2012 NFL Draft: 3 Teams Sure to Botch First-Round Picks

Remember when the Minnesota Vikings didn’t make their first-round pick in time in the 2003 NFL draft?

How about the time the Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall in 2009?

Or that time in 1998 when the San Diego Chargers picked Ryan Leaf with their No. 2 overall selection?

My point: Teams botch their first-round picks pretty frequently. It’s happened before and it’s sure to happen again this year.

So, let’s take a look at three teams that have the most potential to waste their first-round picks in the 2012 NFL draft.

Minnesota Vikings

The obvious choice for the Vikings at No. 3 is Matt Kalil from USC.

The Vikings need a left tackle, and it doesn’t get any better than Kalil in this draft class.

Still, there are rumors that the Vikings will trade out of the No. 3 spot if the right offer comes along.

They just need to stay put, draft Kalil, and build their offensive line around him for the next 10 to 12 years.

New England Patriots

The Patriots need to start putting some first-round talent around Tom Brady, both offensively and defensively.

With two first-round picks this year (No. 27 and No. 31), there’s no time like the present, especially since Brady won’t be able to play at an elite level forever.

But, if I know Bill Belichick and his draft strategy, he’s probably looking to trade one or both of his first-round picks to stockpile picks for the future.

Normally, that’s not a terrible idea, but this year, it might be the worst thing he could do.

Buffalo Bills 

The Bills are reportedly interested in safety Mark Barron. However, safety is not one of the team’s top needs.

This “interest” in Barron could just be a ruse to try to get teams to trade up so the Bills can acquire more picks, but we’ll see.

After all, these are the Buffalo Bills we are talking about.

Would anybody really be surprised if they actually did pick Barron at No. 10?