The NFL Draft is the ultimate test of scouting, strategy, and long-term vision. But every year, teams convince themselves that this lineman is the next anchor of the trenches, only to watch him get pancaked by reality.
Offensive or defensive, some of these guys just never lived up to the hype of a first-round pick. Whether it was injuries, poor fit, or simply not being that good, these linemen left teams wondering, “Why did we use our top pick on that guy?”
20. Danny Watkins
He was 26 when the Eagles drafted him in the first round. His career fizzled out so fast you’d think he got drafted as a prank.
19. Tyson Alualu
The Jaguars reached hard for him at tenth overall, and it showed. He carved out a long career, but never played like a top-10 pick.
18. Cedric Ogbuehi
The Bengals hoped he’d be a cornerstone at tackle. He ended up being a swing tackle at best.
17. Jarvis Moss
Denver thought they were drafting a pass-rushing machine. They got a guy with six career sacks and a lot of nothing.
16. Gabe Carimi
The Bears needed help on the line and thought Carimi would be the answer. Instead, they got a guy who couldn’t stay healthy or productive.
15. Peria Jerry
Atlanta spent a first-rounder hoping for disruption in the middle. What they got was a quiet interior lineman who made almost no impact.
14. L.J. Collier
Seattle shocked everyone when they took him in the first round. Everyone was still shocked when he barely saw the field.
13. Justin Harrell
Green Bay took him even though he was coming off a torn biceps. The injury turned out to be a preview, not a red flag.
12. Aaron Maybin
Buffalo drafted him to get after quarterbacks. He ended up struggling to stay on the roster.
11. Ereck Flowers
He was supposed to protect the quarterback’s blindside. Instead, he gave fans more blind rage.
10. Robert Nkemdiche
A big name with enormous potential, but the effort never matched. The Cardinals rolled the dice and got snake eyes.
9. Chris Williams
Drafted to protect Jay Cutler, he rarely protected anything. Injuries and inconsistency turned him into a bust.
8. Vernon Gholston
Freak athlete, sure—but with zero sacks in three seasons, he might’ve been better suited for CrossFit than the NFL.
7. Jason Smith
The Rams thought they had a franchise left tackle. Instead, they got a guy out of the league in a flash.
6. Marcus Smith
Philadelphia reached hard here, and it never worked out. He barely contributed and looked lost from the start.
5. Isaiah Wilson
Taken in the first round, out of the league in one year. That pretty much says it all.
4. Tyson Jackson
Kansas City took him third overall, hoping for dominance. What they got was a defensive end with almost no pass-rushing juice.
3. Andre Dillard
The Eagles moved up for him, thinking they had a future starter. He’s mostly been a backup or a disappointment.
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2. Tony Mandarich
Dubbed “The Incredible Bulk,” he was all hype and no production—one of the most famous draft whiffs in NFL history.
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1. Jonathan Cooper
He was the seventh overall pick in 2013 and looked like a can’t-miss guard. He missed, and he missed hard.
