2012 NFL Draft Grades: Chiefs and More Teams That Failed with Their Selections

The Kansas City Chiefs were one of several non-playoff teams from last season that failed to improve their roster through the 2012 NFL Draft.

When you miss the playoffs and get a high first-round pick, it's so important to capitalize on it. Failing to do so can set your franchise back years and prevent you from making the playoffs consistently.

Let's look at three teams who failed with their selections this year.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had the No. 11 pick in the draft but chose to take a risk with Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, instead of a safer pass rusher like Melvin Ingram of South Carolina. 

Kansas City has had little success developing defensive linemen who were top 15 picks in recent years. KC took LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft, but in four NFL seasons, Dorsey has just four sacks.

The Chiefs took LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson No. 3 overall in the 2009 draft, but he has only two sacks and 83 tackles in three pro seasons.

The Chiefs should have added a playmaker on offense at either the receiver or running back positions in the first two rounds, but they didn't go in that direction.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars traded up from No. 7 to No. 5 to select Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon to give young quarterback Blaine Gabbert a quality weapon on offense, and while that fills a big need for the team, Blackmon isn't a legitimate No. 1 receiver talent.

He doesn't have great speed and didn't play against many elite cornerbacks during Big 12 conference play during his Cowboys career.

Jacksonville also drafted a punter in the third round, which was a really questionable move. There's no reason to take a punter that high when you have a roster with so many holes at the skilled positions.

The Jaguars' poor 2012 draft will be one of the reasons the team struggles to compete for the playoffs over the next five years.

Cleveland Browns

Taking Alabama star running back Trent Richardson with the No. 3 overall pick was a great selection for the Cleveland Browns, but taking Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden at No. 22 was a poor choice.

Weeden will be 29 years old in October and isn't the long-term option that the Browns are looking for at quarterback. They could trade him to a team needing a backup or even a starter, but why take him in the first round if that's your intent?

Quarterback Colt McCoy is a good player and the Browns should not give up on him yet. They needed to give him some more playmakers on offense, especially at wide receiver, but didn't do that. 

You can't expect McCoy, Weeden, or any quarterback to have success with no top-tier receivers or tight ends.

It's a system set up for failure, and even after the draft, not much has changed in a positive way for the Browns outside of the running back position.

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