By: Carl Hammill
Here are some draftees that we would recommend avoiding if you are a GM who is faint of heart. While we understand that past actions are not always a precursor to future behavior, the draft is littered with prospects with all the talent in the world who washed out because they never were able to appreciate the amazing opportunity that they stepped into.
Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
Smith (6’2” 211 lbs) is a talented CB who is probably a top 15 talent but due to character issues will fall toward the bottom of the first round. Smith failed a drug
test and had two arrests for possession of alcohol as a minor while in college. Smith skipped the senior bowl and followed that up with skipping his workouts two weeks prior to NFL combine. His interviews with NFL teams went so poorly that many teams completely removed him from their draft boards. Do you sense a trend?
Draft Rage Recommendation: Avoid.
Cam Newton QB Auburn 
Newton is a huge QB (6’6” 250 lbs) who is ultra talented with a rare combination of size, mobility and has cannon for an arm. He is also the biggest enigma in this draft. Newton was arrested after being found with a stolen laptop from a University of Florida (UF) student. He painted over the laptop and wrote "CAM NEWTON" on it, an attempt to show that it was his. He was subsequently suspended temporarily by the team after this incident. Cam Newton left the University of Florida after the fall semester in 2008 rather than face suspension or expulsion in part because of three instances of academic cheating. Complete boom or bust.
Draft Rage Recommendation: Only if you have a strong stomach & job security.
Titus Young WR Boise State
Young ran a blistering 4.39 40 on his pro day. Few other WR’s in this draft can take the top off a defense like Young. However, in 2007 he was suspended for the first quarter of the Hawaii Bowl. In 2008 he was suspended for 10 games due to off-the-field issues. He has also been flagged multiple times for excessive post touchdown celebration. Consistency, unfortunately not the consistency you’re looking for.
Draft Rage Recommendation: Only if he brings his barber with him.
Jabaal Sheard DE Pitt
Pitt is on a role here. Sheard (6’4’ 260 lbs) started all 13 games for Pitt as Defensive End. He was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct following an alleged altercation outside La Fond Galleries. Sheard picked up Parker and threw the 27-year-old through a glass door of a gallery. Sheard then jumped on the bleeding Parker, who was on the ground inside the art store, and continued punching him before police subdued the two with pepper spray. What’s an assault or two?
Draft Rage Recommendation: Why would you bring him into your locker room?
Jonathan Baldwin WR Pitt
Another first round talent makes this list. Baldwin (6’5” 230 lbs) is big receiver who can make acrobatic catches. Comparisons to Plexico keep rolling in. Baldwin was charged with misdemeanor indecent assault, summary harassment and summary disorderly conduct stemming from an alleged incident involving a female student on a bus in 2009. A judge later dismissed the charges but the football program punished him internally. Reminds me of another former troubled Panther Star Antonio Bryant, great talent, stupid guy.
Draft Rage Recommendation: Worth the shot in the mid rounds.
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