Top Ten Worst NFL Draft Picks of All Time
Written by B-Dub, Friday April 30 2010
Now that the NFL Draft is over and all those promising draft picks are about to report to their new teams for mini-camps, I thought it would be a great opportunity to look back in NFL draft history. Here we'll take a look at picks who were so disappointing that they set their franchise back years. Wasted picks on wasted talent that wasted the time of the teams and fans that were unfortunate enough to draft some of these busts.
So without further ado, I give you my Top Ten All-Time NFL Draft Busts.
10. Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)
Carter was the first overall pick by the Bengals in 1995 out of Penn State. The words "Penn State" and "running back" should have been the first clue that there was a problem. Penn State RBs don't exactly have a stellar history in the NFL. Anyway, Carter managed to blow out his ACL on the very first carry of his very first preseason game. He eventually recovered, but never amounted to anything in the NFL. Maybe the Bengals offensive line wasn't as good as the one he had at Penn State. Tony Boselli and Steve McNair went with the next two picks.
9. Tony Madarich, OT, Green Bay Packers (1989)
Mandarich was the highest-profile of the "steroid busts" as the number two overall pick in 1989 by the Packers. He dominated at Michigan State, but apparently the NCAA didn't notice the syringe sticking out of his butt while he played on Saturday afternoons. He got to the NFL and his body shockingly shrank with the drug testing in the NFL. He only played on special teams in his rookie season after a lengthy holdout and was gone after his third season. He hung on with the Colts for three more years, but he was nothing but a wasted roster spot. Right after Mandarich was selected, the draft picks were Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders. That's enough to make cheese-heads lactose intolerant.
8. Russell Erxleben, K, New Orleans Saints (1979)
And you thought only crazy old Al Davis was dumb enough to draft a kicker in the first round. Apparently we now know why the Saints just won their first Super Bowl last season with picks like this. He was the 11th overall pick in 1979. To make matters even worse, Erxleben wasn't even a good kicker. He only lasted five years with the Saints. The final indignity is that one of the greatest TEs in history, Kellen Winslow was drafted two picks later.
7. Akili Smith, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (1999)
The Bengals already make a second appearance on this list by taking Smith with the third overall pick in the 1999 draft. The 1999 draft was billed as the next great QB draft, with Smith, Cade McNown, Dante Culpepper, Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb, but only McNabb really achieved any type of success in the NFL. Smith threw five TDs and 13 INTs in four seasons in the NFL. Really. To rub salt in the wounds of the Bengals fans, they passed on a few studs to take this dud. How about Edgerrin James, Torry Holt, Chris McAlister and Champ Bailey, who were all taken soon after Smith. Or how about the fact that the Bengals could have taken the Saints entire draft when they were trying to trade up for Ricky Williams? What a disaster.
6. Kevin Allen, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (1985)
My Eagles have a history of horrific first round draft blunders, but this was their worst one ever. Allen was picked 9th overall in 1985. He played one whole season in the NFL and it was a bad one. He reported for training camp in 1986 and promptly failed a drug test for cocaine. He spent three years in prison for sexual assault. And was banned for life from the NFL. What's not to love? The Eagles were actually considering another offensive tackle at that pick. Some guy named Jim Lachey went three picks later and then went to multiple Pro Bowls. There was also some guy named Jerry Rice who went seven picks later. Oh my God, I'm going to be sick.
5. Todd Marinovich, QB, Los Angeles Raiders (1991)
Shocking that this is the only appearance by a Raider on my list, but what the Raiders lack in quantity, they makes up for in quality. Bad quality for the 24th overall pick that is. Marinovich's father was a nut-job, who groomed his son all of his life to be an NFL QB. He controlled every aspect of young Todd's life through a prolific high school football career. He was even on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was said to have never eaten a cheeseburger until college. When Marinovich went to USC there were rumors of drug use, which caused him to fall to the Raiders. He lasted all of two years in the NFL and now occasionally pops up on police blotters for various drug offenses and random acts of stupidity. Thanks Dad. By the way, a young QB named Brett Favre was taken nine picks later.
4. Lawrence Phillips, RB, St. Louis Rams (1996)
It's hard to say whether Phillips was a worse football player or human being. The Rams ignored all the warning signs (including Phillips' history of domestic violence against women at Nebraska, where Tom Osbourne apparently condoned such behavior) and took Phillips with the sixth overall pick in 1996. Phillips played four years for three different franchises and averaged a meager 41 yards per game rushing. Most recently he was convicted of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. And to think the Rams could have drafted guys like Eddie George, Marvin Harrison or Ray Lewis in this draft. At least Lewis was smart enough to have one of his posse kill someone for him, instead of trying it himself like Phillips.
3. Art Schlichter, QB, Baltimore Colts (1982)
Schlichter is kind of the Pete Rose of the NFL draft. The Colts picked him fourth overall in 1982 and all they got in return was six starts and three TDs. Schlichter was suspended by the NFL before his second season when it was revealed that he had accumulated a massive gambling debt. By 1985 the Colts had released him. Schlichter has over 20 felonies on his record and has been in prison over 30 times. Not that he was a model citizen himself, but Jim McMahon went to the Bears with the pick after the Colts took Schlichter. And with the tenth pick in the 1982 draft, the Raiders took a pretty good RB named Marcus Allen.
2. Dimitrius Underwood, DE, Minnesota Vikings (1999)
The Vikings only wasted the 29th overall pick on Underwood, but his story is just too ridiculous not to make my list. He sat out his last season at Michigan State for no real reason and his coaches told NFL scouts that he wasn't mentally stable. The Vikings took him anyway. He walked out of training camp on the first day saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and his Christian faith. The Dolphins signed him after the Vikings cut him and he played in exactly one preseason game for the Dolphins.
In September of 1999, he tried to commit suicide by slashing his throat while yelling "I'm not worthy God." The Dolphins released him after he escaped from a psychiatric facility and then the Dallas Cowboys signed him. Gotta love that Jerry Jones. He actually played in 19 games for the Cowboys and had 21 tackles and 4 sacks. Then in January 2001 he tried to commit suicide for the second time by running into traffic on a highway. That caused the Cowboys to release him. Hold on, there's more.
In 2002, Underwood was arrested on charges of robbing a paraplegic and assaulting a Irving police officer, but was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Gee, you think so? He is currently being held in a unit for the mentally disturbed in the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center after a 2007 arrest. There is no truth to the rumor that he is released to attend Eagles games.
1. Ryan Leaf, QB, San Diego Chargers (1998)
As if there could be any other choice for the #1 spot on this list. Leaf was the second overall pick in 1998 and there were some who thought he should have been the #1 pick over Peyton Manning. The Chargers traded up in the draft for Leaf and had to give up two first round picks, a second rounder and Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf. For that (and a 4-year $31.25 million contract, with $11.25 guaranteed), Leaf produced 21 starts with 14 TD and an astounding 36 INTs. To make matters worse, Leaf was a complete Douchebag to everyone. Who can forget when he had to be restrained from attacking a reporter in the locker room. And to think, this was the draft where Randy Moss fell all the way to the 21st overall pick because of questions about his character.
On April 14, 2010 Leaf was sentenced to 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to eight counts of drug charges in Texas. The charges stemmed from his time as the quarterbacks coach at Texas A & M, where he regularly got Vicodin illegally from injured players and doctors. Apparently he was addicted to pain medication. All this makes Ryan Leaf the worst NFL draft pick of all time. Hey, at least he's #1 at something.
2. Dimitrius Underwood, DE, Minnesota Vikings (1999)
The Vikings only wasted the 29th overall pick on Underwood, but his story is just too ridiculous not to make my list. He sat out his last season at Michigan State for no real reason and his coaches told NFL scouts that he wasn't mentally stable. The Vikings took him anyway. He walked out of training camp on the first day saying he could not resolve the conflict between playing football and his Christian faith. The Dolphins signed him after the Vikings cut him and he played in exactly one preseason game for the Dolphins.
In September of 1999, he tried to commit suicide by slashing his throat while yelling "I'm not worthy God." The Dolphins released him after he escaped from a psychiatric facility and then the Dallas Cowboys signed him. Gotta love that Jerry Jones. He actually played in 19 games for the Cowboys and had 21 tackles and 4 sacks. Then in January 2001 he tried to commit suicide for the second time by running into traffic on a highway. That caused the Cowboys to release him. Hold on, there's more.
In 2002, Underwood was arrested on charges of robbing a paraplegic and assaulting a Irving police officer, but was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Gee, you think so? He is currently being held in a unit for the mentally disturbed in the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center after a 2007 arrest. There is no truth to the rumor that he is released to attend Eagles games.
1. Ryan Leaf, QB, San Diego Chargers (1998)
As if there could be any other choice for the #1 spot on this list. Leaf was the second overall pick in 1998 and there were some who thought he should have been the #1 pick over Peyton Manning. The Chargers traded up in the draft for Leaf and had to give up two first round picks, a second rounder and Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf. For that (and a 4-year $31.25 million contract, with $11.25 guaranteed), Leaf produced 21 starts with 14 TD and an astounding 36 INTs. To make matters worse, Leaf was a complete Douchebag to everyone. Who can forget when he had to be restrained from attacking a reporter in the locker room. And to think, this was the draft where Randy Moss fell all the way to the 21st overall pick because of questions about his character.
On April 14, 2010 Leaf was sentenced to 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to eight counts of drug charges in Texas. The charges stemmed from his time as the quarterbacks coach at Texas A & M, where he regularly got Vicodin illegally from injured players and doctors. Apparently he was addicted to pain medication. All this makes Ryan Leaf the worst NFL draft pick of all time. Hey, at least he's #1 at something.
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3 comments
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Well, B-Dub, it was actually a university--West Texas A&M, which is actually part of the Texas A&M University system. So, you were essentially correct. Turns out that being here was more of a hindrance, because the connection to Texas A&M was naturally played down. Well done as usual, maestro!
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Greg, I don't doubt you since you live in Texas, but the AP article I read when I researched the Leaf arrest said he was working for Texas A & M. I didn't even consider the possibility that there was ALSO a highschool by the same name and it didn't say it was a high school in the article. Damn, that makes him an even bigger Douchebag.
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B-Dub, while I generally think that you have these correct and I am not generally a fan of Texas A&M, I do have to mention that Leaf was nowhere near their college program. He was busy with his alleged drug deals in the high school ranks. Evidently, some Texas school district thought highly enough of his character to let him near their kids....