Every team, “draft expert” and draftnik has a “big board”. I am no different. Here is my Big Board for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Top 255 Players
1. Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III QB Baylor
3. Matt Kalil OT USC
4. Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College
5. Morris Claiborne CB LSU
6. Trent Richardson RB Alabama
7. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St.
8. David DeCastro OG Stanford
9. Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State
10. Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
11. Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
12. Dont’a Hightower ILB Alabama
13. Riley Reiff OT Iowa
14. Melvin Ingram OLB South Carolina
15. Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina
16. Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
17. Dontari Poe DT Memphis
18. Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
19. Mark Barron S Alabama
20. Michael Brockers DT LSU
21. Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
22. Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M
23. Kendall Wright WR Baylor
24. Cordy Glenn OT Georgia
25. Peter Konz C Wisconsin
26. Coby Fleener TE Stanford
27. Mike Adams OT Ohio State
28. Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois
29. Devon Still DT Penn State
30. Nick Perry DE USC
31. Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
32. Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
33. Bobby Massie OT Ole Miss
34. Jerel Worthy DT Michigan State
35. Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
36. Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
37. Josh Robinson CB UCF
38. Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
39. Jayron Hosley CB Virginia Tech
40. Zach Brown OLB North Carolina
41. Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State
42. Doug Martin RB Boise State
43. Brandon Weeden QB
49. David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
50. Michael Brewster C Ohio State
51. Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern State
52.Casey Hayward CB Vanderbilt
53. Rueben Randle WR LSU
54. Jared Crick DT Nebraska
55. Tommy Streeter WR Miami (FL)
56. Lavonte David OLB Nebraska
57. Harrison Smith S Notre Dame St.
58. Kendall Reyes DT Connecticut
59. Trumaine Johnson CB Montana
60. Robert Turbin RB Utah State
61. Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
62. Ronnell Lewis OLB Oklahoma
63. Cam Johnson OLB Virginia
64. Josh Chapman DT Alabama
65. Brandon Brooks OG Miami (OH)
66. Mike Martin DT Michigan
67. Josh Norman CB Coastal Carolina
68. Ben Jones C Georgia
69. Chandler Jones DE Syracuse
70. Ladarius Green TE UL-Lafayette
71. Dwight Bentley CB UL-Lafayette
72. Brandon Mosley OT Auburn
73. LaMichael James RB Oregon
74. Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma
75. Shea McClellin OLB Boise State
76. Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
77. Jeff Allen OT Illinois
78. Vinny Curry DE/OLB Marshall
79. Brandon Boykin CB Georgia
80. Andre Branch OLB Clemson
81. Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati
82. Bobby Wagner OLB Utah State
83. Leonard Johnson CB Iowa State
84. Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
85. David Molk C Michigan
86. Mychal Kendricks ILB California
87. Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
88. Chris Polk RB Washington
89. Lucas Nix OG Pittsburgh
90. Jarius Wright WR Arkansas
91. Senio Kelemete OG Washington
92. Ryan Steed CB Furman
93. Marvin McNutt WR Iowa
94. Justin Bethel S Presbyterian
95. Marvin Jones WR California
96. Levy Adcock OT Oklahoma State
97. Trevor Guyton DT California
98. Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin
99. Matt McCants OT UAB
100. Billy Winn DT Boise State
101. Juron Criner WR Arizona
102. Brandon Washington OG Miami
103. Jamell Fleming CB Oklahoma
104. Philip Blake C Baylor
105. Jordan White WR Western Mich
106. Mitchell Schwartz OT California
107. Dwight Jones WR N. Carolina
108. Kirk Cousins QB Michigan St.
109. Jeff Fuller WR Texas A&M
111. Joe Adams WR Arkansas
110. Derek Wolfe DT Cincinnati
112. Chris Givens WR Wake Forest
113. Mike Harris CB Florida State
114. Michael Egnew TE Missouri
115. Tramain Thomas S Arkansas
116. DeVier Posey WR Ohio State
117. Asa Jackson CB Cal Poly
118. Markelle Martin S Oklahoma St.
119. Shaun Prater CB Iowa
120. Tony Bergstrom OT Utah
121. Gerell Robinson WR Arizona St.
122. Sean Spence OLB Miami (FL)
123. A.J. Jenkins WR Illinois
125. Frank Alexander DE Oklahoma
124. Cyrus Gray RB Texas A&M
126. Ryan Miller OG Colorado
127. Omar Bolden CB Arizona State
128. Keenan Robinson OLB Texas
129. Quinton Saulsberry C Miss St.
130. DeQuan Menzie CB Alabama
131. Drake Dunsmore TE N-western
132. Terrance Ganaway RB Baylor
133. Nate Potter OT Boise State
134. Bernard Pierce RB Temple
135. James Brown OT Troy
136. Malik Jackson DE Tennessee
137. B.J. Coleman QB UT-Chatt.
138. Marquis Maze WR Alabama
139. DaJohn Harris DT USC
140. Coryell Judie CB Texas A&M
141. T.Y. Hilton WR Florida Int.
142. Andrew Datko OT Florida State
143. Brad Smelley TE Alabama
144. Jack Crawford DE Penn State
145. Vick Ballard RB Mississippi St.
146. Joe Looney OG Wake Forest
147. JM Johnson ILB Nevada
150. Jake Bequette DE Arkansas
149. Audie Cole ILB N.C. State
148. Tyrone Crawford DE Boise St.
151. Travis Lewis OLB Oklahoma
152. Brock Osweiler QB Arizona State
153. Brandon Taylor S LSU
154. Greg Childs WR Arkansas
155. George Iloka S Boise State
156. Danny Coale WR Virginia Tech
157. Bruce Irvin OLB West Virginia
158. Devon Wylie WR Fresno State
159. Tom Compton OT South Dakota
160. Eric Page WR Toledo
161. Brandon Lindsey OLB Pittsburgh
162. Marcus Forston DT Miami (FL)
163. Terrell Manning OLB N.C. State
164. Brandon Bolden RB Ole Miss
165. Jonathan Massaquoi OLB Troy
166. Ron Brooks CB LSU
167. Justin Anderson OG Georgia
168. Jarrett Boykin WR Virginia Tech
169. Nigel Bradham OLB Florida State
170. Will Vlachos C Alabama
171. Trenton Robinson S Michigan State
172. Kheeston Randle DT Texas
173. Donnie Fletcher CB Boston College
174. Kellen Moore QB Boise State
175. Emmanuel Acho OLB Texas
176. Jaye Howard DT Florida
177. Kyle Wilber OLB Wake Forest
178. Nick Foles QB Arizona
179. Alfred Morris RB Florida Atlantic
180. Tydreke Powell DT North Carolina
181. Josh Kaddu OLB Oregon
182. Christian Tupou DT USC
183. Charles Brown CB North Carolina
184. Akiem Hicks DT Regina
185. Olivier Vernon DE Miami (FL)
186. Chris Rainey RB Florida
187. Ryan Lindley QB San Diego State
188. Hebron Fangupo DT BYU
189. Tauren Poole RB Tennessee
190. Adam Gettis OG Iowa
191. B.J. Cunningham WR Michigan State
192. Matt Reynolds OG BYU
193. Jermaine Kearse WR Washington
194. Edwin Baker RB Michigan State
195. T.J. Graham WR N.C. State
196. Ronnie Hillman RB San Diego State
197. Brian Linthicum TE Michigan State
198. Rishaw Johnson OG California (PA)
199. Brian Quick WR Appalachian State
200. Tony Jerod-Eddie DT Texas A&M
201. LaVon Brazill WR Ohio
202. Antonio Fenelus CB Wisconsin
203. Deangelo Peterson TE LSU
204. Bryan Anger P California
205. Antonio Allen S South Carolina
206. J.J. McDermott QB SMU
207. Davin Meggett RB Maryland
208. George Bryan TE N.C. State
209. Patrick Edwards WR Houston
210. Robert Blanton CB Notre Dame
211. Dan Herron RB Ohio State
212. Mike Daniels DT Iowa
213. Darron Thomas QB Oregon
214. Markus Kuhn DT N.C. State
215. Blair Walsh K Georgia
216. Evan Rodriguez TE Temple
217. Jaymes Brooks OG Virginia Tech
218. Shawn Powell P Florida State
219. Janzen Jackson S McNeese State
220. Kelvin Beachum OG SMU
221. Chris Greenwood CB Albion Christian
222. Adrian Robinson OLB Temple
224. Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State
223. Randy Bullock K Texas A&M
225. Case Keenum QB Houston
226. Donte Paige-Moss DE North Carolina
227. James Hanna TE Oklahoma
228. Cliff Harris CB Oregon
229. Chandler Harnish QB Northern Illinois
230. David Paulson TE Oregon
231. Tank Carder OLB TCU
232. Drew Butler P Georgia
233. Renard Williams DT Eastern Washington
234. Carson Wiggs K Purdue
235. Derek Dennis OG Temple
236. Rishard Matthews WR Nevada
237. Rokevious Watkins OG South Carolina
238. Lennon Creer RB Louisiana Tech
239. Kevin Koger TE Michigan
240. Philip Welch K Wisconsin
241. Cordarro Law DE Southern Miss
242. Brad Nortman P Wisconsin
243. Keshawn Martin WR Michigan State
245. Jerry Franklin ILB Arkansas
244. Marcel Jones OT Nebraska
246. Sean Richardson S Vanderbilt
247. Bradie Ewing FB Wisconsin
248. Marc Tyler RB USC
249. Sean Cattouse S California
250. Darrell Scott RB South Florida
251. Kelcie McCray S Arkansas State
252. Jewel Hampton RB Southern Illinois
253. Da’Jon McKnight WR Minnesota
254. Scott Solomon DE Rice
255. Elvis Akpla WR Montana State
The sky is the limit for Michael Brockers’ upside and potential in the NFL. He is a developmental project who will need time to grow and mature as a player, and the team that drafts him must be willing to be patient as he develops. In my opinion, Brockers projects best as a 3-4 base end five-technique where his size, strength, and powerful base project very well here; in this role, he also would not be expected to produce as a pass rusher the same as if he were in a 4-3 defense, where he projects more as a massive one-technique down inside; he doesn’t offer the quick feet or shortarea burst that I look for in a three-technique. If he comes close to reaching his full potential and upside, Michael Brockers will be a perennial Pro Bowler. However, he is very far away from that point and looks the part of a boom-or-bust prospect who needs to land with the right team in order to find success in the NFL.
Ronnell Lewis is an intriguing pass rushing prospect because of the physical tools that he offers. Lewis projects favorably as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker where the wide alignment outside could give him a better opportunity to rush the passer at the next level. In the 4-3 defense, he either projects as a pass rush specialist at end or as a developmental project as a WILL linebacker, however he projects far better in the 3-4 than 4-3. Lewis is still a raw prospect who needs quite a bit of development, however he has the physical tools to develop into a productive starting rush linebacker for a team in the NFL; it’s just a question of how quickly he can develop, how well he can learn a complex defense, and how much work he will put in off the field. Because he has high upside but so many questions at the same time, Lewis has the makings of being a boom-or-bust prospect.
With Chris Polk, NFL teams will know exactly what they’re getting: a bell cow of a running back who is not going to be a home run hitter, but has what it takes to be a starting back in the mold of Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons, a consistent back who will average just over four yards per carry and will lose his speed and agility as he ages and accumulates more carries and the hits that come with them. Where Chris helps himself is with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, which is something that Turner doesn’t offer, giving Polk a chance to contribute early in his career in the NFL. Polk lost weight and seemed to increase his speed which only helps him in the NFL.
Tramain Thomas is a complete prospect at the safety position who has what it takes to develop into a solid starting strong safety in the NFL with a year or two of further development. His value is higher this year than in any other year because of the poor safety class in 2012. At worst, he’d be a quality fifth-or-sixth defensive back for nickel and dime defenses and a great special teams player, however he has far higher upside than that.
Ryan Broyles is a very reliable option in the passing game who has the tools and skillset needed to develop into a very good slot receiver and No. 3 option in the passing game for a team. While it remains to be seen if he’ll be an explosive presence, his ability to work the short-to-intermediate range as a “catch-and-run” option can not be denied. Broyles can offer a ton of value to a team with his dependability and consistency as a receiver.
Akiem Hicks is simply a raw, talented, athletic piece of clay that his position coach will need to be able to get his hands on and mold into an NFL defensive lineman at the next level. He’s the epitome of a developmental project and it would not surprise me if it took a few years for him to transition and begin to develop; the team that he lands with must be patient with him. He projects well as a three-technique tackle in the 4-3 defense or as a five-technique base end in the 3-4 defense. With a raw, talented player from Canada, he’s an intriguing prospect because his upside and potential are high, however his ceiling will be determined by the team that he lands with and how well they can develop him. He has the tools and skillset needed to be a fine rotational defensive tackle or end who has the athleticism and agility to be a nice pass rusher, however it’d be a stretch to say that he can eventually be a starter in the NFL, as it’s simply too hard to say.
Philip Blake is a big, strong, tough center prospect who has the physical tools and skillset to develop into a fine starting center in the NFL; he’s not going to be a high-upside player, however for a power-run oriented team looking for a player who could develop quickly and pave holes in the run game, Philip would be a great fit.
Chase Minnifield owns the talent and physical tools needed to eventually develop into a starting defensive back in the NFL, however his average showing during his senior season suggests that he still has a ways to go to reach that point and with questions about his knees, his stock is dropping fast and far. Minnifield projects best as a cornerback in a Cover-2 scheme in which he would be given the opportunity to play in zone coverage and work close to the line of scrimmage as a run defender. I could also see him moving to free safety with his ball skills, instincts, and experience in zone coverage. The talent and skills are there, Chase just needs further development in order to become an NFL-caliber defensive back.
B.J. Coleman is a former top recruit who originally signed with the University of Tennessee, is a quality small-school developmental quarterback prospect who projects early on as a fine No. 2 or more likely No. 3 quarterback for a team who has the instincts, understanding of the game, intangibles, and physical tools needed to develop quickly and have a successful pro career. Although he needs a few years of development, I believe that B.J. could compete for a starting job down the road if given the opportunity. He has some untapped potential because of the low-level of competition that he played at and the fact that he was dinged up for part of his senior year. Coleman is a player that I would strongly consider drafting in the mid-to-late rounds if I were running a draft.
I really like this kid A LOT! Greenwood has the size (6’1/196) and projected speed (4.37) to intrigue teams late in the draft. The level of competition is a huge question with Greenwood. He literally shut down half of the field for 3 years while attending Albion. Greenwood also has the type of personality that would make him a perfect fit in the Green Bay locker room, humble, hard working and eager to learn. This kid is more of an athlete then CB right now, but if Joe Whitt Jr. can tap into his potential like he did Shields a couple years ago, the Packers would be suddenly deep at CB.
Tom Compton has all of the tools, measurables, and the skillset that you look for in a developmental player capable of eventually competing for a starting job in the NFL. I believe that he could be a very effective offensive guard in the NFL, however he should be tried at right tackle first, as he has enough upside to grow into being a good player here at the next level. The expected versatility that he should be able to bring to the table will certainly help his value to the team that drafts him. Tom won’t be a flashy pick, however if he lands with a team that is willing to be patient with him, he could turn out to be a gem in the mid-to-late rounds if he lands with the right team.
Cordarro Law has the motor, intensity, pass rushing awareness, and polished hand use needed to develop into an effective situational pass rush specialist for a team. His ceiling is limited because of his lack of size and strength, however for a team looking for a player who will bring great effort and has the skills to get to the quarterback, Law could be a nice find late in the draft. In my opinion, Law has some intriguing upside as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker where I think that he could surprise some people if given the chance to compete for a job here; in the 4-3 defense, he projects as a pass rushing end.
Trent Richardson is the most complete running back prospect to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson (who was selected seventh overall in 2007 by the Vikings). Trent Richardson is a classic workhorse back who put Alabama’s offense on his shoulders in leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship season in 2011. The Doak Walker Award winner as the best running back in college football, Richardson is only a one year starter after splitting time with Mark Ingram during the first two years of his career. Owning rare strength for the running back position (475 pound bench, 650 pound squat, 365 pound clean), Trent is built like a bulldog, who is a thick, powerful running back with Redwood tree trunks for legs and an ideal combination of size, strength, and speed for the position. A workhorse back capable of shouldering the load in the run game, Richardson is one of the best between-the-tackles runners to enter the NFL in the past five years. He displays rare patience to wait for his blocks to develop while staying at full steam in order to accelerate through the hole the second that it opens up. Richardson is a true “bell cow back” who owns the power and strength needed to run through tackles with ease; he does a fabulous job of running behind his pads, and with his center of gravity and pad level, he’s almost always the lowest man at the point of contact with the defender. Trent has natural vision down the field, finding open cutback lanes with ease while owning the burst and acceleration needed to hit it consistently. He’s shown the ability to stick his foot in the ground and cut up the field or bounce the run to the outside after reaching the second level. A versatile all-purpose athlete capable of running, catching, and returning, Richardson brought a complete package of tools to Alabama. A natural receiver out of the backfield, Trent caught 68 passes for 730 yards and seven touchdowns over the course of his career.
One of the most complete running backs available in this year’s draft, Doug Martin leaves Boise State after having been a valuable weapon on offense for the Broncos. A two-year starter in Boise, Martin finished his career having rushed for 3,435 yards and 43 touchdowns on 616 carries, good for a 5.6-yards per carry average; his best statistical season came as a senior in 2011 when he produced 1,299 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns on 263 carries (4.9-yards per carry). A compact, downhill runner with a terrific combination of strength, agility, and quickness to take the ball the distance from 30 anywhere on the field, Martin has a habit of making defenders miss once he reaches the second level and is given room to work with in the open field. A patient runner with very good vision through the hole, Doug’s decisive running style and fantastic cutback ability are reasons why he has been a very hard player for opposing defenses to bring down. In addition to providing the shiftiness and elusiveness to make a defender miss in the open field, Martin runs low to the ground with good leg drive, and when you combine that with his great strength and balance as a runner, he’s proven that he can also run through defenders at the second and third levels. A very good yards-after-contact back who does not go down easily, Doug does a good job of running behind his pads and turns into a tough, powerful back through the hole once he reaches his top speed as quickly as does. His explosion and burst through the hole and down the field is excellent and I love his ability to stop and start on a dime when redirecting at the second level. Although not elite, Doug has shown that he has more than enough speed to beat a defense as a home run threat. What makes Martin such a complete back is his reliability as a pass blocker as well as when he’s catching the ball out of the backfield. He’s polished as a blocker with the overall strength to consistently take on and neutralize defenders at the point of attack. Having caught 67 passes for 709 yards and four touchdowns throughout his career at Boise State, Doug has displayed the soft, dependable hands needed to be a terrific check down or safety net.
Emerging at the national level in 2011, Lamar Miller took advantage of being handed the starting job and ran with it at Miami (FL). A one-year starter with just 13 career starts for the Hurricanes, Miller rushed for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns on 227 carries (5.6 yards-per-carry) during his redshirt sophomore season; he finished his career at Miami having carried the ball 335 times for 1,918 yards and 15 touchdowns. A downhill, one-cut back with the agility needed to stick his foot in the ground and make a defender miss, Lamar owns the straight-line speed needed to take it the distance any time he touches it. Owning a fine frame for the position, Miller will need to continue to add weight and get stronger at the next level. With very quick feet to and through the hole, Lamar offers very good acceleration upon reaching an opening and shows the burst needed to pick up speed and run away from a defense. Between the tackles, he offers enough bulk needed to bounce off of tacklers, however not enough to physically run through them with power; he runs more upright than you’d prefer, not doing a good enough job yet of running behind his pads at the point of contact. Lamar shows the quickness at the second level needed to make a defender miss with one cut to get the ball outside and into the open field. Miller owns the explosion that you look for in short areas, making him a very difficult player to bring down for just one defender, as he’s more than capable of either evading or sliding off the tackle. He’s not quite a quick-twitch back who will make defenders miss on a consistent basis, but has the type of light feet where it comes natural to him to change speeds without hesitation to create separation.
When Ryan Williams and Darren Evans both declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, many expected David Wilson to come in and be a fine replacement, however not many could have expected him to rush for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns on 290 carries (5.9-yards per carry) as well as being named the ACC Player of the Year in his first season as the Hokies’ starter in 2011. That standout season resulted in a one-and-done situation in which Wilson opted to declare for the draft himself, making it three Hokie backs in two years to enter the NFL. Over the course of his three-year career at Virginia Tech, David rushed for a total of 2,662 yards and 18 touchdowns on 462 carries (5.8-yards per carry). One of the top all-around athletes in the country at any position, Wilson proved in 2011 to be one of the most elusive backs in college football, capable of sticking his foot in the ground and getting up the field very quickly. An explosive and agile runner with great vision, David has very light, nimble feet with excellent quickness to find the hole and pick his way through it; he does a great job of tip toeing his way through traffic with good patience while also showing the suddenness, acceleration, and burst needed to dart in and out of holes in the open field. Wilson’s explosiveness was more than evident at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis where he had a standout performance (41 inch vertical, 11 foot broad jump) which has helped his draft stock. Wilson is a far more effective runner in the open field than between the tackles, David is an effective east/west runner who gets outside to the perimeter quickly on stretches and sweeps and has proven to be a dangerous threat in the open field who is very difficult for defenses to contain. He’s a very balanced runner who has shown on numerous occasions that he has the skills needed to create on his own. Between the tackles, Wilson does a fine job of following his blocks through the hole before sticking his foot in the ground to cut outside once he reaches the second level; he has little trouble side-stepping linebackers in the hole and offers the fluid athleticism and flexibility needed to redirect on a dime to take a different angle down the field.
The second-leading rusher in Washington school history, Polk proved to be a bell cow for the Husky offense throughout his career, finishing his four-year stay with 4,049 yards and 26 touchdowns on 799 carries (5.1-yards per carry); his most productive season came as a senior in 2011 when he carried the ball 293 times for 1,488 yards and 12 touchdowns (5.1-yards per carry). A workhorse back capable of carrying the full load in the run game, Polk offers an excellent combination of size, strength, balance, and speed for the position. In the last three years, Chris has 20 games where he carried the ball 20+ times, including 10 as a senior in 2011; his ability to shoulder the load in the run game and allow for his offense to run him into the ground and still gain production is something that I really like about him. He’s a dependable and reliable back who his team could lean on when they needed to pick up yardage. Chris is a north/south runner who possesses enough shiftiness and agility to make a defense respect his ability to make defenders miss. Although not very explosive or quick, he’s an agile player with light enough feet to tiptoe his way through traffic and make a cut to elude a defender. A big yards-after-contact back who runs with power, Polk is capable of running through arm tackles at the second level when given the chance to gain momentum with an open hole. He’s not one that owns the quick-twitch ability to create on his own in the backfield, however when he has the opportunity to hit a hole, he does so with good acceleration, giving himself the chance to bounce off of defenders down the field. I also like the fact that he churns his legs to pick up extra yardage after contact; it’s almost rare when one defender brings him down by himself, often needing swarming teammates to assist with the tackle. Chris is a very patient runner who consistently waits for his blocks to develop up front before entering the hole; there are times when he’s almost too hesitant, which will result in him being caught behind the line or being stonewalled at the line of scrimmage. One of the most underrated parts of Polk’s overall game is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. A natural receiver with soft hands, Chris hauled in a total of 79 passes for 683 yards and four touchdowns throughout his career with the Huskies. (Note: I have watched play since he was in High School at Redlands East Valley HS in Redlands, California)
