Carolina Panthers: Top 10 Wasted Draft Picks of All Time
"With the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers select—OH NO!!!"
The Panthers have had a checkered draft history since their introduction to the process in 1995. They have had a few good hits (Julius Peppers, Jon Beason, Jordan Gross, Steve Smith) over the years, but mostly they have had some enormous misses.
Because of their awful play in 2010, they "earned" the rights to the No. 1 pick in the upcoming April NFL draft.
Let's hope the Panthers get it right this year. Perhaps reminding them of their wasted picks will spark a renewed determination to get it right this year and get the Panthers back on the winning track.
Let's look at the top 10 wasted picks in franchise history.
No. 10: Bruce Nelson
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A second-round pick in the 2003 draft (50th overall), Nelson, an All-American lineman out of Iowa, was limited to two useless seasons with the Panthers.
Hip injuries forced him from the game. He could have been a good addition if not for the injuries.
No. 9: Chris Terry
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Drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1999 draft (34th overall), the offensive tackle from Georgia was a problem from the get-go. He was released, signed and cut by Seattle and then signed with the Chiefs.
On January 27th, 2010, Terry was booked into jail in Clark County, Indiana for cocaine possession, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.
No. 8: Jason Peter
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Drafted by the Cats with the 14th pick in the first round of the 1998 draft, Peter, a defensive tackle out of Nebraska, was a flop.
He wrote a book about his cocaine and heroin addiction that received outstanding reviews. Unfortunately, his play with the Panthers did not.
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No. 7: Tshimanga Biakabutuka
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"Touchdown Timmy," as he was known at the University of Michigan, was the eighth pick in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft for the Carolina Panthers. Plagued by injuries most of his career, he only played in 50 games over six NFL seasons.
Still, at least he was not a drug addict or murderer. He owns two successful Bojangles restaurants currently.
No. 6: Rashard Jackson
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Rashard Jackson, the No. 23 pick in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft, played so well that we couldn't even find his photo, so we used one of the guy who drafted him.
A defensive back out of famous football powerhouse Jackson State, Jackson was suspended in 2003 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. After he failed to meet the requirements for reinstatement, the Panthers released him.
No. 5: Keary Colbert
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Keary Colbert was a second-round pick (62nd overall) in the 2004 NFL draft. A wide receiver out of the University of Southern California, Colbert was the first heir apparent to Steve Smith.
With high expectations following a decent rookie season, Colbert flopped in 2005, catching just 25 balls and scoring two touchdowns. The following year, 2006, he was injured and inactive most of the season, and in 2007 he also ended the year on injured reserve.
Unbelievably, the Broncos signed him in 2008 to a $7.2 million contract and a $2.5 million signing bonus. He was traded the same year to the Seattle Seahawks and released again. Colbert finished his career playing for the Detroit Lions, who signed him in 2009 and cut him the same year.
No. 4: Eric Shelton
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Eric Shelton was drafted In the second round of the 2005 draft (54th overall) by the Cats. A big, bruising back out of Louisville, Shelton was a bust.
He started his career with a broken foot in 2005 and missed the season. In 2006, he rushed for a whopping 26 yards on eight carries and was active in eight games. He was released by the Panthers on September 1, 2007.
He signed with the Washington Redskins in 2008, hurt his neck and was released with an injury settlement in 2008.
No. 3: Jimmy Clausen
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I know I will catch flak for this pick, but there is a reason Jimmy fell to the second round of the 2010 draft (48th overall) when many "draft experts" said he was the top quarterback coming out of college. The other 31 teams knew something the Panthers did not: that Clausen simply can't play in this league.
After signing a $6.3 million contract, Jimmy went on to be the lowest-rated quarterback in the NFL with a 55.5 QB rating (the league average was 75.0). He had two touchdown passes (mostly when the other teams had reserves in) and five interceptions. He fumbled seven times, losing two.
Clausen had numerous balls thrown out of bounds or batted down. He had one of the league's top wideouts (Steve Smith) screaming at him on several occasions.
Other than that, Jimmy had a great year.
No. 2: Dwayne Jarrett
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Dwayne Jarrett was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft (45th pick overall). A wide receiver out of Southern California (sound familiar?), Jarrett was a complete bust.
His first year he had six catches for 63 yards. In 2008, he had 10 catches for 119 yards. In 2008 he was arrested in Mecklenburg County for DUI. On October 5th, 2010, he was arrested on his second DUI in Mecklenburg County and released by the Panthers.
He had a tryout with the Seahawks and his former coach Pete Carroll in November and has not been heard from since.
No. 1: Rae Carruth
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Rae Carruth was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 1997 draft (27th overall).
A smallish wide receiver out of Colorado, Carruth was found guilty of conspiring to murder the woman who at the time was carrying his child. He is in prison and is set to be released in 2018.
Enough said.
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