The 10 Worst Draft Classes in NFL History
My top choice has got to be the '92 draft. Name me a player in the first round that was good and lasted a decade. This is one of the few drafts where the Colts owned both the 1st and 2nd selections, and both were used on defense. Both were epic misses, which sent the team spiraling and suffering in the '90s.
Stars: Jason Hanson (When a kicker is the only player who could be a future Hall of Famer, there's a problem here.)
Busts: Steve Emtman, Quentin Coryatt, David Klingler, Tommy Vardell, Eugene Chung, Derek Brown, Johnny Mitchell, and Tommy Maddox (who revived his career later but was still Denver's failed replacement for John Elway).
Another weak class, mostly because of competition with the USFL. The 1984 NFL supplemental draft included USFL stars (and Hall of Famers) Steve Young, Gary Zimmerman, and Reggie White.
Back to the main draft: #1 Irving Fryar had a nice, long career. Boomer was also solid. But almost everyone else failed to pan out. I barely recognize anyone in that class.
This draft has no Hall of Famers, but one that probably should be one day. The 1st round is filled with much unknown at the time.
Stars include Boomer Esiason.
Busts include Mossy Cade, Ricky Hunley, Jackie Shipp, Ron Faurot, Clyde Duncan, and David Lewis.
The draft that headlines the one they call Bo Jackson. Unfortunately for Bo, though, he screwed Tampa's future up and came back for Oakland instead.
Stars: Bo Jackson, Charles Haley
Busts: Anyone not named to the Pro Bowl (1st round)
Oh, now we get to cringe drafts, especially the '80s. There were some mostly bad ones like the '87 Draft, where there were way more busts than booms.
Stars include Vinny Testaverde, Rod Woodson, and Cris Carter (played for Vikings 3 years later, wow Philly).
Busts include Alonzo Highsmith, Mike Junkin, Kelly Stouffer, Reggie Rogers, Shawn Knight, Danny Noonan, D.J. Dozier, John Clay, John Bosa, Jason Buck, and of course The Boz Brian Bosworth.
The worst crop of the first round in any draft in history. Sorry, Herman Moore, my god, this draft class is just ugh.
Notable stars include Herman Moore, Brett Favre, and Aeneas Williams.
Notable busts: Anybody not named to the Pro Bowl, pretty much.
Before my time, and most of yours, I'd say. Only one Hall of Famer (Tony Dorsett) in a very forgettable draft class overall. No need to list all the busts since the majority of the class didn't last any longer than to fade away either quickly or in the '80s.
Notable highlights include the Vikings missing their pick, the first time ever in history.
Notable stars include Ed Reed, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Brett Keisel, and Brian Westbrook.
Notable busts include Joey Harrington, David Carr, Mike Williams (the first of Buffalo), Ryan Sims, Wendell Bryant, and Patrick Ramsey.
This class was pretty forgettable and disappointing. It's really saying something when a third-round journeyman (Josh McCown) had the longest career.
Only one Hall of Famer (Ed Reed) so far, though Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney should join him.
The second-worst first-round group of players I have ever seen. So bad that NFL Network refuses to show you that first round in its entirety. The only positive is how great some of the lower-end players are, who should have been taken within the first round. Stars include Sheldon Richardson, DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Rhodes, Lane Johnson, Travis Frederick, Zach Ertz, Darius Slay, Le'Veon Bell, Kawann Short, Travis Kelce, Keenan Allen, and David Bakhtiari.
Notable busts include: The top three selections, Picks 6-12, EJ Manuel, Jarvis Jones, Bjorn Werner, Datone Jones, and Matt Elam.
Rated the very worst ever by a DVOA analysis and by some other sources.
It's not a bad draft, but seeing the comparison to the other ones, what could I end up with? Moments include Donovan McNabb getting booed unfairly and Mike Ditka trading his entire stock of picks for Ricky Williams. And that's really it.
Notable stars include Edgerrin James, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey, and Antoine Winfield.
Notable blunders include Tim Couch and Akili Smith (two quarterbacks taken in the top three), Cade McNown (the 3rd bust QB in this draft), two 1st-round Lions busts, a pair of defensive linemen, and Matt Stinchcomb.
I may have to blame the strike this season for most of these players' bustdom. Half of the first round (including #1 Ken Sims and #4 Art Schlichter) was gone by 1990.
HOF players: Marcus Allen, Morten Andersen, Andre Tippett, Mike Munchak
Good players: Jim McMahon, Chip Banks, Jeff Bryant, Mike Quick, Steve Jordan, Gary Anderson (borderline HOF)
Misses: Ken Sims, Art Schlichter (compulsive gambler), Darrin Nelson (more of a return man), Lindsay Scott, Anthony Hancock
Another weak draft class, as half of the first round was gone by 2012. Aaron Rodgers, Frank Gore, and maybe DeMarcus Ware will be in the Hall of Fame.
Biggest busts: Troy Williamson, Matt Jones, Alex Barron, Travis Johnson, Mike Williams (WR from USC).
I have mixed feelings about this class.
Good news: The Steelers drafted four Hall of Famers (Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Jack Lambert). Tight end Dave Casper is the only other HOF player, though Randy Gradishar and Too Tall Jones are borderline.
On the other hand: Five of the top 10 picks didn't make it to the '80s, including all-rookie John Hicks.
Most of the top 10 is either a backup or out of the league by this point. Andrew Luck, Stephon Gilmore, and Luke Kuechly were the only true stars in the top 10.