2012 NFL Mock Draft: Shedding Light on the Most Unheralded First-Round Prospects

The following five players are rarely talked about prospects who could potentially hear their name called during the first 32 picks of the 2012 NFL draft:

Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

A 6'2", 215-pound receiver, Sanu caught 109 balls for 1,144 yards and seven scores in 2011 for Rutgers. He caught 10 or more passes in a game six times. He has the physicality and hands to get picked by a receiver-needy team in the first round.

Kendall Wright, Baylor

Somewhat lost in the emergence of Robert Griffin III has been Wright, who has established himself as a big-time playmaker at receiver. He also went over 100 catches this season but had 13 scores. Wright reminds some of Steve Smith from the Carolina Panthers.

Lamar Miller, Miami

Trent Richardson is the headliner in the 2012 running back class, but Miller isn't too far behind. He has the burst and top end speed to be a No. 1 back immediately in the NFL. The position isn't as highly regarded as it used to be, but Miller should find a way to get picked in the first 32. 

Vinny Curry, Marshall

Looking for a high-risk/high-reward prospect in the mold of Aldon Smith, the ninth pick in the 2011 draft? It might just be Curry. He's a tremendous athlete at defensive end, but Curry will likely be better suited to play rush linebacker in the NFL.

Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

You see fewer and fewer defensive ends that work best solely in the 4-3 defense, but Ingram certainly fits that profile. At 6-3, 280 pounds, Ingram should hold up against both the pass and run. With good numbers at the combine, he could sneak into the first round. 

1.	Indianapolis Colts	Andrew Luck, QB
2.	St. Louis Rams	Justin Blackmon, WR
3.	Minnesota Vikings	Matt Kalil, OT
4.	Miami Dolphins	Matt Barkley, QB
5.	Carolina Panthers	Morris Claiborne, CB
6.	Buffalo Bills	Robert Griffin III, QB
7.	Cleveland Browns	Trent Richardson, RB
8.	Jacksonville Jaguars	Michael Floyd, WR
9.	Washington Redskins	Landry Jones, QB
10.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Quinton Coples, DE
11.	Philadelphia Eagles	Alshon Jeffery, WR
12.	Kansas City Chiefs	Riley Reiff, OT
13.	Seattle Seahawks	Dre Kirkpatrick, CB
14.	San Diego Chargers	Alfonzo Dennard, CB
15.	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathan Martin, OT
16.	Tennessee Titans	Vontaze Burfict, LB
17.	Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK)	Lamar Miller, RB
18.	Chicago Bears	Peter Konz, C
19.	Dallas Cowboys	Devon Still, DT
20.	Cincinnati Bengals	Janoris Jenkins, CB
21.	Detroit Lions	Luke Kuechly, LB
22.	New York Jets	David DeCastro, OG
23.	Denver Broncos	Brandon Thompson, DT
24.	Cleveland Browns (via ATL)	Jarvis Jones, LB
25.	Houston Texans	Mark Barron, S
26.	Pittsburgh Steelers	Dont'a Hightower, LB
27.	New York Giants	Zach Brown, LB
28.	New England Patriots	Chase Minnifield, CB
29.	Baltimore Ravens	Courtney Upshaw, DE
30.	San Francisco 49ers	Kendall Wright, WR
31.	New England Patriots	Mohamed Sanu, WR
32.	Green Bay Packers	Vinny Curry LB