2012 NFL Draft: Potential 2nd-Round Picks Not Worth the Risk

It's quite obvious that a successful first-round pick is of extreme importance in the NFL draft, but second-rounders can often be just as vital. Teams aren't always going to find superstars in the second round, but they should be getting a quality NFL starter at least, so taking a bust can really set a franchise back.

Finding an effective player in the first round is difficult, as it is impossible to project how every player will translate to the next level. But it becomes even tougher in the second round, as the top-flight talent is off the board. In the second round, it is best to minimize risk, but there are plenty of landmines out there with second-round grades this season.

Here are three potential second-rounders who aren't worth the risk to teams on the hunt for impact players.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

There is a lot to like about Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden. He is mature, experienced, strong-armed and had plenty of success at the collegiate level. At the same time, though, there are plenty of reasons to worry. For one, he comes from a gimmicky spread offense at Oklahoma State, where he threw an extremely high volume of passes. While that is starting to catch on a bit in the NFL, it's likely that he'll have to adapt to something closer to a pro-style system.

The most alarming thing, however, is that Weeden will be a 29-year-old rookie. Because he decided to try his hand at baseball, Weeden didn't quarterback the Cowboys until he was much older than pretty much any other collegiate player. While that helped him in terms of maturity, it will hurt him now. It's likely to take Weeden some time to adjust to the NFL, and by the time he does, he will already be on the downside of his career. The ceiling is simply too low to roll the dice on Weeden.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

After an outstanding sophomore season, it looked like South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was poised to be a top-10 draft pick. He decided to return to school, though, and it hurt his stock tremendously. Jeffery went from over 1,500 receiving yards in 2010 to under 800 this past season, as he couldn't adjust to a muddled quarterback situation after Stephen Garcia was dismissed from the team. The struggles weren't all Jeffery's fault, but they are concerning to say the least.

If Jeffery were truly an elite receiver, then one would think that he could have found a way to remain productive. Although he ran a 4.48-second 40 at his pro day, there is some question as to whether or not Jeffery has the speed to get separation at the next level. If he doesn't, then he won't be effective. Jeffery avoided most drills at the combine and just doesn't seem like a driven competitor, so he has bust written all over him.

Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State

Just a couple months ago, Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict was thought to be a first-round prospect by most. This is despite the fact that he often made mind-boggling decisions on the field and let his aggression get the best of him with the Sun Devils. Also, while Burfict showed plenty of potential, he wasn't as productive as his talent level suggested he should be. Because of that and a lame combine performance, Burfict's draft status is in question.

Some prognosticators think that he could go as late as the fourth or fifth round, but because of his potential, I fully expect somebody to gamble on him in the second. If Burfict reaches his ceiling, then he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. But at this point, he is too much of a headcase to trust. Some team will take a shot in the dark with Burfict, but it won't end well for them, to say the least.