NFL Draft 2011: 10 First-Round Prospects Not Worth the Hype

Every year, we find NFL Draft prospects who people proclaim to be the next big thing, and yet they sometimes don't live up to their hype. The 2011 draft is no different, and I have outlined 10 prospects who have flaws that send up red flags regarding just how hyped they should truly be.

Whether those flags be durability, off the field issues or mechanics, there is a chink with these guys and I will let you know what to be weary of. 

As always, let me know your thoughts and opinions.

1. Washington QB Jake Locker

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Jake Locker has many things you want in a starting NFL quarterback, such as a big arm and ideal size at 6’3" and 240 pounds.

Unfortunately, there are also some red flags surrounding last year’s potential number one overall pick. Locker threw 35 interceptions during his three full seasons under center at Washington (he didn’t play much during his sophomore season), and never helped lead the Huskies to the top of the Pac-10 like some Washington fans thought he might.

There are many things to like about Jake Locker, and he does have the look of a starting NFL QB, but his poor accuracy and winning percentage point to him not being worth his first round hype.

2. Kentucky WR Randall Cobb

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LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 13: Randall Cobb #18 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commonwealth Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 38-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

All-purpose players have made big impacts in the NFL, and Cobb’s dual-threat ability to run and pass is something to like. Randall had over 1,000 receiving yards and 400+ rushing yards as a junior at Kentucky.

However, Cobb is only 5’11" and 186 pounds. I know that size isn’t the end all in the NFL, but how much longer can he sustain the physical pounding that he will take by constantly being on the receiving end of hits?

Also, will he be able to make the transition to the faster pro game, whereas in college he just ran by defenders? Size and durability are crucial, and there are definitely red flags for teams that want to take a gamble on Randall Cobb in the first round.

3. Georgia LB Justin Houston

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: Justin Houston #42 of the Georgia Bulldogs sacks quarterback Tevin Washington #13 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Justin Houston’s 19 career sacks during his three years at Georgia are impressive, but his 110 career tackles with the Bulldogs aren’t. In addition, Houston had only one interception and no forced fumbles in his UGA career.

There is no doubt that Houston is a great pass rusher, and that is a commodity that will always be valued in the NFL. It’s troubling though that Houston wasn’t more active filling up the stat sheet during his time with the Bulldogs.

Houston was one of the defensive leaders who kept Georgia together through some tough times last season, but a first round selection seems awfully high considering that he lacks standout statistics across the board.

4. Auburn QB Cam Newton

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers warms up prior to their game against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo

Obviously, there is tremendous upside to Cam Newton, and he was clearly the consensus best college football player last season. But will a dual threat quarterback like Newton be able to guide a team to the top when so many of the past Super Bowl winners have been pure pocket passers?

Scouts have also made it no secret that there are mechanical issues in Cam’s throwing style. At 6’6" and 250 pounds, Cam had a remarkable season for Auburn last year and accounted for 50 Tiger touchdowns.

Obviously, Cam will get grilled heavily during the interviews because of the scandal attached to him. There is plenty to like concerning Newton, but there are also questions amidst his giant hype.

5. Baylor DT Phil Taylor

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 07: Defensive tackle Phil Taylor #11 of the Baylor Bears watches from the bench during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Get

Taylor got sidelined by a turf toe injury during college and had a tough time coming back from that. The 340-pound defensive tackle obviously has big-time size and can move with agility, but he only recorded five sacks throughout his three seasons with the Bears, and the onus will be on Phil to prove that he can put up big numbers in the NFL.

Taylor definitely has great upside, but his first round hype may be too high for a player with only 35 career solo tackles.

6. Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Defensive lineman J.J. Watt #99 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes the TCU Horned Frogs in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Watt transferred from Central Michigan to attend Wisconsin, where he only played two seasons. During his short time on the field in Madison, his production couldn’t be denied and Watt instantly became a force to be reckoned with on this Wisconsin defensive line.

The one problem is that he only did it for two years, and there are questions about whether he can sustain that production over the course of an NFL career. As a pass rusher Watt is great, but some of the offensive lines that he played against in the Big Ten were shaky to say the least, and we will have to see if J.J. can make the full transition to the NFL.

7. Alabama RB Mark Ingram

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Ingram is certainly a talent and didn’t appear to be showing any signs of let up after coming back from his knee injury last season. At 5'10" and 215 pounds, Ingram mixed power and speed as he had great production for Nick Saban and the Tide.

Whether he can handle a full workload on his own without the help of running back Trent Richardson remains to be seen, though. Ingram is also a running back with an injury history, and this is a cause for concern. He showed no ill effects his senior year, but he was also splitting carries with Richardson, and we will have to wait and see if that knee injury resurfaces down the road.

8. California DT Cameron Jordan

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29:Defensive lineman Cameron Jordan #97 of the North Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for Under Armour)

Jordan has a lot of upside, but the defensive tackle also benefited from playing next to Tyson Alualu during his first three years at Berkeley. He still had good production his senior year, raking in six sacks and 51 tackles, but there are questions about whether Jordan can consistently play at a high level at the defensive end position on his own. The buzz is that Jordan will be a first round pick, but it remains to be seen how much Alualu contributed to his hype.

9. Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Gabbert has quickly ascended up draft boards because of his prototypical NFL size and gaudy numbers, but he put up these stats by running a five receiver set, spread option system in college. Those kinds of personnel packages don’t exist in the NFL, and some wonder whether Gabbert was somewhat a product of the system.

Depending on where he goes, Gabbert may have to adjust to playing under center, and he certainly won’t be playing with five-wide sets all game. Regardless, many adjustments will need to be made for a quarterback with this much first round hype.

10. LSU DT Drake Nevis

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BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 24: Quarterback Chris Todd #12 of the Auburn Tigers is sacked by Drake Nevis #92 of the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

It took some patience by Nevis to finally make his way into the LSU starting lineup, but he didn’t disappoint once there and put up big numbers in 2010 for the Tigers. At 285 pounds, though, scouts are saying that Nevis may need to put on some more weight. Conversely, there are concerns that this weight gain may affect his speed, which is one of his top assets.

Nevis had great 2008 and 2010 campaigns, but those were the two highlights of his five-year stay in Baton Rouge. Right now, Nevis is competing for a first round spot, but there are some question marks weighing down his hype.