2012 NFL Draft: Ryan Tannehill and Two Other First-Round Prospects Who Will Fail

Every year, we see a plethora of college prospects who are hyped as first-round NFL draft picks. Some pan out, while others simply fail to deliver. The 2012 draft will be no different.

Three high-profile flameouts this year will be Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon and Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

Here's why.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

No position faces greater expectations as a first-round pick than quarterback. Given the immediate success of rookie quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Cam Newton in 2011, expectations are higher than ever.

Unfortunately, Tannehill is not prepared to meet them.

The team that drafts Tannehill—most likely the Miami Dolphins—is getting a project quarterback. Tannehill has all of the tools to eventually be a solid NFL quarterback.

Strong arm? Check.

Mobility? Check.

Prototypical size? Check.

The former wide receiver is a physical specimen, but could wind up as one of many quarterbacks whose physical tools were never able to be utilized because of the weight of high expectations.

The NFL has seen its fair share of gifted quarterbacks not make it—players like Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith aren't awful players. There's a reason those guys were touted as top draft picks.

However, each of those guys was thrust into a situation he couldn't handle.

Using a top-10 pick on a quarterback should only be considered when you know you are drafting an elite talent and the future face of your franchise. It seems that Tannehill is considered a top-10 pick simply because there are more teams with a need at quarterback than there are top-10 worthy quarterbacks.

Tannehill didn't even make the switch to playing quarterback until the midway point of his junior season at Texas A&M. How, after just one-and-a-half seasons as a quarterback, is he supposed to be the face of a franchise? That's a recipe for disaster.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

While Tannehill is being overhyped for his raw skills, it seems that Blackmon is being overhyped for his college production.

Make no mistake, the production is staggering. Blackmon put up video-game numbers in two seasons as a starter for the Cowboys. In 2010, he had 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns. Returning for his j,Junior season Blackmon showed his sophomore season was no fluke, making 121 receptions for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns.

However, his most likely pro comparison is Michael Crabtree.

Crabtree was highly hyped coming out of Texas Tech, where he posted similar numbers to Blackmon in a similar college offense. The two receivers are almost identical in terms of size, too. Both stand about 6'1" and weigh 215 pounds.

Crabtree was taken 10th overall in the 2009 draft and has struggled to stay on the field. When he has been on the field, he has failed to live up to expectation, struggling to create separation against the more athletic corners in the NFL.

Blackmon is another beneficiary of a shallow class at his position.

This year's draft class is full of solid receivers who project to be late-first to second-round picks. But this class lacks elite playmakers such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones, who were the fourth and sixth players chosen in last year's draft.

In that class, Blackmon would have been the third-best receiver and wouldn't be receiving nearly as much hype as he is now.

Expect Blackmon to have difficulty living up to expectations while he transitions to a pro-style offense and the more athletic defenders in the NFL.

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dontari Poe was almost completely unheard of prior to the combine.

A workout warrior with an absolutely stunning mixture of size (6'3", 346 pounds) and athleticism (4.98 40-yard dash time), something about Poe just doesn't add up.

Clearly, judging a defensive tackle by his production is a difficult task. A defensive lineman's worth is much more than the tackles for loss and sacks he records. However, with Poe's size and athleticism, you would expect him to have at least solid production.

However, despite playing in Conference USA, not exactly a football-rich league, Poe simply didn't have impressive numbers. In his final season at Memphis, he had just one sack and 33 tackles. With the natural gifts that Poe possesses, you would expect those numbers to be much higher.

Poe's motor has to be the biggest question when it comes to his future in the NFL. There are plenty of defensive tackles who have great size, strength and athleticism that never realize their NFL potential. The difference between those who succeed and those who flame out depends on how hard they are willing to work.

With a lackluster college career, one has to wonder what kind of motor Poe has and whether he can ever realize the massive potential he has.