TOP 10 PROSPECTS IN 2012 NFL DRAFT

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: Compared to John Elway and cost Peyton Manning his job. Must be pretty good.

2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: A prototypical new-age NFL QB who could cure all that ails the Redskins or earn them a dunce cap atop everyone's list of worst draft trades ever.

3. Matt Kalil, LT, USC: Any draftnik worth his pocket protector can't say "Matt Kalil" without adding "the safest pick in the draft." But, yes, there's even a risk in taking left tackles in the top five. Did someone say, "Robert Gallery?"

4. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: He's a bonafide college playmaker, which is great. He's also a receiver, which makes him, well, completely unpredictable at the next level.

5. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: Must be a top-five talent. Otherwise, someone wouldn't have leaked his Wonderlic score (allegedly a 4) with the obvious goal of hoping it will cause him to drop.

6. Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: Can't go beyond six picks without mentioning a 6-6, 284-pounder who can knock down QBs with speed and bull rushes.

7. Riley Reiff, LT, Iowa: See Nos. 6 and 8 to understand why there's always a run on left tackles in the first round.

8. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina: Excellent pass rusher outside or inside. He's exactly the kind of player the Giants have used in the "NASCAR" rush package.

9. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: Yeah, yeah. We're not big on running backs in the top 10 either. But sometimes one comes along who is extra special.

10. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: Yeah, yeah. We're not big on guys who shoot up the draft board during the incessant pre-draft hype. But we also know that NFL teams have never been less afraid to reach a little when it comes to quarterbacks.

MARK CRAIG