NFL Draft 2011: Top 10 Draft Busts of All Time

The 2011 NFL Draft is just one long day away. Tomorrow night, we will finally put an end to the speculation and see which prospect each team feels is best suited to help them win a Super Bowl Championship.

Of course, it does not always pan out that way. With one name, an entire franchise can crumble to pieces. The impact of a first-round bust can haunt a franchise for years to come.

Prospects are often casualties of poor systems, coaching and injuries—but more often than not, they are victims of themselves, destroyed by overrated ability and poor work ethic.

It is time we reminisce and wonder how some of these franchises were ever able to overcome their mistakes and how certain players are still haunting their former franchises.

From Alex Smith to JaMarcus Russell to Ryan Leaf, here are your top 10 draft busts of all time.

Honorable Mention

David Carr, QB, No. 1 Overall to Houston Texans (2002)

Career Stats: 92 Games Played, 1,351-for-2,264 (59.7 completion percentage) for 14,433 yards, 65 touchdowns, 71 interceptions, 40 fumbles

David Carr was selected over Julius Peppers in the 2002 draft to become the first selection in the history of the Houston Texans franchise.

Good thing they didn't make the same mistake in 2006 when they selected Mario Williams over Matt Leinart.

10. Matt Leinart, QB, No. 10 Overall to Arizona Cardinals (2006)

Career Stats: 29 Games Played, 340-for-595 (57.1 completion percentage) for 3,893 yards, 14 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, 6 fumbles

Leinart cost himself a lot of money and the No. 1 overall selection in 2005 when he decided to stay at USC for his senior year. We could say San Francisco lucked out—but we’ll see the player they selected in place of him later on this list.

My disdain for Leinart has been proven right thus far in his awful career. He was never fit to be a starting quarterback with rocky poise, poor accuracy, arm strength and pocket awareness.

He couldn’t even get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald and was beaten out by Derek Anderson of all quarterbacks last year before being released by the Cardinals.

Arizona took a chance with the No. 10 overall selection, but it blew up in their faces because simply put—Matt Leinart was never a good quarterback prospect. He’ll forever live off his collegiate success.

9. Steve Emtman, DT, No. 1 Overall to Indianapolis Colts (1992)

Career Stats: 50 Games Played, 82 total tackles, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

A prime example of how injuries destroy careers in the NFL. In the most brutal of American sports, injuries are unpredictable but realistic for every player—especially for the highest touted players entering the draft.

It always seems people fear the worst when it comes to top prospects.

Emtman was a casualty of injuries throughout his career, as he played in 16 games just once.

In his first three seasons with the Colts, he played just 18 games as he ended each season on injured reserve.

He played for just six seasons, but will always be remembered for his cameo appearance in one of the greatest football movies ever—Little Giants.

8. Tim Couch, QB, No. 1 Overall to Cleveland Browns (1999)

Career Stats: 62 Games Played, 1,025-for-1,714 (59.8 completion percentage) for 11,131 yards, 64 touchdowns, 67 interceptions, 20 fumbles

Couch was selected above Donovan McNabb, who went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in Philadelphia history.

Couch, meanwhile, was a disaster for the Browns and a major reason the franchise has been one of the worst in the new millennium—there’s a reason they had the No. 1 overall selection in 2000 too.

He had far more success than every other player on this list, but for a player meant to be the next franchise quarterback selected No. 1 overall, he could only be deemed a bust, as he was released in 2004.

He was never able to catch on with any team following his release and struggled with injury and drugs—at least he’s married to a Playboy Playmate!

7. Charles Rogers, WR, No. 2 Overall to Detroit Lions (2003)

Career Stats: 14 Games Played, 36 receptions for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns

Rogers looked every bit worthy of his No. 2 overall selection following his first game of his career when he scored two touchdowns in a win over Arizona. Detroit then lost its next four games and Rogers was lost to injury.

Injuries happen and are freak occurrences—but that is not why he is a bust.

Rogers was pitiful in his return attempt in 2005, appearing in just seven games and never accumulating more than four receptions in a single game.

He actually only had three multi-reception performances that season. Even worse, he was suspended for four games after violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

In 2006, New England, Miami and Tampa Bay would not even sign him to a contract after he was released from the Lions.

6. Akili Smith, QB, No. 3 Overall to Cincinnati Bengals (1999)

Career Stats: 22 Games Played, 215-for-461 (46.6 completion percentage) for 2,212 yards, 5 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 13 fumbles

Selected high at No. 3, Akili Smith is the reason many are wary to draft one-hit wonder quarterbacks who rely heavily on pure athleticism.

Smith’s career started off on a rocky note with a contract dispute—Cincinnati would have been better off if he had never even signed.

His career flamed out before it even truly began as he was cut in just four seasons and could not even stay on with the Packers or Buccaneers later in his career.

It’s actually quite remarkable that he was able to accumulate more turnovers than games played—that in itself is an impressive feat.

Hopefully, Cam Newton doesn’t follow in his poor footsteps…  

5. Courtney Brown, DE, No. 1 Overall to Cleveland Browns (2000)

Career Stats: 61 Games Played, 194 total tackles, 19 sacks, 7 forced fumbles

Brown was decent as a rookie but never morphed into the dominant defensive end many envisioned. Even worse, let’s take a look at the notable defensive players selected after him, shall we?

LaVar Arrington, No. 2 to Washington.

Brian Urlacher, No. 9 to Chicago

Shaun Ellis, No. 12 to New York Jets

John Abraham, No. 13 to New York Jets

Julian Peterson, No. 16 to San Francisco

Ouch.

Brown was never able to stay healthy and amassed 17 sacks in five seasons with Cleveland before being cut.

He was on his way to a fine start to his career with 4.5 sacks in five games in his second season, but injury derailed him and the rest of his career.

It makes you wonder who could be the next Courtney Brown?

4. Tony Mandarich, OT, No. 2 Overall to Green Bay Packers (1989)

Career Stats: 86 Games Played, 47 Starts

Regarded as the best offensive lineman prospect ever—he surely was not for Green Bay, who selected him over future Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders.

He entered his NFL career with a lengthy contract dispute and was cut from the Packers after just three seasons in 1992.

He was such a nuisance, Green Bay did not even want him to fulfill the final year of his contract.

A steroid user with a terrible attitude, Mandarich is widely regarded as one of the biggest busts in the history of the league and rightfully so.

It all worked in the end as Green Bay was blessed by the football gods with Brett Favre a few years later.

3. Alex Smith, No. 1 Overall to San Francisco 49ers (2005)

Career Stats: 54 Games Played, 864-for-1,514 (57.1 completion percentage) for 9,399 yards, 51 touchdowns, 53 interceptions, 28 fumbles

I’m sorry, Alex and San Francisco fans, but your failure makes me extremely happy. I said it leading up to the draft that Aaron Rodgers should have been the No. 1 overall selection. It is downright embarrassing that the 49ers messed up that selection.

It is believed that then head coach Nolan Smith did not think he could get along with Rodgers and fit better with Alex—I would have fired Nolan on the spot and selected Aaron.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20, but it is always reassuring to be right.

Nolan has since been fired and Alex battled inconsistencies in the coaching staff and injuries throughout his career thus far.

He has never shown true promise as a starting NFL quarterback and is now a free agent. If the 49ers have any pride, they will let him walk.

2. Ryan Leaf, No. 2 Overall to San Diego Chargers (1998)

Career Stats: 25 Games Played, 317-for-655 (48.4 completion percentage) for 3,666 yards, 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions, 8 fumbles

Ryan Leaf is one of the best sports figures in history for being a remarkable bust and hothead on and off the field.

Gotta give him that.

Its tough looking back and seeing San Diego actually trade up for Leaf and give him the biggest rookie signing bonus in history—but be thankful, Indianapolis fans, that you landed the machine that is Peyton Manning!

Even worse, what about all the pundits who believed that Leaf should have been No. 1 leading to the draft or after the first two games of their careers when Leaf outplayed Manning?

Leaf flamed out in just his third career start and was never able to recover as his poor play, attitude and injuries cost him his career. He bounced around the league and consistently failed to display the talent he flashed in college.

Every year, we ask who will be this year’s Ryan Leaf.

So I ask you, who will be this year’s Ryan Leaf?

1. JaMarcus Russell, QB, No. 1 Overall to Oakland Raiders (2007)

Career Stats: 31 Games Played, 354-for-680 (52.1 completion percentage) for 4,083 yards, 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 22 fumbles

I know what you’re thinking—JaMarcus Russell actually threw for 18 touchdowns in his career!? I didn’t even think he had that many!

I said it leading up to the draft that he would be a major bust. I strongly recommended that the Raiders selected Calvin Johnson No. 1 overall, not because he is one of my favorite players of all time, but because he is an elite football player.

Russell never displayed any elite talent whatsoever. He was a strong arm and nothing else—he exemplified a player with a poor work ethic, no determination, poor leadership qualities—all the makings of a terrible prospect.

Al Davis and Oakland fans had to learn the hard way, as he was beyond pathetic as a football player. He was often pulled in games and could never grasp the concept of being an NFL quarterback. He lasted three seasons in Oakland after ballooning to close to 300 pounds and he was released in 2009.

In 2010, he was arrested for possession of codeine syrup—maybe if everyone was on codeine syrup, we would have thought he was a good quarterback—but we’re not; sorry, JaMarcus.

The one area JaMarcus was able to succeed at in life? Being the very best draft bust in the history of draft busts.