At least part of drafting is taking a chance, rolling with a projection and looking past potential hurdles toward a player’s upside. But with every upside comes a potential downside. Yesterday we looked at the picks that will help decision makers sleep easy and keep their jobs. Today, we throw out seven names who could get people fired. They’re all considered top prospects, but I don’t think they should be. And I wouldn’t touch them with a 39-and-a-half foot pole.

1 and 2 – QBs Matthew Stafford, Georgia and Mark Sanchez USC. You know what happens when good-but-not-elite quarterbacks get considered for high first-round picks? They end up as busts. Stafford has a great arm, but I’m not sure he’s ready to read NFL defenses and make all the decisions that come with the job. Sanchez is a good player from a good program. But he’s pretty inexperienced and I don’t think he does anything at an elite level. They both seem to have great attitudes but I’d be scared to death to take either guy near the top of the draft. Neither is a true franchise QB.

3 – T Jason Smith, Baylor. Here’s another guy supposedly worth considering for the No. 1 overall pick. I just don’t see it. To me he looks like a future right tackle in the NFL. He’s a former tight end, but I don’t think he has great feet for pass protection. I think he’s a better run blocker. That usually equates to right tackle. And certainly doesn’t get you drafted as high as Smith is going to go. Tackle is supposedly one of the safer picks early, but I don’t think that’s true for the overrated Smith.

4 – RB Shonn Greene, Iowa. Greene had one very good season at Iowa after sitting out a year and working in a furniture store. After one year that included at least 100 yards every week out, he decided to jump to the NFL. I don’t like risking high picks on guys with limited playing time. Greene is a big, powerful runner but he’s a step slower than I’d like. In a deep RB class with more proven talents, I wouldn’t take the chance on Greene.

5 – LB Clay Matthew, USC. He’s got good bloodlines. He’s got long hair. He’s great in shorts and his story as a former walk-on is truly inspirational. Right? No thanks. He barely started for one year at USC. I don’t think he does anything exceptionally well other than play special teams. It’s OK to say that he’s on the rise and will be a better pro player than he was in college, but that’s quite a projection. It’s also not the type of risk I’m looking to take with a first-round pick. Maybe the projections will be right and he’ll be some great, late-developing NFL star. I doubt it.

6 – LB Brian Cushing, USC. I always worry about teams that have a ton talent on one side of the ball. It makes it hard to figure out who the real stud players are and who are the guys just riding coattails. Cushing looks like he a guy along for the ride. I also don’t like the various rumors/speculation/reports tying him to performance enhancing drugs. He has some durability questions as well. Not worth the risk in my mind.

7 – WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri. I’m scared to death of wide receivers in the first round, especially ones from a spread offenses who haven’t exactly displayed the ability to run NFL route trees. You can’t question Maclin’s speed or quickness. But his hands and route running are major red flags for me. He’s an explosive athlete but not a great football player. There is a difference.

Did I miss anyone? Completely disagree with any of my risky picks? Let me hear about it!