The Most Epic NFL Draft Busts Of All Time
With the amount of analytics and scouting that goes into each and every NFL draft selection, it seems like things should be foolproof. But the human element can never be underestimated, and all of the analytics in the world can't tell scouts how a player will perform on an actual NFL field.
Just as some players defy expectations and become stars despite being low draft picks, other players fail to live up to the lofty hopes that are set for them. Let's look back at some of the biggest NFL draft busts of all time.
Bo Jackson: 1st overall, 1986 (Buccaneers)
Yes, Bo Jackson is on this list — but there's a catch. The two-sport star really didn't want to play for the sad-sack Bucs, and he made his intentions clear. Despite this, Tampa Bay took a gamble and selected Jackson first overall in 1986.
Jackson stuck to his guns, spurned the Bucs, and signed a pro baseball contract instead. The following year, the Los Angeles Raiders took him in the seventh round. This time, he decided to sign. While his NFL career was cut short by injuries, it was still successful. The draft bust status can be blamed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who wasted a pick on a player who never played for them.
JaMarcus Russell: 1st overall, 2007 (Raiders)
The 6'6", 265-pound Russell was an elite quarterback in college with the LSU Tigers, and kept right on rolling into the NFL combine with an impressive performance. The Raiders had the first pick and were in need of a good quarterback, so they took Russell first overall.
Russell immediately held out for a better contract and the Raiders caved, paying him $68 million before he'd taken a single pro snap. His lack of work ethic behind the scenes, coupled with lacklustre performance on the field, ended his career after three bad seasons in Oakland.
Lawrence Phillips: 6th overall, 1996 (Rams)
In an alternate reality, Lawrence Phillips might have been the Rams' starting running back during their Greatest Show on Turf years. But Phillips was unfortunately unable to get things on track following a brilliant, but checkered, college career at Nebraska.
After an inconsistent start in St. Louis, the Rams moved on from Phillips after just two seasons. He played across various pro leagues and was out of football entirely by 2004. His problems with the law continued, and he died in prison in 2016.
Russell Erxleben: 11th overall, 1979 (Saints)
One could argue that picking any punter or kicker in the first round constitutes a draft bust, considering how readily available these positions are in later rounds. The Saints, convinced that Russell Erxleben could be an elite punter and kicker, took him with the 11th pick of the 1979 draft.
Things got off to a rough start as Erxleben missed a snap, fumbled, then attempted a pass that was returned for a pick-six in his first NFL game. Soon after, he was injured. While his career stretched on for a few more years, he never justified his high draft selection.
Zach Wilson: 2nd overall, 2021 (Jets)
Zach Wilson came out of BYU as one of the school's most hyped quarterback prospects of all time, and was picked by the struggling Jets in the hopes that he'd become their franchise quarterback.
Things haven't exactly worked out that way, however. Wilson was shielded by a strong offensive line in college, and didn't enjoy the same protection in pro football. After a couple of miserable years in New York, the Jets gave up on the prospect and shipped him to Denver.
Johnny Manziel: 22nd overall, 2014 (Browns)
Johnny Football was not just an elite, Heisman-winning quarterback at Texas A&M — he was also a legit sports celebrity, even though he hadn't gone pro yet. The Browns were hoping for big things when he fell to the 22nd pick in the 2014 draft.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Manziel was never able to pull it together in the NFL. After just two years with the Browns, he was out of the NFL entirely. A brief CFL comeback failed to get much attention, and today he's remembered as yet another Cleveland Browns draft bust.
David Carr: 1st overall, 2002 (Texans)
The brand new Houston Texans took promising Fresno State quarterback David Carr with their first-ever draft selection in 2002. Carr was immediately thrown into the deep end for the woeful expansion Texans, and struggled mightily.
While Carr did his best with what he was given — and there were glimmers of success — he became known as an interception machine. Over his five years of starting for the Texans, Carr threw 65 interceptions against just 59 touchdowns. He finished his career as a winner, though, backing up Eli Manning on the Super Bowl-winning Giants.
Trent Richardson: 3rd overall, 2012 (Browns)
The Browns have never won a Super Bowl, but they may just lead the NFL in bad draft picks. Case in point: Running back Trent Richardson, who they picked third overall out of Alabama in the 2012 draft.
To be fair, Richardson looked like a good bet at the time. As a rookie, Richarson put up decent numbers, rushing for nearly a thousand yards. The Browns surprisingly traded him to the Colts early in the 2013 season. This triggered something for Richardson, as he never again regained his rookie form.
Akili Smith: 3rd overall, 1999 (Bengals)
The worst part about the Bengals taking Akili Smith with the 3rd pick of the 1999 draft was just how many players they passed over. Hindsight is 20/20, but the Bengals took Smith when they could have had Champ Bailey, Daunte Culpepper, or Edgerrin James.
Smith hung around in the league after a dominant college career with the Oregon Ducks, but he was never a difference maker. The Bengals turned him into a project and tried to build around him, but he was benched after his second season and released after his third season.
Andre Ware: 7th overall, 1990 (Lions)
The Detroit Lions thought their offense was established for years to come when they drafted Heisman winner Andre Ware to team up with fellow Heisman winner Barry Sanders. Even though Ware's collegiate career with Houston was stellar, he couldn't find success with the Lions.
When it was all said and done, Ware started just six games over four seasons with the Lions. Aside from practice squad stints, he never played in the NFL again. He spent the final few years of his career in NFL Europe and the CFL.
Ki-Jana Carter: 1st overall, 1995 (Bengals)
Carter was an incredible collegiate running back for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and the Bengals thought the Heisman runner-up would make an immediate impact in the NFL. Unfortunately, Carter was injured in his first preseason game, which limited his effectiveness moving forward.
After five mediocre seasons with the Bengals in which Carter failed to recapture his Penn State brilliance, he signed with Washington in 2001. He then had stints with the Packers and Saints before finishing his seven-year career with just 20 rushing touchdowns.
Dion Jordan: 3rd overall, 2013 (Dolphins)
Dion Jordan established himself as a solid pass rusher during his four years with the Oregon Ducks, and projected nicely as an NFL defensive end. He was taken third overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2013 draft, and played in all 16 of the team's games that season.
Before his second season, he was suspended for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy. Then, before his third season, another violation saw him benched for the entire year. After this, he was never able to get his career back on track, and he was finished after the 2020 season.
Brian Bosworth: Supplemental draft, 1987 (Seahawks)
The Boz is today best remembered for getting absolutely blown up by running back Bo Jackson on Monday Night Football — shortly after brashly announcing that he'd contain the Raiders superstar.
Prior to this, Bosworth was one of the most hyped — and one of the most high-profile — collegiate players in recent memory. Controversy followed the linebacker throughout his college and pro career, and he never was able to become the defensive stud that the Seahawks were hoping for. His career ended after just two seasons due to an injury.
Charles Rogers: 2nd overall, 2003 (Lions)
The Lions went local with their first pick of the 2003 draft, selecting Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers. It looked like a good pick at the time, as Rogers had dominated in his years for the Spartans.
Rogers' pro career got off to a strong start, but he missed most of his rookie season after breaking a clavicle. Rogers left the team to recover, and by the time he came back, he was a different player. Off-the-field issues plagued the once-promising receiver, and he was out of the league after three seasons.
Jeff George: 1st overall, 1990 (Colts)
Taking the long view, Jeff George had a decent career. The QB played 14 seasons in the league, and even led the NFL in passing yards in 1997. A closer look shows that George, who went first overall, went from a can't-miss prospect to a missed opportunity.
George lost 35 of his 49 career starts for the Colts, then held out before the 1993 season. This soured Indy's management to the extent that they traded him after the season. A journeyman career followed, with George playing for various teams for more than a decade.
Matt Leinart: 10th overall, 2006 (Cardinals)
Leinart was at the center of Pete Carroll's dynastic USC Trojans of the early 2000s, and the quarterback became a well-known celebrity along the way. Instead of declaring for the 2005 draft, he returned to USC for his senior season, which caused his draft stock to fall.
Arizona took the pivot with the 11th pick of the 2006 draft, and Leinart showed mostly mediocrity on the field. He went 4-7 in his rookie season, and when the ageless Kurt Warner joined the Cardinals, Leinart found himself out of a starting job.
Justin Blackmon: 5th overall, 2012 (Jaguars)
Most NFL draft busts flame out almost immediately on turning pro, but Justin Blackmon seemed different. The Jags picked the wide receiver after out of Oklahoma State in 2012, and he responded with a solid rookie campaign that saw him rack up 865 receiving yards.
However, things quickly went sideways for Blackmon when a combination of personal issues and injuries kept him off the field for all but four games of his sophomore season. While he stayed under contract with the Jaguars for a few more years, he never played football again past these two seasons.
Josh Rosen: 10th overall, 2018 (Cardinals)
Behind quarterback Josh Rosen, the UCLA Bruins again rose to national prominence, leading to the nickname "Chosen Rosen." The Arizona Cardinals saw him as a potential franchise QB, and took him with the tenth overall selection in 2018.
Rosen couldn't do much with Arizona's awful offense in his rookie season, and he was traded the next season after the Cardinals drafted a different quarterback, Kyler Murray. Shaky stints with the Dolphins, 49ers, and Falcons followed, and Rosen was unable to live up to his top billing.
Isaiah Wilson: 29th overall, 2020 (Titans)
Wilson wasn't a high first round pick coming out of the Georgia Bulldogs' football factory, but he was still a first rounder. The Titans were hoping the 6'7" beast would grow into a dominant offensive tackle, but things went sour within a year.
Wilson didn't start right away, which wasn't a big deal. What was a big deal was his issues off the field, which saw the Titans suspend him multiple times. After the season, he was shipped to the Dolphins, suspended again, then signed with the Giants. He's now out of football entirely and pursuing a rap career.
Vernon Gholston: 6th overall, 2008 (Jets)
Ohio State defender Vernon Gholston turned heads at the 2008 NFL Combine, showing elite strength and speed. This was enough to convince the Jets to use their pick on Gholston, envisioning him as a powerful edge rusher.
Unfortunately, Gholston couldn't make the jump. After recording 14 sacks in his final season at Ohio State, he wasn't able to get even one sack over his three seasons with the Jets. After failing to crack the rosters of the Bears and Rams, Gholston was out of football after the 2012 season.
Vince Young: 3rd overall, 2006 (Titans)
Quarterback Vince Young was an offensive stud for the Texas Longhorns powerhouse of the early 2000s, and for awhile, it looked like he'd continue this excellence as a pro. A promising rookie season for the Titans saw Young go 8-5 and earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
From there, Young seemingly went backwards. Plagued by inconsistency on the field and beefs with his coach off the field, Young left the Titans after the 2010 season. He played a year with the Eagles as a backup, and bounced around practice squads for a few years before calling it a career.
Justin Gilbert: 8th overall, 2014 (Browns)
Justin Gilbert, an athletic multi-sport star out of Oklahoma State, was one of the top cornerback prospects heading into the 2014 NFL Draft. The Browns liked what they saw and took him with the eighth selection.
While Gilbert wasn't terrible for the Browns, he was far from the impact player they were hoping for. Before his third season, the Browns shipped him to the Steelers, where he put up similarly mediocre numbers. He only lasted one season with the Steelers before his NFL career wound down.
Kevin White: 7th overall, 2015 (Bears)
White spent two scintillating years playing college ball for the West Virginia Mountaineers and was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to college football's best receiver. When the Chicago Bears took him in the first round, it was regarded as a safe pick.
His overall career failure wasn't exactly White's fault, as a series of injuries prevented him from ever reaching his full potential. After his first big contract expired, the Bears decided to move on from him. He bounced around the league until 2022, and is now out of football.
Tony Mandarich: 2nd overall, 1989 (Packers)
The fact that Tony Mandarich is the only top five draft pick from 1989 to not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tells you just how hyped that draft class was — and how short Mandarich fell of the high expectations that had been set for him.
Of course, it would have been hard for the big man to live up to these hopes, as he was seen as one of the best collegiate tackles of all time. Mandarich spent a few years in pro football, but allegations of performance enhancers and a poor work ethic sunk his career.
Tim Couch: 1st overall, 1999 (Browns)
Cleveland was ready for NFL football again after the return of their beloved Browns in 1999, and star Kentucky QB Tim Couch was seen as the offensive stud to lead the offense. Couch was put right into the starting role, where he promptly went 2-12 in his rookie season.
Of course, the Browns were a weak expansion team and Couch was a rookie, so the team treated him as a project. Unfortunately, he was never able to find real success in Cleveland and left the team after the 2003 season. After failing to make the Packers and Jaguars, he retired from football.
Steve Spurrier: 3rd overall, 1967 (49ers)
Spurrier is best known today for his many years coaching at the collegiate level. But in the late 1960s, Spurrier was lighting it up as quarterback for the Florida Gators. The San Francisco 49ers saw promise in the young prospect, and selected him in the 1967 draft.
The 49ers took their time with Spurrier, waiting until 1972 to put him in the starting role. He was never able to put it all together at the pro level, and his playing career was over after the 1976 season.
Derrick Harvey: 8th overall, 2008 (Jaguars)
Derrick Harvey finished his collegiate career as one of the Florida Gators' best all-time defensive ends, and he hoped to continue this success in the pro ranks. The Jaguars took him with the eighth overall pick of the 2008 draft.
Things went off the rails almost immediately when Harvey held out for a big contract before starting his first training camp. In three seasons with the Jags, he put up middling numbers, and he retired following one last season with the Broncos. Harvey had eight sacks in his entire NFL career — fewer than he had in his final season in college.
Heath Shuler: 3rd overall, 1994 (Washington)
The team now known as the Commanders picked Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Heath Shuler with the third pick of the 1994 draft. While Shuler threw 25 touchdown passes in his final season with the Vols, he racked up just 15 (to go along with 33 interceptions) in his entire NFL career.
After failing to unseat starting quarterback Gus Frerotte, Washington moved on from Shuler. He spent time with the Saints before calling it a career in 1999. Shuler now has a career in politics.
Ryan Leaf: 2nd overall, 1998 (Chargers)
The 1998 draft featured two potential franchise cornerstone quarterbacks who would go first and second overall: Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. Not only did Leaf fail to live up to Manning's Hall of Fame career, he didn't even get close.
Leaf had a terrible rookie season and things didn't get much better in his sophomore campaign. The Chargers cut ties with the troubled QB after the 2000 season, he was out of football shortly after, and various personal issues have plagued his life in the years that followed.
Jason Smith: 2nd overall, 2009 (Rams)
Offensive tackle Jason Smith overcame his comparatively small size and starred in college for the Baylor Bears. After winning All-American honors at Baylor, Smith looked to make the next big step when he was picked second overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2009.
In the middle of Smith's rookie season, he suffered a serious concussion, which led to him missing the rest of the season. He lost his starting role the following year, was eventually shipped off to the Jets, and was never able to gain a foothold in the league.
Joey Harrington: 3rd overall, 2002 (Lions)
The Lions were in need of a franchise quarterback entering the 2002 draft, and Oregon QB Joey Harrington seemed like the perfect fit. Harrington was slotted into the Lions' starting role in week one of the 2002 season and had an uneven, but reasonably promising, rookie campaign.
Harrington's career went downhill from there and never fully took off. After missing the playoffs in his first few seasons, he was benched for Jeff Garcia in 2005. Stints with Miami, Atlanta, and New Orleans followed, but Harrington was finished after the 2008 season.
Sam Bradford: 1st overall, 2010 (Rams)
Bradford was a top prospect coming out of a standout career with the Oklahoma Sooners, but he was never able to replicate his collegiate success in the pro game. Bradford was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in his 2010 rookie season, but his career fizzled out in the years that followed.
Injuries combined with inconsistent play doomed Bradford, and the writing was on the wall after he missed the entire 2014 season with an ACL injury. He was traded to the Eagles in 2015 and was mostly a backup for the remainder of his career.
Troy Williamson: 7th overall, 2005 (Vikings)
Williamson probably wouldn't have become a Minnesota Viking if the Vikes weren't in desperate need of a wide receiver to fill the hole left by Randy Moss. Williamson played in 14 games in each of his first two NFL seasons, catching a dismal two TD passes in 2005 and none in 2006.
After the 2007 season, he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williamson played two seasons with the Jags, catching one touchdown pass, before calling it quits after the 2009 season.
Mitch Trubisky: 2nd overall, 2017 (Bears)
The Chicago Bears have been a quarterback graveyard for decades, but Da Bears were hopeful that they could buck that trend when they took North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky second overall in 2017.
Chicago tried to make a go of it with Trubisky under center, but things never really worked out during his four seasons in the Windy City. He was cut loose after his rookie contract expired. He's become a competent NFL backup, but this status falls fall short of his original lofty expectations.
Jamal Reynolds: 10th overall, 2001 (Packers)
Reynolds was a unanimous All-American at Florida State, and the big defensive end was regarded as a top prospect heading into the 2001 draft. The Packers took him tenth overall, hoping he would help anchor their defense.
His NFL career unfortunately never got off the ground. Injuries plagued Reynolds, and his job was taken by Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Reynolds finished his three-year NFL career with 16 tackles and three sacks in 18 games played.
Johnathan Sullivan: 6th overall, 2003 (Saints)
Defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan had elite talent, but a poor work ethic doomed his pro career. Drafted out of Georgia by the Saints in 2003, Sullivan was benched in his sophomore season for showing up to training camp significantly overweight.
This, along with a generally poor attitude and behavioral issues, quickly soured the Saints on Sullivan. He was later traded to the Patriots, then waived and signed with the Vikings. He never played for either team, and his career was finished in 2006.
Art Schlichter: 4th overall, 1982 (Colts)
Quarterback Art Schlichter seemed to have it all following a legendary high school and collegiate career. The Baltimore Colts took him fourth overall in 1982, but he immediately lost the starting role to Mike Pagel, who was also drafted by the Colts in 1982.
Schlichter was addicted to betting, and this trait landed him in trouble (not to mention debt) throughout his career. His NFL career quickly fizzled out but he was able to find limited success in the world of arena football.
Trey Lance: 3rd overall, 2021 (49ers)
Lance was the rare high pick to come out of the North Dakota State Bison of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. An athletic quarterback, Lance was picked by the 49ers in the disjointed 2021 draft, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49ers intended to use Lance as a backup to begin his career, but he was thrust into the starting role after an injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo. An injury in the 2022 season ended his time in San Francisco, and he was dealt to the Cowboys in 2023.
Johnny "Lam" Jones: 2nd overall, 1980 (Jets)
Johnny "Lam" Jones is an accomplished athlete, even if he was forgettable in the NFL. The wide receiver won a gold medal in the 4x100 relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics, four years before he was drafted second overall by the Jets.
While he was incredibly inconsistent with the Jets, the Lam Jones experiment lasted until the 1987 season, when he was dealt to the 49ers. He was released and signed with the Cowboys, and his career was finished after that season.
Mac Jones: 15th overall, 2021 (Patriots)
It's never easy to follow a legend, and Mac Jones did a capable job in his rookie campaign for the Patriots, who were still looking for a franchise quarterback to replace Tom Brady. While Jones made it to the Pro Bowl and led the Pats to the playoffs in 2021, his career fell off a cliff in the years that followed.
After a poor 2022 season, Jones lost his starting job to Bailey Zappe in 2023. The Pats decided to move on after the season, trading him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
Steve Emtman: 1st overall, 1991 (Colts)
Emtman's college career was impressive indeed, and the Washington Huskies defensive end was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This success translated into a first overall selection in the NFL draft, but he was never able to capture the same success as a pro.
With the Colts, Emtman played his home games on astroturf, which contributed to injuries throughout his career. He spent three years in Indianapolis, two years with the Dolphins, then a final season in Washington before retiring after the 1997 season.
Robert Griffin III: 2nd overall, 2012 (Washington)
RG3 was a positively electrifying college player for Baylor, helping the Bears to national prominence with his speedy, high energy style of play. There were questions surrounding his ability to be an effective pro QB, but Griffin seemingly silenced his critics after a strong rookie season.
In the playoffs of his rookie season, Griffin suffered a bad knee injury, and his once-promising career was permanently derailed after he lost his starting job to Kirk Cousins. RG3 spent time with the Browns and Ravens in his final seasons, taking his last snap in 2020.
Jack Thompson: 3rd overall, 1979 (Bengals)
"The Throwin' Samoan" was a standout at Washington State, finishing his collegiate career with 7,818 passing yards — a record at the time. After his selection in the 1979 draft, he spent his rookie season as a backup before winning the starting role in 1980.
A couple of poor games saw him demoted back to his former role, and Thompson quickly fell out of favor with the Bengals. He started for the 1983 Bucs, but his six-year career was largely a disappointment.
Chase Young: 2nd overall, 2020 (Washington)
There was plenty of buzz surrounding Chase Young during his college years with the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he set the program's single-season sack record. While he seemed like a can't-miss prospect at defensive end, he's failed to live up to these high hopes.
Young followed up a promising rookie season with an injury-plagued sophomore campaign. Washington cut ties with him after his rookie contract expired, and he was moved to the San Francisco 49ers. Injuries are still an issue for Young, who's now a New Orleans Saint.
Aundray Bruce: 1st overall, 1988 (Falcons)
Bruce had a promising collegiate career for Auburn, though his number one overall selection in the NFL Draft was tempered by a relatively weak draft class in 1988. He had his best season with the Falcons in 1991, and enjoyed an eleven-year run in the NFL.
While the long view shows Bruce as having a successful pro career, the fact that he was a number one overall pick who was never more than an average player makes him a bona fide draft bust.
Mike Williams: 4th overall, 2002 (Bills)
Mike Williams, a hulking offensive lineman who starred for the Texas Longhorns, was believed to be the kind of player who could make an immediate impact in the pro game. The Buffalo Bills took him with the fourth overall selection in 2002.
While Williams was named to the Pro Football Writers' Association All-Rookie Team in 2002, he never lived up to his potential during his NFL career. He split his time between Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Washington, playing his last game in 2010.
Courtney Brown: 1st overall, 2000 (Browns)
Brown was a relative rarity in the 2000 NFL Draft, in that he was just the eleventh defensive lineman to ever be picked first overall. He lived up to expectations with a strong rookie season, but was never again able to reach those same highs.
Injuries scuttled his second season, and Brown regressed steadily throughout the rest of his career. After five inconsistent seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he spent 2005 with the Denver Broncos before calling it a career.
Blair Thomas: 2nd overall, 1990 (Jets)
A First-Team All-American at Penn State in 1989, running back Blair Thomas was expected to be an impact player for the New York Jets. Instead, he became just another draft bust for the Jets.
Thomas never saw his career really take off, and his years with the Jets saw him used in mostly a platoon role with other backs. He spent time with the Cowboys, Patriots, and expansion Panthers before calling it quits following the 1995 season.
Robert Gallery: 2nd overall, 2004 (Raiders)
An imposing offensive guard from the University of Iowa, the 6'7", 325-pound Gallery had the size and the instincts to become a star in the NFL. He was seen as the best lineman to enter the draft in many years.
After a promising rookie campaign in 2004 for the Raiders, Gallery's development stalled out. The Raiders decided not to renew his contract after the 2010 season and he spent his final year with the Seattle Seahawks.
Sam Darnold: 3rd overall, 2018 (Jets)
Darnold's collegiate career with the USC was short and sweet: After a redshirt freshman season, he spent two years as the Trojans' starting QB before declaring his eligibility for the 2018 NFL Draft.
The New York Jets needed a quarterback, and Gang Green took Darnold with the third pick in the draft. He started 38 games over three seasons with the Jets, putting up an underwhelming 13-25 record. Since moving on from the Jets, he's become a backup elsewhere.
