2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players That Will Destroy Their Stock at Combine

It’s almost that time of year. No, I’m not talking Christmas or even New Years, but the NFL Draft. The 2012 NFL Draft is approaching quicker than it feels.

Before the NFL Draft comes the NFL Scouting Combine, a place where players can make or break their draft stock. There are a few players in the NFL draft class that will destroy their stock at the scouting combine.

They will be at the end of the mock draft, highlighted in bold.

*Draft order subject to change

1. Indianapolis Colts (1-13): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Seeing how the Colts went on a downward spiral without a top quarterback, they should unquestionably draft Andrew Luck with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Peyton Manning won’t be around for much longer. It’s time to have a clear plan for the future.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-12): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma state

Sam Bradford needs a true No. 1 wide receiver. Blackmon has been an absolute beast for the Cowboys this season. He is a future NFL Pro Bowler.

3. Minnesota Vikings (2-12): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Minnesota needs a ton of help on both sides of the ball, but starting on the line is always a good idea. Kalil will be a great offensive lineman for years in the NFL.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Jacksonville has the fourth-best pass defense in the NFL this year. They still shouldn’t pass on one of the best cornerbacks in the draft class.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10): Dre’ Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Alabama has the best defense in the country and Kirkpatrick played a major role in their success. Tampa Bay needs some help on their pass defense which is ranked No 26. They have given up 30 or more points in five of their past seven games.

6. Cleveland Browns (4-10): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

I have always believed that Colt McCoy is not a franchise quarterback that could lead the Cleveland Browns to the promised land.

Insert Robert Griffin III.

Trent Richardson would be a great fit here, but I think it’s going to be difficult to pass on the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner.

7. Buffalo Bills (5-9): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo will be looking to get some offensive line help. I wouldn’t be shocked if they went in a different direction because they need a ton of help.

8. Miami Dolphins (5-9): Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Matt Moore has been great in the past several weeks, but Matt Barkley is the real deal. He would be the best quarterback in Miami since Dan Marino.

9. Washington Redskins (5-9): Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson could easily go in the top five, but sometimes prospects tend to slip. He’s the real deal, and I’m not sure, even with Roy Helu playing well, Washington could pass on Richardson. Obviously they need a franchise quarterback, but maybe they wouldn’t want to reach for a quarterback at this position.

They are 29^th in rushing this season.

10. Carolina Panthers (5-9): Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Cam Newton will have the offense running for years, but they need to address their defense. Quinton Coples will give the defensive line a major boost.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (6-8): Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

Philadelphia needs help in their linebacking corps. Zach Brown would give the Eagles immediate help especially with his speed.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Kansas City is a young team, but addressing the offensive line is always a smart decision for the future. Games are won up front in the NFL.

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-7): Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Maybe Landry Jones isn’t going to great in the NFL, but maybe he is. It’s worth the risk for a team that needs a future quarterback.

14. Arizona Cardinals (7-7): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Mike Adams will be able to make an immediate impact for Arizona. Who knows who he will protect in the future, but at least there will be a solid future on the offensive line.

15. San Diego Chargers (7-7): Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama

Alabama has produced a wonderful defense this season. Upshaw has been great for the Crimson Tide.

16. Tennessee Titans (7-7): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Peter Konz could play in front of Jake Locker for several years. This would be a good fit with the No. 15 pick.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 7-7): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro would be a great choice for the Bengals with the No. 17 pick. He would be a staple on Andy Dalton’s line for several years.

18. Chicago Bears (7-7): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Jay Cutler was playing some of the best football of his entire career before being injured. He hasn’t been blessed with top-notch receivers. Floyd is one of the most talented receivers in the draft class. Chicago should look his way.

19. New York Giants (7-7): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

It’s clear that the Giants need help on defense. Drafting a formidable linebacker would be a start. Maybe they reach for a defensive back at this point, too.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Cincinnati’s defense has been surprising this season. Alfonzo Dennard would add another talented player on the defensive side of the ball. 

21. Dallas Cowboys (8-6): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Dallas needs to improve their defense. Drafting a cornerback would be a smart idea.

22. New York Jets (8-6): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

One of the best nose tackles in the class, Poe would give the Jets a great interior presence.

23. Denver Broncos (8-6): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Denver needs to focus on defense and wide receivers in the upcoming draft. In order for Tim Tebow to be successful, his defense needs to be solid. Still was the defensive player of the year in the Big Ten conference. He was very disruptive in college, and he would be equally as disruptive at the next level.

24. Cleveland Browns (VIA ATL (9-5): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

If McCoy is the real deal, which I have major questions about, he’s going to need a No. 1 type wide receiver. South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery would give the Browns an opportunity to have just that in the future.

25. Detroit Lions (9-5): Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Detroit’s offense is set for years. Their defense needs work. Dont’a Hightower would be a great pick at the tail-end of the first round.

26. Houston Texans (10-4): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Houston’s defense is already solid, but Perry would make it that much better. His speed off the edge would give the Texans yet another pass rusher.

27. Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

When you get just an ounce of pressure on Joe Flacco he tends to struggle. Protecting him to this point has made him a top 10 quarterback. Cordy Glenn would continue the Ravens' success at protecting the quarterback.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): Kelechie Osemele, OG, Iowa State

Ben Roethlisberger gets sacked more than anyone in the NFL. Some of it is because of his style, but his linemen aren’t great either. 

29. San Francisco 49ers (11-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Robert Griffin III and Kendall Wright had one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combinations in college football this season. Wright’s speed outweighs his lack of size. If Alex Smith is the 49ers' quarterback in the future, giving him more weapons on the perimeter would be an ideal decision.

30. New England Patriots (VIA NO 11-3): Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Instead of trading down, New England should help their defense out immediately. Minnifield would be the best cornerback on the board. 

31. New England Patriots (11-3): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

The Patriots have the worst pass defense in the league. Barron brings great talent from the safety position.

32. Green Bay Packers (13-1): Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska

Green Bay’s “flaw” is on the defensive side of the ball. Jared Crick would help on the line.

Nick Foles: Arizona—2^nd round

There is a ton of upside with Arizona senior quarterback Nick Foles. He’s 6’5” and threw for over 4,000 yards passing this season.

He definitely has the size at 6’5” 240 lbs. But, he hasn’t been so successful with his accuracy. He threw 14 interceptions last season and 10 the year before.

Foles has a tendency of getting rattled. Given how pressure-packed the NFL Scouting Combine is, it wouldn’t surprise me if he struggled under the scrutiny.

Case Keenum: Houston—4-7^th round

Houston quarterback Case Keenum has had a fantastic bounce-back season after tearing his ACL. He has thrown for 5,099 yards, 45 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

With his knee issues, the NFL Draft Combine will either severely help or hinder any team’s interest in the 23-year-old. There will be too much pressure to perform at a high level to prove scouts wrong.

There are a couple factors that will hurt Keenum. He’s 6’1”, which isn’t the worst possible thing but we are seeing more quarterbacks that are 6’4”. He will be 24 in February, which will be looked at closely. Finally, and most importantly, his knee issues are very important.

Mix all of these combinations together with the fact that he played in Conference USA, a league that only had four teams over .500, and Keenum will need a solid combine. There will be too much pressure for him to live up to the hype, similar to when he threw two interceptions against Southern Mississippi to end the regular season.

He may have a solid NFL career, but he will need to show a lot at the combine. I don’t think he will.

Dan Persa: Northwestern—4-7^th round

Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa threw for 2,163 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season after missing the first three games. His accuracy has skyrocketed since his first year of receiving significant playing time in 2009. He went from 58.8 percent to 74.2 percent in his senior season.

Persa is going to need to show his quality accuracy to scouts because he doesn’t have other dynamic tools.

Aside from Michigan State, Persa showcased his share of struggles against Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan, despite putting up healthy yardage numbers.

He may not have the best combine, but if a team gives him the chance in the NFL Draft, Persa could be a hidden gem.

Scouts won’t be impressed with his overall work at the combine, but sometimes the combine doesn’t help the issue.