of All-Time.1. JaMarcus Russell - First overall pick in 2007, missed training camp and the start of the 2007 season before finally being awarded a silly $68M contract. After years of exhibiting deplorable work ethic (and eating habits), JaMarcus would constantly have weight issues and have an enormous body that could possibly lend him to be a serviceable offensive lineman rather than quarterback. After bringing in Jason Campbell from Washington, Oakland has officially cut Russell loose... but not after costing themselves a staggering $39M in the process.
2. Ryan Leaf - Nearly all "Top NFL Draft Busts" lists prior to 2010 will have Leaf at the top. Like Russell, Leaf also got paid the most guaranteed money at his time. After 4 seasons with 4 different teams, Leaf left the NFL with some amazingly bad career stats: 3,666 passing yards, 14-36 TD-INT (!), and a QB rating of 50.0.
3. Tony Mandarich - "The Best Offensive line prospect ever", per the April 24, 1989 issue of Sports Illustrated. Sandwiched between two future Hall of Famers (Troy Aikman and Barry Sanders), Mandarich was drafted 2nd overall in the '89 NFL Draft by the Packers only to be a contract hold-out for nearly the entire 1989 season. He would only last 2 more years in Green Bay before being cut for being a terrible football player.
4. Lawrence Phillips - Thug extraordinaire. When Phillips wasn't struggling to get playing time throughout his NFL/NFL Europe/CFL career he was busy skipping team meetings, assaulting women in nightclubs, and constantly making an ass of himself by arguing with his head coaches. On the field he is best known for missing a crucial block on Aeneas Williams that would promptly end Steve Young's career. After his pro football career was over he would continue to be a gentleman of virtue by running over teenagers with his car, and choking women. Eventually Lawrence Phillips would finally find a place where he truly belongs. Prison.
5. The Boz - Known more for stupid hairstyles than actually being a good football player.
Brian Bosworth actually wrote letters to football teams prior to the 1987 Supplemental Draft informing them that if they were to draft him he simply would not show up. Then after receiving the richest rookie contract (10-years, $11M) at the time, he would make his official entrance at the Seattle Seahawks training camp via helicopter. Perhaps the finest moment of his brief NFL career was promising to shut down Bo Jackson on Monday Night Football. The Boz was able to limit Bo's production to a mere 221 rushing yards, and just 3 touchdowns. Here is a highlight from that game.6. House Representative Heath Shuler (D - NC, 11th District) - 3rd overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, like several other busts he also held out of training camp due to contract negotiations. Heath's abortion of an NFL career would also be brief. After failing to beat out Gus Frerotte for the starting gig in Washington he would be traded to New Orleans where he would injure his foot and continue to do absolutely nothing of value in the NFL.
7. David Carr (and his stupid side-arm throw) - After leading Fresno State to an impressive 11-3 season his senior year, Carr was taken first overall in 2002 by the expansion Houston Texans. To his credit, he played behind a completely inept offensive line in becoming the most sacked quarterback in a single season in the NFL (76). Maybe it was all the sacks that ruined him. Maybe it was his retarded throwing motion. Or maybe he's just a bad NFL quarterback that Houston had absolutely no business drafting. Whatever it is, he cost the Texans a lot of money and football games.
8. Almost Every
Single First Round Pick the Cincinnati Bengals Made From 1992-2000 - Since the Cincinnati Bengals had so many consecutive busts in such a span of time, they all get to share the no 8 slot. Absolute gems include David Klinger (1992, 6th overall), John Copeland (1993, 5th overall), Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson (1994, 1st overall), Ki-Jana Carter (1995, 1st overall), Reinard Wilson (1997, 14th overall), Akili Smith (1999, 3rd overall), and Peter Warrick (2000, 4th overall). With drafts like these it is no wonder the Bengals were consistently drafting in the top 10.9. Penn State Runningbacks - Another shared slot, and one that shares a particular player from no 8. We start with Blair Thomas, drafted 2nd overall in the 1990 NFL draft by the Jets who's promising career was cut short due to injuries. Then we get the previously mentioned Ki-Jana Carter who tore his knee ligament in the first pre-season game of his rookie season (seriously, did God just hate the Bengals in the 90s?). Then we move along to Curtis Enis, who was forced into retirement early after only three seasons due to a degenerative condition in his left knee.
10. Charles Rogers - Rogers was drafted no. 2 overall in 2003, but collarbone injuries and smoking too much pot would greatly affect his promising career. In fact, just last month Charles was ordered by a judge to return $6.1M of his $9.1M signing bonus to the Lions due to his drug use being a violation of his contract. Yeah, good luck getting that back.
Honorable Mentions:
Steve Emtman - 1st overall pick in 1992, but like so many others, his career was cut short due to injuries.
Mike Williams - Tried to break the NFL Draft rules, and paid the price. Was drafted by the idiot Lions after missing an entire year of playing football. Still can't get on the field.
Vernon Gholston - Viewed as a guy who just refuses to put in the time and effort to succeed in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins Entire 2007 Draft - Exactly two players from this draft are still on the team today. One of them is a backup defensive end taken in the 4th round, the other is a 7th round punter.
Adam "PacMan" Jones - "nothing but a disaster off the field" - former Titans GM, Floyd Reese.
Tim Couch - 1st overall pick by the "expansion" Cleveland Browns. Failed to keep the starting job from Kelly Holcomb. Spent most of his pro career as a backup.
Rick Mirer - Ryan Leaf is to Peyton Manning as Rick Mirer is to Drew Bledsoe.
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