2012 NFL Draft: 5 Ridiculous Statements We Are Holding Draft Experts to

The term "expert" is loosely thrown around in the world of professional sports.

What makes an expert? Are there statistics we can look at to determine who should fit into that category?

Too often, talking heads throw out so many ridiculous opinions and ideas that I find myself banging my head against the wall.

This happened a great deal during the 2012 NFL draft.

Still, they are shown respect for a reason. The likes of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, among others, actually do have a good idea of what they are talking about.

Are they right all the time? Of course not. Do they draw conclusions that come completely out of left field? Definitely.

Mel Kiper Jr. on Russell Wilson

This is what Mel Kiper had to say about Russell Wilson during Day 2 of the 2012 NFL draft.

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Let's say he is 5'11". If he is good enough to make it, he will open up the door. You cannot say to quarterbacks then that 28-of-32 quarterbacks of 6'2" or taller...If you are selecting (Russell) Wilson in the third round, you are expecting him to be a starter.

"

Seriously, Mel? No one questioned whether Wilson was "good enough." Instead, it was all about his size, or lack thereof.

Does Kiper not understand that the former Wisconsin standout was playing behind a massive offensive line in college? 

Matt Miller on Alshon Jeffery

It is pretty well known within the Bleacher Report community and among the millions who have read Matt Miller's articles that he had a "draft crush" on Alshon Jeffery.

Miller consistently had the South Carolina product not only as the No. 1 receiver in the draft, but also as a top-10 pick.

Heading into the NFL Scouting Combine back in February, Miller had Jeffery ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect and had the following to say about him: 

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The wide receiver position lacks an elite talent, but Jeffery has the deep-ball skills and size to be a matchup nightmare in the red zone. Teams running the West Coast offense may not look his way, but any team with a strong-armed quarterback will be glad to.

"

Well, this isn't what any of the NFL front offices thought at Radio City Music Hall. Six wide receivers were selected (including my own draft crush, Brian Quick) before the Chicago Bears traded up to nab Jeffery in the middle of the second round.

You have to give Miller credit for thinking outside the box on this one. Only time will tell whether Bleacher Report's lead draft dog is right or wrong, but his 2012 draft analysis might be defined, by some, on whether or not this projection pans out.

Mel Kiper Jr. on A.J. Jenkins

Many of us were flabbergasted when the San Francisco 49ers made A.J. Jenkins the No. 30 overall pick last Thursday. He was completely off the radar of many, including myself.

Why reach for a prospect who many believed wouldn't go until the third round? After all, Stephen Hill and Alshon Jeffery were both available.

Not only did Mel Kiper give Jenkins an early second-round grade, he said that the former Illinois standout was "arguably the best pass catching receiver in the draft."

After watching extensive tape of Jenkins following the draft, I have come away extremely impressed by the talented young receiver. However, Kiper's notion was a bold and ridiculous statement to make. Especially with Justin Blackmon, Kendall Wright and Michael Floyd in this draft.

Again, only time will tell.

Everyone on Vontaze Burfict

In January, when everyone was drooling over Vontaze Burfict, I wasn't even close to pronouncing him anywhere near a first-round talent. There were just too many holes in his game on the gridiron.

Not matter what Burfict did off the field, if these "experts" were right, the Arizona State product would have been drafted.

It was more what the troubled linebacker failed to show on the field that led to him to signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. Still, many experts refused to actually look at the tape and see what was apparent to a lot of fans.

Matt Miller had the following to say about Burfict at the beginning of February.

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Burfict started the season No. 2 overall on my big board but quickly started to fall after taking himself out of games mentally. Burfict has top-five talent but second-round self-control. If he can land in a veteran locker room, the sky is the limit.

"

He wasn't alone in these opinions. Many other experts were still concluding that Burfict would be a dominating player at the next level. Top-five talent? That thought never entered my train of thought at any time during the draft scouting process.

But Mel Kiper Jr. was on board.

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With little left to prove, it was time for Burfict to enter the draft. His tape is stacked because he has started from day one. Has great instincts, makes plays sideline to sideline and is far more disciplined than he gets credit for. Might have too much tape at this point.

"

What is this tape they are talking about? Did I miss it somehow? Taking character concerns out of the equation, Burfict was not a first-round prospect. 

Todd McShay on Ryan Tannehill

Many experts had concluded that the 2012 draft boasted two elite quarterbacks, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. After that there was a dramatic drop-off.

Todd McShay obviously didn't feel this way in his glowing opinion of former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

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I don't think the difference between Robert Griffin III and Tannehill is all that big, I really don't.....I'd have a very difficult time passing on him at that No. 4 pick. I just think he has everything you look for in a future franchise quarterback if you develop him properly and you're willing to be patient.

"

What am I missing here? The newest Miami Dolphins signal-caller does possess the talent necessary to be a good quarterback in the NFL, but there is absolutely no way you can compare Tannehill's talent to that of RG3.

I don't think I am going out on a limb here by saying that this was one of the most curious statements of the entire draft season.