THE NFL OR BUST: Top 10 NFL Draft Busts of All-Time

The NFL is a dream job for most players and those players put in all the work necessary to make it to the highest level, but there are some who just think that talent alone will get them to the big show and they are proven wrong. From the little boys who have dreams of greatness to the grown men who find themselves wondering what happened the NFL is full of players who were thought to be great and yet fell so very short of expectations. In this article we will review some of the biggest NFL draft busts of all time; those who had amazing expectations thrust on them only to come through with amazing failure. Some of these men had all the talent in the world, they just didn’t want to work for the greatness and some just made bad decisions that led to their end in the league. So here we go, the 10 biggest NFL draft busts of all-time:

10. Rick Mirer

Drafted: Seahawks, 1993, Round 1, Pick 2

Mirer has hard times with the Seahawks. Despite starting all of Seattle's games in his rookie year and setting rookie records for attempts, completions and yards, he never reaches his full potential as he did at Notre Dame, where Mirer goes 29-7-1. The 1994 season is the only one in which Mirer throws more touchdowns than interceptions. Mirer plays with the 49ers and Raiders between 2000-2003, and is now out of football.

9. Steve Emtman

Drafted: Colts, 1992, Round 1, Pick 1

Steve Emtman coming out of college was touted as one of the “can’t miss prospect for the NFL” but Emtman in six seasons in the NFL only racks up 8 sacks. He was constantly injured and only plays with Indianapolis for three seasons and finishes each on the IR. He retires in 1997 at the age of 27.

8. Andre Ware

Drafted: Lions, 1990, Round 1, Pick 7

Ware had amazing stats at Houston University and became the first black quarterback to win the Heisman in 1989. The Lions drafted Ware to go with an amazing running back in hopes of turning the tide in Detroit but it did not happen. Over four years Ware just played in 14 games and only started six. After his stint in the NFL he tried his hand in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europe. Now he is a football analyst which has proven to be more successful than his run in the NFL.

7. Ki-Jana Carter

Drafted: Bengals, 1995, Round 1, Pick 1

A stellar running back out of Penn State University, Carter looked as though he was destined to have an amazing NFL career. For me this is a hard one to call a bust but when you are drafted number 1 there is a lot of expectation. Three plays, just three plays into his first preseason game Carter tears his ACL and he never can get back to form. Carter tallies over 1,000 yards in 10 seasons in the NFL which pales in comparison to when he was in college where he managed over 2,500 yards.

6. Courtney Brown

Drafted: Browns, 2000, Round 1, Pick 1

Cleveland fans remember this pick all too well, in the previous year the Browns draft the “run and gun” quarterback from Kentucky to lead the offense and then they draft Brown to anchor the defense and both are a wash. Brown had a good start in his rookie season with 4.5 sacks and 70 tackles but injuries sideline him and his career, he tears his ACL in 2006 and retires in 2007.

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5. Tim Couch

Drafted: Browns, 1999, Round 1, Pick 1

He was a strong armed quarterback with all the physical tools and he had great success at the University of Kentucky but success doesn’t travel well for some from college to the NFL. A mega bust, the QB failed to meet the hype, in five seasons he had 64 touchdown passes, 67 interceptions and 37 fumbles.

4. Tony Mandarich

Drafted: Packers, 1989, Round 1, Pick 2

One of the biggest and best offensive linemen to come out of college, while at Michigan State he was named Big Ten Lineman of the year two times, many said he was the best offensive lineman prospect ever, but that was as far as it went. He held out until the beginning of the season in 1989 and his first season he was mainly on special teams. He also admits to using steroids in college and is addicted to pain meds. After the 1991 season the Packers had enough and release him.

3. Charles Rogers

Drafted: Lions, 2003, Round 1 Pick 2

In college Rogers was being compared to Randy Moss and in the NFL he never fulfilled his expectations. Rogers was plagued by injuries and stupid decisions involving drugs. He had all the talent in the world but his work ethic was questioned and was released by the Lions. His troubles continued as he had battles with the law and again with substance abuse. In 2010 he was ordered to pay back 6.1 million of the 9.1 million he was given by the Lions.

2. Lawrence Phillips

Drafted: Rams, 1996, Round 1, Pick 6

Phillips was one of the most dominant running backs in Nebraska history, he led the Huskers to a national title and had a huge upside or so we thought. Phillips legal problems surpassed his talent after being drafted by the Rams he was cut after his second season, he could never escape the legal issues it seemed everywhere he went he was in trouble with the law. During his career he played for the Dolphins and 49ers and now he is in prison for assault serving a 10 year sentence.

1. Ryan Leaf

Drafted: Chargers, 1998, Round 1, Pick 2

So who would you take Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf in 1998 that was the debate. Leaf was 6’3”, 245 pounds and could throw the ball a mile while at Washington State but he never panned out in the NFL. In his first season he threw only 2 touchdowns and had 15 interceptions. And it never gets any better in his third game as a Charger he goes 1 for 15 and fumbles 3 times. He is then plagued with injuries and is released in 2000 and tries his hand in Dallas and that fails also. After retiring he joins West Texas A&M coaching staff as the QB coach and that even fails as he allegedly asks a player for pain pills and then shortly after leaves the school.

So there you have it the top 10 biggest NFL draft busts of all-time now there are some that didn’t make the list that very well could have. Don’t worry if they are not on our list we are sure they will be a list somewhere. We are always certain of one thing it will never end, there will always be players with amazing talent that have expectations to be great in the NFL but for some reason not put in the work or effort, find themselves in trouble with the law, or find themselves injury plagued and will come up short and will make our list.

By Sam Adams
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer