Top 10 Biggest NFL Draft Busts of the 2010s

As I've said before, the draft is a total gamble. Sometimes you strike gold. Other times, not so much.

While there have been fewer busts in recent years, there are still a few here and there. Whether due to injuries or off-the-field issues, some players have been plagued from the start.

The Top Ten

Johnny Manziel

Jonathan Paul Manziel is an American football quarterback who played for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Manziel was a standout college player, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012 while... read more

Who else could it be but Johnny Football? Cleveland took Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, 22nd overall in 2014. He apparently sent a text instructing Browns QB coach Dowell Loggains to "hurry up and draft me because I want to be there." In less than two years, he had checked himself into rehab, was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, and was ultimately released after two seasons and just 258 passes as a professional.
His last notable action was working on a comeback with recent stints in the CFL and the AAF. Long story short, he was essentially a troublemaker who couldn't stay out of trouble.
Dion Jordan

Selected as the 3rd overall pick in 2013 by the Dolphins, Dion Jordan made just one start for Miami. It would have been more, but he couldn't keep himself out of trouble with three drug suspensions in his first two seasons. He was released in 2016 after a failed physical and played three games in two seasons.
Justin Blackmon

Selected by the Jaguars in 2012 with the 5th overall pick, Justin Blackmon started off fine and led all rookie receivers with 865 yards. However, he was another player who couldn't get out of his own way. He was hit with drug suspensions in 2013 and has not played an NFL down since. Just an example of how drugs can really be a bad influence and derail a career.
Trent Richardson

Trenton Jamond Richardson (born July 10, 1990) is an American football running back best known for his college career at the University of Alabama. While at Alabama, he was recognized as an All-American and played on two BCS National Championship teams.... read more

Selected right after RG3 in the 2012 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Trent Richardson had a lot of hype surrounding him as some compared him to the likes of Adrian Peterson. His rookie season wasn't too bad, but the Browns simply gave up on him and shipped him off to Indianapolis. In his final two seasons, he rushed for barely over 1,000 yards and hasn't played in the NFL since 2014. He did play in the CFL and AAF, however.
Justin Gilbert

Picked 8th overall by the Browns in 2014, Justin Gilbert started just three games in two seasons before the Browns traded him to the Steelers for a sixth-round pick. The transition from Orange and Brown to Black and Gold didn't do much for him. Gilbert was suspended for the entire 2017 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy and hasn't played in the NFL since.
Dee Milliner

A first-round 9th overall selection by the NY Jets in 2013, Dee Milliner underwent right shoulder surgery the month before the draft. In the years to come, the former Alabama cornerback suffered several injuries, playing in just five games after his rookie season. He was released after his third season and never appeared in another NFL game. It wasn't necessarily his fault - just bad luck overall.
Christian Ponder

In 2011, the Vikings chose Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick to become the new young quarterback in the post-Favre era. He was the fourth quarterback taken that year, and Minnesota thought they had found their guy. To play it safe, they brought in veteran Donovan McNabb to guide the former Florida State quarterback and ensure he didn't fail during the transition to the NFL. Unfortunately, McNabb played poorly at the start, and Ponder wasn't much better.
Ponder did lead them to the playoffs in 2012 but missed out due to a triceps injury. After a disappointing 2013 season and a coaching change, the Vikings did not pick up Ponder's player option for his fifth year. He had short stints with the Raiders, Broncos, and 49ers but ultimately faded out of the league entirely by 2015.
Jake Locker

Originally, Jake Locker was projected as the top pick in the 2010 draft before deciding to return to Washington for his senior season. Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly a good season for him, but luckily it didn't hurt his stock too much, as he was still taken 8th overall by the Titans.
He played 23 games in four seasons but was eventually replaced by Zach Mettenberger. Locker retired after the 2014 season due to a lack of desire to keep playing.
Christian Hackenberg

Here's a guy who never even played an NFL down. The New York Jets selected Christian Hackenberg in the second round with the 51st pick. He mostly sat on the bench in the shadow of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, and Bryce Petty. He played in the preseason but never saw regular-season action for the Jets.
Hackenberg spent time on the roster of four NFL teams in three years and most recently struggled during his time as a starter in the now-defunct AAF.
Robert Griffin III

Robert Lee Griffin III, nicknamed RG3, is an American former football quarterback who played in the NFL.e was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Griffin later played for the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens... read more

The Washington Redskins sent a king's ransom to the Rams in order to trade up to draft RG3 with the 2nd overall pick. To be fair, he had a promising rookie campaign with a Pro Bowl selection and Offensive Rookie of the Year to top it off. However, things went downhill after that, and his career never recovered after a series of knee and shoulder injuries.

RG3 had a good rookie year, but it all went downhill from there.

The Newcomers

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Jameis Winston

Jameis L. Winston is an American football quarterback who signed with the New York Giants in March 2025 on a two-year, eight million dollar contract. He previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns. Winston earned a Pro Bowl selection during his rookie season... read more
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Sam Bradford

Samuel "Sam" Jacob Bradford is a former American football quarterback. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams as the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Bradford played college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2008 as a redshirt sophomore.... read more

The Contenders

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota is an American football quarterback currently serving as the backup quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2014 while playing for the University of Oregon. Mariota has previously played for the Tennessee Titans... read more

Marcus Mariota was overrated his first few years in the league. Now, finally, everybody realizes he isn't good.
Corey Coleman
Ereck Flowers

Ereck Flowers, born April 25, 1994, is a former offensive guard in the NFL. He played college football at Miami before being selected ninth overall in the 2015 draft by the New York Giants ... read more
Luke Joeckel
Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan Javell Cooper was born on January 19, 1990, and is a former professional football guard. He played in the National Football League after being selected seventh overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2013 NFL Draft. Cooper played college football at the University of North Carolina, where he... read more
Greg Robinson
Kevin White

Kevin Romone White Jr., born on June 25, 1992, is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at West Virginia, where he earned first-team All-American honors in 2014, and was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2015 NFL Draft.... read more

When you draft a wide receiver in the top 10, he's supposed to become a star. Unfortunately, Kevin White never saw the end zone because of injuries.
Vernon Hargreaves III