The Best in Class: Andrew Luck, Stanford
There are many scouts who are intrigued by Robert Griffin III’s skill set and natural feel for the game, so there will be plenty of people suggesting that Griffin should be the first signal caller off the board in April. But “pound for pound” Luck is still the top quarterback prospect in this draft, if not the top all-around prospect, period. What impresses me most about Luck is his pocket awareness. He anticipates pressure and reacts to it instead of looking for it at the snap. He also keeps his eyes down the field, which is an attribute that all of the elite NFL quarterbacks posses. He goes through his progressions well, displays sound footwork, and has a better arm than people give him credit for. He’s also extremely bright, as evidence of his ability to call plays at the line of scrimmage in Stanford’s offense, and you rarely see him get frazzled. At this point Luck looks like a safe bet at the top of the draft, which is saying a lot considering the position he plays.

The Challenger: Robert Griffin III, Baylor
It appears that the Colts are set on taking Luck with the No. 1 overall pick but Griffin has plenty of time to change their minds. A smart, savvy player with the ability to create using his arm or his legs, Griffin has improved as a passer every year he’s been at Baylor. He has very good arm strength and can fit the ball into tight windows at the second level. He’s also a natural athlete with a high ceiling and plenty of room to grow if a team surrounds him with the right coaching staff. The main knock on Griffin is that he isn’t comfortable taking snaps from under center and isn’t particularly strong at reading the blitz at the snap. But he seems more “boom” than “bust” and certainly has the attention of fans in Cleveland.

Don’t Sleep On: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
Weeden isn’t drawing the same attention as Luck, Griffin, or even Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill. But at 6-foot-4 with a big, accurate arm, Weeden is worth a long look for quarterback-needy teams looking to either move up into the late first round or early second. His age (28) might scare teams away but the fact remains that he has all of the physical attributes and intangibles that pro teams look for in a quarterback. There are some concerns about his inconsistency and he has a habit of forcing throws into coverage, but he could be a perfect fit for teams like the Jets, Seahawks or Broncos.

Mid-Round Sleeper: Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
The biggest knock on Lindley is that he needs to improve his overall footwork and coordination inside the pocket. Thus, this isn’t a prospect that a team can plug into their offense and have him start in year one or two. But at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Lindley looks the part and has very good arm strength. He can make all of the throws at the next level and is an accurate passer. He would be perfect for a team that already has its starter in place but is looking to groom a developmental quarterback for down the line (i.e. the Giants, Falcons or Packers).

Sporting News draft analyst Russ Lande writes that Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is in danger of being undrafted following a poor week in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.

Coming to Mobile, Moore needed to really step up, but things could not have gone much worse for him. Not only did he measure under 6 feet, but he showed below-average arm strength and lacked accuracy on passes longer than 10 yards. He did not show the arm strength to make all the NFL throws with good velocity and had a long delivery and release, which made it easier for defenders to break, close and make plays on his passes. Moore will have to be amazing at the Combine and his pro day if he hopes to get drafted.

This isn’t all that surprising of a report. Moore isn’t the type of quarterback who will force defenses to cover the entire field because his arm strength is limited. His lack of size also becomes a problem when a defense is able to create pressure from the interior and push the pocket into his face. He simply has a lack of physical skills that cannot be overcome, even by a great combine or Pro Day performance.

But that doesn’t mean that Moore won’t prove to be a quality backup or provide depth at the next level. He’s very accurate with the football, has good pocket awareness and he’s able to decipher information quickly. Thus, he shouldn’t be discouraged if he isn’t drafted because he does have a future in the NFL if he gets in the right system.

This kid is a beast and he’s likely moving up on many draft boards.

Will Courtney Upshaw be a defensive end or an outside linebacker in the NFL? The Alabama star and surefire first-round pick has insisted throughout Senior Bowl week that he has no preference.

But this much seems assured: The preference of opposing offensive tackles would be that he take up another line of work.

One of the standouts of a dominating Crimson Tide defense, Upshaw has had a fine week of practice at the Senior Bowl. He has worked with the defensive ends throughout the week, though he plans to do OLB drills at the Combine and at Alabama’s pro day. However, Upshaw did get some work standing up in a 3-4 look this week, noted Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, a member of the South coaching staff this week.

Haslett is among those who have been impressed by the first-team All-American, who garnered BCS championship game MVP honors with seven tackles and a sack in Alabama’s shutout of LSU.

“He’s a tightly built guy that’s powerful, extremely fast,” Haslett said. “… I think he’s got so much upside. I think he’s a heck of a football player.”

Power is the 6-1½, 273-pound Upshaw’s game, whether he’s playing the run or getting after the quarterback. The opposition knows this. What follows is a lot of pushing — and pulling, as Upshaw noted.

It’s early in the process, but draft mania is already catching fire. With Twitter we now have an outlet where more and more people can discuss topics like the draft. Upshaw will get a ton of attention throughout this process.

You draftniks ready for another year of speculation, frenzy and intrigue leading up to this year’s NFL draft? Here are five players to keep an eye on this Saturday the 2012 Senior Bowl kicks off from Mobile, Alabama.

Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
The consensus ranks Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft, but who will be the third signal caller to come off the board? Some like Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill but keep an eye on how Foles plays this weekend. He’s a big kid at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds and made strides as a senior this past year despite playing behind two freshman tackles. Arm strength definitely won’t be a problem but his accuracy and decision-making has often been questioned throughout his collegiate career. Once Luck and Griffin come off the board in the top 10 picks, Foles could be selected anywhere between the first and third rounds. Thus, this is one player that could definitely improve his draft stock with a strong showing in Mobile.

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Top-rated defensive tackle Devon Still of Penn State will miss the Senior Bowl with a sprained big toe, so here’s Ingram’s chance to steal the spotlight. This isn’t regarded as a very strong draft for pass rushers but Ingram is a raw talent that can get to the quarterback in a variety of ways. He’s a three-technique defensive lineman who proved he could consistently beat blockers on the inside while at South Carolina. That said, 4-3 and 3-4 teams will take a long look at him because he exhibits a fast first step and good burst off the ball. He does a nice job of shedding blockers in the run game as well so again, he’ll intrigue teams that run a 3-4.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
USC’s Matt Kalil and Iowa’s Riley Reiff are projected to be the top two tackles taken off the board but Adams is already gaining some attention in Mobile because of his frame. He’s massive at 6-foot-7 and 323 pounds, with an 82 1/2 –inch wingspan and huge 11-inch hands. Despite his size, he’s a good athlete with natural bend and is being viewed as a left tackle at the next level (as opposed to some college prospects that are forced to move to the right side because of limitations in their game). He was suspended the first two games of the 2009 season for violating team rules, was cited in January of ’09 for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (chargers were eventually dropped) after being stopped for running a stop sign, and was part of the group that was suspended for “Tattoogate.” But he has all of the physical tools to become a top 15 pick in April.

Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
The top receiver in this year’s draft, Justin Blackmon, is a junior, while Kendall Wright, Michael Floyd and Nick Toon have all been declared out of the Senior Bowl with various injuries. Thus, Saturday is a great opportunity for a guy like Adams to impress. He returned a punt for a touchdown in Arkansas’ victory over Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, which was his fourth punt-return TD of the season. He’s a perfect fit in the slot because of his quickness and vertical ability, as well as the fact that he has trouble disengaging defenders at the line. He needs to improve as a route runner but NFL teams will definitely look at him as a returner and a potential No. 3 wideout.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Jenkins was overshadowed earlier in his college career by former top-10 pick Joe Haden (Browns) at Florida and then was kicked off the team his senior year following his arrest on misdemeanor marijuana charges (his second run in with the law). If he can stay out of trouble this kid has a ton of natural talent and could be a steal in the second or third round. He played a lot of man at North Alabama and has the ability to develop into a very good cover corner at the next level. Because of character concerns he’ll likely fall further in the draft than he should, but he’s got first-round talent.

There will be plenty of time to discuss whether or not the Indianapolis Colts should draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick.

Plenty of nauseating time.

But for now, here’s the official order for the 2012 NFL Draft, minus the 12 playoff teams, that is. I’ll keep this list updated throughout the postseason so you’ll know exactly where your team will be selecting come April.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14)
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
6. Washington Redskins (5-11)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*
10. Buffalo Bills (6-10)
11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)**
12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)**
13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
16. New York Jets (8-8)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)
18. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
19. Chicago Bears (8-8)
20. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

* – Order will be decided by coin flip at the scouting combine in February.

Everyone assumed Aaron Curry was a can’t miss prospect when he was drafted #4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft, but so far he’s been a bust. He wasn’t even starting in Seattle when they traded him to the Oakland Raiders this week.

Now he’s the starter in Oakland:

Three days ago Aaron Curry was a backup strongside linebacker in Seattle. Now he’s preparing to start at the weakside for the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Curry’s prospects took a sudden turn Friday when coach Hue Jackson announced that the first-round pick in the 2009 draft will replace Quentin Groves in the Raiders’ starting defense at home against the Cleveland Browns. Groves has been a starter since signing with Oakland before last season.

I’m a little surprised here, so we’ll see if Jackson is making the right call. I wonder how guys in the locker room will feel about a starter losing his job to another guy before one practice.

I was listening to the NFL Network with week, and Gil Brandt basically called out Aaron Curry as a player who doesn’t give you maximum effort. Brandt explained you can get away with that at certain positions, but at the linebacker spot it was essential that you had guys with high motors who gave you everything they had.

Many players have revived their careers in Oakland under the legendary Al Davis. That said, the Raiders have brought over plenty of veterans who did nothing. Let’s see what happens to Curry.

Don’t listen to observers when they say there’s no sense in handing out grades following the NFL draft. I agree with the notion that it generally takes three years before anyone can properly evaluate a team’s draft, but why should that stop anyone from making observations? After all, when a major trade breaks in one of the main four sports, do we say, “Damn, I really want to break down this trade but we’ll have to wait three to four years before we do because we won’t know how things will play out!” Of course not – we analyze the deal ad nauseam, share our opinions and then either bask in the news or cry ourselves to sleep. That’s one of the many things that makes sports great.

With that in mind, here are 32 quick-hit observations (one for each team) from the 2011 NFL Draft. I don’t like to hand out grades because a) everyone does them and b) they’re just not fun for me. But I did something like this after the 2009 draft and I figured it would be cool to do something similar this year. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am in the comments section or please, share your own opinions on another wild NFL draft.

1. Even the biggest Cam Newton supporters have to admit that the young man will be a major project for Carolina. He could wind up being in the Hall of Fame some day after leading the Panthers to three Super Bowls, but it’s going to take some time. He ran the spread option at Auburn – the kid will need a few years to learn and grow in a pro-style offense.

2. I love Von Miller the prospect but I don’t love Von Miller the prospect in Denver’s 4-3 defensive front. I wonder if one day we’ll look back at the Broncos’ selection at No. 2 and say: “They should have went with Marcell Dareus.”

3. Speaking of Dareus, how well did the Bills make out at No. 3? They needed to get more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and now they have someone who they can plug in on Day 1 and watch him compete. They must have been ecstatic when he fell past Denver.

4. Andy Dalton isn’t a spectacular prospect but he’s a fit for Jay Gruden’s offense and hey, he wants to play for the Bengals (something that cannot be said about Carson Palmer). And I have a feeling A.J. Green will make people forget about Chad Ochocinco (and quite frankly, all of his attention-seeking ways).

5. The Cardinals had to be disappointed that Von Miller didn’t fall to them at No. 5 but Patrick Peterson isn’t a bad consolation prize. Ryan Williams in the second round was a bit of a head-scratchier though. I like Williams, but is he a fit in an already crowded backfield? Two value picks that I really liked: Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant. Acho fills Arizona’s need for a pass-rusher and Sturdivant was considered one of the top inside LBs available in the draft.

6. Quite frankly, I love what the Falcons did by trading up for Julio Jones. Everyone says they gave up too much for one player and I agree. But one thing I haven’t heard anyone say is what the Falcons should have parted with in order to move up from No. 27 to No. 6. Without being able to package a player because of the CBA fiasco, the Falcons probably had to overpay in order to make it a can’t-pass deal for Cleveland. The Falcons are built to win now and give GM Thomas Dimitroff credit for having the stones to pull off a trade like this. If Bill Belichick did it, we would be lauding his aggressiveness. I also love the trade up for Jaquizz Rodgers in the fifth. What a steal.

7. Some people have said that Aldon Smith was a reach at No. 7. But if the Niners had him at the top of their board and couldn’t move down in order to acquire more picks, then I say more power to them. They had a need at pass rusher and they filled it. I think with the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick can be a solid starter in this league in 2-4 years. But be patient Niner fans – BE PATIENT.

8. I was just as shocked as anyone that the Titans took Jake Locker at No. 8 overall, but don’t forget that this kid would have been the top pick last year had him come out. He has great athleticism and intangibles, but he’ll be a project for Mike Munchak and his Tennessee staff. I love the Titans’ selection of Akeem Ayers in the second. Due to his production at UCLA, he could have easily been a first rounder but he fell (for whatever reasons), making him a great value pick for Tennessee.

9. The buzz around the Cowboys was rather quiet this year (at least compared to last April when they took Dez Bryant), but I really liked their draft. They wouldn’t have taken Tyron Smith in the first if they didn’t think he could fill in at left tackle and Bruce Carter was once considered a top-15 overall pick before tearing his ACL last November. It might take 2-3 years before he’s an effective pro, but what potential the combo of Carter and DeMarcus Ware has. If he can stay healthy, DeMarco Murray will turn heads in Big D as well.

10. Blaine Gabbert couldn’t have asked for a better situation to wind up in. He’s not ready to start as a rookie and now he can learn behind David Garrard for a year before assuming the starting role. Not many people know who Will Rackley was before the draft but let me tell you, he has drawn rave reviews over the past couple of months. Great find by Jaguars’ GM Gene Smith at No. 76 overall.

11. Some Houston fans might be a little upset that the Texans didn’t draft a corner with one of their first two picks. But people have to keep in mind that Houston likes their young corners despite how they played in 2010. And if you have a secondary that struggles, you draft guys like J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed in order to beef up the front seven. I think Wade Phillips will do wonders with his new toys.

12. No matter what they’ve said following the draft, I honestly don’t think the Vikings had a backup plan for the No. 12 overall pick. I think they wanted Jake Locker and once he didn’t fall to them, they reached on Christian Ponder. That said, Ponder is a good fit for Bill Musgrave’s offense and Musgrave is heralded for being able to work with young QBs. If Ponder winds up starting as a rookie, it’s not like he doesn’t have weapons around him either. They also got good value in the second with the selection of Kyle Rudolph, and late round prospect DeMarcus Love, who can play either tackle or guard spots.

13. The Lions are being showered with praise after nabbing Nick Fairley, Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure – as well they should be. When he took over for Matt Millen two years ago, GM Martin Mayhew said that it would take a few years but he would add talent to the Lions’ roster. He’s done that in three-straight drafts and while there are massive holes that need to be addressed in the secondary, Mayhew has a plan and he’s executing it.

14. Robert Quinn could wind up being the best pass rusher in this entire draft, especially under Steve Spagnuolo’s guidance. The rest of the Rams’ draft was rather blasé to me, however. I like Austin Pettis and Greg Salas, but while they add much needed depth to St. Louis’ receiving corps, neither of them have off-the-chart athleticism.

15. Even though they didn’t take their quarterback of the future, the Dolphins landed a starter in Mike Pouncey, a feature back in Daniel Thomas (who is highly underrated in my opinion) and a prospect in Edmond Gates, who may contribute right away.

16. It’s hard to argue with Mike Shanahan’s strategy. He knew he needed to replenish the Redskins’draft with extra picks (which he did), and fill his roster with players that he handpicked. But I wonder if Ryan Kerrigan is a good fit for the 3-4. I loved him as a 4-3 defensive end prospect but was disappointed that the Skins snagged him because now he’ll stand up in a 3-4. Still, he’s a football player through and through.

17. I love that Ryan Mallett wound up in New England. He’s a prototypical pocket passer and is a great fit for Bill Belichick’s version of the spread. He’ll also have zero pressure right away and can mature under the Patriots’ guidance for the next couple of years. (If nothing else, you know Belichick will trade Mallett for 17 first round picks if the time comes.) But while I liked that pick, I think it’s concerning that the Patriots failed to address their need at pass rush.

18. The Chargers did well with their first pick (Corey Liuget is going to be a nice pro) but just like the Patriots, they failed to address their need for a pass rusher. Jonas Mouton had just two sacks last year at Michigan so if the Bolts think that he’s the answer, they might be in for a rude awakening.

19. No, the Giants didn’t need another quarterback. But Prince Amukamara was a tremendous value at No. 19 and the G-Men did well with the selections of Marvin Austin, Jerrel Jernigan and Greg Jones in the middle rounds.

20. If you’re a Bucs fan, how could you not love what your team did this weekend? The one major need that Tampa Bay had heading into the draft was pass rusher and they walked away with Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers (who could have went in the top 5 if not for the doubts surrounding his knee) in the first two rounds. Wow. Raheem Morris has something special brewing in Tampa.

21. GM Tom Heckert had a nice weekend. He did what any good GM would have done by accepting the Falcons’ generous gift of five picks for the No. 6 selection and then filling needs for the Browns by taking Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard and Greg Little. The Browns aren’t one Julio Jones away from competing and Heckert knows that.

22. The Colts’ draft wasn’t sexy but they filled major needs with the selections of Anthony Castonzo, Ben Ijalana and Drake Nevis in the first three rounds. Indy may have gotten three new starters out of those picks.

23. Eagle fans may have been ticked off that their team didn’t draft Jimmy Smith in the first round, but Danny Watkins could wind up being a future Pro Bowl-caliber guard and the team found great value with CB Curtis Marsh in the second. Philly also added great depth in Dion Lewis, Brian Rolle, Greg Lloyd Jr. and Casey Matthews in the later rounds.

24. Outside of maybe the Lions, the Saints arguably had the best draft out of any team this year. They hit home runs with Cam Jordan and Mark Ingram in the first, then came back in the middle rounds and added two talented players in Martez Wilson and Greg Romeus. A great team just got even better.

25. If Seahawk fans are upset following this weekend’s action, I don’t blame them. James Carpenter is a solid prospect and is versatile in that he can play either right tackle or guard, but he was a reach in the first round. K.J. Wright was a solid pick in the second but I’m not enamored with the selections of Richard Serman, Kris Durham and John Moffitt.

26. There’s a good chance that the Chiefs’ first three players – Jon Baldwin, Rodney Hudson and Justin Houston – will start this season, while Allen Bailey and Jalil Brown add good depth. Still, I wonder if Houston can make it as an OLB in a 3-4.

27. The Ravens took a gamble with the selection of Jimmy Smith but he may wind up being a steal at No. 26 overall. Plus, both he and second round pick Torrey Smith filled too huge needs for Ozzie Newsome’s team.

28. Things started off really well for the Bears, who took OT Gabe Carimi in the first and DT Stephen Paea in the second. But Chris Conte seems like a highly under whelming pick in the third, even though some believe he could wind up challenging for a starting spot. Still, the Bears had a nice overall draft and some scouts rave about sixth-rounder J.T. Thomas.

29. The Jets’ addressed their need along the defensive line with the selections of Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis, but they failed to add a pass rusher and I doubt Jeremy Kerley nor Scott McKnight filled the team’s hole at receiver. (No offense to either prospect, but the Jets probably should have addressed the position earlier in the draft.)

30. Once again, the Steelers found value in the draft. Cam Heyward should thrive under DC Dick LeBeau and both he, Marcus Gilbert and Curtis Brown could wind up starting as rookies.

31. The rich got richer as the defending Super Bowl champion Packers once again had a really solid draft. Ted Thompson must have taken about 10 seconds to decide on Derek Sherrod in the first, and then he came back in the second and added a highly versatile player in Randall Cobb. TT once strikes gold in April.

32. I thought for sure that Al Davis would take Ryan Mallett in the second, but Stefen Wisniewski was a solid selection for the Raiders in that round. Davis once again drafted speed, adding corners Demarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, as well as receivers Denarius Moore and David Ausberry.

On a side note, I wonder if a weekend filled with booing fans has changed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s perspective on the lockout. Players are used to being booed, but suits like Goodell aren’t. He seemed awfully uncomfortable when he walked up to the podium on Thursday night.