Mayra Madrigal
The NFL Draft has always been considered a party due to the fact that it brings together the best talent in college football, but mostly because of the surprises that usually take place during the selection. The expectation is always higher for first-round picks, as it is generally believed that this is where the franchises in the NFL usually choose their next “saviors”. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and sometimes this leads to disaster, since many of the top 32 picks fail to make it in the NFL.
No one is guaranteed success, and we know that success requires hard work, as well as a number of other factors, including luck.
Every NFL Draft and every season has taught us that not all that glitters is gold, so we took on the task of listing the 5 biggest flops in NFL Draft history.
1.- JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders
Maybe you were already picturing his name, didn’t you? JaMarcus Russell tops this list of the 5 biggest failures in NFL history, because so much hype was generated by his physique and numbers as an LSU quarterback that he was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
In his rookie season, he only started one game and things were already looking bad. The Raiders did not have much patience and cut the deal in 2010, as he only started 25 games in his three seasons and had a negative 7-18 record.
2.- Steve Emtman – Indianapolis Colts
Another story of failure in the NFL Draft was told by the Indianapolis Colts, who went by what the “experts” said and what they could appreciate about Steve Emtman during his college days. They used the first overall pick of the 1992 Draft on Washington’s Defensive End, who turned out to be a disappointment.
By the time they realized their mistake, it was too late. Emtman is only remembered for one play in a Colts vs. Dolphins game, as he made a 90-yard interception return; after that, his name was only on the injured reserve list.
3.- Ryan Leaf – San Diego Chargers
Judging from the outside is always easier and applies to everything, but… how does a player who was placed at Peyton Manning’s level end up being a bust in the NFL?
Yes, I’m talking about Ryan Leaf, who was selected by the San Diego Chargers with Pick #2 of the 1998 NFL Draft. The Washington State quarterback was being talked about prior to the draft and that led the Chargers to select him, as the other quarterback who was considered the best in the ’98 class had already been chosen by the Colts (Manning). What happened to Leaf? His indiscipline and poor performance on the field only allowed him to spend two seasons with the Chargers. He played 18 starts and had a 4-14 record with 13 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.
4.- Akili Smith – Cincinnati Bengals
Throughout history, Akili Smith was another NFL Draft disappointment. In 1999, the Cincinnati Bengals made use of the third overall pick to keep a player who had been one of the top quarterbacks in the ’99 class after his time at Oregon.
The problems were long announced, since he didn’t show up for training camp in his rookie season. Yes, you read that right: he didn’t show up. What was the reason for his rebellion? He was not happy with the contract and wanted to modify it. He ultimately spent four years with the Cincinnati franchise and this was his only team in the NFL. He started 17 games with a 3-14 record, with 5 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
5.- Ki-Jana Carter – Cincinnati Bengals
The running back out of Penn State, Ki-Jana Carte was the first overall selection of the 1995 NFL Draft, which belonged to the Bengals. And, with him finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race in college, how could they pass him up in the first round?
He promised speed, and that was enough for the Bengals. However, in his first season he suffered a torn knee ligament and all his talent was extinguished, as from then on it was all doctors, operating rooms, rehab, with one injury each season: rotator cuff in 1997, wrist fracture in 1998, and dislocated kneecap in 1999. In his five years with the Bengals, he only started 14 games.
