RSS Feed2012 NFL Draft Snapshot
By Chris Malumphy
The 2012 NFL Draft is now history with 253 players having been selected, starting as expected with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck being drafted by Indianapolis and ending with the Colts taking Luck's potential backup, quarterback Chandler Harnish of Northern Illinois, who will be invited to Newport Beach, California, for a week of festivities where he will be honored as Mr. Irrelevant
Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Robert Griffin III from Baylor was selected second.
Alabama produced 8 draft picks, the most of any college, including four first rounders: running back Trent Richardson (Browns), safety Mark Barron (Buccaneers), cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (Bengals) and linebacker Dont'a Hightower (Patriots). Also selected from the Crimonson Tide were linebacker Courtney Upshaw (Ravens), defensive tackle Josh Chapman (Colts), defensive back DeQuan Menzie (Chiefs) and tight end Brad Smelley (Browns).
The Cleveland Browns drafted the most players, 11, including two first rounders, running back Trent Richardson of Alabama and quarterback Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State. Other teams with multiple first round picks included the Bengals (defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick and guard Kevin Zeitler), the Buccaneers (saftety Mark Barron and running back Doug Martin), the Patriots (defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower) and the Vikings (tackle Matt Kalil and defensive back Harrison Smith).
Among the 253 draftees were 32 compensatory picks that were awarded to teams that had lost more or better players to free agency than they signed last year. The Oakland Raiders used the first compensatory pick at the end of the third round to take guard Tony Bergstrom from Utah.
Eight defensive ends were drafted in the first round including Bruce Irvin (Seahawks, West Virginia), Quinton Coples (Jets, North Carolina), Melvin Ingram (Chargers, South Carolina), Shea McClellin (Bears, Boise State), Chandler Jones (Patriots, Syracuse), Whitney Mercilus (Texans, Illinois) and Nick Perry (Packers, USC).
2012 NFL Draft Snapshot | ||||||||
| Category | Round | Pick | Player | Name | Team | Position | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Pick | 1 | 1 | 1 | Andrew Luck | Colts | QB | Stanford | |
| Heisman Trophy | 1 | 2 | 2 | Robert Griffin III | Redskins | QB | Baylor | |
| Mr. Irrelevant | 7 | 46 | 253 | Chandler Harnish | Colts | QB | Northern Illinois | |
| First Quarterback | 1 | 1 | 1 | Andrew Luck | Colts | QB | Stanford | |
| First Running Back | 1 | 3 | 3 | Trent Richardson | Browns | RB | Alabama | |
| First Wide Receiver | 1 | 5 | 5 | Justin Blackmon | Jaguars | WR | Oklahoma State | |
| First Offensive Lineman | 1 | 4 | 4 | Matt Kalil | Vikings | T | USC | |
| First Defensive Lineman | 1 | 11 | 11 | Dontari Poe | Chiefs | DT | Memphis | |
| First Linebacker | 1 | 9 | 9 | Luke Kuechly | Panthers | LB | Boston College | |
| First Defensive Back | 1 | 6 | 6 | Morris Claiborne | Cowboys | DB | Louisiana State | |
| First Punter | 3 | 7 | 70 | Bryan Anger | Jaguars | P | California | |
| First Placekicker | 5 | 26 | 161 | Randy Bullock | Texans | K | Texas A&M | |
| First Compensatory Pick | 3 | 32 | 95 | Tony Bergstrom | Raiders | G | Utah | |
| Top College | 1 | 3 | 3 | Trent Richardson | Browns | RB | Alabama | |
| 1 | 7 | 7 | Mark Barron | Buccaneers | DB | Alabama | ||
| 1 | 17 | 17 | Dre Kirkpatrick | Bengals | DB | Alabama | ||
| 1 | 25 | 25 | Dont'a Hightower | Patriots | LB | Alabama | ||
| 2 | 3 | 35 | Courtney Upshaw | Ravens | LB | Alabama | ||
| 5 | 1 | 136 | Josh Chapman | Colts | DT | Alabama | ||
| 5 | 11 | 146 | DeQuan Menzie | Chiefs | DB | Alabama | ||
| 7 | 40 | 247 | Brad Smelley | Browns | TE | Alabama | ||
| Top Team | 1 | 3 | 3 | Trent Richardson | Browns | RB | Alabama | |
| 1 | 22 | 22 | Brandon Weeden | Browns | QB | Oklahoma State | ||
| 2 | 5 | 37 | Mitchell Schwartz | Browns | T | California | ||
| 3 | 24 | 87 | John Hughes | Browns | DT | Cincinnati | ||
| 4 | 5 | 100 | Travis Benjamin | Browns | WR | Miami (FL) | ||
| 4 | 25 | 120 | James-Michael Johnson | Browns | LB | Nevada | ||
| 5 | 25 | 160 | Ryan Miller | Browns | G | Colorado | ||
| 6 | 34 | 204 | Emmanuel Acho | Browns | LB | Texas | ||
| 6 | 35 | 205 | Billy Winn | Browns | DT | Boise State | ||
| 7 | 38 | 245 | Trevin Wade | Browns | DB | Arizona | ||
| 7 | 40 | 247 | Brad Smelley | Browns | TE | Alabama | ||
| Multiple 1st Round Picks | 1 | 17 | 17 | Dre Kirkpatrick | Bengals | DB | Alabama | |
| 1 | 27 | 27 | Kevin Zeitler | Bengals | G | Wisconsin | ||
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Trent Richardson | Browns | RB | Alabama | ||
| 1 | 22 | 22 | Brandon Weeden | Browns | QB | Oklahoma State | ||
| 1 | 7 | 7 | Mark Barron | Buccaneers | DB | Alabama | ||
| 1 | 31 | 31 | Doug Martin | Buccaneers | RB | Boise State | ||
| 1 | 21 | 21 | Chandler Jones | Patriots | DE | Syracuse | ||
| 1 | 25 | 25 | Dont'a Hightower | Patriots | LB | Alabama | ||
| 1 | 4 | 4 | Matt Kalil | Vikings | T | USC | ||
| 1 | 29 | 29 | Harrison Smith | Vikings | DB | Notre Dame | ||
| Top 1st Round Position | 1 | 15 | 15 | Bruce Irvin | Seahawks | DE | West Virginia | |
| 1 | 16 | 16 | Quinton Coples | Jets | DE | North Carolina | ||
| 1 | 18 | 18 | Melvin Ingram | Chargers | DE | South Carolina | ||
| 1 | 19 | 19 | Shea McClellin | Bears | DE | Boise State | ||
| 1 | 21 | 21 | Chandler Jones | Patriots | DE | Syracuse | ||
| 1 | 26 | 26 | Whitney Mercilus | Texans | DE | Illinois | ||
| 1 | 28 | 28 | Nick Perry | Packers | DE | USC | ||
