NFL Draft 2015: Teams That Can't Afford to Fail with Their 1st-Round Selections

The nature of the NFL draft means that failing to extract any value out of a first-round pick doesn't guarantee a team will struggle in the future. But it certainly doesn't help.

In the NBA draft, it's almost impossible to build a winning franchise by consistently missing with first-rounders—just look at the Los Angeles Clippers during the Donald Sterling era. That's largely because outside of the first 20 to 30 picks, it's rare to find players who have the potential to be an All-Star.

That's far from the case with the NFL draft. Not only do teams have more chances to get it right, but late-round gems also emerge every year. Somebody is always quick to point out that Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick.

Perhaps the three teams below would be able to recover from drafting a bust in the first round, but they're in a position where doing so could bring serious ramifications.

Cleveland Browns

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For now, the Cleveland Browns are the only team with two picks in the first round. The pick they received from the Buffalo Bills could have been better, but there should still be plenty of value available when their second selection rolls around at No. 19.

It would be easy to say that the Browns have been bad simply because they've drafted poorly; that's almost the root cause of any franchise's stagnation.

In truth, Cleveland has done a good enough job with its first-rounders—2012 aside. After not having a first-round selection in 2008, here's what the Browns have done since:

Year	Pick	Player
2009	21st	Alex Mack, C
2010	7th	Joe Haden, CB
2011	21st	Phil Taylor, DT
2012	3rd	Trent Richardson, RB
2012	22nd	Brandon Weeden, QB
2013	6th	Barkevious Mingo, OLB
2014	8th	Justin Gilbert, CB
2014	22nd	Johnny Manziel, QB

The front office could've possibly done better, but a lot of things have conspired to keep the Browns in the cellar.

Owner Jimmy Haslam is a major wild card in all of this. He's basically Jerry Jones without any Super Bowl rings or trips to the playoffs. It's one thing for an owner to meddle with a franchise that he's helped lead to the promised land.

Haslam hasn't earned that benefit of the doubt yet.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported earlier in the month that little is likely to change as well:

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The culture in the Browns building is toxic, I'm told. Morale is beyond low. If you can flee, you are fleeing. There is no shortage of individuals throughout that organization who would, like former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, get the hell out of there if at all possible. There's an overwhelming sense of dread about the future and a fear that, come the end of the 2015 season, Haslam will do the one thing he has managed to do with any consistency during his three-season reign -- that is, blow up his entire building once again and fire everyone, in essence blaming all but himself for his sweeping failure.

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Getting two impact players in the first round could help the Browns fight for a playoff spot, while landing one or two duds might mean Cleveland once again finishes with five to seven wins.

Should the latter happen, nobody would be surprised to see Haslam clean house, forcing the Browns to start at ground zero this time next year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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After releasing Josh McCown, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers essentially telegraphed what they're going to do with the top overall pick. Although the team has made some questionable personnel decisions over the past couple of years, management must recognize the need for a quarterback.

The Bucs are in a great position relative to their draft needs. They don't have to worry about whether Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota will be available; they have their pick of the litter.

Speaking at the combine, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller indicated that Winston is creating a gap at the top of the board.

Maybe Winston or Mariota can be that franchise QB the organization has lacked since—well, let's just say it's been an ongoing problem. In addition, one look at the team's fortunes after Josh Freeman flamed out illustrates how gambling and missing on a QB in the first round can set a team back for years.

The Buccaneers got so desperate that they threw two years and $10 million at McCown last offseason. To be fair, though, McCown isn't the sole reason Tampa Bay had the worst offense in the league last year, according to Football Outsiders:

If the assumptions are correct and the Bucs draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall, they can ill afford to have another Freeman-like bust on their hands.

Arizona Cardinals

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The Arizona Cardinals should have serious Super Bowl aspirations in 2015. The San Francisco 49ers are currently in flux, while it's probably still too early to call the St. Louis Rams a playoff contender. Dealing with the Seattle Seahawks will be tough, but a second-place finish in the NFC West could easily translate into a wild-card berth once again.

In short, the Cardinals need to do everything they can this offseason to capitalize on their window for success.

At the NFL Honors ceremony earlier in the month, head coach Bruce Arians made it clear what he expects of his team, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com:

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He had just won another Coach of the Year award – his second in three years – but Bruce Arians was already making big predictions about next season.

Asked what he planned to be doing a year from now – when the Super Bowl will be played in the 49ers' home of Levi’s Stadium – Arians quickly said, "Playing."

"We're dressing in their locker room," a smiling Arians said, turning around his season-long mantra of 2014. "We can write it down today."

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B/R's Ty Schalter argued that the extension for Larry Fitzgerald also signaled what Arizona intends to do next year:

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By re-signing superstar wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, rather than release him to avoid some of his $23.6 million cap hit, the Arizona Cardinals are sending a clear message to the rest of the NFL: They're here to stay.

More importantly, though, they're sending a message to their players and fans: They're gunning for the Super Bowl.

By guaranteeing Fitzgerald $11 million for each of the next two years, they're promising to do everything they can to win a championship while this window is open—and if they reach the mountaintop, they'll do it with the help of the man who dragged them most of the way there.

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As long as Carson Palmer comes back healthy, the Cardinals offense should be good enough to avoid being the anchor that it was in last year's Wild Card Round. Andre Ellington will have to stay relatively healthy as well.

Getting a consistent pass-rusher may be all that separates Arizona from the Super Bowl. Alex Okafor and Calais Campbell played well, but neither was the kind of dynamic presence who single-handedly changes the game. As a team, the Cardinals ranked 24th in sacks (35).

Missing with their first-rounder wouldn't mean Arizona starts spiraling toward mediocrity, but it could prevent the franchise from taking that next step toward the Super Bowl.