2012 NFL Mock Draft: Players Guaranteed to Bust

The NFL Draft is as prone to giving birth to busts as just about any such institution in professional sports. Names like JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf and Tim Couch send shivers through the spines of GMs and inspire equal parts humor and depression among legions of football fans everywhere.

Busts aren't particularly easy to spot ahead of time—if they were, they wouldn't be busts—though there are certainly some prospects in the 2012 pool who have the "B" word written all over them.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

The expectations are through the roof for Andrew Luck, though the Stanford product has the talent, the intelligence and the maturity to live up to them, if not exceed them entirely.

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

The same goes for RG3, though the legacy he'll have to overcome—one of perennial passing failure in DC—might be even more daunting than Luck's task of filling Peyton Manning's shoes in Indy.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil's older brother, Ryan, is a three-time Pro Bowler. Matt's considered an even better prospect at this point than Ryan was, so it's safe to say he should turn out just fine at the next level.

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Running backs are a dime-a-dozen in the NFL Draft, but Trent Richardson has all the tools to be the best of the bunch by a long shot. The only risk here is that Richardson gets dragged down by Cleveland's long-standing legacy of draft-day failure.

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

Don't worry about Mo Claiborne's low Wonderlic scores. He's still a supremely talented prospect at a premium position.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The fact that Justin Blackmon's success has been built on hard work and dedication more than pure physical ability bodes well for his future in the pros.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

If Jags GM Gene Smith wanted a bust here, he'd take Quinton Coples over Melvin Ingram. Here's thinking he goes with the safe pick.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick recently compared Ryan Tannehill to JaMarcus Russell, the infamous flop whom the Oakland Raiders took with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. As Billick argues, Tannehill, like Jam Jam, is an athletic playmaker with a somewhat limited collegiate track record who's risen up draft boards at a meteoric rate on account of a scarcity of top prospects at quarterback.

The Dolphins, though, could be the perfect fit for Tannehill, as he'd be tutored by Mike Sherman, Miami's new offensive coordinator and his head coach at Texas A&M.

Still, Tannehill's ratio of physical tools to actual, proven skill is a little too lopsided to believe he'd be ready to satisfy the whims of 'Fins owner Stephen Ross anytime soon.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

So long as Fletcher Cox doesn't shrink (or get too big), he should be just fine up front for the Panthers.

10. Buffalo Bills: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Iowa's put its fair share of underwhelming linemen into the NFL (see: Gallery, Robert), though Riley Reiff would appear to have the sort of complete game in pass protection and run blocking to be a success in the NFL.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

If anything, Luke Kuechly is a safe pick at this point, especially for a Chiefs defense that could use another playmaker at linebacker.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

 From a purely physical perspective, there might not be a player in this draft who can measure up to Quinton Coples. At 6'6 and 285 pounds, Coples is an absolute man-child with the size, strength, speed and athleticism to overwhelm off the edge.

Trouble is, Coples was maddeningly inconsistent during his days at North Carolina, demonstrating a tendency to loaf while relying all too heavily on his innate gifts. Without a significant shift in attitude, Coples is bound to be just another bust in a big, bad body.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd had some off-the-field issues during his days at Notre Dame, though the history of the NFL (especially over the last two decades) is littered with wide receivers who've starred amidst personal problems.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

A prospect shining at the combine doesn't mean he's going to fail in the NFL, though it does often lead to physical specimens being overvalued. It's still too soon, though, to doom Dontari Poe to a career that can't (or doesn't) live up to his Indy numbers.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Eagles don't necessarily need help along their defensive line, though Michael Brockers looks like a good fit for Jim Washburn's system and would help shore up Philly's suspect run defense.

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama

Don't get me wrong: I love Courtney Upshaw's heart, hustle and attitude.

Trouble is, he's something of a 'tweener—not quite big enough to be a dominant pass-rushing end and not quite fast enough to handle duties at outside linebacker.

That's not to say that Upshaw won't be productive in the NFL or won't be a significant upgrade to Rex Ryan's paltry pass rush in New York. It's simply that his lack of an ideal position in the pros leaves him susceptible to "bust" status down the line.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Raiders): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

David DeCastro will upgrade the Bengals' ground game, regardless of who winds up getting the bulk of the carries in Cincy.

18. San Diego Chargers: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Mark Barron is no Bob Sanders...which is great for the Bolts.

19. Chicago Bears: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Stephon Gilmore's four years of starting experience in the SEC should serve him well from Day 1 in the high-octane NFC North.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

 The Titans need a new star at corner after Cortland Finnegan followed Jeff Fisher to St. Louis. Dre Kirkpatrick has the size (he's 6'3) and the raw talent to be just that guy.

He's also had his share of problems off the field, most notably partaking in the casual consumption of recreational substances. He'll need to get his act together in due time, lest he wind up back on the scrap heap.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

 Like Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins is a supremely talented prospect at corner whose draft stock has been dragged down by problems beyond the gridiron. His dismissal from Florida's embattled football program doesn't bode well for his future, even if it is with the notoriously problem child-prone Bengals.

Granted, Jenkins has a long way to go before he could ever so much as sniff Pac-Man Jones territory, though the fact that the comparison would be apt at any point is reason enough to believe he's worth avoiding.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Falcons): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

If the Browns want to maximize their (presumed) investment in Trent Richardson, they'll upgrade their offensive line with a versatile guard of Cordy Glenn's caliber.

23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Matthew Stafford was fantastic under center last season, even while taking a beating week in and week out. Upgrading at tackle with Jonathan Martin should help to ensure Stafford's long-term health.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Of all the Crimson Tide players likely to go in the first round, Dont'a Hightower might actually be the best bet to succeed in the NFL, especially if he winds up filling the Steelers' need at inside linebacker.

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Upgrading at wide receiver can wait, Peyton Manning. Right now, the Broncos need to upgrade at defensive tackle.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Kendall Wright projects as the perfect complement to Andre Johnson in Houston, and not just because he's a native Texan himself. The Baylor product is a burner out wide and should open up the field for Matt Schaub to fling it deep from time to time.

27. New England Patriots (via Saints): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

 Most teams would be prone to bungle a talented-but-raw prospect like Nick Perry into pure, unadulterated failure. The Patriots are smarter than that, but would nonetheless run the risk of falling flat if they stuck their necks out for the USC product.

Perry's got the potential to be the next Willie McGinest, but the fact that he's still such an unfinished product leaves a bit too much wiggle room to be completely comfortable with him.

28. Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

The name says it all—Mercilus, pronounced MERCILESS! The Packers could use a bit of that off the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Unless Matt Birk suddenly discovers the Fountain of Youth, the Ravens would be wise to find his successor...like, now.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

He's 6'4 and runs a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. If Stephen Hill can run in a straight line and catch a ball with two hands, he'll be a star in the NFL.

31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Try finding an inch of space between Jerel Worthy and Vince Wilfork. Go ahead. Try it.

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

Count the Giants among the list of teams that could use an upgrade at left tackle.

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