NCAA College Football Beasts – To NFL Draft Day Busts

For every star player or diamond in the rough that is discovered leading up to and during the NFL College Draft there are just many apparent stars that just don’t pan out. Some of more memorable than others because of their pedigree or their hype and  high profiles they bring to the draft.

As an NFL team one thing you never want to be known as is the team that wasted a high draft pick on a “star” that didn’t shine.

NCAA Sugar Bowl Champion To NFL Draft Day Bust

Everyone has piled on QB JaMarcus Russell who was the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. While some of the blame for his total lack of production at the pro level has to be laid at his own feet, it’s not all his fault.

The Raiders, his agent, the NFL and the entire football system had a hand in his demise. First off; zany Al Davis and the Raiders should not have drafted Russell first overall…..period! Second, his agent had him hold out and miss valuable learning time in a system that has a very steep learning curve. Third he went into a system in Oakland that was a mess and he had a very weak supporting cast around him.

The NFL and internet sites like NFL.com hyped and pumped this kid up so much that he almost had to forgo his senior year and enter the draft. His contract was worth $61 million and $32 million of it was guaranteed. So what did the Raiders get for their money? In three seasons Russell had a record of 7-18 as a starter so some quick math gives you a $8.71 million per win answer. Great money if you can get it!

Quarterback Conundrum Heats Up Before The 1998 NFL College Draft

Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were the consensus top two picks in the 1998 NFL Draft. The Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick while the San Diego Chargers had the third overall pick. Thinking whichever QB the Colts didn’t take would be their QB of the future the Chargers traded the farm to the Arizona Cardinals to move up from the third to the second pick. Wrong!

The Colts, who are always shrewd operators at the Draft, decided on Manning and left Leaf to wilt with the Chargers. They then turned around and signed him to a $31.25 million dollar contract with a (then record) $11.25 million dollar signing bonus before he played a down in the NFL.

With an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean; Leaf was a bad fit in San Diego from the start. Shortly there after, due to a lack of dedication on Leaf’s part, the injuries starting mounting. Leaf’s entire NFL playing career consisted of 25 games with 21 starts. Ha managed to complete just 315 of his 655 pass attempts while throwing 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Ouch!

Detroit Rolls Out The Red Carpet For Draft Day Busts

From 2002 through 2005 the Detroit Lions were the laughing stock of the league on Draft Weekend. They selected QB Joey Harrington (RD 1 – 3rd OA) in 2002, WR Charles Rodgers (RD 1 – 2nd OA) in 2003, WR Roy Williams (RD 1 – 7th OA) in 2004 and WR Mike Williams (RD 1 – 10th OA) in 2005. So let’s see; they were wrong, wrong, tried hard, wrong.

Harrington is looking for a job, Rodgers is in rehab (we hope), R. Williams is a WR3 in Dallas and M. Williams is trying to rejuvenate his career with the Seahawks.

In the end though Matt Millen, as the Lions President and CEO from 2000 until 2008, was the “architect” responsible for all of those moves and is therefore himself the biggest Draft Day bust ever!