2012 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Draft's Riskiest Prospects

The NFL Draft is high risk, high reward almost any way you look at it. It's teams investing a lot of time, effort and dough into the hopes that the player(s) drafted will pay off.

That said, however, some prospects are much more of a risk than others. To that end, here are four of the riskiest prospects this spring.

Landry Jones: QB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma QB Landry Jones may have a bunch of numbers, like over 4,000 passing yards each of the last two seasons, but he's also had some solid receiving targets to rely on.

And not since the Texas A&M game in early November has Jones thrown a TD pass. A big reason for that is because his best WR and most reliable target, Ryan Broyles, went down.

In his last three games Jones has zero TDs and five picks, so it's obvious he's struggled without being around better talent. Therefore, don't be surprised if he continues to drop.

In the NFL QBs need to make their targets better and not the other way around (in most cases). And since Jones has lacked that since Broyles is no longer lined up outside, his risk has significantly increased.

Lamar Miller: RB, Miami (Fla.)

Make no mistake about it, Lamar Miller is going to be a solid NFL RB, that is, if he waits just one more year to enter the draft.

Currently slated as a late first-rounder, Miller is just a redshirt sophomore playing in a conference that doesn't consistently play great run defense. Additionally, he compiled a good 646 rush yards as a freshman and is over 1,200 this season.

Thing is, being that he's now a first-rounder, he could most definitely be a Top 10 pick in the 2013 draft. His youth is what's playing against him right now.

If he goes to the pros after just one legit college season in what's considered a weak FBS conference, he'll be a third-down back at the most and see limited time. However, if he gives himself another year to prove consistency, then he's nowhere near a risk.

Markelle Martin: FS, Oklahoma State

One thing you want safeties to be is aggressive, but only at the right time.

Oklahoma State's Markelle Martin is an aggressive, hard-hitting safety, however, he has a tendency to get caught peeking in the backfield and he'll get beat over the top.

Then again, this holds true for a lot of Big 12 secondaries.

With Martin, however, the Pokes have relied so much on causing turnovers that their zone coverage has lacked.

As for Martin, being that he tries to anticipate a little too much, he is vulnerable to double moves, pump fakes, and the backside post route.

A player like him can easily be lulled to sleep by a run-oriented offense, and then Martin's aggressiveness will get the best of him as he bites on a play-action. The good news is that all of these are tangible fixes.

So, despite being a risk, the coaches can at least practice those situations and get him acclimated to being more disciplined and aware.

Alameda Ta'amu: DT, Washington

A big DT for the Washington Huskies, Alameda Ta'amu has great quickness and is as strong as any defensive lineman in the draft.

Unfortunately, he lacks lateral quickness and stamina compared to his DT brethren. Now, much like Markelle Martin, these are all tangible fixes so that's something to make note of.

To that end, however, there's also not much in the repertoire when it comes to rushing the QB or stopping the run. If it's not a bull rush where Alameda blasts through the offensive lineman, then it's him causing a pile up to plug the gap.

So, the quicker and stronger NFL O-lineman will use that aggressiveness against him and make Ta'amu get himself out of the play. Also, even when in the backfield, the more laterally agile RBs can juke him out.

But one other final problem lies in getting off blocks. If all you're using is a bull rush, then that means there's no hand quickness there to prevent from being blocked. The only way a D-lineman gets off blocks is to use his hands.

Therefore, not having that skill set makes him vulnerable to the better offensive lineman that don't need help with a double-team. And drawing double-teams is very important if you're cracking skulls inside the trenches.

Lucas Nix: Guard, Pittsburgh

We could put the weak schedule as an additional excuse to say that Pittburgh's Lucas Nix is a risk, but that's not fair to him as anyone from anywhere can succeed the NFL.

The draft is an inexact science, otherwise anyone after round one would not make a Pro Bowl. In any event, Nix is a risk because he's a bit small for the guard position and is vulnerable is one-on-one situations.

Quickness and effort is great, but only forward and back, not so much laterally. And because of him lacking lateral agility and being rather undersized, NFL defensive lineman will slip past him easily.

Run-blocking is where he's more useful, but staying on the blocks need to improve. Nix would be an excelling pulling guard as his acceleration will build fast enough to blowup any defender. However, being susceptible to LBs who know how to use their hands and read can beat him to the point of attack.

2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB (Stan.)	17. New York Jets: Riley Reiff, OT (Iowa)
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Okla. St.)	18. Tennessee Titans: Jeff Fuller, WR (Tex. A&M)
3. Minnesota Vikings: Morris Claiborne, DB (LSU)	19. Chicago Bears: Nick Toon, WR (Wisc.)
4. Miami Dolphins: Matt Barkley, QB (USC)	20. Cincinnati (From Oak): Jonathan Martin, OT (Stan.)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devon Still, DT (Penn St.)	21. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, G (Stan.)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR (ND)	22. Detroit Lions: Zach Brown, LB (UNC)
7. Cleveland Browns: Alshon Jeffery, WR (S. Car.)	23. Cleveland (From ATL): Vontaze Burfict, LB (ASU)
8. Arizona Cardinals: Trent Richardson, RB (Ala.)	24. Denver Broncos: Alfonzo Dennard, CB (Neb.)
9. Seattle Seahawks: Robert Griffin, QB (Baylor)	25. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE (UNC)
10. Washington Redskins: Montee Ball, RB (Wisc.)	26. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OG (Georgia)
11 .Philadelphia Eagles: Manti Te'o, LB (N.D.)	27. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy, DT (Mich. St.)
12. Carolina Panthers: Brandon Thompson, DT (Clem)	28. N.E. (From N.O.): Cam Johnson, DE (Virginia)
13. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, LB (Ala.)	29. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S (Ala.)
14. Kansas City Chiefs: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Ala.)	30. San Francisco 49ers: Chase Minnifield, CB (UVA)
15. Buffalo Bills: Janoris Jenkins, CB (N. Ala.)	31. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly, LB (B.C.)
16. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT (Ohio St.)	32. Green Bay Packers: Melvin Ingram, DE (S. Car.)

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27