Examining the worst first-round NFL draft pick for each team since 1990By Will Brinson | NFL WriterCBS SportsApril 6, 2015 It's the offseason and the draft is approaching, which means the NFL world is full of reminiscing about years and drafts gone by, whether they be good or bad. But mostly bad, including the following grouping of players who will make your head and heart hurt depending on your allegiance.Who is your team's worst draft pick over the past 25 years? That's what we set out to find. Below, in order of the 2015 NFL Draft, we examine the worst pick for each team plus various notable competition names for said player. We've got them listed by position, draft pick overall and year drafted. Obviously production matters. A bad player is more likely to make this list. But we account for draft spot significantly here: the higher someone was drafted, the bigger bust they can be. Quite frankly the number of recent picks was kind of stunning. Keith McCantsTampa Bay BuccaneersMark Barron, S, 7th, 2012If we were going all time Bo Jackson would probably win this, since he was the 1st overall pick in the 1986 draft and never played a down for Tampa. Instead we're going far more recent and tabbing Mark Barron. Taken 7th overall, the Alabama safety played just two seasons before being traded to the Rams for peanuts. The Bucs could've taken Ryan Tannehill (8th) or Luke Kuechly (9th).Notable:Keith McCants, DE, 4th, 1995Charles McRae, T, 7th, 1996Eric Curry, DE, 6th, 1993Michael Clayton, WR, 15th, 2004
Jake Locker never turned into the franchise QB that the Titans hoped he'd be. (Getty Images) Tennessee TitansJake Locker, QB, 8th, 2011Another easy recent selection, with the pick of Jake Locker 8th overall in 2011 truly looking like one of the all-time whiffs with Locker retiring from football at the end of his rookie contract. There's a reason these two teams are picking at the top of the draft. Notable:Alonzo Highsmith, RB, 3rd, 1992Kevin Dyson, WR, 16th, 1998Andre Woolfolk, DB, 28th, 2003Jake Locker never turned into the franchise QB that the Titans hoped he'd be. (Getty Images) Jacksonville JaguarsBlaine Gabbert, 10th, 2011Pretty miraculous group of bad wide receivers drafted by the Jaguars with high first-round picks over a 12 year span. Basically every three years the Jags were setting a first-round pick on fire by selecting various wideouts who didn't amount to much of anything. But it's not even close: Gabbert is clearly the worst pick. Jacksonville traded up in the 2011 draft to grab the quarterback 10th overall. He went 5-22 in three years, throwing 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions and averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. The worst part? Gabbert went one pick before J.J. Watt. Notable:R. Jay Soward, WR, 29th, 2000Reggie Williams, WR, 9th, 2004Matt Jones, WR, 21st, 2005Justin Blackmon, WR, 5th, 2012Oakland RaidersJaMarcus Russell, QB, 1st, 2007Epic stretch from 07 through 2010 for the Raiders. Darren McFadden was their best first-round pick! The worst is easy. JaMarcus Russell might be the worst first-round pick of all time for any team. He's certainly the Raiders worst of the past 25 years. Notable:Todd Marinovich, QB, 24th, 1991Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, 7th, 2009Rolando McClain, LB, 8th, 2010Washington RedskinsHeath Shuler, QB, 3rd, 1994There's an argument you could make here for Robert Griffin III considering what the Redskins gave up to get him. But it's too early to completely write him off … right? Plus Heath Shuler is the guy Redskins fans point to when talking about all-time draft busts for their team. He and his 54.3 passer rating certainly qualify for our parameters.Notable:Bobby Wilson, DT, 17th, 1991Desmond Howard, WR, 4th, 1992Andre Johnson, OT, 30th, 1996Patrick Ramsey, QB, 32nd, 2002Robert Griffin, QB, 2nd, 2012 New York JetsVernon Gholston, DE, 6th, 2008Vernon Gholston never recorded a sack for the Jets, the team who made him the 6th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Notable:Blair Thomas, RB, 2nd, 1990Johnny Mitchell, TE, 15th, 1992Kyle Brady, TE, 9th, 1995Chicago BearsDavid Terrell, WR, 8th, 2001 - 11It took the Bears a decade to recover from drafting David Terrell and finally find a quality wide receiver. Curtis Enis warrants consideration but he dealt with injuries. Terrell totaled 1,602 yards in his career with the Bears.Notable:Michael Haynes, DE, 14th, 2003Gabe Carimi, OL, 29th, 2011Stan Thomas, T, 22nd, 1991Rashan Salaam, RB, 21st, 1995Curtis Ennis, RB, 5th, 1998Cade McCown, QB, 12th, 1999Atlanta FalconsJamaal Anderson, DE, 8th, 2007Really rolling with recent guys here — we'll take another in Jamaal Anderson, the 8th overall pick in 2007. He totaled 4.5 sacks in four seasons for Atlanta, who now finds itself consistently lacking in terms of a pass rush. Patrick Willis and Marshawn Lynch both went in the next five picks. Notable:Steve Broussard, RB, 20th, 1990Bruce Pickens, DB, 3rd, 1991Michael Booker, DB, 11th, 1997New York GiantsRon Dayne, RB, 11th, 2000The Giants had a surprisingly terrible stretch in the 90's where they struggled to find talent in the first round. It really all culminated with the selection of Ron Dayne 11th overall in 2000. The mammoth running back from Wisconsin didn't have his talent translate to the next level and rushed for a total of 2,067 yards with the Giants. Notable:Derek Brown, TE, 14th, 1992Thomas Lewis, WR, 24th, 1997Cedric Jones, DE, 5th, 1996William Joseph, DT, 25th, 2003St. Louis RamsJason Smith, OT, 2nd, 2009The 2009 draft is one of the true stinkers in NFL history. Tons of teams whiffed on players, but few were as bad as Jason Smith, the mammoth tackle drafted by St. Louis who could never adapt to the pro game. There are some pretty terrible Rams' first-round picks, especially in the last decade. Minnesota VikingsTroy Williamson, WR, 7th, 2005Quasi-dogfight here between Christian Ponder (12th overall in 2011) and Troy Williamson (7th overall in 2005), but the wideout wins this battle. Dude had 1,067 yards for his career and was picked four spots ahead of DeMarcus Ware. The Vikings had Daunte Culpepper so they passed on Aaron Rodgers too.Notable:Christian Ponder, QB, 12th, 2011Derrick Alexander, DE, 11th, 1995 Kenechi Udeze, DE, 2004, 20th, 2004
Cleveland whiffed in 2012 by drafting both Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden (above). (USATSI) Cleveland BrownsTrent Richardson, RB, 3rd, 2012Brandon Weeden, QB, 22nd, 2012Going Tim Couch and Courtney Brown back-to-back at No. 1 overall in 1999 and 2000 is pretty epic, but the winner here is the 2012 draft, which featured BOTH Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden. Richardson was 3rd overall so he gets the nod I guess. Digging through Cleveland's draft history is a factory of sadness. Notable:Tim Couch, QB, 1st, 1999Courtney Brown, DE, 1st, 2000New Orleans SaintsSedrick Ellis (7th, 2008) and Johnathan Sullivan (6th, 2003) get serious consideration, but how is it anyone other than Ricky Williams? Mike Ditka surrendered his entire draft to take a running back fifth overall. Can you imagine if someone did that today? They'd be fired on the spot. Williams had a great career but he only played three years for the Saints. Miami DolphinsTed Ginn, WR, 9th, 2007 Several high end options for the Dolphins but Ted Ginn, Jr., takes the cake. He's a heck of a returner, but you don't use top-10 picks on returners. Ginn caught all of 128 passes for Miami during his three-year stint with the Fins and was also taken ahead of Beast Mode and Willis. Darrelle Revis too! Notable:Jason Allen, DB, 16th, 2006Yatil Green, WR, 15th, 1997San Francisco 49ersJim Druckenmiller, QB, 26th, 1997Pretty good history for the 49ers with respect to their first-round picks. You don't see a bunch of guys who just totally wash out. And San Francisco hasn't really completely whiffed on a top-10 pick (J.J. Stokes?) over a pretty long stretch and has some real home runs in the last decade (plus a pair of whiffs). We'll give it Jim Druckenmiller based on name and position alone. Notable:A.J. Jenkins, WR, 30th, 2012Kentwan Balmer, DL, 29th, 2008Rashaun Woods, WR, 31st, 2004Houston TexansDavid Carr, QB, 1st, 2002Without even looking the clear answer is David Carr. Taken 1st overall ahead of Julius Peppers in the team's first draft, Carr was not a franchise passer, throwing 59 touchdowns and 65 interceptions with Houston. He did win a Super Bowl as a backup in New York though!San Diego ChargersRyan Leaf, QB, 2nd, 1998 - 1We can toss around Sammy Davis and Buster Davis (stop drafting wideouts with the last name Davis, San Diego!) and mention Larry English but no one's going to come close to Ryan Leaf, the 2nd overall pick in 1998, who only played three years in the NFL, two with San Diego. Slightly different career path than Peyton Manning. Kansas City ChiefsPercy Snow, LB, 13th, 1990 - 10Dogfight here between Ryan Sims, a top-10 pick in the 2002 draft who was more productive and Percy Snow, 13th overall in 1990, who played just two years for KC. We'll take Snow. Notable:Ryan Sims, DT, 6th, 2002Sylvester Morris, WR, 21st, 2000Buffalo BillsAaron Maybin, LB, 11th, 2009 - 5What an unmitigated disaster the 2009 NFL Draft was. The Bills pick that year is just another example. Aaron Maybin 11th overall was a train wreck. He lasted two years in Buffalo and never recorded a sack. Notable:Mike Williams, OL, 4th, 2002John McCargo, DL, 26th, 2006Philadelphia EaglesMike Mamula, DE, 7th, 1995 - 31Great stretch for the Eagles in the first round, both with Andy Reid and thus far with Chip Kelly. Some speed bumps, including Danny Watkins (23rd overall in 2011) but nothing as bad as Philly falling for the combine workout of Mike Mamula in 1995 and taking him 7th overall. The Eagles traded with the Buccaneers to get Mamula; Tampa drafted TWO Hall of Fame defenders (Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks) later in that round. Notable:Danny Watkins, OL, 23rd, 2011Bernard Williams, OL, 14th, 1994 Jerome McDougle, DE, 15th, 2003Cincinnati BengalsAkili Smith, QB, 3rd, 1999 - 1It's amazing how far the Bengals have come in terms of scouting and drafting players. It was an annual tradition in the 1990's for them to botch a high first-round selection. Now you expect them to do something savvy on the first night of the draft. In the span of five years, they used a top five pick on Ki-Jana Carter, Akili Smith and Peter Warrick. Smith has gotta be the worst of the selections but it's an incredible all-around list. Notable:David Klinger, QB, 6th, 1992Ki-Jana Carter, RB, 1st, 1995Peter Warrick, WR, 4th, 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers Huey Richardson, LB, 15th, 1991The Steelers are another one of those teams who typically hit pretty well on their picks, especially during the Kevin Colbert era. Huey Richardson, taken 15th overall in 1991, backdates the current GM and was out of football by 1993. His luck was a little better in his next professional career: Richardson was delayed from getting on the elevator to his Merrill Lynch office in the World Trade Center by his boss' decision to purchase collar stays from a lobby men's store on September 11, 2001. Notable:Troy Edwards, WR, 13th, 1999Detroit LionsCharles Rodgers, WR, 2nd, 2003Roy Williams, 7th, 2004
ForumVisual Realm2023-04-26T12:12:17-04:00
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