2012 NFL Draft NFC Breakdown & Rankings

Which teams got the best value? Who did the best job? CFN ranks and analyzes every draft class.

2012 NFL Draft

Draft Ranking & Analysis - NFC

2012 NFL Draft Team Analysis - AFC
EAST Buffalo | Miami | New England | NY Jets
WEST Denver | Kansas City | Oakland | San Diego
NORTH Baltimore | Cincinnati  Cleveland | Pittsburgh
SOUTH Houston | Indy | Jacksonville | Tennessee

2012 NFL Draft Team Analysis - NFC
EAST Dallas | NY Giants | Philadelphia | Washington
WEST Arizona | San Francisco | Seattle | St. Louis
NORTH Chicago | Detroit | Green Bay | Minnesota
SOUTH Atlanta | Carolina | New Orleans | Tampa Bay    

Round-By-Round Picks & Analysis Round 1 | Round 2
Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7  

Which teams had the best draft class?

Everyone seems to have an opinion on which teams got the most talented players, but who got the best value? Time will tell who got the stars and the difference-makers, but for now it's about value. Who got the best picks at the right times? Who got the steals? Who addressed their needs in the most efficient and effective way possible? Here's the CFN ranking of all the draft classes from 1 to 32 with 1 being the best. 

Click on each team for the breakdown and analysis on every team's pick.

NFL Draft Class Rankings & Breakdowns
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EAST

Dallas

The Draft Was ... Dallas. It always seems like the Cowboys are trying to outsmart everyone else, but it doesn’t really work when taking players like Eastern Washington S Matt Johnson and Virginia Tech WR Danny Coale with key mid-round picks. The pass defense needed to be addressed, and Dallas did that by making the move to get Morris Claiborne at the six and with pas rusher Tyrone Crawford in the third round.
Best Value Pick: TE James Hanna, Oklahoma, 6th round
Worst Value Pick: DE Tyrone Crawford, Boise State, 3rd round
They Should've ... addressed the offensive line. There wasn’t much the Cowboys could do with only one of the first 81 picks, but there wasn’t any move whatsoever to help out the offensive front
Division Draft Ranking: 3
Overall Draft Ranking: 29

New York Giants

The Draft Was ... fantastic for a Super Bowl champion. For just about anyone else this draft might be a waste of time, but for the Giants, they were able to do a little bit of patching by getting speedy RB David Wilson late in the first and stealing WR Rueben Randle late in the second. CB Jayron Hosley slid because of off-the-field concerns, but he’ll end up being a decent part of the puzzle.
Best Value Pick: WR Rueben Randle, LSU, 2nd, round
Worst Value Pick: TE Adrien Robinson, Cincinnati, 4th round
They Should've ... made a run at a safety. The Giants needed a safety in a safety-poor draft, but instead they took Robinson late in the fourth. Safety Jerron McMillian went to Green Bay with the next pick and Matt Johnson went to dally two picks later.
Division Draft Ranking: 2
Overall Draft Ranking: 19

Philadelphia

The Draft Was ... surprisingly not all that flaky for Philadelphia. The Eagles usually do their own thing when it comes to the draft and don’t tend to care about value or what anyone else is doing, but they came up with some nice values this year. Fletcher Cox was a no-brainer with the 12th overall pick, and LB Mychal Kendricks and DE Vinny Curry are excellent pass rushing prospects in the second round. The offense has its quarterback of the future with Nick Foles in the third. WR Marvin McNutt was an outstanding get in the sixth round and RB Bryce Brown was a chance on greatness in the seventh.
Best Value Pick: WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa, 6th round
Worst Value Pick: OT Dennis Kelly, Purdue, 5th round
They Should've ... taken a run at a safety. The Eagles got terrific value at just about every spot, but they needed safety help and didn’t get any. However, it’s hard to argue with any of the picks in the first four rounds, and any shot at a safety from the fifth round and beyond would’ve been nothing more than a guess.
Division Draft Ranking: 1
Overall Draft Ranking: 9

Washington

The Draft Was ... amateur hour. First the Redskins paid way, WAY too much to get Robert Griffin III, who’s hardly the sure thing everyone is making him out to be, and then they gave away the rest of the draft with awful pick after awful pick. If the team believed so much in RGIII, then why spend a fourth round pick, one the team desperately needed to hit on, on Kirk Cousins? There was almost no value with any pick anywhere from start to finish.
Best Value Pick: QB Kirk Cousins, Michigan State, 4th round
Worst Value Pick: OG Josh LeRibeus, SMU, 2nd round
They Should've ... taken Brandon Taylor in the third round. The secondary needs safety help and the LSU Tiger was right there for the taking. Instead, in comes Josh LeRibeus, who’s a marginal tweener offensive line prospect wwho could’ve been had in the sixth round or lower. Taylor went two picks later to San Diego. The Skins didn’t address the problems at offensive tackle until it was too late in the sixth round.
Division Draft Ranking: 4
Overall Draft Ranking: 30

WEST

Arizona

The Draft Was ... solid. Michael Floyd instantly solves a problem in the receiving corps, and while there wasn’t another pick until midway through the third round, the Cardinals seemed able to get value at every turn. CB Jamell Fleming in the third and OT Bobbie Massie in the fourth were the decent calls in the middle rounds, and OG Senio Kelemete was a terrific call in the fifth. OT Nate Potter in the seventh has steal-of-the-draft potential, while QB Ryan Lindley in the sixth round was a good shot at a developmental player.
Best Value Pick: QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State, 6th round
Worst Value Pick: CB Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma, 3rd round
They Should've ... given more thought to a center instead of Fleming. The Cardinals need help for the interior, and while Kelemete was a good call in the fifth round, they should’ve used a more valuable pick in the third to beef up the line.
Division Draft Ranking: 1
Overall Draft Ranking: 4

San Francisco

The Draft Was ... an attempt to find the final pieces of the puzzle. The Niners got little to no value with any pick and there weren’t any sure-thing starters to rely on. Instead, they got a complementary deep threat in the first round in WR A.J. Jenkins and took a toy to play with in LaMichael James in the second. They addressed needs, but there was more tinkering than building.
Best Value Pick: DE Cam Johnson, Virginia, 7th round
Worst Value Pick: WR A.J. Jenkins, Illinois, 1st round
They Should've ... done more for the defensive line. Depth up front was a problem that had to be addressed, and wasn’t. The Niners took a big guard in Joe Looney in the third round in a bit of a reach considering Indianapolis was able to get Alabama DT Josh Chapman with the first pick in the fifth round
Division Draft Ranking: 3
Overall Draft Ranking: 17

Seattle

The Draft Was ... quirky. The Seahawks got absolutely no value with any pick outside of RB Robert Turbin in the fourth round. They liked the guys they liked and didn’t seem to care whether or not it was the right time to take them. Everyone’s piling on the curious pick of Bruce Irvin at the 15, and it’s not because he can’t play. He could’ve been had later, as could LB Bobby Wagner, QB Russell Wilson, and DT Jaye Howard. There were lots and lots of picks after the fourth round, and it’ll be a shocker if any of them stick.
Best Value Pick: RB Robert Turbin, Utah State, 4th round
Worst Value Pick: LB Bruce Irvin, West Virginia, 1st round
They Should've ... traded down and then taken Irvin and they should’ve done a lot more to address their defensive back needs. Wilson might be a winner a nice backup quarterback prospect, but he’s not going to win a Super Bowl. There were several good defensive ends and defensive backs on the board when the Seahawks overpaid to get the Badger star.
Division Draft Ranking: 4
Overall Draft Ranking: 28

St. Louis

The Draft Was ... a need-filler. Michael Brockers is a gamble on greatness at the 14, but that was only a minor reach considering the strong second round the team put together. The Rams needed bodies, and they did a terrific job of stockpiling second round picks to get a slew of good prospects who can make a big impact right away. CB Janoris Jenkins – character issues and all – was a joke of a steal in the second round, while receivers Brian Quick in the first and Chris Givens in the fourth ended any talk of screwing up in the first round by not making a harder push for Justin Blackmon.
Best Value Pick: CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, 2nd round
Worst Value Pick: OG Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, 5th round
They Should've ... taken OT Riley Reiff in the first round. Brockers could turn out to be a star, but he needs a lot of time and seasoning. Reiff also needs a little work, but he could be plugged in right away at right tackle and been an instant help for the O line.
Division Draft Ranking: 2
Overall Draft Ranking: 5

NORTH

Chicago

The Draft Was ... questionable. It’s not that Shea McClellin was a bad first round pick at the 19, it’s that it seems like the Bears want him to be something he’s not. He’s not really a hand-on-the-ground end and will have to be more of an outside linebacker. WR Alshon Jeffery was a good chance to take in the second, but the rest of the draft was full of question marks. Brandon Hardin is a guess of a safety pick in the third round considering his injury issues, and GM Phil Emery is gambling that either late round corner picks Isaiah Frey or Greg McCoy will be serviceable.
Best Value Pick: WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, 2nd round
Worst Value Pick: S Brandon Hardin, Oregon State, 3rd round
They Should've ... gone after a corner much, much earlier. CB Jamell Fleming went one pick after Harding and Dwight Bentley went two picks after. It’s asking for pure luck to get a productive player after the third round, and the Bears tried to get a corner in the sixth and seventh.
Division Draft Ranking: 4
Overall Draft Ranking: 26

Detroit

The Draft Was ... a sign that the team just needs to adjust instead of build. The line needed a right tackle, and it got one in Riley Reiff. It’s taking a big chance to assume Ryan Broyles will become a playmaker any time soon on the other side of Calvin Johnson, and he was a big reach in the second round. The Lions went for a strength-in-numbers theory at corner with Dwight Bentley in the third, Chris Greenwood in the fifth, and Jonte Green in the sixth. They need just one of them to work out.
Best Value Pick: LB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma, 4th round
Worst Value Pick: WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma, 2nd round
They Should've ... taken Rueben Randle. Broyles still has to get past a knee injury and he has to show he has the NFL tools to make up for his lack of size. Randle, who went with the last pick in the second round to the Giants, would’ve been an immediate help to be Megatron’s running mate.
Division Draft Ranking: 3
Overall Draft Ranking: 18

Green Bay

The Draft Was ... de-fense (clap, clap) de-fense (clap, clap). So, do you think the Packers wanted to address a problem? The first six picks, all the ones that matter went for the defensive side starting with pass rushing prospect Nick Perry in the first round and with versatile defensive back Casey Hayward in the second. DT Jerel Worthy was a steal midway though the second – he’ll be a great fit next to B.J. Raji – and fellow Big Ten DT Mike Daniels should be a nice backup option.
Best Value Pick: OT Andrew Datko, Florida State, 7th round
Worst Value Pick: S Jerron McMillian, Maine, 4th round
They Should've ... gone after safety Harrison Smith in the first round. Instead, the Notre Dame safety went one pick after the Packers took Perry. There were plenty of pass rushers in the first two rounds, but safeties were a rare commodity. This was a two safety draft. Mark Barron was one, and Smith was the other.
Division Draft Ranking: 2
Overall Draft Ranking: 13

Minnesota

The Draft Was ... outstading where it needed to be. There’s lots of filler in the fourth round, and LB Audie Cole was a phenomenal value pick in the seventh, but trading down a spot to get OT Matt Kalil with the fourth pick; moving up to get S Harrison Smith late in the first; and getting a total steal in CB Josh Robinson in the early third all worked. The Vikings apparently like the Arkansas passing game taking receivers Jarius Wright and Greg Childs in the fourth.
Best Value Pick: CB Josh Robinson, UCF, 3rd round
Worst Value Pick: WR Greg Childs, Arkansas, 4th round
They Should've ... stayed put in the early second round and hoped for Smith to slide down to the 35th pick overall. In a worst case scenario, someone would’ve taken the safety and the Vikings would’ve gambled on greatness by taking CB Janoris Jenkins or WR Stephen Hill.
Division Draft Ranking: 1
Overall Draft Ranking: 10

SOUTH

Atlanta

The Draft Was ... physical. This was about getting stronger and tougher on both sides of the line with two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, and fullback Bradie Ewing from Wisconsin to go along with Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell. The Falcons were determined to upgrade the attitude with this draft, and it should work.
Best Value Pick: C Peter Konz, Wisconsin, 2nd round
Worst Value Pick: OT Lamar Holmes, Southern Miss, 3rd round
They Should've ... done more to get a left tackle. There’s no arguing with taking Konz, the best center in the draft, but the Falcons need a tackle and Ohio State’s Mike Adams went with the next pick to Pittsburgh. They could’ve had their tackle in the second round and hoped for center Ben Jones in the third.
Division Draft Ranking: 2
Overall Draft Ranking: 15

Carolina

The Draft Was ... not really going to help outside of the stud up top. The Panthers got their star linebacker in Luke Kuechly, but he was a no-brainer with the ninth overall pick. Amini Silatolu was a high-rising guard prospect and the Panthers got him at the 40, but everyone else was a big reach. Considering defensive tackle was a must-get, they didn’t do anything to fill the need in a draft loaded with great prospects for the interior. There weren’t any big steals in a boring draft.
Best Value Pick: WR Joe Adams, Arkansas, 4th round
Worst Value Pick: DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma, 4th round
They Should've ... beefed up the defensive interior. Kuechly is going to be fantastic, and there’s no arguing with the pick as a prospect, but the Panthers had to find a disruptive force for the defensive interior and didn’t. Dontari Poe went two picks later and Fletcher Cox went to Philadelphia at the 12.
Division Draft Ranking: 3
Overall Draft Ranking: 22

New Orleans

The Draft Was ... not going to help. Hamstrung after the punishments from bountygate, the Saints couldn’t do much to make a move. WR Nick Toon in the fourth round was a good grab, and DT Akiem Hicks is an interesting gamble on a huge body in the third round, but the entire franchise is in a holding pattern and this draft reflected it.
Best Value Pick: WR Nick Toon, Wisconsin 4th round
Worst Value Pick: DT Akiem Hicks, Regina, 3rd round
They Should've ... found a pass rusher for the defensive line. Hicks is an interesting prospect with elite tools, but he’s a project. Clemson’s Brandon Thompson went four picks later and would’ve been a far safer selection. Getting a corner, like Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley, would’ve also helped.
Division Draft Ranking: 4
Overall Draft Ranking: 32

Tampa Bay

The Draft Was ... terrific. Safeties were at a premium and the Buccaneers got their man in Mark Barron. Doug Martin is the perfect complement to LeGarrette Blount for the running game, while second round linebacker pick Lavonte David should pay off big. The late picks were at least chances on doing something big, like lightning fast seventh round pick Michael Smith, who can be a star in the return game and as a third down specialist.
Best Value Pick: LB Lavonte David, Nebraska, 2nd round
Worst Value Pick: LB Najee Goode, West Virginia, 5th round
They Should've ... taken Tank Carder instead of Goode. They do slightly different things, and the Bucs already took an undersized inside linebacker in David, but Carder would’ve been a better fit. He’s a much stronger tackler than Goode.
Division Draft Ranking: 1
Overall Draft Ranking: 12

NFL Draft Class Rankings & Breakdowns
AFC Teams | NFC Teams