Top 11 Opinion List -
Biggest First-Round Draft Busts ('90 - present)
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1
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Ryan Leaf, San Diego, QB, Draft Class of 1998,
Pick #2: Leaf or Manning? Manning or Leaf? For
many, it was a toss-up heading into the '98 NFL
Draft. But it couldn't have turned out much more
lopsided...37,586 yds and counting vs. 3,666 yds,
64% completion pct vs 48.4%, etc. I suppose you
can't blame the Chargers since they only took the
QB that was left at #2. Fortunately, the Chargers
appear on this list again involving a Manning, but
this time it worked in their favor. Click here for a
YouTube video of his infamous "Don't talk to me"
outburst...
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2
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Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati, Class of 1995, #1:
Ki-Jana is one of 6 RBs taken in the Top 3 overall
since 1990. Aside from Reggie Bush (taken 2nd
overall last year), none have fewer career rushing
yards than Carter (including Blair Thomas, a fellow
Nittany Lion RB and member of this list). In fact,
Ronnie Brown (taken 2nd overall in '05) has
already passed him by about 800 yds and has
only been in the league for 2 seasons.
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3
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Dan McGwire, Seattle, Class of 1991, Pick #16: Of
the 37 QBs taken in the Top 25 picks of the 1st
Round since 1990, no QB has fewer yards passing
than McGwire except for Aaron Rodgers (in his 3rd
season backing up Favre). In fact, if his brother
hadn't retired from baseball, he may have hit
more HRs than Dan has yards passing (745 yds).
Todd Marinovich, another bust, was taken 8 picks
later in the same draft as McGwire, but passed for
600 more yds in his career.
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4
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Charles Rogers, Detroit, Class of 2003, Pick #2:
Between injuries and other issues, Rogers has
tallied only 36 career receptions, which is 1
reception less than the Lions 1st-round choice in
'05 (another flop - at least so far). The Lions
hope their #2 overall pick and "can't-miss"
prospect Calvin Johnson doesn't "miss" like
Rogers has.
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5
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Blair Thomas, Jets, Class of 1990, #2 - As the first
RB taken in a draft where the all-time leading
rusher Emmitt Smith was taken as the 2nd back
with pick 17 by the Cowboys, Thomas perhaps has
an unfair comparison. Even if Emmitt were taken
1st overall, one would expect more production
than 2236 career rushing yards from a player
selected 2nd overall. His best season was his 2nd
when he rushed for 728 yards and 3 TDs on 189
carries.
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6
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Akili Smith, Cincinnati, Class of 1999, #3: Of all
QBs selected Top 3 overall since 1990, Akili has
the fewest career yards passing (2212). The
player selected between Donovan McNabb and
Edgerrin James in the '99 Draft, Akili has recently
signed a contract to play in the CFL for Calgary.
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7
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Steve Emtman and Quentin Coryatt, Indianapolis,
Class of 1992, #1 and #2: When you have the 1st
and 2nd overall pick in the same draft and you
take a DE and LB, you expect them to be the
foundation of your defense for years to come.
Partly due to injuries, this 1-2 punch ended up
with only 16.5 career sacks combined, 1/2 more
than Dwight Freeney had in 2004. Emtman
racked up 8 in 6 years and Coryatt 8.5 in 7 years.
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8
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Curtis Enis, Chicago, Class of 1998, #5: Until Larry
Johnson and Elton Brand, Penn State RBs and
Duke basketball players suffered the same fate.
College success that never translated into pro
success. Perhaps Enis can blame fate, but Enis
ended up with only 1497 career rushing yards. 5
players rushed for more yards last season alone
including Penn St. alum Larry Johnson.
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9
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Todd Marinovich, Oakland, Class of 1991, #24:
Groomed to be the "perfect" QB, Marinovich was
no where close to being perfect in any sense of
the word. With only 1,345 career passing yards,
Marijuanavich had his share of off-the-field
problems as well.
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10
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Eli Manning, New York Giants (acquired through
trade with SD), Class of 2004, Pick #1: The first
time the Chargers were involved with a Manning
on draft day, they got the short end of the stick
(no pun intended) after the Colts selected Peyton
and the Chargers by default selected Leaf. This
time Eli refused to sign with SD, who had the #1
overall pick, which was a blessing in disguise.
In the draft-day trade with the Giants, the
Chargers got in return Pro Bowler Philip Rivers
(developing into a better NFL QB than Eli)
not-to-mention LB Shawne Merriman and K Nate
Kaeding, who were also 2006 AFC Pro Bowlers.
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11
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Adam Jones, Tennessee, Class of 2005, Pick #6:
Unlike most others on this list, "Pacman" didn't
make the list because of his on-the-field
performance (or lack thereof). In his 2nd season
(2006), Pacman had 4 INTs (tied for 12th among
CBs) that he returned for 130 yds (5th among
CBs). As a PR, he led the league with an average
of 12.9 yds/return and tied Devin Hester for the
league lead with 3 PR TDs.
Of course, he also led the league in off-the-field
transgressions. In an effort to save a "cyber
tree", I won't list them here, but there's the
possibility that he will never return to the NFL
because of what he's done off the field. For now,
that risk lands him at 11 on our list, but the jury
is still out on whether he should remain on our
list...literally.
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