NFL: Which 5 historic picks are the worst?

[Say Hey Kid]

Which 5 historic picks are the worst?

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[EpochLink]

The easy answer would be Ryan Leaf, but I’ll throw y’all a bone.

Tony Mandarich has to be one of the most disappointing picks of all time considering who was picked in the top 5 of the 1989 draft.

Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and Derrick Thomas….and he was sandwiched in that group.

One of the best QB’s of the 90’s, one of the best running backs of all time, one of the best pass rushers of all time and the all time best cornerback of all time.

 

[GKJ]

JaMarcus Russell because everyone saw it coming.

Well, except Al Davis

 

[Unholy Diver]

I'd throw out a few more candidates

David Klingler
Trev Alberts
Ki-Jana Carter
Lawrence Phillips
Joey Harrington

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

JaMarcus Russell because everyone saw it coming.

Well, except Al Davis

And Mel Kiper



"In 3 years from now, you could be looking at a guy who certainly is one of the elite top 5 QBs in this league!" - Mel Kiper Jr.

"Skill level he has is certainly John Elway like" - Mel Kiper Jr.

 

[GKJ]

Justin Blackmon is a bigger bust than anyone listed, save for Rogers. Historically, the biggest busts are going to be top 3, once you get to picks later in the top 10, there's a million of those guys.

 

[GKJ]

And Mel Kiper



"In 3 years from now, you could be looking at a guy who certainly is one of the elite top 5 QBs in this league!" - Mel Kiper Jr.

"Skill level he has is certainly John Elway like" - Mel Kiper Jr.

In terms of evaluating the tools, he was right. He had the tools to be all that, but people knew he would be the perfect Raider since he was all-tools and no toolbox just like everyone else that passed through there since the Raiders specialized in having no idea nor desire to do anything than put together the best teams on Madden. Matt Millen kicked him out of their pre-draft interview (apparently disclosed as much to Al, maybe having someone as dumb as Millen do that emboldened him). The big thing quite frankly is that Russell didn't even get another shot. 25 starts at age 24, not even heard from again, not even in someone's camp. We just had a 1st round QB who is older than Russell was when he was out of the league.

 

[Save By Thomas]

Robert Gallery should be on that list. A look at who the Raiders could have picked instead:

Larry Fitzgerald

Philip Rivers

Sean Taylor

Ben Roethlisberger

 

[HoseEmDown]

Blake Bortles? Sure he was a bit of a disappointment for a 3rd overall but he was the starter for a team that played in the AFC championship game and. Early got them to the Super Bowl. These 1st round QB's since 2010 are much worse.

Locker
Gabbert
Ponder
Griffin
Manuel
Manziel
Lynch
Rosen

He's numbers are similar to Bradford who went 1st overall. If Mariota doesn't become a starter again he'll have worse numbers. Guys like Trubisky, Darnold and Jones still have time but could be worse if they don't become starters somewhere. Mayfield could be added to that list as well if he doesn't figure his future out.

 

[Terry Yake]

russell's biggest problem was that he had zero motivation, not that he wasn't skilled enough

combine that with the fact that he had zero weapons and no o-line in oakland. of course he was going to fail

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Dimitrius Underwood needs to be on this poll.

 

[sigma six]

Bosworth more of a case of being overhyped and failing to live up to it. He wasn't terrible, especially compared to most of this list.
Doesn't belong here.

Edit: but Aaron Curry probably does, 4th overall and "safest pick in the draft" that never did squat in the pros.

 

[DaaaaB's]

Justin Blackmon is a bigger bust than anyone listed, save for Rogers. Historically, the biggest busts are going to be top 3, once you get to picks later in the top 10, there's a million of those guys.

Rogers might've been a good pick if it weren't for injuries. Andre Johnson going right after him definitely made the pick worse tho. I don't see how him and Blackmon are worse picks than Russell and Leaf.

 

[GKJ]

Rogers might've been a good pick if it weren't for injuries. Andre Johnson going right after him definitely made the pick worse tho. I don't see how him and Blackmon are worse picks than Russell and Leaf.

I wasn’t clear, I was referring to only receivers on that point.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Justin Blackmon is a bigger bust than anyone listed, save for Rogers. Historically, the biggest busts are going to be top 3, once you get to picks later in the top 10, there's a million of those guys.

By your argument you're wrong. He was a 5th pick and 2/3 of the poll options are top 3 picks.

There was an SI cover story on Mandarich. He didn't shower with the team, because he abused PEDs so badly that he had breasts.

 

[GKJ]

By your argument you're wrong. He was a 5th pick and 2/3 of the poll options are top 3 picks.

There was an SI cover story on Mandarich. He didn't shower with the team, because he abused PEDs so badly that he had breasts.

He was but not many WR’s were in the top 3

 

[ecemleafs]

jamarcus and mandarich are my slam dunk 2 here. next 2 after jamarcus russell were calvin johnson and joe thomas. mandarich was crazy hyped and went 2. the next 3 picks were barry sanders, derrick thomas, and deion sanders.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

jamarcus and mandarich are my slam dunk 2 here. next 2 after jamarcus russell were calvin johnson and joe thomas. mandarich was crazy hyped and went 2. the next 3 picks were barry sanders, derrick thomas, and deion sanders.

Agree. Those two were easy for me. I went with Rogers next but it could just as easily been Leaf.

Don't see Bortles and Bosworth as belonging. They may not have been top 3 OA good but they at least had careers with some level of production. That elevates them over most of this list in itself.

Joey Harrington maybe instead?

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Agree. Those two were easy for me. I went with Rogers next but it could just have easily been Leaf.

Don't see Bortles and Bosworth as belonging. They may not have been top 3 OA good but they at least had careers with some level of production. That elevates them over most of this list in itself.

Joey Harrington maybe instead?

Gallery fits this as well

Spent 8 years as starter including 5 years at G after his struggles at T. From what I recall he was solid in G role

Sure he did not live up to pick but 8 years as a starter in NFL is far from historic worst

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Gallery fits this as well

Spent 8 years as starter including 5 years at G after his struggles at T. From what I recall he was solid in G role

Sure he did not live up to pick but 8 years as a starter in NFL is far from historic worst

Agree about Gallery's career but don't see him in the poll.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Purple drank!

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

russell's biggest problem was that he had zero motivation, not that he wasn't skilled enough

combine that with the fact that he had zero weapons and no o-line in oakland. of course he was going to fail

He was motivated to get more purp.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Fullback *Oh No!!!* Roger Vick

 

[LightningStorm]

Mandarich, Leaf, and Russell are the clear cut top 3 here. The other 2 are more open ended. I went with Rogers and Richardson.

Rogers, in addition to being a bust on the field, had legal problems off of it. His pick was made even worse by the very next pick being Andre Johnson. Richardson was a RB with no vision. What was more baffling about him though was even after he was clearly a bust, the Colts still gave a first round pick to the Browns for him (which Cleveland wasted by using it to trade up for Manziel).

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Shoutout to Trubisky and Solomon Thomas going 2 and 3 with guys like Watson and Mahomes still on the board.