Exactly. Which is why the “just tank and grab that unicorn next year” talk is pointless. Try telling your boss that you’re just gonna suck at your job for a year, maybe two, but when conditions are perfect you’ll perform and see how long you stay employed.
There is no sure thing in the NFL draft. You do the best you can with the information you’re given.
Aaron Curry, former Seahawks LB drafted ahead of Cushing was thought of as the cleanest prospect in the 2009 draft. Absolute bust.
Curry is now a LB coach for the Steelers and he admitted that after being drafted he basically mentally checked out because he accomplished his goal of taking care of his family financially.
Then he dealt with some injuries and did not have that innate desire to be a great player that you need to succeed in the NFL so he flamed out pretty quickly. Pretty difficult to see that lack of dog in a player in a media draft profile everyone has access to… but NFL teams try to find that out during visits and other sources.