2012 NFL Draft: Dre Kirkpatrick and Players with Off-Field Issues Worth Big Risk

The NFL draft is a fickle event. Most teams go in with the goal of selecting the best talent available to fit their franchise and hope it works out.

However, sometimes teams will skip right over a highly skilled player because of “off-the-field” issues.

Here is a look at some players that should go early in the first round, but have a chance to slip because of their perceived character problems.

Dre Kirkpatrick

Kirkpatrick was arrested back in January for possessing a small amount of marijuana while he was a passenger in a vehicle being driven on the wrong side of the road.

It happened less than a week after he declared his intentions to go pro and become eligible for the 2012 NFL draft.

The arrest is going to hurt his stock. Indeed, many mock drafts have dropped him down into the teens after initially having him go as a Top-10 or even Top-Five pick.

It won’t change the fact that he’s an absolute beast and one of the best athletes in his class, though.

No team should pass up a 6’3” elite cornerback prospect because he was caught with a little pot.

Michael Floyd

Floyd has three alcohol-related incidents on his record and a suspended jail sentence for his DUI in early 2011.

Fortunately, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly did not suspend him for the 2011 season and reinstated him after proving he had reformed his life.

He did well on the field, hauling in 100 receptions for 1147 yards and nine touchdowns.

Teams will still be cautious about drafting the 6’3”, 225-pound prospect and he will have to interview well in order to prove he’s truly a changed man.

Janoris Jenkins

There is no bigger high-risk, high-reward prospect on the board than Jenkins.

He’s been arrested multiple times and was thrown off the Florida Gators by Will Muschamp prior to the season.

The star corner played at the University of North Alabama this year and is eligible to be selected in the upcoming draft.

Odds are that teams will pass on him until the mid-to-late first round because of his character issues, but his talent is simply undeniable.

Had Jenkins not been arrested, we could be looking at a Top-Five pick.