Top 10 NFL Draft Busts
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10. QB Akili Smith ( Bengals) No. 3 pick
In 1999, five QBs were taken in the first 12 picks. Among that group was Oregon's Akili Smith. After Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb were taken with the first two picks, the Bengals had the third selection and turned down an offer from the Saints that would have given them nine draft picks and took Smith instead. He failed miserably.
Smith lasted four years and only started 17 games while throwing for 2,212 passing yards, 5 TDs, 13 Int, with a 52.8 QB rating before being released in 2002. Smith's awfulness didn't just stop in the NFL. He took his lack of talents to the Canadian football league and was released in 2007.
(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
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9. LB Aundray Bruce (Falcons) No. 1 pick of 1988 NFL Draft
Bruce was supposed to be the next Lawrence Taylor according to scouts. He was more like Martin Lawrence. Despite tearing it up at Auburn, Bruce only racked up 42 starts 264 tackles, 32 sacks, no Pro Bowls in his 11 seasons in the league. What makes this pick painful for Falcons fans is that 11 Pro Bowlers were taken in the first 15 picks of that draft. Among that group was Neil Smith, Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe, Keith Jackson, and Michael Irvin.
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8. QB Heath Shuler (Redskins) No. 3 pick of 1994 NFL Draft
This is hands down one of the most unique stories of a bust. After finishing as the runner-up in the Heisman during his days of stardom for the Tennessee Volunteers, Shuler was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 1994 draft. After a long holdout his rookie year that resulted in poor play on the field, Shuler found himself in a QB controversy. No, not with a long time veteran but a 7th round pick and fellow rookie, Gus Frerotte. You know you're a bust when you lose the starting job to a 7th round pick from the same draft. Shuler would throw for 3,691 yards, 15 TDs and 33 INTs in his career before retiring.Shuler went on to become a successful politician and served in Congress. Like most politicians mentality, if you're going to suck at something then why not suck for America?D.C. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT
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7. QB Art Schlicter (Colts) No. 4 pick of 1982 NFL Draft
This guy is one of the few who was actually banned from the NFL. Its not cause of his putrid career stats of 3 TDs, 11 INTs, and 42.6 QB rating. No, its because of his ridiculous gambling addiction. Midway through his rookie season, he blew his entire signing bonus. From 1982-1983, Schlicter had over $700,00 in gambling debts. He would eventually face the same fate as Pete Rose and be banned from the league.
(Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
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6. RB Lawrence Phillips (Rams) No. 6 pick of 1996 NFL Draft.
If there was a Hall of Fame for beating women, Phillips would get a first ballot induction. Phillips, a stud running back out of Nebraska, was arrested for beating his ex girlfriend while in college. He served a small suspension and was re-instated. Despite continuous character issues, he still managed to get drafted 6th by the Rams, who thought so highly of him, that they traded away Jerome Bettis to make room. Phillips couldn't resist beating women while in his short tenure with the Rams, and as a result spent over three weeks in jail.
It only took two years for the Rams to get sick of him and release him. Phillips played one more year in the NFL before being out of the league for good. If you would like to watch him play these days, you can visit Kern Valley State Prison; where is serving a 31 year prison sentence for...you guessed it; assault among other things.
(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
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5. LB Brian 'The Boz' Bosworth (Seahawks) Supplemental draft in 1987
No one knew how to hype themselves quite like The Boz did. Bosworth was easily one of the best players in college football history. He was flashy, charismatic, rocked a mullette, trash talked, and once challenged the NCAA while at Oklahoma, serving a suspension for steroids, by wearing a t-shirt that said "National Communists Against Athletes." It got him kicked off the team. He had swagger for better or worse.
The hype machine didn't stop at the pro level but the productivity sure did. Bosworth only played 24 games while only recording four sacks in his short career and eventually was forced to retire early into the 1989 season due to chronic shoulder injuries. Bosworth will be known for two things when all is said and done. First; is the play on Monday Night Football when Bo Jackson just steamrolled him at the goal line and his action movie career that followed. Anyone see Bosworth's Stone Cold? Do yourself a favor and watch that. It will put hair on your chest.
(Photo by Rob Brown/Getty Images)
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4. OT Tony Mandarich (Packers) No. 2 pick of 1989 NFL Draft
Sports Illustrated called this guy "the best offensive line prospect ever." In the 1989 draft, the Packers choose Mandarich ahead of Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Eric Metcalf. That pick still haunts the cheese heads. Mandarich was more into steroids than football and flamed out with the Pack. According to his bio, he struggled with a major pain pill addiction before turning his life around and having three decent seasons in Indianapolis. He ended his career blocking for a rookie Peyton Manning.
(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
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3. WR Charles Rogers (Lions) No. 2 pick of 2003 NFL Draft
Charles Rogers was supposed to be the next Randy Moss but ended up being a colossal bust for the Lions in a long string of wide receivers that flopped in Motown. Rogers struggled during his three year career with injuries, drug use, and arrests Rogers combined for 440 receing yards, four TDs, and only played in 15 games. Guess which wide out was picked third right behind Rogers? The Texans' Andre Johnson. Ouch! Rogers is easily the worst wide receiver draft pick in draft history.
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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2. QB JaMarcus Russell (Raiders) No. 1 pick of 2007 NFL Draft
This 300 pound quarterback caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, after an incredible performance in the Sugar Bowl for LSU and scouts could not ignore the impressive feat of Russell throwing a football 70 yards from his knees. So the silver and black used their top pick on the 6'6'' 300 pound QB and bypassed current NFL stars Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, and Adrian Peterson. That pick ended up setting the organization back even further. Russell didn't have the work ethic to play at the pro level and lasted only three seasons, passing for only 18 TDs, 23 INTs, and fumbling 22 times.
In 2009, Russell's last season in the NFL, he finished with the lowest quarterback rating, lowest completion percentage, fewest passing touchdowns, and fewest passing yards among quarterbacks in the NFL. Russell was released after that season and a year later, was arrested on codeine possession.
He is currently losing weight and trying to make a comeback to the NFL.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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1. QB Ryan Leaf (Chargers) No. 2 pick of 1998 NFL Draft
Who else could it possibly be? Ryan Leaf is the biggest bust in any pro sport. Looking back 15 years later, its amazing that there was a huge debate on who the Colts should take with the first pick of the draft; Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? In hindsight, that is like saying "Would you like to be a billionaire or get fed to a shark?"
Leaf's hard partying and attitude irked management and teammates and was on a downward spiral fast. Ryan Leaf's rookie season consisted of 2 passing TDs and 15 INTs. The lowest point in that rookie season was against the Chiefs, where Leaf was 1 of 15, 4 yards, and five turnovers It never got any better during his three year career. He completed only 48.4% of his passes, 14 TDs and 36 INTs and only 4 wins.
He will forever be remembered for his aggressive meltdown on camera after being questioned by a San Diego reporter.
(Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
