Potential Busts in the 2007 NFL Draft
posted in JaMarcus Russell, Rankings, 2007 NFL Draft | 
Bust. Every player in the 2007 NFL Draft wants to avoid that unfortunate tag. A bust of a high first rounder can really set a team back, as David Carr, Ryan Leaf, and Andre Wadsworth can attest.
But that does not mean that every player who is a bust was a bad draft pick. Drafting players is like many other things in life - a risk versus reward proposition. A player with a tremendous upside often has a huge risk of failure. The trick is to evaluate the risk versus reward and determine where the player should be drafted. Each individual team has their own philosophies - some teams are much more willing to take risks than others.
Below are some of the players in the 2007 NFL Draft that have high bust factors. You will find many of the top rated prospects on the War Room Report 2007 NFL Draft Big Board. As mentioned, their upside is tremendous, so these players still earn lofty rankings, even when the chance of failure is included.
JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU (Big Board Rank: 4) - It may surprise some to see the player we rated as the 4th best in the entire draft listed here, but Russell does have a high bust factor. He must improve his reads at the next level after running a very simple offense in college. He does not have excellent mobility, which could hamper him on a team with poor pass protection. Some question Russell’s dedication to the game as well. If Russell can put it all together, he has some of the best physical tools ever seen in a QB. If not, he could be out of the league in five years.
Alan Branch, DT, Michigan (10th overall) - Defensive tackle is one of the hardest positions to project, as it is filled with recent busts like Gerard Warren and Ryan Sims. Most defensive tackles are physically superior in college and only are really challenged at the NFL level. When he is on his game, Branch looks virtually unblockable. At 324 lbs with a 5.04 40, Branch is by far the top nose tackle prospect in the draft and is only challenged by Amobi Okoye for the best defensive tackle overall. However, concerns about Branch’s conditioning and commitment to the game also are troublesome. He also must learn to use more techinque than pure strength.
Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas (19th overall) - Houston is drawing comparisons to recent Arkansas CB and draft bust Ahmad Carroll. Houston has the best chance of any corner in the draft of being a “shut down” type cover corner, but he is still extremely raw. Despite his efforts shutting down top notch receivers this season, he was repeatedly abused by a receiver with great ball skills in Sidney Rice. Houston must learn to react better, as he will not be able to physically dominate some NFL receivers. If he is beat, Houston will have to resist the urge to hold as Carroll did. Houston is a player who could be a top ten pick on some boards and a second rounder on others.
Levi Brown, OT, Penn State (25th overall) - The War Room Report ranks Brown lower than most. While left tackle is one of the most important positions in the NFL and Brown has all of the physical skills to play the position, concerns about his consistency have led us to dropping him in the rankings. Brown’s technique is poor as he will often get caught with his hands down and his body too straight. He must latch onto the defensive end at the point of attack in the NFL. He also displays inconsistent effort which is alarming as he prepares for the NFL. Brown may be best suited at right tackle or even inside at guard.
Brandon Merriweather, S, Miami (34th Overall) - With the recent crackdown on player conduct, teams are placing more emphasis on character. Meriweather was involved in the melee during the Florida International game when he was seen stomping on a player. Meriweather also fired a gun at an assailant who attacked a teammate during the season. Physically, he must work on getting stronger, especially if he continues to play with the same reckless nature. Still, his strong coverage skills and willingness to assist in run support make him a valuable prospect.
There are several other players who have high bust factors for a variety of reasons. Below are some others to watch for:
Character Issues:
Eric Wright, CB, UNLV (39th Overall)
Marcus Thomas, DT, Florida (58th Overall)
Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State (131st Overall)
Speed or In Season Performance Concerns:
Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno Stat (43rd Overall)
Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal (50th Overall)
Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia (77th Overall)
Earl Everett, OLB, Florida (99th Overall)
Players who lack a defined position in the NFL (aka “tweeners”)
Lamarr Woodley, DE, Michigan (51st Overall)
Brian Leonard, RB/FB, Rutgers (52nd Overall)
Eric Weddle, S/CB, Utah (53rd Overall)
