Five Potential First Round Busts to Join the Ranks of JaMarcus Russell

The word bust in the NFL goes hand-in-hand with first round NFL draft picks who do not pan out and become the star that their first round draft status precedes.

For the Peyton Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson's of the draft, there are also the JaMarcus Russell and Lawrence Phillips of the first round too.

The following are five potential NFL rookies that could join the Bust Club as the newest members a few years down the road.

Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams

Let's start at the top with Bradford, who holds the title of No. 1 overall selection in the draft which will have a huge weight for him to carry on his shoulders.

Bradford joins a rebuilding Rams team that still does not have big playmakers on offense outside of running back Steven Jackson, but they tried to address that when drafting wide receiver Mardy Gilyard.

If Bradford can take the beating he will endure in his rookie season and grow from it unlike others before him like Time Couch and David Carr, then Bradford may be able to avoid the dreaded bust label.

Tyson Alualu, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars

Alualu was picked so high, the pressure for him to perform as a top-10 pick may be too great to overcome for the rookie.

Regardless of how he performs, the bust label is more present on Alualu than any other player in this draft class since he was picked approximately 20-30 places earlier than originally projected.

Alualu is already under the bulls-eye and needs to fight hard to not become the next victim of the Bust Club.

Brandon Graham, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

There is something about the Eagles picking defensive players who are a better fit for a 3-4 defensive scheme rather than their 4-3 scheme.

First it was Chris Gocong a few years back, who projected as a better outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme but he was traded away to Cleveland. Now Graham fills those shoes of Gocong since he too was also projected as a better fit in a 3-4 scheme.

Hopefully the Eagles know what they are doing in picking Graham because Gocong could not transition into the 4-3 scheme and Graham could have the same issues.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

Pierre-Paul is a raw project, which may affect his development as a solid defensive lineman. The Giants love their defensive ends and have a good group of veterans to help Pierre-Paul become the next great Giants pass rusher.

But with high potential comes high risk and if Pierre-Paul can't transition into the NFL, then he will become the next notch on the wall for a bust.

Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos

Tebow will be a long-term project and whether or not he becomes a bust will be determined many years down the road, unless Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels feels pressure to play Tebow too soon.

If Tebow goes into games before he is ready then he may either become the next Ryan Leaf, or he could be the next Vince Young if he gets a second chance after struggling at first.

Only time will tell with Tebow, but his determination and confidence may set him apart from the rest on this list in the end.