2012 NFL Draft: Defensive Busts Sitting in the First Round

The first round of the NFL draft is littered with defensive prospects.

Some are going to be Hawaii-bound for multiple years, while others are going to be out of the league within three seasons after failing to produce.

Guys that failed to impress at the combine, have a physical short-coming or just plain didn’t produce a whole lot in college are all prime candidates.

As we go through the latest mock draft, we’ll highlight players that have the strongest possibility to be a bust in the NFL.

(Busts in italics)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Once RGIII shunned the Colts workout, it sealed the deal for Luck.

The time is now to start looking for houses in the Indianapolis area.

2. Washington Redskins (via St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

With less pressure on his shoulders and a desperate head coach, there is no doubt RGIII can put up a Cam Newton-like season his rookie year.

I think the playoffs will be in order. This tells you more about the state of the NFC East more than anything, but still, RGIII is going to impress from the get-go.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is the most polished player at his position and is versatile as well. He will excel in both run and pass situations—a requirement for such a high investment.  

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Lately there have been mocks that are knocking Blackmon out of the top 10.

I don’t get it.

With his size, hands and toughness, there's no question he will be a star in the NFL for the foreseeable future. Cleveland desperately needs a player like Blackmon.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

The discussion over a score on a test is absurd.

Claiborne's athletic skills and SEC experience are more than enough to realize he's a special player that has a very bright future ahead of him.

Claiborne is ready to contribute to an NFL team instantly.

6. St. Louis Rams (Washington Redskins ): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples notched a total of 7.5 sacks for North Carolina in 2011, but two of those came against James Madison. His lack of effort on a consistent basis is troubling.

How will his motor be after signing a deal for millions of dollars guaranteed?

Coples is overvalued because he has strong measurements that displayed flashes of brilliance against the run in college.

Coples is a big gamble and one I certainly wouldn’t want to take with such an important pick. With the obvious need at the position, the Rams reach on who they believe is the best defensive end in the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox is the opposite of Coples. He always plays with a ton of energy and the proof is in five blocked kicks in his collegiate career.

Cox has exceptional height (6’4’’) and length (34.4’’ arms) while possessing outstanding quickness for the position.

His burst off the snap is something special as you can expect Cox to play in the NFL for the next decade.

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Will Miami bet the farm on Ryan Tannehill?

Is seems to me that the Dolphins have no idea what they want to do about QB and end up settling for one in the second or third round.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Ever since the combine, it has been a foregone conclusion that Poe would be a top-10 pick. His physical tools combined with a 6’3’’ and 350 pound frame make him one of the most sought after prospects of the entire draft.

10. Buffalo Bills: Nick Perry, DE, Stanford

The Bills are still struggling in the pass-rush department despite nabbing Marcell Dareus last year.

Scouts love Perry’s pass-rush ability and standout play against the run, but I wonder if he’s ready for the next level.

The 21-year-old junior isn’t nearly as polished as some of the other players on the board and it’s hard to picture him being much of a factor his rookie year.

Anytime you have top-10 pick, the expectations to produce instantly are there, and I’m not so sure Perry is ready to handle them.  

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chiefs addressed the tackle position by landing Eric Winston and now it’s time to shore up guard.

DeCastro is a special talent with plenty of experience.  

12. Seattle Seahawks: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Upshaw's physicality and explosiveness as a pass-rusher makes him one scary dude on the field.

The Seahawks are quietly building one of the best defenses in the league and drafting Upshaw would be icing on the cake.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The knee issues of Richardson are going to scare off teams, and despite employing Beanie Wells, the Cardinals take the top prospect left on the board.

The power that Richardson runs with is remarkable and he can also catch passes out of the backfield.

Richardson is the complete package.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins may have character red flags, but he's an incredible talent that seemed to finally “get it” after being kicked off the Florida Gators.

Sure the Cowboys nabbed Brandon Carr in free agency, but they need more depth and a player that is more than just a band-aid.

Dallas' unit was horrible last year and severe upgrades must be made.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

The Eagles have a limited window to win and drafting a player that can step in instantly has to be the No. 1 priority.

Ingram is incredibly versatile and provides the Eagles' coaching staff with plenty of flexibility to plug him into a variety of different slots. With his SEC pedigree he’ll be ready to contribute from day one.  

16. New York Jets: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd—who stands at 6’3’’ and 225 pounds—has incredible polish for a 22-year-old and is a candidate to be an All-Pro down the line.

It’s hard to find one hole in his game, with the only concern being his issues with alcohol in the past.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

The tackling machine won the Butkus Award because of his incredible effort.

Unfortunately for Kuechly, effort can only get you so far in the NFL.

He has the height at 6’3’’, but I think Kuechly's 240-pound frame slows him down and the proof is in the tape. He hardly registered any tackles for a loss and only created two turnovers his senior season.

His lack of speed combined with a tendency to over-run plays makes me weary of Kuechly.

18. San Diego Chargers: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

With Vincent Jackson gone for good, the Chargers are going to reach for a receiver at No. 18.

Wright’s gaudy numbers were a product of RGIII. His lack of speed was exposed at the combine as was his shaky route-running ability.

19. Chicago Bears: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

It’s a position of need and Kirkpatrick is the best available because of his outstanding press coverage. He can jam even the biggest of wide receivers.

The upside on Kirkpatrick is tremendous.

20. Tennessee Titans: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

This beast of a guard (6’6’’ and 345 pounds) is a load in the middle and can help get Chris Johnson back on track after his worst season as a pro.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

The Bengals recently signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but they need somebody else.

If Miller is off the board, Cincinnati will look elsewhere, but if they can nab the speedster with fresh legs, they do it.

22. Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

If the Dolphins don’t draft him at No. 8, Tannehill is going to plummet down the board.

The Browns know Colt McCoy isn’t the answer, and drafting a replacement is better to do now than suffer through another lifeless season with McCoy.

23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Almost everybody is high on Barron because of his frame, SEC experience and versatility.

There really aren’t any holes in Barron’s game as the most complete safety in the draft.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Still was productive in college, where his sheer size allowed him to get by, but I don’t think Still is athletic enough to consistently compete at the next level.

He isn’t very fast, has a weak burst and can fall victim to quicker opponents.

The Steelers could certainly use a big powerful tackle, but I think Still ends up disappointing them in an attempt to replace Casey Hampton with a local guy.

25. Denver Broncos: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Beefing up the protection for Peyton Manning is a must and landing the best available prospect at the position is the best bet.

Martin would be a steal at No. 25.

26. Houston Texans: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery has a boatload of talent with a red flag laced rap sheet.

As long as Jeffery stays focused throughout the season, he has the ability to be a standout on a team that looks to be one of the best in the league.

27. New England Patriots- Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma

Fleming has the size and strength to play right away—exactly what New England needs a year after reaching the Super Bowl.

28. Green Bay Packers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Packers were smashed up the middle last year and need a tackle to help shore up the issue.

Problem is, Brockers is a big-time project that needs a ton of coaching and time in the weight room. He needs a lot of attention from the staff and the Packers don’t have that sort of time

Brockers doesn’t have very long arms and is slow off the snap. His explosiveness is not going to magically appear overnight.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Matt Birk is very close to retiring and Konz can play right off the bat.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard is one of the most NFL-ready players in the draft, but doesn’t have nearly as high of a ceiling as some of the other prospects still on the board.

31. New England Patriots: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State

He's really rising fast up the big board after a standout combine. McClellin is very intelligent—a very important trait when playing for Bill Belichick.

32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Adams has come on strong of late and his 6’7’’, 323-pound frame is outstanding. Combined with quick feet and hands, there's a lot to like with Adams.  

As long as he stays low and doesn’t get toppled over with his huge frame, Adams has a long career ahead of him. 

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