2012 NFL draft Big Board

Coby Fleener, a lesser-known Stanford star, looks like a first-round lock

Originally Published: March 28, 2012
By Mel Kiper Jr. | ESPN Insider

What can Andrew Luck really gain at this time from a scouting standpoint? Well, his pro day proved he still could gain something. Luck was predictably solid and even played the psychological aspect, throwing nearly every pass into the wind. But Luck wasn't alone. The newest addition to the Big Board is his teammate at Stanford, Coby Fleener. After showing exceptional speed in the 40-yard dash plus great leaping ability, Fleener is now a size (6-foot-6, 247 pounds) and speed combination that teams can imagine splitting out the way the Patriots have with Rob Gronkowski. It's a market hungry for matchup advantages at that position, and Fleener will benefit.

As always, read on and let me know who should be higher or who has been passed over. Juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.

More Kiper NFL draft content:

Mock Draft 3.0 | Latest Big Board | Top 5 by position

1
Andrew Luck *
AGE: 22
DOB: 9/12/89
HT: 6-4
WT: 234
POS: QB
Comp 288
Att 404
Pct 71.3
Yds 3,517
TD 37
Int 10

Luck's pro day was a success, and there's no reason to speculate that he would go anywhere but No. 1. Luck has worked hard during the draft process, confirming a lot of what evaluators felt about his mentality. Status quo remains in terms of profile. The total package: arm strength, size, smarts, demeanor.

LAST WEEK: 1 | PLAYER CARD

2
Robert Griffin III *
AGE: 22
DOB: 2/12/90
HT: 6-2
WT: 223
POS: QB
Comp 291
Att 402
Pct 72.4
Yds 4,293
TD 37
Int 6

No change here. He'll be taken at No. 2 with the expectation that he can start in Week 1. I don't disagree. He is accurate, has the arm to hit deep shots in Mike Shanahan's system, and is a proven leader. Has convinced evaluators he's a QB first, athlete second.

LAST WEEK: 2 | PLAYER CARD

3
Matt Kalil *
AGE: 22
DOB: 7/6/89
HT: 6-6
WT: 306
POS: OT
GP 12
GS 12

No moves here. Kalil has been as steady on the board as any player outside of Luck. His tape is great, and the plus for him is he might not need time to develop at right tackle, a common break-in spot for many left tackles. Fits in Minnesota.

LAST WEEK: 3 | PLAYER CARD

4
Trent Richardson *
AGE: 20
DOB: 7/10/91
HT: 5-9
WT: 228
POS: RB
Car 283
Yds 1,679
Avg. 5.9
TD 21

Still an interesting draft picture, as I see a range of up to 7 or 8 picks for him. Could he go as high as No. 4? We'll see. He's powerful and fast with improved vision and pass-catching skills, runs with good pad level and breaks tackles with ease.

LAST WEEK: 4 | PLAYER CARD

5
Morris Claiborne *
AGE: 22
DOB: 2/7/90
HT: 5-11
WT: 188
POS: CB
Tkl 51
Sack 0
Int 6

The question on Claiborne for me is whether it's Rams, Bucs or a trade. Not a total burner, more a true technician; he was the lesser-known but easily better LSU corner last season. Exceptional pure corner with impeccable instincts. Locates the ball and can catch it.

LAST WEEK: 5 | PLAYER CARD


To see the rest of Mel Kiper's latest Big Board, you must be an ESPN Insider.

Mel Kiper Jr.

Football analyst
  • ESPN NFL Draft analyst since 1984
  • Contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio
  • Writes weekly for ESPN Insider

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