Baltimore Ravens
Best – Jonathan Ogden, OT, 1996 & Ray Lewis, LB, 1996. I can’t name another draft where two future Hall of Famers were taken in the same round by the same team. Ogden has appeared in 11 Pro Bowls and is one of the greatest offensive linemen of his generation. Ray Lewis has been to 12 and counting, was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003, and won Super Bowl MVP in 2000.
Bust - Travis Taylor, WR, 2000. Taylor was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 draft and never came close to living up to the expectations surrounding him. He spent 5 years with the Ravens before bouncing around the league making stops in Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis, Carolina, and Detroit, although he never made the Panthers or Lions. Injuries played a part in his demise but he still catches the honor of worst first round bust in Ravens history, the first thing he has caught in years.
Buffalo Bills
Best – Bruce Smith, DE, 1985. Smith is only the NFL’s all-time sack leader and anchored a defense that helped the Bills to four straight Super Bowls. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009, his first time on the ballot.
Bust - Erik Flowers, DE, 2000. Flowers was drafted #26 overall and lasted just two years with the Bills. He won the starting job in 2001 but was benched 5 games in. He was released the next season and got picked up by the Texans. He couldn’t stick there either and bounced around to Pittsburgh (never played), St. Louis, and Atlanta (never played) before coming to rest in the Canadian Football League in Toronto but a back injury ended his CFL career before it ever began.
Cincinnati Bengals
Best – Anthony Munoz, OT, 1980. Munoz is considered one of the best offensive linemen to ever suit up. He was elected to the Hall of Fame after a career that included 11 Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl appearances. Once he disappeared from Cincy so did the playoff wins.
Bust - – Ki-Jana Carter, RB, 1995. The Bengals bungled this one. They traded up to take Carter #1 overall and one is about as many productive carries Carter had in his NFL career. Injuries played a big role in his demise but he could manage only 1,144 career yards over seven years and 319 carries. Ranks among the all-time great busts in Draft history.
Cleveland Browns
Best – Joe Thomas, OT, 2007. I know it is early in Thomas’ career but because of suspended operations in Browns history when the Browns became the Ravens and then the NFL made the Browns again (confusing I know) there is a decent chunk missing. It could have been Ogden and Lewis but its not. Instead, I chose Thomas who has been in the Pro Bowl every year he has been in the NFL, 4 years, 4 Pro Bowls. Hard to argue with that.
Bust– William Green, RB, 2002 & Courtney Brown, DE, 2000. I couldn’t decide who was worse so I took them both, something I bet the Browns regret. Brown was the first overall selection of the 2000 draft and just could not stay healthy. Green was a mental case with a drug habit. He was suspended twice for smoking marijuana in college which should have laid out the future path he was headed down. Green was arrested in 2003 for drunk driving and possession of marijuana. During his NFL suspension he was stabbed by his then girlfriend during a fight. He has been out of the league since 2005 but did try to make a comeback in 2008. Must have been the drugs.
Denver Broncos
Best – Steve Atwater, S, 1989. Atwater was one of the most feared hitters in any secondary. He went to the Pro Bowl 8 times and won 2 Super Bowls. He stands out among a weak crop of first round Denver selections.
Bust – Jarvis Moss, DE, 2007. The list of first rounders that didn’t make it is long in Denver. However, Moss stands out among the Marcus Nash’s, Tommy Maddox’s and Ted Gregory’s. Moss, however, stand out. He recorded just 3.5 sacks in 3 ½ years before he got sacked by the Broncos.
Houston Texans
Best – Andre Johnson, WR, 2003. Arguably the best receiver in the league right now. 5 Pro Bowls and is the only receiver to catch at least 60 passes in his first eight years. Led the NFL in receptions in 2006 with 103 and in 2008 with 115. Only one of two WR’s with back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons. Not even Jerry Rice did that.
Bust – Duane Brown, OT, 2008. With a history as short as the Texans, it is hard to find an absolute bust. One could pick David Carr but I blame the Texans for making him a bust because he did get sacked 76 times his rookie year and is still a decent back-up in the NFL these days. Instead, I’ll go with Duane Brown who was taken with the 26th overall pick in 2008. He was suspended in Sept. of 2010 for using performance enhancing drugs. Not the brightest move.
Indianapolis Colts
Best – Peyton Manning, QB, 1998. What? You were expecting someone else? Do I really need to tell you about Manning who is on pace to break almost every passing record in the book? OK. Only player with 4 MVP’s in NFL history, holds the record for most consecutive seasons with 4,000 yards with 7 and is currently at 6 so he could break his own record. Super Bowl MVP in SB XLI, elected to 11 Pro Bowls and leads the Colts in EVERY passing category. ‘Nuff said.
Bust – Steve Emtman, DT, 1992. Taken first overall in 1992, Emtman embodies the concept of Draft bust. Injuries robbed him of any chance to make an impact, much like another Colts bust, Trev Alberts in 1994. He was out of football by age 27 due to knee and an injury to a disc in his neck. Has only 134 career tackles and just 8 sacks. The only highlight of his career was a 90-yard interception return for a TD in his rookie year.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best – Tony Boselli, OT, 1995. The first ever pick of the Jaguars also is their best. Boselli made 5 Pro Bowls in his first 6 years before injuries caught up with him. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the Expansion Draft where he finished out an all-too short eight-year career.
Bust – R. Jay Soward, WR, 2000. He actually said “I wish I hadn’t ever been a first round draft pick.” He has admitted to be a habitual marijuana smoker, having used it every day in college. He caught only 14 passes in 13 games for the Jags, only 1 for a TD and for only 154 yards. Soward was suspended by the NFL for substance abuse violations stemming from alcohol and narcotics. He went on to play in the CFL and is now with the Wenatchee Valley Venom of the Indoor Football League. I didn’t know it existed either, much like Soward’s NFL career.
Kansas City Chiefs
Best – Derrick Thomas, LB, 1989. Thomas only played 11 years but is currently 11th on the NFL all-time sack list with 126.5. Thomas was elected, posthumously, to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2009. His career was cut short by a car accident that left him paralyzed. Nine time Pro Bowl selection, 1989 Defensive ROY, and holds the record for sack in 1 game with 7. Thomas also holds numerous Chiefs records, 41 career forced fumbles, 8 forced fumbles in a season, 19 recovered fumbles, career sacks, 20 sacks in one season, and 3 career safeties. He was as good as it gets.
Bust – Percy Snow, LB, 1990 & Todd Blackledge, QB, 1983. Snow was only one of two players to win both the Butkus Award and Lombardi Award in college football history. Expectations were high when the Chiefs chose him 13th overall. However, after a decent rookie year, Snow suffered a knee injury during a wreck on his moped in 1991 training camp. He only spent 3 active years in the NFL and started only 1 game in his final two years. Blackledge was drafted seventh overall in 1983, the “Year of the Quarterback.” Well, except for him. Blackledge was awful and was out of football after 7 years, 5 of which came in KC.
Miami Dolphins
Best – Dan Marino, QB, 1983. Marino is as synonymous with the quarterback position as Cheerios is to cereal. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. The reason? Holding just about every passing record there is.
Bust – Yatil Green, WR, 1997. Green never got a chance in the NFL due to injury. On the first day of his first training camp, Green tore his quadriceps muscles, ACL , and cartilage in his right knee. The next year he tore the same ACL in camp. Finally getting on the field in 1999, Green played 9 games and caught 18 passes for 234 yards. Almost has as many knee surgeries as receptions 10-18.
New England Patriots
Best – Bruce Armstrong, OT, 1987. Played in six Pro Bowls and has his jersey retired by the Pats. Only two other Patriots offensive linemen played in more Pro Bowls than Armstrong, John Hannah and Jon Morris. Injuries cut short what could have been a Hall of Fame career. One of 11 members of Patriots Hall of Fame.
Bust – Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, 1999. Won the Butkus Award and Lambert Trophy in college and came to the NFL with high expectations. He suffered a neck injury in his rookie year and missed half of the 2000 season because of it. He walked out of football in 2001 with only 101 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
New York Jets
Best – Freeman McNeil, RB, 1981. McNeil currently ranks second on the Jets all-time rushing list with 8,074 yards. He was a 3x Pro Bowler and led the NFL in rushing in the strike shortened 1982 season. Teamed with Johnny Hector to form one of the elite rushing tandems in the NFL. Honorable mention to Al Toon, WR, 1985 who was elected to 3 Pro Bowls but had his career cut short by nine concussions. Yes nine. Soon to be replaced by Darelle Revis, CB, 2007.
Bust – Vernon Gholston, DE, 2008, Dewayne Robertson, DT, 2003, and Blair Thomas, RB, 1990. Gholston was supposed to be a sacking machine. Nope. Taken 6th overall in 2008, Gholston only has 42 tackles to his resume which he will soon need. Robertson was Gholston before there was a Gholston. Taken 4th overall, Robertson was supposed to be a force in the middle. The only force about Robertson was that around his mid-section. He recorded 278 tackles and 16 sacks in 6 years in the NFL. Thomas was taken #2 overall in 1990 and started the string of Penn State running back busts. Thomas scored a total of 5 TD’s for the Jets and rushed for a total of 2,009 yards for them. Never came close to what the Jets thought they were drafting.
Oakland Raiders
Best – Tim Brown, WR, 1988. “Mr. Raider” was a 9x Pro Bowl selection for the Raiders. Ended his Raiders career with 14,734 yards receiving and 99 TD’s. He had nine consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards receiving. Led the NFL in 1997 with 104 catches.
Bust – JaMarcus Russell, QB, 2007, Darrell Russell, DT, 1997, Todd Marinovich, QB, 1991. There are so many options for biggest first round bust since 1980 on this team that it isn’t even funny. Russell the quarterback was the first overall pick in 2007 and is a poster child for draft busts. He has thrown 23 picks and 18 TD’s while showing more of an interest in putting on weight than in learning to play football which he will not do in a Raider uniform. Russell the DT, got himself banned indefinitely for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He signed a then record $22 million contract in 1997 and would actually make 2 Pro Bowls. But alas, he recorded almost as many league infractions (7) as he did sacks (28.5). He was killed in 2005 in a car accident. Marinovich is another star who flamed out. Billed as the next great QB by SI in 1988, Marinovich succumbed to drugs and would only throw for 1,345 yards, 8 TD, and 9 INT’s.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Best – Rod Woodson, CB, 1987. The only Steeler that qualifies on this list that is in the Hall of Fame. Woodson made 11 Pro Bowls, NFL Defensive Player of the year in 1993, and helped Steelers win one Super Bowl. Troy Polamalu, S, 2003 and Ben Roethlisberger, QB, 2004 also get nods for this spot and should take it over very soon.
Bust – Huey Richardson, LB, 1991. Supposed to be the next great Steelers linebacker but you won’t find his stats on the back of any Steelers football card. That’s because he doesn’t have any. That’s right, he didn’t even record 1 tackle in a Steelers uniform.
San Diego Chargers
Best – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, 2001. The other LT, won the 2006 NFL MVP after setting NFL records for touchdowns in a season with 31. Rushed for 1,000 yards for the first 8 seasons of his career. He has been to 5 Pro Bowls and is the sixth leading rusher of all-time.
Bust – Ryan Leaf, QB, 1998. As if you didn’t know already. He chucked 33 interceptions during his three years in San Diego and only 13 TD’s. He was actually suspended 4 games for cursing out his GM, Bobby Beathard. If you ask me Beathard deserved it for drafting Leaf. Leaf is one of the all-time draft busts.
Tennessee Titans
Best – Bruce Matthews, OL, 1983 & Mike Munchak, OG, 1982. Both are in the Hall of Fame. Both protected Warren Moon during his best years. Matthews went to 14 Pro Bowls and holds the NFL all-time record for games played by an o-lineman (296). Munchak went to 9 Pro Bowls and is now head coach of the Titans.
Bust – Adam “Pacman” Jones, CB, 2005. Trouble was never far behind unlike his cover skills. He was drafted 6th overall, and managed just 4 picks in his Tennessee tenure. The talent was there, especially on punt and kickoff returns but his behavior was never close to that good. He was traded to the Cowboys in 2008 after being suspended for the 2007 season. Probably had more personal foul penalties than picks. Vince Young is thankful the Titans drafted him otherwise he would be the biggest bust.
Arizona Cardinals
Best – Larry Fitzgerald, WR, 2004. It’s hard to argue with what Fitzgerald has done so far in a Cardinals uniform. He is one of the best receivers in the league right now.
Bust – Matt Leinart, QB, 2006. He was supposed to be the Cardinals answer to the quarterback position. He is only brought questions until his release in September of 2010.
Atlanta Falcons
Best – Deion Sanders, CB, 1989. “Neon Deion” is the only Atlanta Falcons draft pick in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ‘Nuff said.
Bust-Bruce Pickens, CB, 1991. Third overall pick in 1991 Draft recorded just 2 interceptions in five years with the Falcons. The anti-Sanders.
Carolina Panthers
Best – Julius Peppers, DE, 2002. The man was a monster for Carolina recording 81 sacks before signing a lucrative free agent contract with the Bears.
Bust – Rae Carruth, WR, 1997. Ahh Mr. Carruth was never very good on the field and off of it he was even worse. In 1999, Carruth was convicted for conspiracy to commit murder of his pregnant girlfriend. There will be no “The Longest Yard” movie for this animal.
Chicago Bears
Best – Brian Urlacher, LB, 2000. He has resurrected the “Monster of the Midway” image with his play at the linebacker position. He is on the path to the Hall of Fame.
Bust – David Terrell, WR, 2001. Lasted just three years with the Bears and was out of football by 2007. There are several choices for Bears bust since 1980 here with Cade McNown, Curtis Enis, and Rashaan Salaam vying for the title but Mr. Terrell takes the cake based on the complete lack of a return the Bears got from him.
Dallas Cowboys
Best – Emmitt Smith, RB, 1990. Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and helped the Cowboys win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years. 175 total TD’s…need I say more?
Bust- Billy Cannon, Jr., LB, 1984. He was drafted #25 overall in the 1984 Draft and was out of football by October 21, 1984 when he damaged two vertebrae near his neck. Retired rather than risk paralysis.
Detroit Lions
Best – Barry Sanders, RB, 1989. First running back to rush for over 1,000 in his first ten years. He is one of the most electric players to ever step foot on a field anywhere. Retired at 30 years old within a year or two of breaking Walter Payton’s then-record. Hall of Famer.
Bust – Andre Ware, QB, 1990. Taken #7 overall in 1990, Andre Ware was coming off his 1989 Heisman campaign and a monster year for the Houston Cougars. Alas, Ware was awful, playing in only 14 games and starting only six of those for the Lions. He was out of the NFL by the beginning of the 1995 season and became Canada’s bust.
Green Bay Packers
Best – Aaron Rodgers, QB, 2005. Already has taken the Packers to the Super Bowl where he won the MVP last season. NFL’s all-time leader in passer rating in both regular and postseason among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 and 150 pass attempts respectively. Not bad for someone who has only been starting for three years.
Bust – Tony Mandarich, OT, 1989. Was supposed to be a can’t-miss Hall of Famer. Never came close, except for a visit he made to Canton two years ago when he was told he was getting a bust. Poor bastard misunderstood and was really told he was one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Admitted to using steroids in college. Oh, and the Packers passed on Deion Sanders and Barry Sanders.
Minnesota Vikings
Best – Randy Moss, WR, 1998. He even made Duante Culpepper look good. He was a freak who put up freakishly good numbers. He might have been the next Jerry Rice but attitude problems derailed his career a bit. Still has 14,858 career receiving yards and 153 TD’s, 154 if you include a punt return for TD in 1999.
Bust – Dimitrius Underwood, DE, 1999. He never made it out of training camp because of mental health issues. Vikings swung and missed here…big time.
New Orleans Saints
Best – Willie Roaf, OT, 1993. Seven Pro-Bowls with Saints and 4 more with Chiefs. Should get a bust in the Hall of Fame as early as this year.
Bust – Alvin Toles, LB, 1985. You could make a case for George Rogers simply based on who the Saints passed over (Lawrence Taylor) but Toles lasted only four seasons in the NFL and was gone for good by 1988. Even his Profootballreference.com page is missing information and shows only 1 fumble recovery.
New York Giants
Best – Lawrence Taylor, LB, 1981. LT was one of the best players to ever step foot on a field. Off of it he was one of the worst. Drugs and alcohol marred what was an amazing career that involved 10 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowls, 1986 NFL MVP, and 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Bust – Derek Brown, TE, 1992. He was supposed to replace Mark Bavaro. He was taken #14 overall and is proof you don’t always draft based on need. He caught only 11 passes for the Giants over three seasons and only 43 in his six-year NFL career.
Philadelphia Eagles
Best – Donovan McNabb, QB, 1998. Philly fans hate him but there is no denying he was a good QB while in Philly. He led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. He is the all-time leader in wins, pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns for the Eagles.
Bust – Kevin Allen, OT, 1985. One and done for this troubled man. Tested positive for cocaine then was convicted of sexual assault and went to prison for three years where he spent more time guarding himself in the shower than he did any NFL QB’s.
St. Louis Rams
Best – Orlando Pace, OT, 1997. Taken first overall, Pace went on to become a seven-time Pro Bowler and was the cornerstone on the offensive line for one of the most exciting offenses ever, “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
Bust – Lawrence Phillips, RB, 1996. Phillips was a disaster both on and off the field. He was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2008 and is serving 10 years in prison which would be seven years longer than his NFL career.
San Francisco 49ers
Best – Jerry Rice, WR, 1985. Arguably the greatest football player ever. Rice is the all-time leader in receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895), and touchdowns (208). Need I say more?
Bust – Jim Drunkenmiller, QB, 1997. The 49ers must have been drunk when they chose this guy. He made one start for the 49ers in two years and put up a passer rating of 29.2. I could do better than that, seriously.
Seattle Seahawks
Best – Walter Jones, OT, 1997. Nine Pro Bowls, 4-time All-Pro. Called for holding only 9 times in 5,703 pass attempts and allowed only 23 sacks. Should be in the Hall of Fame in the future.
Bust – Dan MCGwire, QB, 1991. Pften mentioned as an example of QB Draft busts. The brother of Mark McGwire, Dan was nothing close to performing like him, PED’s or no. 52.3 QB rating while in Seattle says all you need to know about him. He was gone from football after 1995. Threw all of 2 TD’s, but only 6 interceptions in 148 career attempts, 147 came in Seahawks uniform.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best – Derrick Brooks, LB, 1995. The second first round pick of the Bucs in 1995 (they took Warren Sapp before him). He played in 11 Pro Bowls, was Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and helped Tampa win a Super Bowl. He should get a Hall of Fame nod.
Bust – Rod Jones, CB, 1986. The Bucs also drafted Bo Jackson in this draft after he told them he would never play for them. Prophetic, eh? Mr. Jones was nicknamed “Toast” because he was burned so often. He played four years in Tampa and eleven in the NFL where he managed just 10 picks for his career. Those were probably horribly underthrown passes because this guy was never close to being near the intended receiver. I’m amazed he lasted 11 years in the NFL…then again the other 7 were with the Bengals.
Washington Redskins
Best –Darrell Green, CB, 1983. This dude was so fast and so good at what he did it isn’t even funny. He was Deion without the flash and with the ability to tackle. Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, can probably still outplay some corners in the league today.
Bust – Heath Shuler, QB, 1994. Taken 3rd overall in the 1994 Draft, Shuler was dreadful. He lasted 3 seasons in Washington and 1 in New Orleans before calling it quits to pursue a political career where you don’t have to be good at what you do to be elected. Threw 15 TD’s and 33 INT’s in his career and completed only 49.2% of his passes.Got your own list? Share it in the comments!
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