NFL Draft 2013: Latest Buzz on Risky Prospects

This past season wasn’t the greatest for a few NFL draft prospects, including Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Lattimore.

Whether it was not playing due to injury or because of off-the-field issues, players have become huge risks and have seen their stock fall from automatic first-rounder to being selected on Day 2, if at all.

Read ahead to see the latest buzz on this year's feast-or-famine draft prospects.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB

Formerly of the LSU Tigers, Mathieu was kicked off the team before the start of the 2012-13 college football season for violating team rules. The story only began there, as we found out Mathieu had a drug abuse problem, eventually checked himself into rehab and was arrested in October.

After another report came out earlier this week from Jarrett Bell of the USA Today that Mathieu failed over 10 drug tests during his time at LSU, his draft stock took another blow.

The biggest problem with the Honeybadger is whether or not he can stay away from abusing any more drugs, which I think he can do. He’s been focusing on football and has stayed out of the news since his arrest last year.

The Atlanta Falcons could be thinking that as well. A lot of speculation has Mathieu being the focus of the NFC runner-up if they do in fact trade up in the first round to draft a tight end.

After already losing three of their cornerbacks this offseason, the position is definitely a concern for the Falcons. Mathieu has impressed in his comeback, coming in six pounds heavier while maintaining his quickness he had in college.

Mathieu has the speed to cover any slot receiver in the NFL, plus he has the strength to challenge any jump ball down the sideline. Add his ability to blitz from the side, and Mathieu is a good value pick on Day 2.

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

There’s no other player I feel worse for than Marcus Lattimore.

There’s no doubt that if his knees didn’t fail him at South Carolina, he would be the best running back available in this draft and would go in the first round, maybe in the top 15.

But after we all saw him destroy every ligament in his knee against Tennessee, the former Gamecock standout is the new Willis McGahee and has dropped to the later rounds in most mock drafts.

Lattimore has gained the interest of some NFL teams. He visited with the St. Louis Rams on April 9, and also has a workout scheduled with the New England Patriots in the near future, according to USA Today.

Lattimore is a tremendous value pick, especially if he’s chosen between Round 5 and Round 7. He has great vision, can both run and catch, and has the size and strength to run through the tackles.

If his health can hold up, I think Lattimore will become the running back version of Tom Brady: A late-round pick that has a stellar professional career.

Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame

I’m not going to dwell on the offseason Te’o had. From his “catfish” situation to him not performing well at the NFL combine, it’s been a bad past couple of months for the former Fighting Irish stud.

Even with a slow 40 time and an undersized body to go with it, Te’o is still considered a first-round pick in this year’s draft.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up was a projected top-five pick, but his character issues were questioned and his draft stock continued to fall to where some teams dropped him out of the first round.

Te’o has recently met with a few teams in need of an ILB, according to Mike Garofalo of USA Today, including the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

I never thought T’eo was deserving of a first-round selection in the first place. It’s not because of his character issues; after watching his meltdown against Alabama (the closest thing there is to a pro team in college) he showed he has many flaws, including the inability to read an offense.

If a team drafts him in the first round, they will probably expect Te’o to start in the first few weeks. He would fit better on a team that has depth at the linebacker position so he can sit, learn and develop.