2012 NFL Draft Grades: Power Ranking Biggest Failures of 1st 3 Rounds

Now that the first three rounds of the NFL draft are over, it’s time to look back on these critical selections and grade how teams did in finding value and filling needs.

Plenty of franchises did a great job overall, but there were a few head-scratching decisions to be made as well.

Let’s power rank the most egregious of these in reverse order.

5. San Francisco 49ers Select A.J. Jenkins at No. 30

Jenkins has the chance to be a good player, but there were many superior wideouts still on the board here and San Francisco has a lot more needs than another receiver.

Remember, this team signed Randy Moss (who is still a freak) and Mario Manningham this summer, while retaining Michael Crabtree—the No. 10 overall pick in 2009.

The 49ers should have went with a need here and taken a guard. 

4. Kansas City Chiefs Select Dontari Poe at No. 11

This workout warrior was not even close to a No. 11 pick before he wowed scouts with his incredible strength, speed and size at the Indianapolis combine.

Yes, those are things required from an elite defensive tackle, but so are football skills.

This kid never showed he has what it takes to become a great nose tackle against Conference USA competition; it’s a stretch to think he’ll figure it out against the best players in the world. 

3. Denver Broncos Select Brock Osweiler at No. 57

It makes sense that Denver went ahead and got a QB they can start developing behind Peyton Manning, but Osweiler isn’t going to succeed in the NFL.

He has limited experience as a starter on a terrible Arizona State team and is overrated because of his ridiculous height. No one has ever been that tall and been good at the next level.

More fundamentally sound players and proven winners like Kellen Moore are and were still available.

The Broncos should have gotten a player who can contribute immediately or picked a different project. 

2. Cleveland Browns Select Brandon Weeden at No. 22

This is a great pick—if it were in the second round. Obviously, Colt McCoy isn’t the answer in Cleveland and someone needs to challenge him for the job and Weeden definitely is capable.

It just didn’t seem likely that he was going to come off the board until much later, and that is why the Browns wasted an extremely valuable pick.

1. Seattle Seahawks Select Bruce Irvin at No. 15

This pick makes absolutely no sense and reeks of a panic move by Pete Carroll.

Seattle needed a pass-rusher, without a doubt, but they went ahead and selected a guy who can only rush the pass.

This isn’t a Super Bowl-bound team we are talking about. It’s the lowly Seattle Seahawks who need help at multiple positions.

The organization cannot afford to be taking luxury-pick specialists who can only do one thing in the middle of the first round.

This is easily the dumbest move of the draft.