When it comes to the NFL draft, value can come in many different forms. Sometimes a player will be drafted two or three rounds past where he should have gone because of an injury, character concerns, or due to being a small school prospect.
The 2012 NFL Draft is still over two months away but I wanted to compile a list of players whom I believe will hold more value than where they could be selected come April. I used NFL Draft Scout.com to determine what round each prospect is projected to be selected, and then I used my own grades on each player to determine their potential value.
So without further ado, I give you the all-value offensive team for the 2012 NFL Draft. (On Tuesday I’ll compile the all-value defensive team so be sure to check back.)
QUARTERBACK: Aaron Corp, Richmond
Corp could wind up being a seventh-round flier but there’s also a good chance he could become a free agent after being passed up for more productive college quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and/or Kellen Moore. Corp wound up at Richmond but he started his career at USC before transferring. He has good size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, and throws a nice ball. Just like any late-round quarterback, he’ll need time to figure out the nuances of the pro game (especially seeing as how he didn’t get a ton of experience in college). But thanks to his size, quick release, and catchable ball, he’s an intriguing developmental guy and worth a draft pick.
RUNNING BACK: Robert Turbin, Utah State
Turbin is projected to go in the fourth or fifth round but based on his talent and potential, I like him in the late third. What impresses me most about Turbin’s game is his vision and cut back ability. At 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds, he has the size to square his shoulders and run north-and-south, but his cut back game is where he shines. While listening to him during interviews, you can tell he has a great attitude and work ethic, and could be a nice asset to a team that runs a zone blocking scheme.
WIDE RECEIVER: Jarius Wright, Arkansas
Anyone that watched Wright’s game versus Texas A&M this year knows about his physical tools. He has trouble getting off the line in press coverage so he’s probably destined for the slot at the next level, but that’s in no way a knock on his game. He’s a sharp route runner, is tough over the middle and he knows how to get open versus either man or zone. He also has the speed to attack defenses up the seam where he would be a mismatch against a safety. He’s projected to go in the fourth or fifth round but for a team that runs a lot of three and four-man sets, I think he’s talented enough to go in the third.
TIGHT END: Orson Charles, Georgia
Charles is projected to go in the second round so it’s not like teams aren’t aware of his talent. But when you consider how big of a mismatch he could be in the passing game, he’s worth a late first round pick in my eyes. The NFL is a passing league now and we’ve all seen what teams like the Patriots (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez), Packers (Jermichael Finley) and Saints (Jimmy Graham) have been able to do with athletic tight ends. Clemson’s Dwayne Allen and Stanford’s Coby Fleener might be drafted before Charles but based on athletic ability alone I like Charles slightly more.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Andrew Datko, Florida State
Datko couldn’t stay healthy in college, which is why he’s projected to drop into the fifth round or later. But this is a weak offensive tackle class and when you consider Datko has the skill set to start, he would be a massive grab for a team in the later rounds. He’s not much of a power player but he could be a solid fit in a zone-blocking scheme that allows him to get his hands on opponents quickly and re-directs them off the ball. Again, injuries are a concern but I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up cracking the starting lineup for some team two or three years down the road.
GUARD: Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
Carl Nicks is absolutely worth the money in free agency. He’ll be the best guard available this offseason and whichever team signs him will dramatically boost their offensive line. That said, this is a great draft class for guards so if teams want to save their money and find a starter in April, they’ll have an opportunity. I really like Miami’s Brandon Washington in the second but if you’re looking for value, it may not get better than Nix. Because of a knee injury suffered in October of last year and thanks to PITT’s issues with sacks this season, Nix could fall into the fourth or fifth round. But PITT only featured three seniors on its offensive line so that certainly played into the Panthers’ struggles with protection. Nix is a sound pass blocker and a very good athlete for his size (6-foot-6, 310 pounds). He looks like a potential starter by his second year and considering he won’t be selected until the middle rounds, he has value written all over him.
CENTER: David Molk, Michigan
Molk doesn’t offer the same type of value in my eyes that other players on this list, but he’s worth a flier in the fourth or fifth round. (He’s projected to go in the fifth.) That said, because he played in Michigan’s run-first spread offense, he might only be a fit in a zone scheme, which limits the list of teams that will be interested in his services. Still, he’s a compact player that uses his arms and leverage to seal off lanes in the running game. He would probably only start as a rookie if there was an injury or a team were desperate at center, but I can see him fighting for playing time down the line.
