2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking the 25 Biggest NFC Draft Busts in History
We always hear the phrase "the Draft is an inexact science" and unfortunately it is a very true statement.
For every Pro Bowl player acquired in the Draft, there is just as likely to be bust on the other end.
The NFL Draft is the most popular of the four major sport drafts in America and no group of young players is scrutinized more heavily than those going from college football to the NFL.
As we get ready for the 76th annual NFL Draft, teams can only hope the selections they make will turn into the players they believe they can be while avoiding pitfalls that can destroy their franchise for the next five years.
Both conferences, AFC and NFC, have had their troubles in the past and we're going to take a look at 25 of the biggest NFC Draft busts in preparation for this year's Draft.
25. Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers (No. 1 – 2005)
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The No. 1 overall pick in 2005 has had a rough time in the NFL so far.
He's started 50 games in his five-year career and has won only 19 of those contests.
Smith has 51 career touchdowns and 53 career interceptions, is a 57 percent passer and started a full season only once so far.
The 49ers organization certainly has not made life easy for him, but he's also had a lot of opportunities to show he belongs.
To make matters worse, Aaron Rodgers won a Super Bowl this season and is winning nearly as many games (14) as Smith has won in his career since the two were entered the league in 2005.
Good bet the 49ers wish they made a different decision on Draft day.
I am not completely giving up on Smith, but he may need a change of scenery if he is ever going to succeed.
24. Jason Peter, DT, Carolina Panthers (No. 14 – 1998)
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Peter was a force at Nebraska as a defensive tackle and was an All-American in his senior season.
In 1998, the Panthers selected him in the middle portion of the first round (No. 14) but he lasted only three seasons in the NFL.
He battled a chronic neck injury and only recorded 83 tackles and 7.5 sacks in his three seasons in NFL.
Playing football again was an afterthought after Peter almost lost his life to drugs.
He is lucky to be alive, and knows it, and fortunately has turned his life around since.
23. Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 15 – 2004)
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The fifteenth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft had a fantastic rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards, 80 receptions and seven touchdowns.
Since that year, he has caught a combined three touchdown passes and has not recorded more than 38 catches in a season.
He battled injuries and weight issues and was not the same player the Bucs had on the field in 2004.
By 2010 he was halfway through a five-year deal despite his struggles and was finally released from the team shortly afterwards and played in the UFL during the 2010 season.
After a rash of injuries tore through the New York Giants receiving corps, they signed Clayton at the end of his UFL campaign and he is hoping to revitalize his career as Giant.
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22. Jamaal Anderson, DE, Atlanta Falcons (No. 8 – 2007)
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The Falcons went after Anderson following his junior campaign in the 2007 NFL Draft and hoped he could be the pass rushing threat they desperately needed.
Instead, what they got was a player that simply could not live up to expectation and after four seasons with the Falcons he has recorded only 3.5 sacks.
They traded up from No. 10 to No. 8 that year and have paid way too much money for a guy with only 3.5 sacks.
There really are not a lot of accomplished pass rushers in the first round of the 2007 Draft (Gaines Adams, No. 4 pick, tragically died at 26-years old) but the Falcons really missed on this one.
21. Erasmus James, DE, Minnesota Vikings (No. 18 – 2005)
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Another defensive end that did not live up to expectations, Erasmus James finished his brief NFL career with only five sacks.
James was an All-American as a senior at Wisconsin but last only four seasons in the NFL, could never stay healthy and was out by 2008.
The Vikings have since gotten it right at the defensive end position but they made a bad mistake on James.
20. Bobby Carpenter, LB, Dallas Cowboys (No. 18 – 2006)
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The Cowboys' former first round pick had great pre-Draft numbers, was a solid collegiate force at Ohio State and looked poised for stardom after Bill Parcells selected him.
Carpenter never got it right though, has only seven career starts, 102 career tackles and has been on three teams in the last three years.
He may be best known for earning the nickname "Barbie" Carpenter from former teammate Marc Colombo for his long blonde hair and inability to hit anyone.
19. Ron Dayne, RB, New York Giants (No. 11 – 2000)
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The NCAA's career leading rusher joined the New York Giants as the "thunder" to Tiki Barber's "lightning".
The Giants immediately went to the Super Bowl the season of Dayne's selection (and were promptly dismantled by a Ravens defense that is one of the best we have ever seen), while he put up over 700 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns.
It never worked with Giants, he never went over 700 yards again in New York and unsuccessfully tried to resurrect his career in Denver and Houston before leaving football in 2008.
He finished with 3,722 yards rushing and 28 career touchdowns.
A lot of running backs have failed in a worse manner, but Dayne's collegiate production and high draft selection do him no favors as Draft bust.
18. Tim Biakabutaka, RB, Carolina Panthers (No. 8 – 1996)
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The Panthers went after the Michigan Wolverine running back with high hopes and grand expectations at No. 8 overall.
Biakabatuka was often injured, lasted only six seasons in the NFL and compiled 3,319 career yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns.
He was one of two running backs drafted ahead of Eddie George (the other will certainly surface later) in the 1996 Draft that were terribly unsuccessful selections.
17. Cade McNown, QB, Chicago Bears (No. 12 – 1999)
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The UCLA Bruin was one of five highly regarded quarterbacks in the 2002 Draft class and unfortunately was one of the three that did not pan out.
McNown started only 15 games in his four year career, threw 16 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and was traded twice for a package centered around sixth and seventh round picks.
He last only two seasons in Chicago and was eventually out of the league after 2002.
16. Troy Williamson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (No. 7 – 2005)
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Lets face it; trying to replace Randy Moss anywhere (even in Oakland when he did not want to play) has been a difficult task.
The Vikings took Williamson at No. 7 overall out of South Carolina for his deep speed and playmaking ability; he gave them three touchdowns in three seasons.
He then went to Jacksonville, caught a combined eight passes in two seasons, and was released in early in the 2010 season.
Quite simple, do not get rid of Randy Moss until you have his replacement (good luck New England).
15. Joey Harrington, QB, Detroit Lions (No. 3 – 2002)
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The 2002 quarterbacks in the first round really did not fair too well (Carr, Harrington and Ramsey), but the former Oregon Duck had a lot of trouble.
At No. 3 overall, a lot was expected of Harrington. He and the Lions simply could not put it together.
Joey only threw more touchdowns than interceptions once in his career (2004: 19 TDs, 12 INTs) and bounced around in the final two seasons as the Dolphins and Falcons quarterback before calling it quits after 2007.
79 career touchdown passes, 85 career interceptions; little Joey never had it easy and it certainly shows.
14. Andre Wadsworth, DE, Arizona Cardinals (No. 3 – 1998)
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The third overall pick out of Florida State was supposed to a machine, but things went wrong from the very beginning.
Wadsworth held out until the eve of opening day for a better contract, played his rookie season and was then plagued by injuries.
He did not manage to rack up double digit sacks throughout his short-lived career and was selected in a first round that features four possible Hall of Famers.
13. Michael Haddix, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 8 – 1983)
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The eighth overall pick in the 1983 Draft was part of first round that features six Hall of Famers (four of which were selected after him).
Haddix recorded 2,945 yards from scrimmage during his career and only scored six total touchdowns.
He was out of the league by 1990 and simply never produced in the NFL.
12. Cedric Jones, DE, New York Giants (No. 5 – 1996)
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The Cedric Jones mishap is combination of ill-fortunate and lack of homework.
New York selected Jones at No. 5 overall and he unfortunately could not see out of his left eye.
Jones only recorded 15 sacks throughout his career (forced Michael Strahan to switch sides) and the Giants left 11 players on the board in the first round that became Pro Bowl players including potential Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Ray Lewis.
Jones was out of the league after only five seasons and is now a coach at an NAIA school.
11. David Terrell, WR, Chicago Bears (No. 8 – 2001)
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The No. 8 pick in 2001 caught only 128 passes in 54 games during this five year career.
He caught nine career touchdown passes and was eventually cut by the Bears in 2004.
Terrell tried to come back twice, unsuccessfully, and is one of the more disappointing receivers of the last decade.
The Bears left Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Chad Johnson, Chris Chambers and Steve Smith on the board (they might have even been better off with a drunk Koren Robinson who was selected one pick after Terrell).
10. Keith McCants, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 4 – 1990)
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Hey there Tampa Bay, you took McCants one pick before Junior Seau, good job.
McCants unsuccessfully tried to play linebacker, then defensive end before retiring in 1995.
He recorded 184 tackles, 13.5 sacks and one interception for his career.
Unfortunately he has since gotten into legal trouble with drug problems.
9. Andre Ware, QB, Detroit Lions (No. 7 – 1990)
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Another member of the 1990 Draft class selected only three picks after McCants, was Houston quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Andre Ware.
His NFL career lasted four seasons before he moved to Canada.
He started only six games in Detroit, threw five touchdown passes and eight interceptions and unfortunately did not have a coach who believed in him during his time as a Lion.
Ware was a great college football player but it never worked in the NFL.
8. Jim Druckenmiller, QB, San Francisco 49ers (No. 26 – 1997)
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He was the lowest pick on this list but Drunkenmiller, at No. 26 overall, started one career game in the NFL and was a huge bust.
He threw one touchdown pass, four interceptions and was sacked four times during that one start; San Francisco really missed here.
It has not been easy trying to replace their once-great quarterbacks of the 1980's and 1990's (and no, I am not calling Jeff Garcia great).
7. Curtis Enis, RB, Chicago Bears (No. 5 – 1999)
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The Penn State product lasted only three years in the NFL, was bumped out of the league with a knee injury and scored only four touchdowns during his career.
Enis ran just under 1,500 yards during his time and gained more attention for his name than he did his playing ability.
6. Heath Shuler, QB, Washington Redskins (No. 3 – 1994)
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Ahhh Heath.
22 starts in four season in the NFL, Shuler threw 15 touchdowns, 33 interceptions and was one of the biggest misses at quarterback in recent memory.
Shuler held out for a bigger contract as a rookie (is now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina), was traded out of Washington and later retired from the NFL in 1998 following an injury.
5. Charles Rogers, WR, Detroit Lions (No. 2 – 2003)
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He had a fantastic start to his rookie campaign as the No. 2 overall pick recording 22 receptions in five games with three touchdowns; then injuries set in and things went south.
Rogers broke his collarbone as a rookie, then again in his second season and was then busted for his third substance abuse violation in his third year.
The Michigan State Spartan reportedly had drug violation issues in college and it sidetracked any chance of a comeback for him in the NFL as well.
4. Aundray Bruce, LB, Atlanta Falcons (No. 1 – 1988)
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This one is simply a big mistake by the Falcons.
Bruce was considered the "next LT" out of Auburn and the Falcons took him No. 1 overall.
He started only 42 games in his 11-year career (mostly with the Raiders) and was a huge bust as a No. 1 pick.
Bruce recorded 32 sacks for his career.
13 Pro Bowlers, one more potential Hall of Famer and two Hall of Famers were left on the board behind Bruce.
3. Tony Mandarich, OT, Green Bay Packers (No. 2 – 1989)
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This is simply about Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders.
Those names, picks three, four and five, all came off the board after Packers selected big Tony Mandarich at No. 2.
His career, steroids and unfilled expectations, leave Green Bay fans staring at three names: Barry, Thomas and Neon Deion who are all in the Hall of Fame.
It is hard to argue with Tony as the biggest bust of all time but...
2. Lawrence Phillips, RB, St. Louis Rams (No. 6 – 1996)
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Then there is crazy Lawrence Phillips.
He lasted only one and half seasons, made Dick Vermeil cry, ran over people with a car and beat women.
The NFL was not good enough for him and he is now serving time in jail.
Remember the Bus (Jerome Bettis) was traded to make room for this maniac.
1. Bo Jackson, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 1 – 1986)
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Some people will not get this one but Tampa Bay decided to take Bo Jackson No. 1 overall in 1986 and he was NEVER going to play for them.
As expected, he played baseball (he told them he was not going to play for them), and was subsequently re-entered in the 1987 Draft after the Bucs failed to sign him.
Bo never lived up to the incredible ability we knew he possessed even when he played for the Raiders in following years, but Tampa Bay got nothing after spending the No. 1 overall pick on him.
Well, not nothing, they had the No. 1 pick again the next year and took Vinny Testaverde.
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