The NFL Draft is basically football’s version of Vegas. You show up with dreams, take a few big swings, and if you’re not careful, you’ll leave with nothing but regret and a jersey nobody wants to wear.
Over the last 20 years, teams have made some truly baffling decisions on draft day—moves that aged like milk and still haunt fanbases to this day. Here are ten of the worst “what were they thinking?” moments in recent draft history.
1. JaMarcus Russell, QB – Oakland Raiders (2007, No. 1 Overall)
The Raiders saw a cannon arm and highlight tape and thought they struck gold. Turns out, they got three seasons of chaos, missed meetings, and a guy who’s still the face of draft busts everywhere.
2. Mitch Trubisky, QB – Chicago Bears (2017, No. 2 Overall)
The Bears traded one spot to take Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. That decision still gives Bears fans night sweats and may never be fully forgiven.
3. Johnny Manziel, QB – Cleveland Browns (2014, No. 22 Overall)
Johnny Football brought the swagger, the headlines, and not much else. Cleveland bet on the party and forgot about the playbook.
4. Trey Lance, QB – San Francisco 49ers (2021, No. 3 Overall)
The Niners traded the house to move up for Lance—and barely got a guest appearance. He started four games before being shipped to Dallas, making this one of the most expensive “oops” in draft history.
5. Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson – Philadelphia Eagles (2020)
Philly had Jefferson right there. Right there. Instead, they went with Reagor, and the Vikings literally laughed during their pick call.
6. Dion Jordan, DE – Miami Dolphins (2013, No. 3 Overall)
Miami moved up for Jordan, thinking they were getting a pass-rushing monster. Instead, they got three sacks, multiple suspensions, and a lot of regret.
7. Vernon Gholston, DE – New York Jets (2008, No. 6 Overall)
The Jets saw Gholston’s combine and thought they had found their next defensive star. Spoiler alert: he never recorded a single sack.
8. Mike Williams over DeMarcus Ware – Detroit Lions (2005)
Detroit decided they needed another wide receiver and passed on a future Hall of Fame pass rusher. Ware terrorized quarterbacks for years, while Williams faded fast.
Read More: 30 College Football Stars Who Struggled in the NFL
9. Josh Rosen, QB – Arizona Cardinals (2018, No. 10 Overall)
Rosen was billed as one of the most “NFL-ready” prospects in his class. One year later, Arizona drafted his replacement and shipped him off—tough scene.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Worst NFL Draft Day Decisions of All Time
10. Maurice Clarett, RB – Denver Broncos (2005, Third Round)
The Broncos took a shot on Clarett despite all the red flags. He didn’t even make it to the regular season, which pretty much says it all.
Read More: Every NFL Team’s Most Embarrassing First-Round Draft Pick, Ranked
