But for now, here’s a taste with our top ten prospects in 2012.

Andrew Luck. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

1.) Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The craziest thing about Andrew Luck is he still isn’t a senior. He could have come out last year as a red-shirt sophomore and challenged to be the top pick, but he returned to Stanford for his junior year where he also earned his degree. I don’t typically buy into the can’t-miss talk, but Luck is as close as it gets. He’s probably the best QB prospect to come out since Peyton Manning did in terms of living up to billing. Luck is smart, talented, surprisingly athletic and comes with a great pedigree having NFL bloodlines and working under Jim Harbaugh for his first three years. He can make all the throws, he thinks at an NFL level already, he is fundamentally sound and if you watch his combine tape and compare it to last year’s top pick, Cam Newton, they’re surprisingly similar. Andrew Luck is potentially the most underrated athlete in the draft because he’s cast into a mold as a traditional drop-back passer, but he could fit into almost any offense with his athleticism. The Colts will be very happy with Andrew Luck, provided they can put some weapons around him.

Matt Kalil. Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

2.) Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

Kalil comes from a good NFL bloodline and hails from a program that makes reputably good linemen. Kalil is the best to come out of USC in a while and that’s saying something, especially considering the Trojans have had tackles drafted in the first round, two of the last four years. Kalil is prototypical in every sense, he’s 6-7, 305, extremely strong, plays with good balance and is a little nasty. As a pass blocker Kalil would be able to handle protecting a quarterback’s blindside almost immediately in the NFL. Kalil has good technique and strength against most types of rush though he could improve laterally a little bit against speed rushers that can get the edge quickly. As a run blocker he’s impressive, with good initial burst and excellent technique. He doesn’t necessarily have the most quickness in the draft, but his hand placement and raw strength are more key to what he’s doing. The thing I like most about Kalil though is his high football IQ, he sees what the defense is doing with stunts and pre-play adjustments, he makes his own adjustments. His quarterbacks will thank him for it.

RGIII. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

3.) Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RGIII was the revelation of 2011. A true dual-threat quarterback with a high football IQ and off-the-charts athleticism. The Redskins have already made a bold move up the draft board to pick up the second pick, so it’s all but decided that Griffin will be playing in DC next year. This may sound crazy, but I think that was a good move by Washington. RGIII reminds me of what Tim Tebow would be like if Tebow had good mechanics and a better arm. Really, aside from mobility there’s not a lot of similarity between the two. Griffin is a solid passer with a lot of elusiveness while Tebow is a serviceable (that’s generous) passer who runs like a bull in a china shop. But between the ears, same kind of guy. Both are men of devout faith that value hard work and dedication, stay out of trouble and feel compelled to help others in their free time. They’re both wired to be winners. RGIII has all the tools and skills, and he has a fantastic mental makeup to be successful in the league. Plus, if you told people last August that the QB from Baylor would beat Oklahoma and Texas and win the Heisman trophy, you’d have probably gotten slapped or laughed at. It’s tough not to like RGIII.

Riley Reiff. Credit: Sandra Dukes-US PRESSWIRE

4.) Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The more I watch Reiff the more I like him. Reiff started for three years on the Hawkeye line and earned plenty of distinction in that time. The Big Ten is still a run-first league and Iowa is another program, under Kirk Ferentz who specializes in lineplay, that produces great NFL linemen. Reiff is no different. He’s got prototypical size, strength and technique and is ready to start now at either tackle spot. One thing Reiff does even better than Kalil is protect the edge, he has some of the best lateral quickness and strength of any lineman in the draft. The flipside of that is that stronger defenders can sometimes get into his pads and knock him back. That can be fixed. As a run blocker Reiff is nasty, he comes off the ball strong and hard, he combos from lineman to linebacker well and he is capable of getting a hat on men downfield when the situation calls for it. I think he’s more of a left tackle, but whatever side of the line he plays on Reiff will be dominant quickly in the NFL.

Justin Blackmon. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

5.) Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon entered 2011 as the top receiver in the country and did little to change anyone’s mind about that. Not one, but two Biletnikoff awards have come his way, quite an encore to Dez Bryant at Oklahoma State. Blackmon is an elite prospect, bar none the best receiver in the draft, and that showed during his explosive college career. Blackmon is quick, strong and has great hands. He scored 38 touchdowns over the past couple seasons for the Cowboys and those skills will translate well into the NFL. Blackmon doesn’t possess elite top speed but he’s explosive in space and can make guys miss. He’s one of those players whose hands you want to try and get the ball into as often as possible, in any way possible. Case in point, go back and watch him take over the 2012 Fiesta Bowl. There are a few concerns with Blackmon, one being a college arrest, but on the field there aren’t a ton of flaws in Blackmon’s game. He played outside more at Oklahoma State but in the NFL I think he’ll likely need to transition inside and learn to play in the slot more than he was used to in college. He should be great there though, he’s extremely physical and has the strength and hands to make tough catches in traffic. He should be gone top six, but if he’s not don’t be shocked when some team jumps up for him.

Trent Richardson. Credit: Marvin Gentry-US PRESSWIRE

6.) Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson is the guy many non-fans believe the Buccaneers should select in the draft with the fifth overall pick. Given the recent trend with tailbacks though, five is high for any runner. That being said, Richardson pushes the envelope as potentially the best RB available in the draft since Adrian Peterson. It’s rare a kid lives up to his billing, but at Bama Richardson was recruited as one of the top players in the nation and he was living up to that title before the last guy, Heisman winner Mark Ingram, even entered the draft. How often do you hear about the reigning Heisman winner battling for playing time? The Tide had the luxury of that problem when Richardson started pushing Ingram two years ago. Last season, with the backfield to himself Richardson was a Heisman finalist and helped lead a very talented Crimson Tide squad to another national championship. I don’t think Richardson is a good fit in Tampa at five, but bar none he’s the best back in the draft and along with AP he’s arguably the most talented runner to come out in the past decade.

Mo Claiborne.

7.) Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Claiborne is the alpha corner in this draft, a solid tactician with great athleticism and good ball skills, but everything is relative. In other classes, Claiborne falls behind a bit, he would probably a mid-late round corner last year. I don’t think he’s better than Prince Amukumara (who missed the season with an injury) as of his entrance into the draft and his own coaches admit aside from technique he’s no Patrick Peterson. But he is a fantastic corner who comes from a great program and is used to big time football games. He’s also still learning the position (after originally coming to Baton Rouge as a receiver) so his ceiling is extremely high. I really do love Claiborne, but it is worth mentioning a lot of his stock is based in potential on an already impressive product. If you pick him, you’re putting a lot credence in what he could develop into as opposed to where he is at this exact moment. Make no mistake about it though, even where he is now he’ll still be able to start on almost any team in the NFL and he’s still the best corner in this class.

Luke Kuechly. Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

8.) Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

I’ve said it for the entire off-season, Luke Kuechly is my favorite player in the draft. I went up to Boston to cover the Eagles game against FSU this year and I’ll be honest, I was looking for reasons not to like the talented junior. His tackle numbers had to be inflated, I said to myself, no way one kid at BC makes this many tackles. He’s lead the NCAA in tackles pretty much his whole career, that’s funny business from BC I thought. Those numbers are not inflated. Luke Kuechly is THAT good. Within a single quarter he’d made a believer out of me. Talk about an instinctive, blue collar linebacker with a high football IQ, Kuechly may be the most well-equipped prospect mentally to come out in years. He’s not an elite athlete, but he plays smart and gets every last ounce out of the ability he does have. Just pop in the tape of Kuechly and you see a smart defender that maintains his own responsibilities before covering for his teammates. It’s not uncommon to see Kuechly force a run play outside covering his own gap and then make the tackle on the sideline in pursuit. That may not sound like much, but you don’t see any of the other guys on this list make those plays. He’s all over the field, he knows every guy’s assignment, he plays like he was in the other team’s huddle and off the field he is as hard a worker, and as high character a person as you can find. I’ll be honest, if Tampa reached for Kuechly at five I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. I think he’s that good.

Quinton Coples. Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

9.) Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Quinton Coples is the best defensive end in this class, but end is a bit of a misnomer because he’s played inside at tackle as well some too. Coples isn’t an elite pass-rusher, that’s worth pointing out right up front. Out of the box, he’s not equipped to contend with better NFL left tackles without adding some strength and improving his technique on the edge. The reason teams are so high on Coples is his versatility and ability to dominate at the point of attack. Coples is very stout against the run, where he is very fluid and uses his strength well. At 6-6 280 he’s a big, strong guy that may be best suited for a 3-4 scheme at end, but in a 4-3 he would be a great option to play outside on early downs and then slide inside in pass-rushing packages. He is currently an above average pass rusher with plenty of room to grow. He uses his hands very well and has great explosion, but he’s more of a bull rusher than a finesse guy right now. When he adds strength and irons out his technique around the edge, he may develop into a very good pass-rusher, but he’s not quite there yet. The other knock on Coples is his motor, which has been questioned from time to time, especially after a tumultuous transition inside to tackle mid-season in 2011. I don’t think a lot of that will be an issue, UNC was a program in turmoil the last couple of seasons and the team concept seemed to break down there at the end of the Davis era. I doubt Coples will have problems motivating himself in the NFL.

Jonathan Martin. Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

10.) Jonanathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The third of the offensive tackles I give a top-1o grade to Martin is a good combination of size, strength and intelligence. Martin has been protecting an NFL quarterback’s blindside for the past two years at Stanford. Of the top three tackles in this draft, Martin may have the highest ceiling because his issues are mostly technique-related, he has the prerequisite strength and athleticism to be elite, he simply needs some fine-tuning. Frankly, in a deep class it may have been smarter for him to go back another year and come out as the top-rated tackle in the draft next year, but this year he’s a close third behind Reiff and Kalil. Martin is a solid pass-blocker who can handle almost anything but does occasionally stop his feet and lose leverage. As a run-blocker he comes from a zone system and is effective but he lacks the strength to push heavier defenders back in the trenches. I think Martin may be a better option on the right side, at least at the start of his career as he adds strength and improves his technique.

Sep 11, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Aqib Talib (25) intercepts a pass and returns it 28 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Here’s the early information, Stephen Holder, amongst a myriad of other reporters have written that the Vikings frankly aren’t all that enamored with Matt Kalil at three. Kalil is a monster tackle out of USC and the Vikings have a pressing need on their line so it does make sense that they would want to address it, but they also have a need at corner and they’ve at the very least insinuated they could take LSU corner Morris Claiborne, the Bucs’ (assumed) preferred target.

Now “rumors” are beginning to come out that Tampa may be willing to deal Talib to the Vikings to better their odds of landing Claiborne with the fifth pick.

I have rumors in quotations because this is being reported on as news by some Bucs sites, and it may be good info for all I know, but draft week is also a notorious time for misinformation and with the advent of Twitter, everyone’s got a “source.”

Here’s my take, and let me preface by saying this is little more than an educated opinion: That’s baseless.

The only way that deal works under the rationale provided is if the teams swap first round picks and that’s never going to happen.

The Bucs aren’t assured they will get Claiborne at five even with the deal. The problem is the Browns reside at four and could either trade the pick to another team or grab Claiborne themselves. No NFL team is honestly going to ship a corner of that caliber, even with baggage, to another team and then spend ten minutes sitting in the war room with their fingers crossed that the move pays off.

What happens if Claiborne’s not there at five?

Then you just traded your best corner (probably not for much), your targeted guy is already gone and you have to decide whether to reach for another corner (because at five Kirkpatrick is a reach) or you just made your already beleaguered secondary a lot worse.

No, I’m sorry as much as it makes sense, if Talib ends up in Minnesota it will be because the Vikings put together a good package, not to ensure Morris Claiborne…

Food For Thought

Though think about it, if Mark Dominik could work his magic he might be able to pull of a real draft day doozie.

IF the Bucs could convince the Vikings to take Talib and swap first rounders (the Bucs would likely need to throw another pick in too) then Tampa holds the best pick in the draft. One and two are decided on, Luck and RG3 have known they were the picks for over a month. But three is wide open and any team looking to move up knows that’s the slot to do it.

If Mark Dominik could swap the picks, toss up a smoke screen with Cleveland and get Miami GM Jeff Ireland convinced that Ryan Tannehill may not make it to 8, you could likely get the Fish to give up a bunch in order to jump those five spots and snag him. That would be a coup for Tampa who would then be able to add a couple extra quality picks. You still roll the dice on the corners but hey, at this point we’re living in fantasy land anyway so why not. This is never going to happen.

The one saving grace, both GM Rick Spielman of the Vikes and Ireland have one thing in common, they both ran the Miami Dolphins franchise into the ground as their head personnel guy. Ireland is still doing it. That means there’s hope. Nobody breeds front office incompetence like the Miami Dolphins.

Hit the phones, Mark.

October 08, 2011; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide safety Mark Barron (4) warms up before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE

Unfortunately this is not a fantastic year for safeties in the draft. I do really like a couple, but nobody is a surefire star in this class. I’ve already said I think the Bucs should address the position in free agency for a short term fix while they develop young safeties, or at the very least kick addressing the need back a few years.

But there are some talented guys in this year’s draft with the potential to be very good safeties down the road. I think there’s only one guy with a first round grade but several could start their first year if need be and at least hold their own.

After a week-long hiatus, the Big Board is back with our Safety rankings. I’ve put their college position in parentheses, that frankly means more for some guys than others depending on their college systems.

Let’s take a look.

1.) Mark Barron (SS), Alabama, SR.

Mark Barron is the lone safety that I would give a first round grade to in this draft. Even with a surgery to repair a double hernia, and at just 80-90% at his pro day, Barron still looked the part of a first rounder. The most attractive aspect of the Tide safety is actually not his athleticism or play, it’s his football IQ. Barron was the de facto quarterback of the best defense in the country last season. He made the adjustments and lead the unit, all the way to a national title as a matter of fact. Nick Saban is renowned for his ability to coach defenses, specifically defensive backs. Barron, along with Dre Kilpatrick, are just two more in a long line of Saban first round DB’s. Barron likely would have jumped into the draft last year if not for a pectoral injury. On the field, he is a ball hawk, though he’s more of a zone player where his instincts and intelligence put him in consistently good position to make plays on the football. He is a little stiff in man coverage, but aside from that his only other flaw is his over-aggressiveness (he tends of over-pursue). That can all be reined in though, Barron will likely become a very good NFL safety.

Oct 30, 2010; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Harrison Smith (22) jumps over Tulsa Golden Hurricanes wide receiver Damaris Johnson (3) after a Tulsa touchdown at Notre Dame Stadiium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

2.) Harrison Smith (SS), Notre Dame, SR

Smith is a safety more in the mold of a John Lynch than a ballhawking kind of guy. Smith really relishes the contact, part of that may stem from the fact he also played linebacker in at Notre Dame. He’s definitely a true strong safety and comes into the box to offer additional run support with aplomb. He does still have quite a bit more developing to do though, he’s far from technically sound and he could work a little bit on his ability to quickly diagnose what’s happening in front of him, though part of that can also be attributed to the change in position. Smith is a high effort, high character guy though, he gets every last ounce out of his ability, goes hard every play and is definitely a player I could see Schiano liking. I had the ability to watch Smith in person when I covered the Champs Bowl last year and he was very active in the game but also got caught a few times in coverage by quicker receivers. That’s one of the knocks on Smith, he’s a little stiff at times and could potentially be abused if you leave him in the wrong position. The flip side of that though is if allowed to develop and employed correctly, he could be elite too.

Jan. 4, 2010; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety (8) George Iloka celebrates with the fans following the game against the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Boise State defeated TCU 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

3.) George Iloka (FS), Boise State, SR

I’m going to say right up front one of the most exciting parts of Iloka, more than even his college resume, is his size and athleticism. Iloka is 6-4, 220. He’s quick, he can play in a man or a zone scheme and he lined up at both safety and corner in college. The potential to have a safety that size roaming the secondary is exceptionally exciting, especially considering the elite receivers in the league are predominantly 6-3 and taller (Fitzgerald, Andre and Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall). Iloka started 45 games in college, but does still need to develop quite a bit. For one thing, he does need to fill out a little bit and learn to take advantage of his body size more. He also could refine some of his technique. Beyond that though he has a lot of potential to become a very good NFL safety. He is another safety who likes to hit, he’s got decent fluidity of motion even if he can be a bit herky-jerky on changes of direction. He covers a lot of ground and has good instincts and good football IQ. Typically he’s in good position and has the length to make plays on a lot of balls, though he does tend to be prone to his emotions and blow assignments when he loses his calm. I like Iloka, but he’s not a surefire thing either.

November 26, 2011; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Antonio Allen (26) celebrates a play against the Clemson Tigers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

4.) Antonio Allen (SS), South Carolina, SR

Some people love Allen, others don’t. I think he’s worth a pick in late round two or early round three, but I admit I’ve flipped on him too. I’ve had him as high as third on this list and as low as sixth. Ultimately, I think he would be an intriguing prospect for the Buccaneers if he’s around at 68, but he could be gone by then. Allen is a multi-capable player with a very good football IQ, he can hit, he can blitz and he can cover. Oddly, he may be best as a blitzer where he displays a considerable knack of knifing through the line, getting through any chips and finding the passer. He’s also a very capable tackler who doesn’t mind putting his nose in the pile or moving into the box if need be. The knock on him is he needs to add some size because he can be lost in the scrum sometimes, his technique has been known to lag from time to time too when trying to make tackles in the open field. That’s problematic for a safety, but it’s coachable. He also could improve his ability to read the run, though that will come with NFL coaching. In terms of coverage Allen diagnoses well and has good reaction time, he can play in a man or a zone scheme but looks more comfortable in a zone scheme. He has a pretty good nose for the football too. Allen isn’t a complete player, like most of the guys in this class he has holes in his games that need to be addressed before he’ll be able to fully realize his NFL potential, but Allen could end up being the best of the bunch if he can reach his.

Jan 2, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Markelle Martin (10) before the game against the Stanford Cardinal in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

5.) Markelle Martin (SS), Oklahoma State, SR

Martin is potentially the best cover guy of this group. He covers a lot of ground and he’s got great read and react ability, oftentimes breaking on routes as soon as he sees the quarterback’s eyes connect with the receiver. That over-aggressiveness can be a detriment at times too and will need to be reined in a little in the NFL, where he could be abused by double moves, but Martin’s raw coverage ability is impressive. He’s better in zone, but is adequate in man. Martin is also solid in run support, showing above average ability to fight off blocks, good read skills and and a willingness to hit. He’s more famous for lighting up receivers though, he’s delivered some major shots over his career. He was never asked to blitz much in college but could likely learn to do it well if given the chance. He’s also a good character guy and was awarded with the team’s academic MVP his senior year. Martin would be borderline first round if not for the fact he suffered a knee injury and has been unable to work out at the Combine or Pro Days. I’m sure he’ll be fine long-term, but that kind of injury could certainly stunt early development and the Bucs would need any pick that high to play quickly. That’s why he’s this low on the list.

Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; LSU Tigers safety Brandon Taylor (18) tackles Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Brad Smelley (17) during the first half of the 2012 BCS National Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Best of the Rest

6.) Brandon Taylor (SS), LSU, SR

Taylor was a very active player on a very good defense last year at LSU. He started all 14 games and notched a couple picks while finishing third on the team in tackles. He also happens to have very good leadership and character attributes, something that could work in his favors if the Bucs look to pick a safety in the mid-rounds. It’s always good to get high character players from winning programs.

7.) Brandon Hardin (FS), Oregon State, SR

Hardin is intriguing because he struggled through major injuries at the end of his college career and that will always be a concern, but he also ran a 4.36  and a 4.4 at his Pro Day and possesses some of the best intelligence and athleticism in this class when he’s healthy. He’s got prototype size at 6’3, 215 too. The question is just can he stay healthy. That may be a gamble worth taking at the right place in the draft.

January 2, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan State Spartans safety Trenton Robinson (39) during the second half of the 2012 Outback Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium. Michigan State Spartans defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 33-30 in triple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

8.) Trenton Robinson (FS), Michigan State, SR

Robinson could be a huge sleeper. He’s a got the athleticism and ball skills of a cornerback but the physicality and mindset of a safety. He needs to refine some of what he’s doing, but his athleticism is outstanding. He likes to hit, but is a bit undersized and won’t be a great fit in the box. Still, he’s another high character player who gets every last ounce out of what is already considerable athletic ability.

9.) Christian Thompson (FS), South Carolina State, SR

Thompson transfered to South Carolina State from Auburn and had two solid years playing in the MEAC. Thompson likely wouldn’t be able to start immediately, if he is at all, but he will be solid depth and a good special teams contributor for whatever team picks him in the late rounds.

10.) Aaron Henry (FS), Wisconsin, SR

Henry is another player I feel is underrated, but that stems more from the fact I can’t believe a Wisconsin safety wouldn’t get a Combine invite. Henry has above average athleticism and played on a good team in Madison, he needs coaching but he could round into a solid pro some day.