Names to know in the AFC
2012 class full of immediate upgrades and potential steals
The 2012 NFL draft is in the books, and after evaluating all 253 picks, here's my look at the player drafted after the first round (with two exceptions) who will make the biggest impact for each AFC team in 2012, and the most intriguing pick for each team.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Impact pick: WR T.J. Graham (third) -- There won't be huge expectations for Graham as a third-rounder, but the Bills like to spread teams out in the shotgun and he can contribute working from the slot. He brings the speed Buffalo needs, both as a vertical route-runner and after the catch, and that big-play ability makes up for his lack of ideal size. And with his 4.38-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Graham was a big-time return man in college and will contribute in that role in the NFL as well.
Intriguing pick: OT Zebrie Sanders (fifth) -- Bills general manager Buddy Nix has done a great job finding starters in the third round or later in recent drafts, and Sanders is the most intriguing pick in that area from the 2012 class. He's an experienced starter who has played on both the right and left sides and will make an easy transition from Florida State's scheme to Buffalo's zone-blocking system. He needs to get stronger overall, but he's a smart, efficient tackle with long arms and good mobility, and going from a college system that emphasized cutting weight and gaining mobility to an NFL training program will help him immensely. Considering Buffalo's struggles when it comes to finding tackles, getting one with a third-round grade in the fifth could prove to be a steal.
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2012 NFL DRAFT

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- DraftTracker | Trades | Team talk
- Radio coverage | Draft blog
- First-round photo gallery

POWER RANKINGS
MEL KIPER/TODD MCSHAY
- Kiper Grades: Eagles, Bucs lead the pack

- McShay's AFC evaluation | NFC

- Kiper: Impact players from Rounds 2-3

- Kiper: First-round impact players

- McShay: How undrafted free agents fit

PICK-BY-PICK ANALYSIS
- Round 1: 3 hours
- Round 2: 2 hours, 6 minutes
- Round 3: 1 hour, 42 minutes
- Round 4: 1 hour, 53 minutes
- Round 5: 1 hour, 39 minutes
- Round 6: 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Round 7: 2 hours
TEAM-BY-TEAM PICKS
- AFC East: Buffalo | Mia. | N.E. | NY Jets
- AFC North: Balt. | Cinc. | Cleve. | Pitt.
- AFC South: Hou. | Indy | Jax | Tenn.
- AFC West: Den. | K.C. | Oak. | S.D.
- NFC East: Dallas | NYG | Phila. | Wash.
- NFC North: Chi. | Det. | G.B. | Minnesota
- NFC South: Atl. | Car. | N.O. | Tampa
- NFC West: Ariz. | S.F. | St. Louis | Sea.
DIVISION DRAFT REVIEWS
ANALYSIS/COMMENTARY
- Seifert: Packers change offseason tactics
- TMQ: Cornerbacks at a premium in draft
- Clayton mailbag: Did Seahawks err?
- Brandt: Cousins pick a head-scratcher
- Schefter: Biggest winners at draft
- Fox: Skins create another QB controversy
- Clayton: Defensive decisions loom large
- Chadiha: Best/worst draft marriages
- Harris: Top fantasy rookies for 2012
- Scouts Inc.: Top 10 undrafted free agents

- Clayton: Day 2 winners, losers
- Kiper: Day 2 winners, questions

- Reilly: What's with all the hugs?
- Scouts Inc.: Pick-by-pick analysis

- Kiper: Day 1 winners, question marks

- Clayton: Day 1 winners, losers
- Fox: Relief, not pressure, for Claiborne
- Joyner: Fantasy outlook for Luck, RG3

NFC COLUMNS/BLOG POSTS
- Sando: Defining day for Rams
- Graziano: Eagles draft like confident team
- Seifert: Give Lions a pass on this pick
- Yasinskas: Falcons keep plowing with Konz
- Seifert: Vikings' GM works wonders
- Sando: Irvin caps wild NFC West night
- Graziano: RG3 knows it gets tougher
- Yasinskas: The new 'Buccaneer Man'
AFC COLUMNS/BLOG POSTS
- Williamson: Elway gets his QB again
- Kuharsky: Punter makes Jags a punch line
- Hensley: Steelers protecting Big Ben
- Walker: It's all or nothing for Jets
- Hensley: Richardson sparks Browns
- Hensley: Browns' Weeden pick not good
- Kuharsky: With Luck comes obligations
- Walker: Dolphins 'all-in' with Tannehill
- Williamson: Crennel is key to Poe pick
ESPN LOCAL COVERAGE
- Horton: How Eagles adapt to Kelly's scheme
- Millman: 2013 NFL win total picks
- Tuley: Best early-season win-total bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

