Today marks the much-anticipated 2024 NFL Draft. It is a time where teams will make crucial selections to shape their future rosters. A time when fans of downtrodden teams can look hopefully to the future.
But the flip side is that some teams will end up with draft busts.
Here are some of the worst NFL draft picks of all time in no particular order:
Akili Smith – QB, Cincinnati Bengals (1999, No. 3 overall pick)
Akili Smith was a highly touted quarterback prospect in the 1999 NFL Draft.
He was selected as the third overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, following a standout senior season at the University of Oregon.
Smith’s pre-draft hype was substantial, fueled by his impressive college performances and his combination of size, athleticism, and arm strength, which were considered exceptional for a quarterback at that time.
Smith’s NFL career, however, was marked by inconsistency and a lack of development, leading to his quick exit from the league.
He played just 22 games for the Bengals, throwing for just over 2,200 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also fumbled 13 times in his short-lived career and had a passer rating of just under 53.
Tony Mandarich – OT, Green Bay Packers (1989, No. 2 overall pick)
Tony Mandarich experienced significant pre-draft hype in 1989, being touted as one of the best offensive line prospects ever. This hype was fueled by his impressive physical attributes and performance at Michigan State University, where he was a standout player.
He was known for his massive size, strength, and speed, which led many to believe he would revolutionize the offensive line in the NFL.
Sports Illustrated featured Mandarich on its cover with the headline “The Incredible Bulk,” highlighting his physical prowess and the high expectations surrounding him.
His career with the Packers, though, seemingly ended the moment it began. He would be released in 1992 by Green Bay and returned between 1996 and 1998 with the Indianapolis Colts.
Questions arose around Mandarich’s use of steroids as being a possible reason for his spectacular downfall.
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Brian Bosworth – LB, Seattle Seahawks (1987, Supplemental draft)
Brian Bosworth, known as “the Boz,” was a highly touted linebacker prospect from the University of Oklahoma. He won the Dick Butkus Award in back-to-back seasons in 1985 and 1986 as the best linebacker in college football. He was also named a unanimous All-American those two years.
Bosworth was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft, which was a testament to the high expectations surrounding him.
He signed a 10-year contract with the Seahawks worth $11 million, which was the largest contract in team history at that time.
His outspoken comments and antics made him a wild character in the same vein as a Jim McMahon.
Bosworth lasted just three seasons with the Seahawks (24 games) registering a paltry 4 career sacks. His career was cut short due to a shoulder injury.
He was picked by voters as the third-worst flop on the Biggest Flops of the Last 25 Years list by ESPN in 2004.
Ryan Leaf – QB, Los Angeles Chargers (1998, No. 2 overall pick)
Ryan Leaf was a highly touted quarterback prospect in the 1998 NFL Draft. Remarkably, he was considered alongside Peyton Manning as a potential top pick, with significant debates on who should be selected first overall.
Leaf, a 6-5, 245-pound quarterback with a big arm, led Washington State to a No. 9 ranking in the final 1997 regular-season AP poll.
He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy after his junior year.
Poor play and bad behavior contributed to an early exit from the Chargers franchise. Leaf’s first season saw him throw just 2 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions. He had a dreadful quarterback rating of 39.0.
Leaf would improve ever so slightly in 2000 but still tossed significantly more picks than touchdowns. He would have a brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys a year later.
Overall, Leaf had a record of 4-17 as a starting quarterback in the NFL, and he threw 14 touchdowns to 36 interceptions. He is often considered the biggest overall bust in draft history.
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JaMarcus Russell – QB, Oakland Raiders (2007, No. 1 overall pick)
JaMarcus Russell experienced significant pre-draft hype in 2007, being selected as the first overall pick by the Oakland Raiders. This hype was fueled by his impressive physical attributes, including his size, arm strength, and mobility – a prototype, it seemed, for the quarterback of the future.
Russell’s college career at LSU was also a major contributing factor to his draft hype, as he showcased his abilities to make big plays and perform under pressure. He won the Manning Award as a junior en route to becoming the MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl.
However, despite the tremendous pre-draft hype, Russell’s professional career did not live up to expectations. He struggled with work ethic, injuries, and off-field issues, leading to his quick exit from the NFL.
After a mediocre first season as a starter in 2008, Russell flopped significantly in 2009, posting a quarterback rating of 50.0, with 3 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Russell was famously given blank film tapes to bring home to study so the coaching staff could see if he was actually viewing them. He would return to practice the next day saying he had studied the film.
JaMarcus frequently struggled to stay in game shape, weighing in at over 300 lbs at various points, and earning him the nickname JaWalrus Ruffles. (Okay, that’s just what me and my friends called him).
Russell’s number 1 overall selection combined with his seeming lack of commitment often land him at the very top of the list of the worst NFL draft picks of all time.