The BUST-O-METER is back again to break down our top 15 draft bust risks. The series of articles will look at two prospects per week breaking down why I feel they have a high potential for busting. Many factors played into my ranking including potential draft position. The draft position is very important because if they are selected high than what their production warrants it puts them at a higher likely hood of busting. These articles always bring a ton of feedback and are highly controversial which is what makes them so fun.
NFL Draft BUST-O-METER: #4 Jake Locker
For a reference, I like to classify a bust as someone that doesn’t live up to their draft position. This means that if a player is selected #1 overall I expect him to be a dominate player in the league. I also take into consideration what position the player is projected to play in the NFL. For example, if someone is selected in the top 10 and is projected as a rush 3-4 linebacker I expect to see a high sack total. Of course, there are many other factors that are specific for each player so check out the rest of the article after the JUMP.
Also don’t forget to stop by our Scouting Reports page to get an in-depth look at each prospect.
Player: Jake Locker
BUST-O-METER: 8 out of 10
Projected Draft Range: Mid 1st round- Early 2nd Round
Thoughts: Leading up to last year's draft there was some speculation that Jake Locker could be in contention for the #1 overall pick. Sam Bradford was coming off an injury plagued season and Locker was the hot name at the time. The majority feeling was that if Locker wasn't select #1 overall the furthest he would fall was #4 to the Redskins.
Locker has a ton of athletic ability and an arm that is capable of making all the NFL throws. During his time at Washington, he showed that he was capable of leading his team to several major victories. NFL evaluators are having trouble looking past Locker’s athletic ability which screams potential.
While Locker has all the tools he just hasn’t put everything together on the field. He has been hampered by inconsistent footwork which has impacted his accuracy. The NFL is all about accuracy and ball placement and if Locker cannot improve those areas of his game he will never succeed. Locker’s draft stock is very fluid and his draft position will impact the expectations of the fan base and organization.
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