Biggest NFL Draft Busts in History
The NFL Draft is a time of hope and excitement for teams and their fans, but not every high pick turns into a franchise cornerstone. Some prospects arrive with sky-high expectations, only to flame out due to injuries, poor work ethic, bad coaching, or simply being overhyped.
While draft busts come in different forms, the worst ones are those taken with top picks who failed to deliver, costing their franchises valuable years of rebuilding. In this article, we rank the biggest draft busts in NFL history and break down what went wrong.
1. JaMarcus Russell (QB, Oakland Raiders – 1st Overall, 2007)
Career Stats: 31 games, 52.1% completion, 4,083 yards, 18 TDs, 23 INTs
NFL Career: 3 seasons (2007-2009)
Why He Was a Bust:
JaMarcus Russell is the gold standard of draft busts. Coming out of LSU, he had a rocket arm, 6’6”, 265-pound frame, and elite potential, but his lack of work ethic and preparation doomed him from the start.
The Raiders gave him a $61 million contract ($31 million guaranteed), but Russell showed little motivation to improve. Stories surfaced of him ignoring game film, with one infamous report stating the Raiders gave him blank tapes to watch, and he later claimed he had studied them.
Legacy:
Russell lasted only three seasons and is widely regarded as the biggest bust in NFL history, setting the Raiders back for years.
2. Ryan Leaf (QB, San Diego Chargers – 2nd Overall, 1998)
Career Stats: 25 games, 48.4% completion, 3,666 yards, 14 TDs, 36 INTs
NFL Career: 4 seasons (1998-2001)
Why He Was a Bust:
Leaf was drafted right after Peyton Manning, and many scouts debated whether he or Manning should go No. 1 overall. While Manning went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Leaf became one of the biggest disasters in NFL history.
Leaf’s issues stemmed from:
✅ A terrible attitude – He clashed with coaches, teammates, and the media.
✅ No leadership skills – He was known for tantrums and refused to take accountability.
✅ Poor on-field play – He threw 36 interceptions to just 14 touchdowns in his short career.
Legacy:
Leaf is one of the biggest “what-ifs” in draft history and is still used as the ultimate cautionary tale for teams drafting quarterbacks based on raw talent alone.
3. Tony Mandarich (OT, Green Bay Packers – 2nd Overall, 1989)
Career Stats: 6 years in the NFL, never made a Pro Bowl
NFL Career: 6 seasons (1989-1992, 1996-1998)
Why He Was a Bust:
Touted as “the best offensive line prospect ever,” Tony Mandarich was expected to be a generational talent. At 6’6″, 315 pounds, he was an athletic freak, but his career was derailed by:
❌ Steroid use – He later admitted to using steroids in college, which explained his freakish size.
❌ Work ethic issues – He refused to take coaching seriously.
❌ Lack of passion for the game – He was more interested in partying than football.
To make matters worse, the Packers passed on Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders to draft Mandarich.
Legacy:
He is widely regarded as the biggest offensive line bust in history, though he later made a short-lived comeback with the Colts.
4. Trent Richardson (RB, Cleveland Browns – 3rd Overall, 2012)
Career Stats: 46 games, 2,032 rushing yards, 3.3 yards per carry, 17 TDs
NFL Career: 3 seasons (2012-2014)
Why He Was a Bust:
Trent Richardson was a dominant force at Alabama, but his skills didn’t translate to the NFL. Despite a solid rookie season, he quickly became one of the least efficient running backs in modern history.
His biggest issues?
- Zero vision – He struggled to read holes, often running into his own linemen.
- No explosiveness – Averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in his career.
- Bad work ethic – He never improved despite getting multiple chances.
The Browns traded him to the Colts for a first-round pick, but he flopped there as well and was out of the league after just three seasons.
Legacy:
One of the worst running back busts ever, and a reminder that dominance in college doesn’t always translate to the NFL.
5. Vernon Gholston (DE, New York Jets – 6th Overall, 2008)
Career Stats: 45 games, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
NFL Career: 3 seasons (2008-2010)
Why He Was a Bust:
Gholston was a physical freak coming out of Ohio State, posting 26 reps on the bench press and a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at 266 pounds. The Jets drafted him expecting an elite pass rusher. Instead, he finished his entire NFL career without a single sack.
Despite multiple coaching changes and scheme shifts, Gholston never developed any pass-rushing moves or instincts.
Legacy:
Gholston is one of the biggest defensive busts ever, as a top-10 pick who never recorded a sack in the NFL.
Honorable Mentions
- Kevin White (WR, Chicago Bears – 7th Overall, 2015) – Injuries ruined his career before it ever got started.
- Johnny Manziel (QB, Cleveland Browns – 22nd Overall, 2014) – Off-the-field issues, lack of preparation, and immaturity cut his career short.
- Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona Cardinals – 10th Overall, 2006) – Couldn’t adjust to the NFL despite a great college career.
- Justin Blackmon (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars – 5th Overall, 2012) – Suspension and substance abuse issues derailed his promising career.
- Robert Griffin III (QB, Washington – 2nd Overall, 2012) – Showed flashes of greatness, but injuries and coaching mishandling ended his career early.
Final Verdict: Who Was the Biggest Bust?
JaMarcus Russell remains the biggest bust in NFL history, given his massive contract, complete lack of effort, and disastrous impact on the Raiders. Ryan Leaf is a close second, especially since he was drafted right after Peyton Manning.
Each of these busts serves as a reminder that draft hype doesn’t always equal success, and scouting is still an inexact science.
Who do you think was the worst draft bust ever? Let the debate begin!
