2011 NFL Draft: Blaine Gabbert and 10 Players Who May Be a Bust in the NFL
With NFL teams dissecting every bit of material they can on NFL prospects, front office executives are wondering if the player they select will end up as the next Ryan Leaf.
Every year, teams draft players who are expected to transition well to the NFL. However, many teams are let down by their prospects' performances, and those players end up riding the pine for most of their career.
There have been a lot of players projected to go in the first round of this year's draft who could end up as busts at the NFL level.
Whether it be due to their lack of athleticism or their work ethic, these ten players may not live up to expectations in the NFL.
Matt Faulconer is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist for the NFL and the Washington Redskins. He has served as an intern for the site as well. He also contributes his writings on the North Carolina Tar Heels to the fan site, TarHeelCoalition.com. He has had articles featured on partner sites such as Philly.com (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
You can reach Matt Faulconer by e-mail at matt.faulconer.br@gmail.com with any questions and concerns.
10. Cameron Heyward
1 of 10
Cameron Heyward definitely has the potential to be successful in the NFL. However, he comes off as lazy at times, mainly because of his ability to disappear in games.
He was very inconsistent during his last season at Ohio State, and it is tough to really put a finger on the kid.
He is not the most athletic lineman, or the strongest lineman, but teams seem to see potential in him. He lacks the ideal pass-rushing skills needed to be a defensive end in the 4-3 scheme, so he will likely need to play as a five-technique in a 3-4 in the NFL.
Heyward is going to have to land in the right scheme and on the right team to be successfu. The best-case scenario for him is that he goes to a team like Pittsburgh, Baltimore or New England, where he can be coached up to excel in a team-oriented defensive scheme.
If Heyward lands in a 4-3 system, or doesn't go to one of the more elite defensive teams, he could have significant problems adapting to the NFL game.
9. Adrian Clayborn
2 of 10
Clayborn had a huge junior season at Iowa, but fell off significantly in his senior year. In his junior season he recorded 11 sacks; that number fell to just four this past year.
Not only are there concerns about his talent, he has some character issues.
Clayborn was arrested and pleaded guilty in 2010 to assaulting a cab driver. That doesn't bode well for the Iowa star, as he is not the most athletic lineman available.
He mainly used a bull-rush style in college to rush the quarterback. That style of play likely won't be as successful for him in the NFL, as linemen are faster and stronger.
His best chance for success may be landing in Tampa Bay, where Raheem Morris may be able to coach him up and find a suitable role for the former Iowa star.
8. Ryan Mallett
3 of 10
Ryan Mallett has the biggest arm of any quarterback in this draft class, there is clearly no issue with that part of his game.
The biggest issue with Ryan Mallett has been his character. His leadership has been questioned, and his drug use has been the biggest question.
Another problem with Mallett is that he is a statue. He really needs to improve his footwork, and needs to find a way to buy time with his feet, as he is not very athletic.
Mallett certainly has the arm to be successful in the NFL, but it remains to be seen if he has the drive, desire, and passion for the game of football that teams look for in their franchise quarterback.
At this point, it appears that Mallett will fall out of the first round and could see himself on a team like Cincinnati or Tennessee next season.
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7. Aldon Smith
4 of 10
Aldon Smith is not projected to go in the first round because of his production, but because of his upside. He is a very raw talent who projects as a boom-or-bust pick.
He did have 11 sacks in his freshman season, but that number fell to six in his sophomore season. He relies too much on his athleticism to get to the quarterback and does not have much technique.
He is one of those players who is versatile enough to play in either the 4-3 or the 3-4, but it is tough to tell which one would be the better fit for him.
If Smith lands in a system that can play to his strengths, he has the talent to be a very successful player. However, one more year at Missouri might have helped him to be more prepared for the NFL.
At this point, whichever team drafts Smith needs to keep expectations low for the rookie in his first season.
6. Ryan Williams
5 of 10
Ryan Williams is projected as a second-round pick and is coming off of a very poor season at Virginia Tech.
In 2009, Williams became the focal point of the running game when Darren Evans went down, and he responded with over 1,600 yards rushing.
In 2010, things changed when Darren Evans returned to the lineup. Williams only received more than 15 carries in two games during the 2010 campaign; Virginia Tech lost both of those games to Boise State and James Madison.
With only one 100-yard game last season, it appears that Williams was not effective in a role that forced him to share carries. That could be a huge problem in the NFL, as he likely will not be a feature back in the NFL with most teams going to a two-back system.
Williams finished near the middle of the pack in almost all drills at the combine, and does not do anything exceptionally well.
It is possible that his well-rounded game could translate to the NFL, however, he will certainly need to be more productive with fewer carries when he suits up in for a professional football team.
5. Cameron Newton
6 of 10
Cam Newton has to be on this list, as there are many who believe he will be the first overall pick. He is likely one of the most athletic quarterbacks to ever play in college, but it remains to be seen whether his game will translate well to the NFL.
He is fast, strong, and has a cannon for an arm. His biggest weaknesses include his accuracy, and his ability to read the defense, which are the two most important traits for an NFL quarterback.
While no one is saying that Newton does not have the ability read a defense; he was not asked to do it at Auburn. Playing in a one-read, spread offense at Auburn did not help him to prepare for the NFL game.
The best case scenario for Newton would be to have him sit for a year or two to learn behind a veteran quarterback.
With that being said, the best-case scenario for him would be to land in Buffalo, where he may be able to sit behind one of the smartest quarterbacks in the game, Ryan Fitzpatrick, for a year.
If Newton is selected by the Panthers in the first round, he will certainly be thrown under center immediately, which could make his development difficult.
4. Jake Locker
7 of 10
Jake Locker has had one of the most epic falls for a quarterback in recent history. He likely would have been a top-five pick last season, and could have been the first overall pick had he left after his junior season.
Locker, like Newton, has the arm and the athletic abilities that give him the "wow" effect. However, he is not very impressive on tape, and lacks the accuracy needed to be successful in the NFL.
At best, he has become a project quarterback. He needs to work on his ability to read the defense, and will likely need to spend a lot of time in the film room, if he wants to be successful.
His accuracy is also going to need to improve, as there were games last season where he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn (in two games against Nebraska, he went a combined 9-of-36).
Landing in Seattle would be the best-case scenario for Locker, but only if Seattle resigns Matt Hasselbeck to mentor Locker for a year or two.
3. Tyron Smith
8 of 10
In this latest mock draft, Tyron Smith is the first tackle off the board at pick No. 12. He has the athleticism and foot speed to be successful in the NFL; however, he still needs to bulk up and work on his technique.
He has all the potential to be successful, but there are certainly reasons for teams to worry about Smith.
One major concern is that he was a right tackle throughout his time at Southern California, and will be expected to transition to the left tackle position in the NFL.
Transitioning from right tackle in college to left tackle in the NFL is going to be a huge reality check for Smith.
He certainly has the most upside of any tackle in the draft, like Trent Williams had last year, but can he live up to that hype?
2. Nick Fairley
9 of 10
Fairley rose to the top spot on a lot of draft boards after his performance against Oregon in the National Championship game. He seemed to be in the backfield constantly, and he was disrupting both the running and passing game of Oregon.
While Fairley appeared to get himself up for the big game, there were many points in the season where he completely disappeared in games.
Fairley is tough to grade out, partially because there really is not a lot of tape on him. He only played two years at Auburn and did not make much of an impact in his first year.
With his one-hit wonder status, and a work ethic that is being called into question, Fairley is either going to be a big-time NFL player or a Top 10 flop.
1. Blaine Gabbert
10 of 10
Blaine Gabbert came out of nowhere to become not just a first-round pick, but a top five talent. When Todd McShay did his first mock draft in November, Gabbert was nowhere to be found.
When Andrew Luck made the decision to return to school, Ryan Mallett's drug problem came to light, Jake Locker self-imploded, and somehow Gabbert became the de facto top quarterback.
Those shouldn't be the reasons why a player rises to the top of the draft board. Gabbert had a solid year statistically at Missouri, but nothing that blows the competition out of the water, especially when comparing his numbers to Chase Daniels.
Gabbert, like Locker and Newton, has accuracy concerns that cannot be ignored. He only completed 30 percent of his passes that were thrown more than 15 yards down the field. He also appeared to have issues throwing outside the hash marks.
He could be successful in a quick-read offense, such as the West Coast, but there is no given when it comes to projecting quarterbacks.
For a guy who didn't emerge as a legitimate threat to be a top five pick until Andrew Luck withdrew his name from the draft, there is no reason for an NFL team to put their faith in Blaine.
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