The 10 Most Notorious NFL Draft Busts

In the realm of professional sports, the NFL draft stands as the most highly anticipated and scrutinized event of its kind. With seven rounds and round-by-round coverage, it is an enormous spectacle for NFL franchises. A successful draft can transform a team's future, but there are instances when the selections fail drastically. The following are the ten most infamous draft mistakes in history.

10. Rick Mirer (Notre Dame, QB – 1993 First Round, 2nd Overall Pick, Seattle Seahawks)

Rick Mirer compiled an impressive 19-7-1 record during his time at Notre Dame. In 1992, he led the Irish to a Sugar Bowl victory over Florida and earned co-MVP honors alongside teammate Jerome Bettis. There was significant debate over whether Drew Bledsoe or Mirer was the better prospect, a rivalry reminiscent of the Manning-Leaf debate that emerged later. Ultimately, Bledsoe was selected first overall by the New England Patriots, and Mirer followed as the second overall pick for the Seattle Seahawks. Although Mirer had a solid rookie year, ranking fifth in the AFC for passing, he soon fell into a pattern of underwhelming seasons. In 1995, he recorded just 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, and the next year, his numbers were even worse: 5 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Mirer's career ultimately stalled as he settled into a backup role, never to reach his initial potential.

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9. Tim Couch (University of Kentucky, QB – 1999 First Round, 1st Overall Pick, Cleveland Browns)

Tim Couch made waves in high school, setting national records for completions, passing yards, touchdowns, and passing accuracy. Considered the top quarterback prospect since John Elway almost two decades earlier, Couch's college career at Kentucky further bolstered his reputation with numerous record-breaking performances. Like many draft busts, he declared for the draft early and was selected first overall by the newly reformed Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, Couch’s career was marked by inconsistency, despite posting 64 touchdowns in 62 games. After being benched and released by the Browns, Couch attempted to follow in Brett Favre's footsteps in Green Bay, but his efforts amounted to little. Recently, it's come to light that Couch reportedly used HGH, a substance banned by the NFL.

[Wikipedia]

8. Curtis Enis (Penn State, RB – 1998 First Round, 5th Overall Pick, Chicago Bears)

As the starting running back for Penn State, Curtis Enis combined the power of a bruising back with the agility of a speedster. Widely regarded as the top running back prospect in the 1998 draft, he went on to play three seasons and 34 games in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. Enis had one solid season, where he played 15 games, ran for 287 attempts, gained 916 yards, and scored five touchdowns. Reportedly, Enis rejected a six-year, $18 million rookie deal to sign a three-year, $5.5 million contract, with the idea that he could secure a bigger contract after proving himself. Unfortunately, by the end of his third year, Enis was out of the NFL.

[Wikipedia]

7. Jeff George (Illinois, QB – 1990 First Round, 1st Overall Pick, Indianapolis Colts)

Jeff George's career was marked by controversy both in college and the NFL. After originally committing to Purdue, he transferred when coach Leon Burtnett was let go. George briefly attended the University of Miami, but left when coach Jimmy Johnson wouldn’t guarantee him the starting role. He then moved to the University of Illinois, where he played for two years. After declaring for the draft early, George was selected as the first overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts, his hometown team. He signed the richest rookie contract in NFL history at the time. However, his tenure with the Colts was filled with disputes with the coaching staff and the fans, leading to a trade to the Atlanta Falcons. While George had some success with the Falcons, conflicts with the head coach led to another trade, this time to the Oakland Raiders. His peak years came with the Raiders, but controversy followed again in 1998 when he unexpectedly announced he was done for the season after a groin injury, unbeknownst to the team. Although his career stats were better than most others on this list, his constant feuds and failure to lead his teams to success earned him the label of a bust.

[Wikipedia]

6. Ki-Jana Carter (Penn State, RB – 1995 First Round, 1st Overall Pick, Cincinnati Bengals)

While many running backs from Penn State have had underwhelming careers, none were as infamous as Ki-Jana Carter, the top overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft. Carter is often cited as one of the biggest draft disappointments in history. A college star, Carter had a spectacular game against Michigan State, running for 227 yards and 5 touchdowns in a single contest. Despite leaving college early, he remains among the top ten rushing leaders in Penn State history, finishing his career with 2,829 yards on 341 carries and 38 touchdowns. However, disaster struck early in his NFL career: on his first carry in his first preseason game, Carter tore his ACL. He was never able to recover his former power and speed, and ultimately became no more than a backup.

[Wikipedia]

5. Lawrence Phillips (Nebraska, RB – 1996 First Round, 6th Overall Pick, St. Louis Rams)

Lawrence Phillips was a standout running back at Nebraska, showcasing a mix of power, speed, and big-play potential. However, his career was marred by legal issues. As a professional, Phillips struggled to live up to expectations and became a major distraction for his team. He frequently avoided team meetings and faced multiple arrests for assault and domestic violence. Over the course of four seasons in the NFL, he averaged a modest 41 yards per game. After his football career ended, Phillips was convicted of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

[Wikipedia]

4. Akili Smith (Oregon, QB – 1999 First Round, 3rd Overall Pick, Cincinnati Bengals)

Akili Smith rose quickly up the draft boards in 1999 after an impressive senior year at Oregon and a strong pre-draft workout. Many believed his potential far exceeded that of any other quarterback in the draft. However, the pre-draft hype might have been his downfall, as he never managed to meet those lofty expectations. During his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, he threw only 5 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. After being released by the Bengals in 2002, Smith attempted to join the Green Bay Packers but was cut before the season started. He has recently been playing in the Canadian Football League.

[Wikipedia]

3. Art Schlichter (Ohio State, QB – 1982 First Round, 4th Pick Overall, Baltimore Colts)

Art Schlichter was a standout player in college, nearly leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in his final season. Expectations were high for Schlichter to continue that success in the NFL. However, his promising career took a dark turn due to his addiction to gambling. In 1983, the NFL suspended Schlichter after his massive gambling debt was revealed. By 1985, the Baltimore Colts released him. Schlichter’s criminal record includes over 20 felonies, and he holds the unfortunate distinction of having been incarcerated more than 30 times.

[Wikipedia]

2. Tony Mandarich (Michigan State, OT – 1989 First Round, 2nd Pick Overall, Green Bay Packers)

Before Ryan Leaf became infamous, Tony Mandarich was often regarded as the ultimate NFL draft bust. He remains one of the top two. After a remarkable senior season where he earned First-Team All-American honors, Big Ten Lineman of the Year, and an Outland Trophy finalist spot, he was widely considered the best lineman prospect in recent memory. Mandarich was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but his signing was delayed as he held out and only agreed to a four-year contract just before the season began. During his rookie year, he contributed mainly on special teams. Known for his poor attitude and suspected steroid use, he was released by the Packers after his third season. Mandarich went on to play three more seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, but his performance was unremarkable at best. What made the selection of Mandarich particularly painful for the Packers was that some of the players drafted right after him – Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders – all went on to have stellar careers.

[Wikipedia]

1. Ryan Leaf (Washington State, QB – 1998 First Round, 2nd Overall Pick, San Diego Chargers)

Back in 1998, Ryan Leaf seemed destined for greatness. Many believed he could even be the top pick in the NFL Draft, surpassing Peyton Manning, a standout from Tennessee. Leaf had an impressive college career, becoming a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, earning first-team All-American honors, and being named the PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He decided to skip his senior year and declare for the draft. The Indianapolis Colts went with Manning as the first overall pick, but the San Diego Chargers traded up to secure Leaf at number 2. In exchange, they gave up their first and second-round picks and two players. Leaf signed a lucrative 4-year, $31.25 million contract, which included a guaranteed signing bonus of $11.25 million. Unfortunately, his brash attitude quickly alienated teammates, and after just two seasons with the Chargers, his career ended with a disappointing 13 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.

[Wikipedia]

Contributor: Jason Hirschhorn

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