19 NFL First-Round Draft Busts That Nobody Saw Coming

The NFL Draft is full of promise, but not every first-round pick turns into a star. Some guys get hyped up as the next big thing, only to fade into obscurity, while others just never seem to figure things out at the pro level.

Here are 19 first-round draft picks who shockingly didn’t live up to the hype.

19. Josh Rosen (2018, Arizona Cardinals, 10th Overall)

Rosen infamously said there were “nine mistakes” ahead of him in the 2018 draft—turns out, the Cardinals made one at pick No. 10. After one forgettable season, Arizona moved on, and Rosen bounced around the league like a lost suitcase at baggage claim.

18. Trent Richardson (2012, Cleveland Browns, 3rd Overall)

Richardson was supposed to be a dominant, can’t-miss running back—until he actually started playing. His complete inability to see open running lanes turned him into one of the biggest running back busts in recent memory.

17. Johnny Manziel (2014, Cleveland Browns, 22nd Overall)

“Johnny Football” had all the swagger in the world but forgot that NFL defenses hit a lot harder than SEC ones. His off-field antics and lack of commitment turned him from Heisman hero to one of the league’s quickest flameouts.

16. Kevin White (2015, Chicago Bears, 7th Overall)

White had all the physical tools to dominate but none of the durability to stay on the field. Injuries derailed his career before it could even start, leaving Bears fans wondering what could’ve been.

15. Dion Jordan (2013, Miami Dolphins, 3rd Overall)

The Dolphins traded up to take Jordan, thinking they had found the next dominant edge rusher. Instead, they got a player who spent more time serving suspensions than making an impact.

14. Aaron Curry (2009, Seattle Seahawks, 4th Overall)

Touted as “the safest pick in the draft,” Curry was anything but that once he hit the NFL. His career was over after just four seasons, proving once again that “can’t-miss” prospects can definitely miss.

13. David Carr (2002, Houston Texans, 1st Overall)

Carr had potential, but getting sacked an absurd 76 times as a rookie pretty much ruined him. The Texans never built a proper O-line, and by the time they did, Carr was completely shell-shocked.

12. Vernon Gholston (2008, New York Jets, 6th Overall)

The Jets thought they were getting an athletic freak who would terrorize quarterbacks—spoiler alert, they were wrong. Gholston never recorded a single sack in his NFL career, which is impressive in all the wrong ways.

11. Charles Rogers (2003, Detroit Lions, 2nd Overall)

Rogers looked like a star in the making—until injuries and off-field issues took over. He lasted just three seasons in the NFL, cementing his status as one of the biggest busts in Lions history.

10. Robert Gallery (2004, Oakland Raiders, 2nd Overall)

Gallery was supposed to be a dominant left tackle but turned into just an okay guard. For a No. 2 overall pick, “decent guard” is nowhere near what the Raiders were expecting.

9. Matt Leinart (2006, Arizona Cardinals, 10th Overall)

Leinart thrived in USC’s loaded offense, but in the NFL, his lack of arm strength and questionable work ethic caught up to him fast. He ended up riding the bench for most of his career and became better known as a TV analyst than a QB.

8. Mike Williams (2005, Detroit Lions, 10th Overall)

The Lions had a bad habit of drafting first-round receivers who didn’t pan out, and Williams was one of the worst. He sat out a year before entering the draft, came in out of shape, and never looked like an NFL-caliber player.

7. Ereck Flowers (2015, New York Giants, 9th Overall)

Flowers was supposed to protect Eli Manning—instead, he nearly got him killed. The Giants kept hoping he’d develop, but after years of terrible pass blocking, they finally gave up.

6. Tim Couch (1999, Cleveland Browns, 1st Overall)

Couch was thrown into an absolute disaster of an expansion team, and his career never recovered. Whether he was a true bust or just a victim of a bad situation, he’ll always be remembered as a cautionary tale.

5. Lawrence Phillips (1996, St. Louis Rams, 6th Overall)

Phillips had talent but was plagued by off-field problems that cut his career short. The Rams gambled on him despite major red flags, and it blew up in their faces.

4. Justin Blackmon (2012, Jacksonville Jaguars, 5th Overall)

Blackmon had elite talent, but his career was derailed by repeated suspensions. The Jags hoped they had a franchise receiver—what they got was a player who only lasted 20 games in the NFL.

3. Troy Williamson (2005, Minnesota Vikings, 7th Overall)

The Vikings drafted Williamson to replace Randy Moss—which is hilarious in hindsight. He had elite speed but couldn’t actually catch the football, which, you know, is kind of important for a receiver.

2. Ki-Jana Carter (1995, Cincinnati Bengals, 1st Overall)

Carter had all the makings of an elite NFL running back, but an injury in his first preseason game changed everything. He never recovered and became one of the biggest “what-ifs” in draft history.

1. JaMarcus Russell (2007, Oakland Raiders, 1st Overall)

Russell was hyped as a generational quarterback with a cannon for an arm, but he was infamously lazy. When a coach sent him blank game tapes to test if he was watching film—and he claimed he had studied them—his fate was sealed as the ultimate draft bust.