2012 NFL Draft: Overrated Talents at Every Position

Just like every year, the 2012 NFL draft has several players have been over-hyped by talent evaluators. 

Here are the most overrated players at every position in the 2012 NFL draft class. 

Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

I like Tannehill's upside, but after just one-and-a-half seasons at quarterback in college, I don't think he's ready to be a top-10 pick. He aced his pro day and has reportedly been outstanding in interviews during the draft process, but still, his body of work is not worthy of a top-10 NFL draft pick.

Again, Tannehill's upside is tremendous, but he won't be able to contribute for at least a year or two and has a long way to go before he's considered a franchise cornerstone at quarterback. 

Running Back: Doug Martin, Boise State

Martin is another guy who isn't terrible, but some places are listing him as a potential first-round pick or the No. 2 running back on the board. I just don't see it.

He had a great career at Boise State, but he is just 5'9" and 223 pounds. And while he has some versatility, he's not a guy who could be a consistent, every-down back in the NFL. I'm not convinced he can take the pounding that the NFL will dish out on him.

Martin would be a nice complementary back in the NFL, but if you take a running back in the first round, you had better be getting someone you can lean on.

Wide Receiver: Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

Like the first two names on this list, Hill has some things to be excited about. He has elite size at 6'4" and 215 pounds and can consistently get deep (averaged 29.3 yards per catch on 28 receptions in 2011). But he is inexperienced and only had 49 catches in three years at Georgia Tech.

Hill will be a long-term project for whoever selects him, and if you're going to spend a first-round pick on a receiver, you have to get some immediate return on that investment.

Offensive Line: Mike Adams, Ohio State

At 6'7" and 323 pounds, Mike Adams should have been a dominant offensive tackle at Ohio State. He wasn't. Adams has a questionable work ethic in college and was part of the group of Buckeyes who was suspended for receiving improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo parlor. 

Adams also improved his awareness and patience as his career went on, but he was never as good as he should have been. I can't describe for you how disappointing he was on tape since I don't think there is a word for just how far below expectations he performed. 

Most mock drafts have Adams going in the first round, but I have him with a low second-round grade.

Defensive Line: Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Coples is as talented a defensive end as I have scouted. At 6'6" and 285 pounds with ridiculous athleticism, he could become the next Julius Peppers. The problem is, whoever takes him will have to make sure he is motivated and plays through the whistle.

On tape, Coples' effort was awful in 2011. He dominated the Senior Bowl, but that came with his draft stock dropping considerably. If it takes the prospect of losing a ton of money to motivate him, that could be an issue once he signs an NFL contract. 

He seems like a decent kid, but his motor is unimpressive and doesn't match his talent level. Again, he could put it all together at the next level, but I'm not sure he's worth the risk of a top-10 or top-15 pick.

Linebacker: Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

Lewis is considered by many to be a  high second-round pick, and he is certainly talented, but I don't think he put up the numbers in college to be worthy of that. 

To his credit, Lewis is a hard worker who was considered a character guy by his teammates and coaches at Oklahoma. He measures in at nearly 6'2" and 253 pounds, but he doesn't have the pass-rushing skills of an outside linebacker at the NFL level.

Lewis is a solid tackler, but he isn't great at shedding blocks. He has also had nagging back injuries throughout his college career, and I think he is too big of a risk to be taken anywhere above the third round.

Cornerback: Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

I have not spoken to a single talent evaluator who doesn't like Jenkins' talent or tape, but there are major questions about what kind of a kid he is. I've seen him taken in the top-20 of recent mock drafts, and that is simply far too high for a cornerback who is this big of a character risk.

Jenkins was kicked off of Florida's football team in April of 2010 after being arrested twice in three months for drug-related charges. He was also involved in a fight in 2009 and was charged with misdemeanor affray and resisting arrest. 

He had to finish his career at North Alabama, where he was ejected from the Delta State game for throwing a punch. 

I just think there are too many questions about Jenkins to invest a high pick in him regardless of talent level. 

Safety: Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

Smith is yet another guy I like, but just not as much as others. He is very athletic, and he has a nose for the ball. At almost 6'2" and 213 pounds, he also has above-average measurables for a safety. When you consider that there aren't a bunch of good safeties in the 2012 draft class, Smith is the most overrated.

On tape, Smith often gets himself out of position and relies on his athleticism and speed to make up for mistakes. In the NFL, he won't be able to do that and recover in time. 

Smith has been listed at the back of the first round on most mock drafts, but I see him as a mid-second-round pick.