NFL Draft 2011: Draft Prospects Justin Houston and Christian Ballard Failed Drug Tests at Combine

Two big time draft prospects have raised a few flags in the eyes of NFL teams. Georgia defensive end Justin Houston and Iowa defensive tackle Christian Ballard both failed a drug test they took back in February at the NFL Combine. 

Sources at FOX Sports say that both the players tested positive for marijuana. This news couldn't have come at a worse time for the players. They must have kept this a secret for quite some time because it doesn't take too terribly long to find out the results of a drug test.

Several experts consider Houston a late first round pick. Many have him staying in his home state and heading to the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 27 pick. Houston is 6'3" 270 pounds, and is an extremely gifted pass rusher. He has great explosiveness from the edge and thrives on getting after the quarterback.

This news may just push him out of the first round.

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Ballard was considered to be a second round pick by many, but now the 6'4" 283-pound defensive lineman will fall on teams draft boards. 

No NFL teams wants to draft a player that will give them future problems. These players stock will certainly drop, but the question is by how much? 

If I were both of these players and I knew I was clean now I would take a re-test right now. With just a few days until the draft, it would be a great idea to let teams know you are clean. Why they weren't clean at the combine is beyond me. 

This is their future they are dealing with, and they've just about thrown it away by failing the drug test. NFL players failing drug tests for marijuana is nothing new in the league, which leads me to believe these players won't see too much of a drop on draft day. 

Houston and Ballard have a chance to make things right, but will they do it?