Worst First Round Picks EVER?

[Mr.Dibbs]

Steve Emtman, 1992. I know it wasn't his fault, but damn everyone thought he was going to be awesome. Colts got hosed.

 

[SweetD]

Thomas Jones

 

[Pariah]

Cryn' Leaf. Not only did he suck in the pros, he gave the SD organization a black eye everytime he opened his mouth.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Steve Emtman, 1992. I know it wasn't his fault, but damn everyone thought he was going to be awesome. Colts got hosed.

No way. How can you predict someone will have a freak injury to end their career. Worst pick ever? How about Ryan Leaf or Rick Mirer or Akili Smith? They were healthy and still sucked.

 

[Pariah]

No way. How can you predict someone will have a freak injury to end their career. Worst pick ever? How about Ryan Leaf or Rick Mirer or Akili Smith? They were healthy and still sucked.

Rick Mirer doesn't even come close to worst pick ever--he's still in the league at least. There are tones of first rounders picked after him that are out of football already.

 

[Skkorpion]

Fraudsworth.

 

[Pariah]

Fraudsworth.

Recent threads seem to have opened old scars for Skkorp. You need to work through your hate, my friend.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Rick Mirer doesn't even come close to worst pick ever--he's still in the league at least. There are tones of first rounders picked after him that are out of football already.

Yeah, but there is a big difference between being a top 3 overall pick and being picked in the first round. If you are picked in the top 3 you should be a pro-bowler.

 

[sundevilscott]

All Bust Team

First Team
QB Ryan Leaf (2) Washington State-San Diego Chargers-1998
RB Blair Thomas (2) Penn State-New York Jets-1990
WR Desmond Howard(4) Michigan-Washington Redskins-1992
TE Ricky Dudley(9) Ohio State-Houston Oilers-1996
OT Tony Mandarich(2) Michigan State-Green Bay Packers-1989
OG Eugene Chung(13) Virginia Tech-New England Patriots-1992
DE Aundray Bruce(1) Auburn-Atlanta Falcons-1988
DT Steve Emtman(1) Washington-Indianapolis Colts-1992
LB Brian Bosworth(2) Oklahoma-Seattle Seahawks-1987
CB Bruce Pickens(3) Nebraska-Atlanta Falcons-1991
S Patrick Bates (12) Texas A&M-Los Angeles Raiders-1993



Second Team
QB Heath Schuler (3) Tennessee-Washington Redskins-1994
RB Lawrence Philips (6) Nebraska-St. Louis Rams-1995
WR Michael Westbrook (4) Colorado-Washington Redskins-1995
TE David LaFluer(22) LSU-Dallas Cowboys-1997
OT Antoine Davis(8) Tennessee-Philadelphia Eagles-1991
OG Brian Jozwiak(7) West Virginia-Kansas City Chiefs-1986
DE Andre Wadsworth(3) Florida State-Arizona Cardinals-1998
DT Dimitrius Underwood(29) Michigan State-MinnesotaVikings-1999
LB Percy Snow(13) Michigan State-Kansas City Chiefs-1990
CB Michael Booker(11) Nebraska-Atlanta Flacons-1997
S Shaun Williams(24) UCLA-New York Giants-1998

___________________________________________________

My number 1 bust from this list.....

QB Heath Schuler (3) Tennessee-Washington Redskins-1994

 

[Pariah]

Yeah, but there is a big difference between being a top 3 overall pick and being picked in the first round. If you are picked in the top 3 you should be a pro-bowler.

Okay, then. Ryan Leaf. There, Rick Mirer isn't the worst pick ever. You can still find a bunch of top-3 picks that washed out of football in the first couple of years. I stand by my assertion that Rick Mirer isn't the worst pick by a long shot -- #2 overall or not.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Scott, nice list, and I agree with 99% of it, but wasn't it Desmond Howard who became a great KR/PR who helped the Packers win a SuperBowl? I think he resurrected his career for a while.

 

[sundevilscott]

Compared to the hype though...He did end up having a decent career.

 

[SeattleCard]

Wendall Bryant...

 

[Russ Smith]

Steve Emtman, 1992. I know it wasn't his fault, but damn everyone thought he was going to be awesome. Colts got hosed.

clyde duncan over louis lipps, cost us a division title and playoff berth.

 

[kerouac9]

First Team
QB Ryan Leaf (2) Washington State-San Diego Chargers-1998
RB Blair Thomas (2) Penn State-New York Jets-1990
WR Desmond Howard(4) Michigan-Washington Redskins-1992
TE Ricky Dudley(9) Ohio State-Houston Oilers-1996
OT Tony Mandarich(2) Michigan State-Green Bay Packers-1989
OG Eugene Chung(13) Virginia Tech-New England Patriots-1992
DE Aundray Bruce(1) Auburn-Atlanta Falcons-1988
DT Steve Emtman(1) Washington-Indianapolis Colts-1992
LB Brian Bosworth(2) Oklahoma-Seattle Seahawks-1987
CB Bruce Pickens(3) Nebraska-Atlanta Falcons-1991
S Patrick Bates (12) Texas A&M-Los Angeles Raiders-1993

Second Team
QB Heath Schuler (3) Tennessee-Washington Redskins-1994
RB Lawrence Philips (6) Nebraska-St. Louis Rams-1995
WR Michael Westbrook (4) Colorado-Washington Redskins-1995
TE David LaFluer(22) LSU-Dallas Cowboys-1997
OT Antoine Davis(8) Tennessee-Philadelphia Eagles-1991
OG Brian Jozwiak(7) West Virginia-Kansas City Chiefs-1986
DE Andre Wadsworth(3) Florida State-Arizona Cardinals-1998
DT Dimitrius Underwood(29) Michigan State-MinnesotaVikings-1999
LB Percy Snow(13) Michigan State-Kansas City Chiefs-1990
CB Michael Booker(11) Nebraska-Atlanta Flacons-1997
S Shaun Williams(24) UCLA-New York Giants-1998

___________________________________________________

My number 1 bust from this list.....

QB Heath Schuler (3) Tennessee-Washington Redskins-1994

(1) Wasn't Underwood a defensive end?

(2) How does Andy Katzenmoyer not make this list?

 

[khilari]

I would say Heath Schuler was the worst ever

 

[Mrospi]

Ki-Jana Carter....... David Klingler

 

[sundevilscott]

How about Dan McGwire from SDSU....

 

[Chainthroer]

Mandarich never lived up to th hype of being the #2 overall pick for the Pack in 1989.

"By Kenn Tomasch
Originally written for Colts Internet Edition in 1996:

Holding out for a salary worthy of that boast earned him a four-year, $4.4 million contract, but cost him any shot at a stellar rookie season. Signing just five days before the opener, he reported some 15-20 pounds below his college playing weight of 315 (better to be lighter to pass block in the NFL, he said). Learning a new position, right tackle, on the fly, Mandarich saw mostly special teams action in 14 games.

Mandarich started the next 31 games at right tackle for Green Bay, but looked light-years from 'he best offensive lineman ever'. Beaten regularly by opposing linemen, his reputation and confidence suffered.

Then came 1992; instead of blossoming into a formidable player, Mandarich suffered through the worst year of his life:

On a hunting trip in Alberta in May, he contracted a parasitic infection, giardiasis, when he drank from a stream; it caused him to lose 30 pounds in three weeks;
weakened by the disease, Mandarich was unable to handle his planned move to right guard, and was moved instead to left tackle, his college position; but just three quarters into Green Bay's first preseason game, he banged helmets with Kansas City DE Brent White and suffered a severe concussion;
doctors examining his concussion discovered Mandarich was suffering from hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid condition, which caused him to feel physically and mentally sluggish;
his brother and close friend, John, a CFL nose tackle, was diagnosed with cancer (he would die in February 1993);

He missed the entire 1992 season, after which the Packers declined to renew his contract. Mandarich retreated to a new home outside his wife's hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, worked on a degree in law enforcement, and 'prayed a lot'.

Then, in March of 1995, he decided to try it again.

Down to 265 pounds, Mandarich began rebuilding his body, until in early 1996, at a chiseled 325 pounds, he was ready to work out for NFL clubs. The first was Philadelphia.

Second, and last, were the Colts.

THE FINAL WORD: Tony Mandarich would make the Colts and would play for three more seasons. He never approached the heights that were expected of him, but he did play, stayed relatively injury-free for most of three seasons, and, most likely, found some measure of peace before retiring for good after the 1998 season. His NFL career spanned just 86 games."

 

[Ryanwb]

Curtis Enis...what a waste

 

[Mrospi]

9 Arizona Knight, Tommy CB Iowa
10 New Orleans Naeole, Chris G Colorado
11 Atlanta Booker, Michael CB Nebraska
12 Tampa Bay Dunn, Warrick RB Florida State
13 Kansas City Gonzalez, Tony TE California
14 Cincinnati Wilson, Reinard DE Florida State
15 Miami Green, Yatil WR Miami
16 Tampa Bay Anthony, Reidel WR Florida
17 Washington Lang, Kenard DE Miami
18 Tennessee Holmes, Kenny DE Miami
19 Indianapolis Glenn, Tarik T California
20 Minnesota Rudd, Dwayne OLB Alabama
21 Jacksonville Wynn, Renaldo DE Notre Dame
22 Dallas LaFleur, David TE Louisiana State
23 Buffalo Smith, Antowain RB Houston
24 Pittsburgh Scott, Chad CB Maryland
25 Philadelphia Harris, Jon DE Virginia
26 San Francisco Druckenmiller, Jim QB Virginia Tech
27 Carolina Carruth, Rae WR Colorado
28 Denver Pryce, Trevor DE Clemson
29 New England Canty, Chris CB Kansas State
30 Green Bay Verba, Ross T Iowa


Arghhhhhh..... Tommy "hamstring" Knight...... of course looking back is pretty easy

 

[Krangodnzr]

S Shaun Williams(24) UCLA-New York Giants-1998

No way on Shaun Williams. He's actually a decent starting safety.

I would put Tebucky Jones or Derrick Gibson before him.

2000: Started all 19 regular season and postseason games, including 18 at free safety and 1 at strong safety (at Philadelphia, 9/10)…Was named to Sports Illustrated's All-Pro team

At least Williams made somebody's All-Pro team at least once.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

1986.....Cardinals first round pick is LBer Anthony Bell of Michigan State....what a bust.