2012 NFL draft Big Board

The biggest movers up the Board this week both hail from South Carolina

Originally Published: April 11, 2012
By Mel Kiper Jr. | ESPN Insider

Another week without major changes at the top, where the two quarterbacks we've been talking about for months are effectively holding things down, just as they will up until draft day. Two of the bigger movers this week played together last season. Melvin Ingram continues to rise as a versatile pass-rusher, and could easily go as high as No. 7 overall. Elsewhere, cornerback Stephon Gilmore has risen enough where I can see him as the No. 2 corner taken, perhaps even in the top 10.

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:

Overrated/underrated prospects | Mock 4.0 | Latest Big Board | Top 5 players by position | Regrading the 2011 NFL draft

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

I know he visited the Redskins, but it's a pipe dream that he'll fall to No. 2. Luck has worked hard during the draft process, confirming a lot of what evaluators felt about his mentality. No change in profile. Arm strength, size, smarts, demeanor all there. Ready to play.

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

Another guy we've had penciled in with a team for a while. Washington will expect him to start in Week 1. He's accurate, throws a good deep ball, is a proven leader, and has shown evaluators he's a QB first, athlete second.

LAST WEEK: 2 | PLAYER CARD

3
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

Stays at No. 3, and he could go as high as No. 4. He's powerful and fast, has vision and pass-catching skills; he's a beast and explodes from and through contact. Total-package RB.

LAST WEEK: 4 | PLAYER CARD

4
Matt Kalil *
AGE: 22
DOB: 7/6/89
HT: 6-6
WT: 306
POS: OT
GP 12
GS 12

Steady as any LT prospect I've seen in a while, perhaps since Miami went with Jake Long. The tape is great, and shows us a player who won't need to apprentice on the right side.

LAST WEEK: 3 | PLAYER CARD

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

All the nonsense about test scores hasn't done anything. Claiborne's aptitude for the game of football, and his approach, is sound. A true technician, he's an exceptional pure corner with impeccable instincts. Locates the ball and can catch it.

LAST WEEK: 5 | PLAYER CARD


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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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