32 Prospects to Watch in 2012

[Matthew Jones]

Here are my top-32 players for the 2013 NFL Draft, listed alphabetically by position.

32 prospects to watch in 2012

1. QB Matt Barkley, Southern California

2. QB Aaron Murray, Georgia*

3. QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech*

4. QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

5. RB Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina*

6. WR Keenan Allen, California*

7. WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee*

8. WR Marquess Wilson, Washington St.*

9. WR Robert Woods, Southern California*

10. TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame*

11. OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M*

12. OT Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

13. OG Chance Warmack, Alabama

14. C Khaled Holmes, Southern California

15. C Barrett Jones, Alabama

16. DT Johnathon Hankins, Ohio St.*

17. DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

18. DT Kawann Short, Purdue

19. DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas*

20. DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida St.

21. DE Barkevious Mingo, Louisiana St.*

22. DE Sam Montgomery, Louisiana St.*

23. DE Alex Okafor, Texas

24. LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia*

25. LB Kevin Reddick, North Carolina

26. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

27. CB David Amerson, North Carolina St.*

28. CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi St.

29. CB Tyrann Mathieu, Louisiana St.*

30. CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida St.*

31. FS T.J. McDonald, Southern California

32. FS Eric Reid, Louisiana St.*

[SenorGato]

Are these the guys you think will go in the first round?

[CashmoneyDrew]

Aaron Murray is a fine college player, but I just don't see what others are seeing with regards to his pro prospects.

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by SenorGato

Are these the guys you think will go in the first round?

Think of it as more of a preliminary, unranked big board. There are a number of prospects being considered first-round picks that I wouldn't draft there at this point.

[OSUGiants17]

I think at this point it's tough to make a BB. Do you rank it off past years play, the strides you expect them to make(Margus Hunt)/the digression you expect out of players(Landry Jones), or a combination of both? Same thing with a mock draft at this point, people may think you have their team reaching, but a year from now they could be getting a steal. O what a difference a year makes.

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by OSUGiants17

I think at this point it's tough to make a BB. Do you rank it off past years play, the strides you expect them to make(Margus Hunt)/the digression you expect out of players(Landry Jones), or a combination of both? Same thing with a mock draft at this point, people may think you have their team reaching, but a year from now they could be getting a steal. O what a difference a year makes.

I generally rank prospects based on their current level of play. Making projections seems riskier than evaluating how well they perform right now. D.J. Fluker, Margus Hunt, and Johnathan Jenkins are some players who could rise into the first round based on physical ability.

[SF Dolphin Fan]

A little off topic, but what's your take on the prospects who have applied for the sup. draft. I haven't seen it discussed, other than Gordon, on this site.