Some draft picks launch a franchise into the stratosphere. Others send them spiraling into the darkest timeline, complete with coaching firings, endless quarterback searches, and fans questioning all of their life choices.
Whether it was a top pick that never panned out or a late-round flyer that somehow convinced a team to pass on actual talent, these are the selections that aged like expired milk. Let’s revisit 20 NFL draft picks that didn’t just flop, they derailed entire eras of football.
20. Jalen Reagor – Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles could’ve had Justin Jefferson, but they opted for Reagor instead. That one decision sparked years of “what if” conversations in Philly, and plenty of memes.
19. Vernon Gholston – New York Jets
He looked like the next great pass rusher, but Gholston never recorded a single sack. The Jets spent years trying to recover from the miss and rebuild their defensive identity.
18. Justin Gilbert – Cleveland Browns
The Browns hoped Gilbert would anchor their secondary for years, but he barely saw the field. Cleveland’s cornerback woes continued long after his exit.
17. Isaiah Wilson – Tennessee Titans
Wilson played just one game for the Titans before things completely unraveled off the field. Tennessee essentially lit a first-round pick on fire.
16. Ereck Flowers – New York Giants
Flowers was supposed to protect Eli Manning, but he ended up being a revolving door at left tackle. The Giants’ offensive line troubles snowballed from there.
15. Troy Williamson – Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota took Williamson to replace Randy Moss. Spoiler alert: he didn’t.
14. Dwayne Haskins – Washington Commanders
Washington reached for a hometown hero, but Haskins never developed into a reliable starter. The move delayed the franchise’s already chaotic quarterback search.
13. Jake Locker – Tennessee Titans
The Titans hoped Locker would finally stabilize the quarterback position. Instead, they burned several seasons waiting for a breakout that never came.
12. Kevin White – Chicago Bears
White had all the tools, but injuries robbed him of a real shot in Chicago. The Bears’ receiving corps remained in flux for years.
11. Robert Nkemdiche – Arizona Cardinals
He was a high-upside risk that never really got off the ground. The Cardinals got almost nothing in return for a first-round investment.
10. Josh Rosen – Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals gave up on Rosen after just one season because they had to. One year later, they were drafting Kyler Murray and hitting the reset button… again.
9. Andre Ware – Detroit Lions
Detroit hoped to revolutionize its offense with Ware, but he never adjusted to the NFL. It was another case of the Lions burning draft capital on a QB experiment gone wrong.
8. Aaron Maybin – Buffalo Bills
Buffalo needed pass rush help, but Maybin couldn’t even stay on the field. He was off the team in two seasons, and the Bills spent years trying to plug that hole.
7. Cedric Benson – Chicago Bears
Benson was a top-five pick who clashed with the coaching staff and never really delivered in Chicago. It set their backfield plans into disarray for years.
6. Matt Leinart – Arizona Cardinals
He entered the league with big hype and a Heisman Trophy, but never lived up to expectations. Arizona had to hit the reset button on the QB position all over again.
5. Charles Rogers – Detroit Lions
Rogers was the second overall pick and lasted just 15 games. That miss haunted Detroit for years during a stretch of brutal draft whiffs.
4. JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders
Russell was the poster child for draft busts—big arm, no drive. His failure kept the Raiders irrelevant for far too long.
3. Ryan Leaf – San Diego Chargers
Leaf is still a punchline decades later, and for good reason. The Chargers tied their hopes to him and paid dearly for it.
2. Johnny Manziel – Cleveland Browns
The hype was loud, but the results were catastrophic. Cleveland wasted a first-round pick and another few years in quarterback purgatory.
1. Mitchell Trubisky – Chicago Bears
Chicago traded up to grab Trubisky, while Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were still on the board. It’s a decision that will echo through Windy City football history forever.
