NFL Draft 2011: 5 First-Round Prospects With Bust Potential

Each and every draft produces busts. Not only do teams make mistakes in the first round, they completely whiff constantly when selecting in the top ten. This year will be no different. After countless hours of tape are watched, the scouts are going to miss on someone.

Who will this year's Jemarcus Russell, Charles Rogers, or Vernon Gholston be? Let's take a look at the top five.

#5: Aldon Smith

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Jordan Webb #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks is sacked by Aldon Smith #85 of the Missouri Tigers during the game on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Aldon Smith has a frame you can fall in love with. At 6'5 260, Smith is a hybrid OLB/DE type. Teams can choose to make him Osi Umenyiora in a 4-3 or Demarcus Ware in a 3-4. The problem is that many players who are in this mold end up excelling in neither position.

Take the 49ers' Manny Lawson for example. Lawson blew up the combine and has a frame similar to that of Smith. He had it all, but he hasn't really been great at anything but stopping the run. Smith could follow a similar path.

This sort of player works out at times, but standing Smith up isn't going to be an easy transition. He is extremely versatile and a team could easily reach for his upside, making him skyrocket up draft boards.

#4: Cam Newton

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers leaps over a fence as he clebrates with fans after their 49-31 win over the Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C.

Cam Newton has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this class. He is the best dual threat prospect to come out of the draft since Vince Young and has many of the same leadership qualities. His big arm, blazing speed for the position, and intangibles are going to elevate his draft stock tremendously as scouts get a better look at his skillset in the upcoming months.

The only problem with Newton is that it is going to take special circumstances for him to succeed. He is a better quarterback than Young was when he came out, but he could follow a path similar to that of Young. Getting stuck with a team who fails to take advantage of a quarterback like Newton could spell disaster. The last thing Newton needs is to be taken by a team who can't utilize him and restricts his abilities.

#3: Von Miller

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Jordan Jefferson #9 of the Louisiana State University Tigers throws under pressure from Von Miller #40 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by C

It seems like every year there is one or two guys who get better as the offseason goes on. Von Miller is that guy. He had a great college career and he is extremely athletic. When you pop in the tape, Miller backs up everything that is being said about him by scouts.

Certainly, I think he warrants a selection in the top ten, but the talk of him going top 3 has bust written all over it. This class is so loaded with defensive players at the top it is unreal. Taking Miller at three would mean passing on Da'Quan Bowers, Patrick Peterson, or Nick Fairley.

Miller is the best OLB prospect since Aaron Curry to come out of the draft. How is that working out?

#2: Nate Solder

Nate Solder is 6'8. He has long arms and is very athletic given his size. An ex-tight end, Solder has good feet and could be groomed into a left tackle. He is no slouch in the run game either, as he his quickness and athleticism do not hinder his power.

Solder headlines a crop of tackles that could be the weakest at the top in the last decade. Many teams at the top are in need of a tackle, but there aren't any who really merit a top ten selection. This will pay dividends for Solder on draft day. A team is going to bite and Solder is the best available tackle. Even tackles projected to go around 15 in the draft can soar up into the top five on draft day (see Trent Williams).

Solder could be solid, but expecting him to be a plug and play left tackle is not going to bode well for the team who selects him. He wouldn't have even sniffed the top 10 in last year's draft.

#1: 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

Blaine Gabbert, like Nate Solder, is going to be the product of a weak class at his position. He may be the most NFL ready quarterback in his class, but might not develop into an elite quarterback for his entire career.

There are plenty of teams who are in dire need of a quarterback at the top of the draft. One of them is going to hit the panic button and settle on Gabbert. The problem is that they are going to be passing on a better talent to do so.

When teams decide to go with need over talent, they are setting themselves up for failure. Quarterback is also a particularly dangerous position. Too often teams decide to settle on a quarterback because they need one so desperately. A team like the Cardinals could take the bate, but would be better off bringing in a veteran until a true franchise quarterback presents himself.