2012 NFL Draft: Ryan Tannehill and Prospects Who Won't Live Up to the Hype

Every year childhood dreams come true on draft day. Unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and puppies in the NFL.

The harsh reality is that for every pick who maximizes his potential, there's a dozen who fail. And while I hate to rip on kids who have invested so much in the game, there are a few top tier prospects in this class who have "bust" written all over them.

The following three players will be drafted early in the first round next week. However, I'm not expecting them to live up to their lofty draft status. 

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

Tannehill won't fall lower than eighth overall, and he could even sneak into the top five. Unfortunately, I think whatever team selects him will have wasted a very valuable pick.

A former wide receiver, Tannehill only started 19 games as a college quarterback. While some may look at his inexperience and say that he still has major growth ahead of him, I think it's a legitimate red flag on his resume. You should always be wary of one year wonders, especially at the quarterback position.

Tannehill also struggled against elite teams last season. Against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, he completed just 54 percent of his passes and threw six interceptions. Given that neither team was a defensive powerhouse, this is pretty concerning.

Tannehill is an incredible athlete, and he seems to be a great kid as well. I just don't think he's going to be a great quarterback.

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples reminds me of Jamaal Anderson, the eighth pick in the 2007 draft.

Like Anderson, Coples will be drafted in the top 10 or 15 because of his insane athleticism. But also like Anderson, I'm not expecting anything special from him in the pros.

After a monster junior season, Coples struggled against the extra attention he faced in 2011. He was constantly frustrated by double teams, and he was easily slowed down by chip blocks from running backs.

Coples' inconsistency also implies that his work ethic is less than ideal. Although he's incredibly talented, you can't draft a player early in the first round if he's not fully committed to improving.

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe is a freak athlete, as he emphatically proved at the pre-draft combine in Indianapolis.

Despite weighing 346 pounds, Poe ran the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.98 seconds. He also showed that he's got some muscle on that massive frame, posting 44 reps in the bench press.

However, as impressive as he was, Poe's physical gifts don't necessarily make him a great football player. At Memphis, he regularly took plays off and he didn't have nearly the impact that you'd expect from someone with his athleticism.

Poe will be drafted in the mid-first round, and he could certainly develop into a dominant force. I just wouldn't bet on it.