The Biggest NFL Draft Disappointments in History

The NFL Draft has to be one of the most highly anticipated events in the whole of the pro football seasons – with each team taking turns to make selections that they think… and hope will change the future of their team.

Of course, lots of the top picks will go on to have Hall of Fame careers, the ones who, when you bet on NFL, will be the players who make all the difference. But there are some who fail (in some cases, spectacularly) to live up to expectations. 

So, that being said, here are some of the biggest NFL draft disappointments in history.

Ryan Leaf – 1998, San Diego Chargers, 2nd Overall Pick

Ryan Leaf has, unfortunately for him, earned the reputation of being the biggest draft bust in NFL history. He came out of Washington State and was considered to be a can’t-miss prospect – alongside the legendary Peyton Manning. 

However, Leaf struggled  – his play was disappointing, there were injuries and various other off-field issues. In just three seasons, he threw just 14 touchdowns against 36 interceptions and finished with a 4-17 career record as a starter. It just seemed as though he couldn’t adapt to the NFL game – and his attitude problems made him a huge disappointment for the Chargers and their fans.

JaMarcus Russell – 2007, Oakland Raiders, 1st Overall Pick

Then, there was JaMarcus Russell, who had an incredible college career at LSU and earned a name for himself thanks to his incredible arm strength. The Raiders picked him first overall – and expected him to be their quarterback. 

However, he struggled with his weight, there was a lack of work ethic, and he was inconsistent. As such, he lasted just three seasons in the NFL, throwing 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions – and this abysmal failure set the team back for years.

Tony Mandarich – 1989, Green Bay Packers, 2nd Overall Pick

Mandarich, nicknamed ‘The Incredible Bulk’ due to his insane size and strength, was expected to be a big hitting offensive lineman. However, he never managed to live up to the hype and he really struggled with his technique and performance issues. 

While there were other players from the same draft class—like Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders—who went on to become NFL legends, he was the season’s big bust. He later admitted that he used steroids in college – and this is what might have contributed to his sudden and unexpected decline.

Charles Rogers – 2003, Detroit Lions, 2nd Overall Pick

Next, we have Charles Rogers, who played the role of a dominant wide receiver at Michigan State – which led to the Lions drafting him second overall. Unfortunately, he suffered injuries and other off-field problems which completely derailed his career. 

He ended up playing just three seasons in the NFL and ended his NFL career with only 36 receptions for 440 yards. There were drug issues – and an overall lack of commitment that means he never reached his full potential and became one of the biggest disappointments in the Lions history.

Brian Bosworth – 1987, Seattle Seahawks, Supplemental Draft

Next, there’s Brian Bosworth who was, without question, one of the most hyped-up college players of the 1980s. The Seahawks decided that they wanted to take a chance on him in the supplemental draft and signed him up to a massive contract. 

However, he suffered injuries and his overall play was simply lacklustre – and this pretty much defined his short (and not very sweet) NFL career. He will always be remembered for that moment when Bo Jackson ran over him for a touchdown, the epitome of his failure to play at a professional level. He retired after just two seasons over shoulder injuries.

Vernon Gholston – 2008, New York Jets, 6th Overall Pick

Finally, we have to look at Vernon Gholston, who was drafted by The Jets with seriously high expectations after his standout career at Ohio State. He was supposed to be a game-changing pass rusher but alas, fell short by a long way. He didn’t record a single sack in three NFL seasons – and although he had undeniable physical gifts, he jusy couldn’t translate his success at Ohio State to the pro football level – and was one of the biggest defensive busts in history.

So, there you have it… the biggest NFL draft disappointments in history. There will always be those that come with high expectations and while many surpass them, unfortunately, these are the ones that fell embarrassingly short!