tackles: USC's Matt Kalil and Stanford's Jonathan Martin. Both had the difficult task of protecting their respective quarterbacks and did so at a high level. The fact that those two quarterbacks are likely first-round picks themselves means that these two men have elite talent and the skills necessary to start for any team needing an immediate upgrade at offensive line.

Kalil has better all-around skills, but he needs to gain some mass, while Martin needs to improve his pass protection skills, though he is excellent at run blocking.

Of course, until more players declare (or choose not to), then draft speculation can remain only that. But there are some clear hints both regarding which players will choose to test the professional waters in 2012 and which teams they would benefit most.

It's an interesting and diverse draft class, and it should make for a very compelling few months leading up to April's draft.

Projected 2012 NFL Draft order, through Week 15

1. Indianapolis Colts (1-13)
2. Minnesota Vikings (2-12)
3. St. Louis Rams (2-12)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)
5. Cleveland Browns (4-10)
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10)
7. Washington Redskins (5-9)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
9. Miami Dolphins (5-9)
10. Buffalo Bills (5-9)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
13. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
14. Tennessee Titans (7-7)
15. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
16. Oakland Raiders (7-7) (traded to Cincinnati)
17. Chicago Bears (7-7)
18. San Diego Chargers (7-7)
19. New York Giants (7-7)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
21. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
22. New York Jets (8-6)
23. Denver Broncos (8-6)
24. Atlanta Falcons (9-5) (traded to Cleveland)
25. Detroit Lions (9-5)
26. Houston Texans (10-4)
27. Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
28. San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
29. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
30. New Orleans Saints (11-3) (traded to New England)
31. New England Patriots (11-3)
32. Green Bay Packers (13-1)