2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Prospects with Highest Bust Potential

Being a bust is the worst thing you can say about NFL draft picks. Not only are you saying they failed, but they will be constantly reminded of it every single year when someone who plays their position comes out. 

Right now, all the 2012 draft prospects are franchise saviors because they haven't seen the field. We have all their college tape and workouts for NFL scouts to base an opinion on, which is going to give us a warped view of what these players really can do. 

Here are the best prospects with the highest bust potential in the 2012 NFL draft class. 

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Unless something goes horribly wrong, there is no way that Luck doesn't at least turn into a good NFL quarterback. 

2. Washington Redskins (via STL 2-14): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin looks like he could fall victim to the hype machine. His workouts have been stellar, sure, and that is why the Redskins mortgaged their next three first-round picks to move up four spots to ensure they land him. 

However, he is going into a whole new world. Not sure if you have noticed, but they don't play a lot of defense in the Big 12. Griffin has the tools to overcome a lack of serious competition at the college level. 

Still, with some analysts talking about him being the better than Andrew Luck, it doesn't seem like there is anywhere for him to go but down. 

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is as safe a bet to become an All-Pro as anyone in this class. Just plug him onto the offensive line and let him go. 

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

It should tell you how special Richardson is that he is being thought of as a top-five pick. Most running backs are lucky to break into the first round. 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

In a draft light on elite secondary players, Claiborne deserves his spot as the No. 5 player in this draft class. He has true game-changing ability, which is rare in today's NFL. 

6. St. Louis Rams (via Washington 5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Once he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, any fears about Blackmon possibly being a possession receiver went away. 

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Jaguars need Floyd to complement Laurent Robinson and help Blaine Gabbert turn into the star they believe he can be. 

8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Tannehill is a bust in the making. His draft stock has never been more in doubt, but there does seem to be something brewing between the Texas A&M quarterback and the Miami Dolphins. 

They desperately need to get a quarterback, so it would seem to make sense. Certainly, Tannehill has all the measurables evaluators look for. 

His biggest drawback is what's going on inside his helmet. He tries to make so many things happen that when one thing goes wrong, he can't get it out of his head. That is going to be a big problem coming into the NFL, where everything can go wrong in a hurry. 

9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe has turned himself into a star this scouting season. That's just the beginning. 

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Mario Williams is great on his own, but imagine how much better he—and the Bills—will be with another pass-rusher for him to play alongside. 

11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Even if the Chiefs have to think a few minutes, the one name they will keep coming back to is Kuechly. He is a star and an anchor in the middle of a defense. 

12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

The Seahawks have one of the best young defenses in the NFL. Adding Upshaw only gives them more toys to play with. 

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

DeCastro is one of the most versatile players in this draft, with the ability to stick at multiple positions on the offensive line. 

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron is either going to be the best pick the Cowboys have made in a long time or one of the biggest busts. There is no in-between, because he has a lot to learn about the position. 

No one can deny he has the ability to hit and hit hard, but he needs to learn how to read the quarterback and get more physical at the line of scrimmage. That is not to say that Barron won't learn to do those things. It just seems likely he turns into a specialist at this point. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is another physical player to put in the middle of the defensive line for the revamped Eagles defense. 

16. New York Jets (8-8): Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy may not be as dominant as Poe or Brockers, but he will bring that swagger back to the Jets defensive line that was lacking a lot of firepower in 2011. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn's quick feet and ability to adjust quickly make him a perfect fit for the new Bengals offensive scheme. 

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Chargers need to start rebuilding their offensive line if they want to keep Philip Rivers healthy. Reiff is a mountain that will make everyone around him better. 

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Everyone has fallen in love with Hill's big-play potential. What's not to love about a receiver who runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash?

However, speed alone will not make Hill into a star. He has the hands to be the player the Bears need to get better in red-zone situations. 

Playing in that division, in those climates, means Hill will have to prove he is a physical receiver who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty blocking opponents. 

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram's value is tied strictly in his ability to get after the quarterback. Fortunately, he is very good at that. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Gilmore doesn't have the blazing speed that other cornerbacks in this class do, but he has surprising strength and agility for someone his size. 

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Run defense has been a weakness for the Browns since 2010. Cox is the big body they need in the middle to fix those problems.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Jonathan Martin, OG, Stanford

With Martin on the line, Matthew Stafford should have an extra half-second to find open receivers. Imagine what his numbers will look like with all that time. 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Poor, Pittsburgh. Everything the team tries to fix the offensive line either blows up in its face or gets hurt before we see what it's capable of. 

Adams does have some injury concerns, but his overall play at Ohio State left a lot to be desired. You would think it easy for a 6'7", 320-pound offensive lineman to stop opponents from getting by. 

Sadly, with the speed and strength of defensive linemen today, Adams will have to show a renewed focus to the game and improve his blocking technique to succeed. 

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

With the Broncos scrambling to find players for Peyton Manning, Fleener should be right at the top of their list. A 6'6" tight end with great hands is a red-zone nightmare. 

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright's speed left a lot to be desired at the combine, but his hands were significantly better than expected. At worst, he is a possession receiver who can make plays and open spots for Andre Johnson. 

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower is an ideal fit for the Patriots 3-4 scheme: an edge-rushing linebacker who can move to the defensive line, if need be. 

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

David may not have the star potential that a lot of first-round picks, but he is an underrated playmaker who can be at least a solid NFL starter for the next decade. 

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

The Ravens offense is built on being dominant up front. Konz is the best pure center in this class, and will be a Pro Bowl player multiple times in his career. 

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard's upside isn't as high as, say, Claiborne or Kirkpatrick, but don't assume he won't be a starting cornerback in the NFL. He reads quarterbacks as well as anyone in this class, which will carry him as he learns the other intricacies of the game. 

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Nick Perry, DE, USC

Perry's stock has slipped a bit because he isn't as dynamic as the raw tools suggest he could be. Still, he profiles as a very good 3-4 edge-rusher for the Patriots. 

32. New York Giants (9-7): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Ending the first round with a bang, Jenkins has as much potential as any cornerback in this draft. His skills can only be matched by Morris Claiborne, but he comes with a lot of baggage. 

Everyone knows about the off-field problems that plagued Jenkins at Florida, which led to him being dismissed from the program and his transfer to North Alabama. He stayed out of trouble last year, and has been doing his best to tell teams that he is a changed man. 

We love to see players overcome personal demons to succeed at the highest level of sports. Jenkins has the talent to be a star. However, you have to wonder if/when he will be caught in an incident he shouldn't be. 

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