Every draft season, NFL teams convince themselves that one magical college run is enough to build a franchise around. A few flashy games, a highlight reel against a bad defense, and suddenly, a QB is being picked in the top 10 like he’s the next Mahomes.
But hindsight hits hard, and a lot of these quarterbacks proved that one hot season doesn’t mean long-term greatness. Here are 15 college QBs who skyrocketed up draft boards based on one breakout year—and left teams wondering what they were thinking.
15. Christian Ponder
Ponder had one solid year at Florida State and rode that brief wave to being a top-12 pick. The Vikings reached, and it never really worked out.
14. Blake Bortles
Bortles’ junior year at UCF got him into the top-three conversation, mostly because he looked the part. However, his NFL career was more memorable than meme-worthy.
13. Akili Smith
He lit up Pac-10 defenses for one season at Oregon, and that was enough for the Bengals to go all-in. His NFL career flamed out almost immediately.
12. Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky only started one full season at UNC, but that didn’t stop the Bears from trading up to draft him over guys like Mahomes and Watson. Chicago fans are still recovering.
11. Kyle Boller
One cannon throw from his knees at a pro day was all it took to get him drafted in the first round. The Ravens learned that arm strength does not equal quarterbacking ability.
10. Daniel Jones
Duke isn’t exactly known for football, but one decent season was enough for the Giants to take Jones sixth overall. It was a reach that’s still being debated today.
9. Sam Howell
He had a breakout sophomore year, and some mock drafts once had him going first overall. He slid to the fifth round but was still hyped like a franchise guy before proving inconsistent at the next level.
8. Mark Sanchez
That USC run with loaded talent made Sanchez look like a can’t-miss prospect. The Jets took the bait after just 16 college starts.
7. Dwayne Haskins
Haskins put up monster numbers in his lone year as a starter at Ohio State. Washington drafted him in the first round, but he never found a rhythm in the pros.
6. Johnny Manziel
Manziel’s electric Heisman season at Texas A&M made him a national sensation. But NFL defenses didn’t care about his celebrity status.
5. Trey Lance
He played just one full season at North Dakota State and saw limited action in the year leading up to the draft. The 49ers traded up to take him third, and it’s been a what-if ever since.
4. J.P. Losman
A strong final year at Tulane launched Losman into the first round. The Bills learned that “sneaky athletic” doesn’t always translate to winning games.
3. Mitch Mustain
He went undefeated as a freshman starter at Arkansas and was once hyped as a future star. But after transferring to USC and never really playing again, that shine wore off quickly.
Read More: 15 NFL First-Round Picks Who Should’ve Never Heard Their Name That Early
2. JaMarcus Russell
His rocket arm and late-season dominance at LSU convinced the Raiders to take him No. 1 overall. It turns out that one Sugar Bowl does not make a career.
Read More: 20 NFL Guys Who Were Always “On the Verge of a Breakout”
1. Zach Wilson
Wilson torched a weak schedule at BYU during the COVID year and became the draft’s ultimate riser. The Jets bought in at No. 2, and the rest is sad, turnover-filled history.
Read More: 10 NFL Quarterbacks Who Went in Round 1 – But Shouldn’t Have
