Football recruiting is an inexact science.

It is nearly impossible to evaluate the motivation, maturity and integrity of 17- and 18-year old kids. However, I personally believe that recruiting rankings are outstanding indicators of how a prospect will turn out.

Undrafted free agents are signing all over the NFL, and some stars in the league do slip through the scouting cracks from time to time. Could Chris Polk, Chase Minnifield, Dwight Jones or William Vlachos be that next surprise? Here’s a look at some big-time players who earned it the hard way. Our list begins in 1987, so you will not see greats like Dick “Night Train” Lane, Warren Moon or Willie Wood.

It's never too early to grade the 2012 NFL Draft, which saw Commissioner Roger Goodell hugging and high-fiving future Pro Bowlers and potential busts. Here's a team-by-team look at the winners and losers from this year:

Arizona Cardinals
Grade: C+

This is your daily link roundup of our favorite sports posts on the web for April 27.

• SI’s Peter King details how Morris Claiborne surprisingly ended up in Dallas, as well as other first-round thoughts.

After the dust settled on Day One, or the first round, of the 2012 NFL Draft, eyes in 32 war rooms returned to their draft big boards. 

Who is still on the board that we didn't expect to see? (Upshaw) Who was taken way too early at the end of round one that we had targeted late in the second round? (Jenkins) Which positions are still loaded with talent? (WR, DE)

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books. The Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins got their franchise quarterbacks as expected. But how did your favorite team do in this year's first round? Athlon grades every pick in the first round and gives some names for each team to target in the coming days:

The 77th annual NFL Draft is upon us.

Tonight will be the culmination of decades of hard work for players, months of laborious scouting for NFL front offices and weeks of preparation for talking TV heads who have to fill three hours of dead time with highlights and graphics.

The first round of the 2012 NFL Draft will commence on Thursday night, marking the 77th installment of what is officially called the “NFL Player Selection Meeting.” From Thursday through Saturday 253 college players will hear their names called, adding their name to the NFL history books, regardless of whether they ever make it on the field.

The 2012 NFL Draft starts Thursday night, and the prime time first round has become a must-see event for football fans everywhere. Hope always springs eternal at the draft, and here’s my projection for the opening round.

The first-round of the 2012 NFL Draft begins Thursday night and although the Indianapolis Colts have the first pick, there's no mystery where the Colts or Washington, who have the second selection are going.