NFL Draft 2012: Top 10 Talents with Greatest Bust Potential

Being a Top-10 pick in the NFL draft comes with a world of expectations unlike anything that the player has ever experienced. They have to perform for their team and the fans that have studied their entire college career. If they don't, they will forever be tagged with the dreaded "bust" label. 

It is not even enough for these players to be solid contributors, they have to be the best of the best, making Pro Bowls and all-pro teams.

The 2012 draft class is going to feature a few of these players, who will turn out to be busts. That is just how this process works.

So, who are the Top-10 picks that will leave their future teams wanting a lot more?

Trent Richardson, RB

It is not often that a running back gets talked about as a potential Top-Five pick, so you know that Richardson is different from anyone else. 

However, every running back has a finite amount of carries in them before they break down. He has been fortunate because 2011 was his only season as a full-time back. 

The problem with Richardson is that his position is so flush with talent that, unless you are Adrian Peterson, no one really stands out anymore.

You can find running backs anywhere. For a team to risk an early pick on him in favor of another position, where talent depth is scarce, means that he has to be a Hall of Famer. 

Robert Griffin III, QB

When Matt Barkley decided to go back to USC, Griffin became the No. 2 quarterback in this year's draft. He had a banner year at Baylor, and is all but guaranteed to be a Top-10 pick. 

However, he is not without his flaws. He showed in the bowl game against Washington that he can be turnover prone. He fumbles the ball more than you would like to see from a quarterback. 

He is athletic enough to succeed in the NFL, but he has to get better at protecting the ball. 

Justin Blackmon, WR

While it might look ridiculous to write about Blackmon being a bust after he performed so well in the Fiesta Bowl, he is not without his flaws. 

He is not an elite NFL talent. He put up video-game numbers in college because Oklahoma State's offense is so good. He does not have elite size or speed for the NFL, which means that his ceiling is limited. 

Teams are going to fall in love with his college performance, but beware that he is not going to be able to run past NFL cornerbacks. 

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB

Kirkpatrick is probably going to be the second defensive back taken in this draft. That is, after LSU's Morris Claiborne. However, he has some holes in his game right now that will leave him exposed in the NFL. 

The biggest problem with Kirkpatrick is that he relies on his raw skills to get by. He doesn't read routes well, nor does he understand how or when to attack the ball in the air. 

These are not crippling problems that will prevent him from ever becoming a star, but if he is unable to get them fixed, he will be nothing more than a nickel cornerback. 

Follow @adamwells1985