2012 NFL Draft: 10 Prospects Who Killed Their Stock at Scouting Combine

The term "draft stock" is one of great importance come draft season.

Players' presumed true values rise and fall in violent fashion this time of year. Great showings at All-Star games or in workouts can push a player up draft boards like no other part of the process, but a sluggish performance at the combine can be homicidal to a player's draft stock.

These prospects are fully expected to come into the scouting combine in top-notch physical condition, anything else is a massive blow to their value with NFL teams. If you can't be ready for the biggest job interview of your life, what can you be ready for?

Displaying the same athleticism that you put on tape is an absolute must for guys—if you play like a 4.40-speed guy, you should work to test like one.

These steps are vital to the maintenance of a player's true value in the NFL draft. So who killed their stock at the scouting combine in Indianapolis?

10. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon has just ever so slightly skated by as the assumed No. 1 overall WR prospect in the 2012 class.

However, after his mediocre performance at the combine, Blackmon's status is in danger. While electing not to run the 40-yard dash because of an injury, Blackmon then proceeded to run full speed in WR drills, including the gauntlet. As an evaluator, Blackmon didn't look physically impaired by an injury when he was participating in those drill segments.

Blackmon showed his lack of competitive edge by passing on the 40, which, in most scouts' eyes, is huge.

To add to his poor decision to skip out, Blackmon didn't perform like the best WR at the combine when he did work out. Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd outshined the Oklahoma State Cowboy on every level.

9. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

The self-proclaimed "best tackle in the draft" hasn't been so impressive to people outside his own mirror.

No one in his or her right mind can deny the talent of Martin, but there seems to be a degree of rawness to his game. Martin failed to out-test other OTs at the combine, and that is really going to affect him.

Martin isn't the best tackle in the draft—in fact, he's not even ranked second by most accounts. OTs Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff have both supplanted Martin.

The average workout Martin had at the combine has done him no favors, and he's one of the formerly top NFL draft prospect on the slide.

8. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona

Everywhere you go, you're going to discover a differing opinion on Nick Foles.

Some people are on the Foles bandwagon, and one could see why. I know it's said plenty, but he really does posses the physical traits NFL teams look for in a signal-caller. Foles is a big, strong quarterback that can make all the throws. It's about decisions for him in the long run.

However, for now Foles' draft stock is at a free fall. As I watched him throw at the combine, Foles didn't look to have the accuracy that even the lower level guys were displaying. His awkward outside release wasn't pretty out there, and he even looked to be a bit out of the necessary physical condition.

Right now, Nick Foles' name isn't one of particular popularity in NFL circles.

7. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Possibly the player with the most question marks, Alshon Jeffery entered the combine needing to gain some ground in the worst way.

Jeffery did everything but help himself. The only positive thing he accomplished in Indy was his impressive weight, as he hit the scales at 217 lbs. That number was expected to possibly be far higher.

Outside of the positive weigh-in, Jeffery bombed. Like Blackmon, Jeffery elected to pass on everything and not just the 40-yard dash. This tells me something, and it's significant.

The first thing NFL decision-makers are going to think of when they really breakdown this decision is, "Is Alshon Jeffery hiding something? Is his 40 time going to be that bad? Is he a tight-hipped athlete? Did he lose weight the correct way? Is he in shape?"

With so many question marks, Alshon Jeffery is tumbling down draft boards.

6. Sean Spence, LB, Miami

This name may come as a surprise because Sean Spence wasn't touted at a top-100 type player. Nevertheless, he was thought of as a quicker-than-fast LB prospect that could possibly make a living on special teams. At his best, Spence was going to wind up a nickel package player.

After his awful showing at the combine, Spence is near undraftable. The former Miami Hurricane posted a measly 12 reps of 225 lbs. in the bench press, clocked a 4.71 40-yard dash and came in at just 5'11", 231 lbs.

None of those numbers are acceptable for an NFL-worthy LB, and to say Spence killed his draft stock at this point would be putting it nicely.

5. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Let me start this off by saying that Jenkins did fantastic in all the drills he participated in. It was evident that he's a top-notch athlete and was built to play the corner position. His instincts were shown, along with the elite ball skills.

Without his concerns that don't come into factor with the pads are on, Jenkins might be a top-15 pick. He's that good.

Unfortunately, things went downhill for Jenkins in the interview process where teams learned of his multiple arrests and four children. Not to say that it's wrong to have kids, but considering the circumstances NFL teams aren't psyched about this.

Jenkins didn't clear up or resolve any worries the GMs of professional football had prior to the combine. As of right now, Jenkins could drop to the second round.

4. Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State

The big guns at ESPN have made sure Brock Osweiler's name gets out there in a big way, but his draft stock is no where near what they're claiming it to be.

Osweiler was given a rare opportunity to make an inconceivable advancement in the QB rankings on team's boards, but because he wanted to play it safe and elect to pass on throwing at the combine, Osweiler wasn't able to make those advancements.

Actually, his strategy has worked against him. From the buzz I hear, teams are shying away from second-tier guys that pass on competition. Once again the question comes up, "Are they hiding something?"

3. Micheal Brockers, DT, LSU

Before the combine, Brockers was viewed as a potential top-10 type of prospect. His upside was undeniable and some saw him as the next freak athlete.

Those suspicions and thoughts were utterly dispelled when Brockers completed his workout. It's safe to say this workout warrior was never such a phenom.

Brockers' 5.36 in the 40 and 26" vertical leap were pedestrian at best.

It's likely Brockers will go from a top-10 pick to the mid-20s.

2. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

After the Senior Bowl, Mike Adams had some guys pushing him up their boards. In Mobile, Ala. Adams did a solid job improving his technique every day of practice.

Adams is truly a gifted player, and he's as experienced as they come. However, great players just don't lay an egg like Adams did at the combine.

Nineteen reps on the bench isn't going to work for a supposed top-20 OT prospect. Not only does it raise questions about strength, but it forces scouts to question if he was in the weight room like he was supposed to.

Adams did himself no favors in Indianapolis.

1. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

If there was one person that defined draft stock murder in 2012, it was Vontaze Burfict. Burfict's question marks were a huge problem for decision-makers, and they only became an even worse issue when Burfict answered most of the question negatively.

Burfict proved his haters to be right when he ran a 5.09 40-yard dash. That's an awful time for someone who had questions about his play speed. He added to the speed concerns with a display of infectious tightness in the hips.

Character worries already loomed over his head, and the word on the street is that Burfict didn't wow in interview rooms. One scout even went as far as to tell me, "I wouldn't let him date my daughter."