NFL Draft Projections: 10 1st-Round Players Who Will Be Busts

The 2012 NFL draft is upon us and so is the speculation of which player is the best fit for each team.

Teams go into the draft looking to make the best pick that will help them upgrade, but they are not always right with their picks.

There are always going to be busts in the NFL draft. Some players are projected to be first-round talent, but do not pan out.

I am going to use Mel Kiper's and Todd McShay's projected first-rounders for the draft and give 10 players that will be a bust.

DT Dontari Poe

Kiper: No. 9, Carolina Panthers

McShay: No. 14, Dallas Cowboys

Dontari Poe has benefited from a strong combine. He has climbed up draft boards because he has put up strong numbers in his pre-draft workouts.

Poe has been successful in the combine, but he hasn't been as successful in games. He's never been the dominant lineman and hasn't proved he can be close to an every-down player. His skills and effort are too much of a question and concern to be a top-15 pick.

OT, Mike Adams

Kiper: Not projected in first round

McShay: No. 32, New York Giants

Just hearing that Mike Adams is 6'7" and 323 pounds has to make you interested. His size is exactly what you want for a guy protecting your quarterback.

There are many things that have to concern you as well. As big as he is, Adams was only able to put up 19 reps on the bench press at the combine. He also failed a drug test for marijuana use. Throw those things in with the injuries he has already had in his career, and it is a recipe for a bust.

QB Ryan Tannehill

Kiper: No. 8, Miami Dolphins

McShay: No. 8, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins missed out on top quarterbacks during free agency. They were not able to bring in Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn, which will cause them to panic and draft a quarterback. That quarterback will be Ryan Tannehill.

This is going to be a panic move as Tannehill is not a top-10 pick. The Dolphins are going to want him to step in and be there immediate quarterback, but he needs time to develop.

In college, Tannehill played the equivalent of 1.5 seasons as quarterback. He played in an offense-friendly conference, but failed to put up impressive statistics. Tannehill was even moved from quarterback to wide receiver before again switching to quarterback.

WR Justin Blackmon

Kiper: No. 6, St. Louis Rams

McShay: No. 6, St. Louis Rams

Justin Blackmon is the top wide receiver in the 2012 draft class. With that comes some extra pressure. And while Blackmon appears to have the talent and dedication to be a good receiver in the NFL, is he going to be a great receiver? 

Blackmon is being projected and drafted to be the next star receiver in the league. He will be compared to the top receivers in the league like Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson. Unfortunately, he may never live up to those high expectations. 

CB Stephon Gilmore

Kiper: No. 21, Cincinnati Bengals

McShay: No. 19, Chicago Bears

Stephon Gilmore's stock has risen recently, but his college performance was not overly impressive. Gilmore was one of the top prospects coming out of high school and failed to live up to that hype in college. Who is to say that won't happen again?

The cornerback position is going to be interesting in this draft. Morris Claiborne will be the first cornerback taken in this draft, but after him is where it gets interesting.

Dre Kirkpatrick and Janoris Jenkins could both go before Gilmore. Gilmore is not the best cover corner out of the three, but character issues for Kirkpatrick and Jenkins could leave Gilmore to be the first one off the board.

TE Coby Fleener

Kiper: No. 32, New York Giants

McShay: Not projected in the first round

Coby Fleener was the best tight end in college last year and could definitely be important on a team like the Giants. However, there is always a concern when taking a tight end in the first round.

Fleener was Andrew Luck's number one target, which could have boosted his stats and overrated him. The question here is, "Is a tight end worthy of being a first-round pick?" 

OT Riley Reiff

Kiper: No. 10, Buffalo Bills

McShay: No. 10, Buffalo Bills

Plain and simple, the reason Riley Reiff is going to be a bust is because of where he will be drafted. Reiff will have a solid career but does not deserve to be a top-10 pick.

WR Kendall Wright

Kiper: No. 26, Houston Texans

McShay: No. 21, Cincinnati Bengals

Dedication and commitment are always a concern for first-round draft picks. That is a concern for Kendall Wright and could easily make him a bust.

Wright showed up to the NFL combine out of shape. He was slow and had a 15 percent body fat. The simple fact that he showed up to one of the most important things in his life unprepared shows a lack of commitment.

LB Luke Kuechly

Kiper: No. 11, Kansas City Chiefs

McShay: No. 11, Kansas City Chiefs

Luke Kuechly is a smart defensive player with strong leadership skills. He is a lock to be successful in that aspect of the game.

The area Kuechly might struggle with is his natural ability. He is physically gifted, but is he physically gifted enough to be the top linebacker? Kuechly has some serious hype to live up to and could be a bust in comparison to that hype.

QB Andrew Luck

Kiper: No. 1, Indianapolis Colts

McShay: No. 1, Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck could be a good quarterback in the NFL. However, if he is just "good," he will be a bust.

Luck has a lot of things he has to be concerned with. He will be chosen with the first overall pick by the Colts. There is already a ton of pressure that comes with being the first overall pick.

Luck will also be replacing Peyton Manning. Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever and helped change the Colts franchise. Luck will have the pressure of always being compared to Manning.

Luck will also have the pressure of outperforming Robert Griffin III. There are many that believe Griffin is the better pick, and they will be compared to each other throughout their careers.

All that pressure could easily pile up and consume Luck.