Green Bay Packers: Biggest Draft Busts of All Time

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Who are the biggest draft busts in Green Bay Packers history?  The Packers are known for making great draft picks, like Sterling Sharpe, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, but they've also made their fair share of blunders.  We review the biggest draft busts for one of football's most storied franchises.

Ahmad Carroll

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In 2004, the Packers selected Ahmad Carroll with the 25th overall pick.  Carroll lasted less than three seasons with the team, as he developed a bad habit of drawing too many penalties in coverage.  The sad part about this wasted pick is the Packers could have drafted stud defensive end Jared Allen, who didn't go until the fourth round.

Randy Duncan

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Vince Lombardi's Packers selected Randy Duncan with the first overall pick of the 1959 NFL draft. Unfortunately, the standout college quarterback never played a single down in the NFL, opting to play in the Canadian Football League instead for more money.  The Packers would have been better off selecting Hall of Fame defensive back Dick LeBeau or the best wide receiver in the draft, Art Powell. 

Tony Mandarich

Tony Mandarich
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With the second overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft, the Packers selected mammoth tackle Tony Mandarich out of Michigan State.  He only lasted three years in Green Bay as an addiction to steroids and painkillers derailed his career.  What hurts the most is the Packers could have selected any one of the three Hall of Famers (Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas or Deion Sanders) drafted right after him. 

Rich Campbell

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Long before the Packers selected Aaron Rodgers out of the University of California at Berkeley, they drafted another quarterback from the same college by the name of Rich Campbell.  Unfortunately, the player they selected with the sixth overall pick of the 1981 NFL draft played just seven games for them, opting to ditch football for a career as an ordained minister. 

If the Packers have that pick back, they probably select a future Hall of Fame defensive player like Mike Singletary, Ronnie Lott, Lawrence Taylor, Howie Long or Rickey Jackson.  

Conclusion

Packers fans
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The Packers don't always make bad draft picks, but when they do, they sure are busts. Still, Packer fans should take solace, as they have hoisted a good share of Lombardi Trophies over the years despite some bad picks.  They should also take pride in their future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews, players that exemplify great draft picks by the Green Bay Packers.