2012 NFL Draft: 4 Biggest Boom-or-Bust Projects

In this new era of the NFL, being able to draft astutely and accurately can either make or break your franchise. The Denver Broncos with the Tim Tebow project provide a perfect example for the boom-or-bust project category.

The word project could mean several things when it comes to NFL players. Whether it's getting a quarterback to refine their throwing motion or converting someone from a safety to a cornerback after you draft him.

NFL franchises take chances sometimes on a guy they think has potential and boast all the qualities they value but may not contain the aptitude yet to get the job done.

Many of these types of players go into the middle-to-late rounds of the draft, but there are a few that go in the first two to three rounds.

We will look at the latter.

Oregon RB: LaMichael James

One of the faster players in college football at the moment, LaMichael James has been the driving force behind the Oregon Ducks for the last couple of years.

His blazing speed, quick change of direction and ability to catch the ball makes him a perfect screen type of back.

Similar to Darren Sproles or Jahvid Best, James could be a threat if utilized correctly. The problem lies in the fact that the right team with an explosive offense would need to draft him.

Also, Sproles and Best both play on an artificial surface for eight games out of the year. Even if he landed on a team that plays on artificial turf, you should be weary of LaMichael James.

He would not be an every-down back, and several tweener backs have come before him who had great collegiate careers that simply did not transition to the NFL.

Reggie Bush comes to mind as a former Pac-10 standout.

Miami SS: Ray-Ray Armstrong

The Miami Hurricanes have found themselves a solid guy to play over the top for them on defense.

Ray-Ray Armstrong has impeccable size for his position at 6'4'' and 215 pounds.

Armstrong would either be placed in his current position as the strong safety or could be moved to free safety to give him a little more freedom.

He's a safety that can support the run, cover over the top and lay the wood when needed.

His speed-40 time is in the 4.4s, and he contains decent cover skills.

Size, speed and physicality all seemingly add up to be the perfect ingredients to play safety in the NFL.

However, Armstrong has not been considered a first-round pick yet due to his inconsistent play. His ability to maintain the high-intensity game in and game out will decide if he makes it in the NFL.

Safety is a tough position to play in the NFL, and you either have it or you don't.

Ray-Ray Armstrong will look to avoid being a bust and continue the great line of pedigree at the position coming out of Miami.

TCU ILB: Tank Carder

Tank Carder made his presence known for the TCU Horned Frogs during last year's Rose Bowl.

The TCU linebacker had six tackles, one sack and a huge deflection at the line of scrimmage to stop the Wisconsin Badgers from scoring with two minutes left.

Carder has a Paul Posluszny type of persona about him. The 2010 All-American has some impressive credentials during his time in Fort Worth.

The TCU defense has struggled over the past few weeks after being ranked one of the best defenses in the country for three consecutive years.

Tank Carder currently has been projected as a top-10 player at his position and would likely go in the third or fourth round.

Any player taken in the middle rounds of the draft automatically qualifies for boom or bust. Several players starting today were third- or fourth-round picks, but many, many others watch football at home on Sundays.

I like Carder's chances. Who wouldn't want to have a tank at linebacker?

Baylor QB: Robert Griffin III

Without a doubt, this guy has been blessed with immense athletic talent.

Robert Griffin III—"RG3" to the layman—has helped the Baylor Bears become relevant in the college football world in 2011.

He has been tipped as a top-five quarterback in all of college football, including a possible top-10 pick if someone takes a chance on him.

His ability to scramble and make plays have NFL scouts salivating over their notebooks.

The problem with Griffin is that he is not Cam Newton. "RG3" still remains incredibly raw and unrefined to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

If a team picks a player in the first round, they will be expected to be the player who fulfills that position for basically a decade.

Personally, I think you draft him late in the first round—at the earliest—and convert him into a wide receiver a la Antwaan Randle El. He's incredibly athletic, fast and would be a matchup nightmare for defensive backs.

Either way, whether he gets drafted to play quarterback or a different position, he will still qualify as a boom-or-bust candidate. Playing in a watered-down Big 12 conference and playing in the NFL are two totally different things.