Top 10 Biggest NFL Busts of All Time

This is one for those that were highly touted coming out of college and fell flat once they got the big money.
The Top Ten
1 Ryan Leaf - No 2 to Chargers in 1998 Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons. He was selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft after only Peyton Manning. He played for the San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle... read more

About 85% of America thought HE was better than PEYTON MANNING. Well let us look at what Manning did and what Leaf did. Well manning went to three SBs, has almost 70,000 passing yards, holds the single season passing td record, holds the career td mark, and well, isn't on this list. Leaf? Well, the Chargers got a a guy who had a 50 qb rating for his career, a retirement, and a jailbird

Without a doubt, the biggest bust EVER. One year wonder at Wash State, 5 year blunder in NFL.

I'm surprised that Cryin' Leaf doesn't have like 98% of the vote on this one. God, did he suck.

2 JaMarcus Russell - No 1 to Raiders in 2007

Just as bad on the field as Ryan Leaf, but the coaching staff kept wishing he would get better, then kept giving him numerous additional chances even though he was a lost cause.

3 Tony Mandarich - No 2 to Packers in 1989

He's the only Top 5 pick from the 1989 draft who's not in the hall of fame. The others? Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and Derrick Thomas.

As a Packer he was the biggest offensive line bust of all time. Though he DID become a decent guard for the Colts.

And Troy Aikman and Derrick Thomas. Boy ill bet the Packers feel stupid.

Big guy big bust. Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders went in that draft.

4 Johnny Manziel - No 22 to Browns in 2014
5 Tim Couch - No 1 to Browns in 1999

In his defense, Browns were expansion team but faltered badly and was recently released by Jags.

He went to the '99 Browns, I don't know hat you want from him.

6 Lawrence Phillips - No 6 to Rams in 1996

This running back couldn't stay out of trouble. He was cut in the middle of his second season, spent a year in Spain, missed a block that ended Steve Young's career, wound up in Canada, and now he's rotting away in jail. And to think the Rams gave up on Jerome Bettis! They passed on Eddie George and Ray Lewis for a criminal.

7 David Carr - No 1 to Texans in 2002

He kept getting sacked because of a weak offensive line. If Tony Boselli (who was a very good pass blocker) hadn't suffered a career-ending injury and actually played for Houston David Carr would be lower on this list.

His a lot like Tim Couch, both were to have expectations for being brought in these new expansion teams to lead. Hey everyone knows who Derek Carr is, Does anyone recognize David Carr anymore?

Same as Couch..4 bad years and a ton of sacks and for his troubles landed in Carolina.

8 Joey Harrington - No 3 to Lions in 2002

Although to be fair, he played for Matt Millen, and none of the other QBs from that draft have gone on to anything spectacular.

9 Vernon Gholston - No 6 to Jets in 2008

Aw man, he never recorded a sack in his career. Pretty pathetic because he was a top-10 pick.

10 Kevin Allen - No 9 to Eagles in 1985

Played one TERRIBLE season, tested positive for cocaine, spent 33 months in jail for sexual assault, got banned from the NFL, and spent the rest of his days in the WLAF and Arena Football. And to think the Eagles passed on Jerry Rice!

The Contenders
11 Ki-Jana Carter - No 1 to Bengals in 1995
12 Brian Bosworth - Supp Draft to Seahawks in 1987
13 Kenneth Gameday Sims - No 1 to New England in 1982
14 Michael Vick - No 1 to Falcons in 2001

Even when he played he was a terrible QB and the most overrated one in the league. Now he's in prison and if the Falcons had not traded their pick they could've gotten LT and Drew Brees. Just a horrible move. By the way how is Mario Williams on this list? He's a great player. Way better than Reggie Bush who is closer to a bust than Mario.

Vick was actually a spectacular athlete. He's possibly the reason why today's top passers are fast with cannon arms.

Just think that the Chargers had the NO 1 pick that year and traded the pick and got LT and Drew Brees. Vick's next stop is the US Bureau of Prisons.

15 Dimitrius Underwood - No 29 to Vikings in 1999

Never played a down with Vikes and mental issues killed his career.

16 Courtney Brown - No 1 to Browns in 2000
17 Charles Rogers - No. 2 to Lions in 2003
18 Brady Quinn - No 22 to Browns in 2007
19 Leo Hayden - No. 1 to Vikings in 1971

Star running back for Ohio State. Never gained a single yard for the Vikings. Played for St. Louis for 2 years and had a grand total of 17 yards for his NFL career.

20 Mario Williams - No 1 to Texans in 2006

And the Texans passed on Reggie Bush.

21 Jeff Okudah - No 3 to the Lions in 2020

Our most recent bust entry played a total of 10 games. I've seen his tape with the Lions and he is terrible in man coverage getting beat by the likes of Adams, Hopkins, Moore, and Samuel. Okudah has also had durability issues suffering two different injuries, and now he has a tougher one to come back from. The future certainly looks in doubt for being the highest corner taken in history. I would argue he is a bigger bust than Isaiah Wilson knowing who was on the board after him the Lions could have gone with instead.

22 Reggie Bush - No 2 to Saints in 2006 Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush Jr. is an American football running back who is currently on the Buffalo Bills roster.

He had a long, average career. More of a receiving back.

23 Rich Campbell - No 6 to Packers in 1980

I was afraid that history would repeat itself when the Packers drafter Aaron Rodgers.

24 Jahvid Best - No. 30 to Lions In 2010

Trade to 30 for this guy? Jahvid Best was suppose to be the next Barry Sanders, instead he had like 2 100 yard games, and could not be consistent enough to what Barry had done in the 90's. This pretty much marked the curse of finding a great quality running back for the Lions for quite sometime.

25 Cedric Benson - No 4 to Bears in 2005

Just think of the position the bears would be in if they still had Thomas Jones. Benson never ran for any yards and he's not even on the team anymore. It's actually probably a good thing they got rid of him. We need thomas jones!

Wow! To think we could have just kept Thomas Jones and traded Benson. Where's Benson now? O Yeah taking a breathalizer some where.

8Load More
PSearch List