Some NFL teams will convince themselves that they’ve found “The Guy” at quarterback. Or running back. Or tight end. But too often, that “franchise cornerstone” ends up riding the bench while fans are left wondering what the front office ever saw in them.
These are the players who were hyped as the next face of the franchise, only to flame out so badly that they barely qualified as serviceable starters. From quarterbacks who never won a job to skill guys who couldn’t live up to the marketing campaign, here are 15 NFL players who were crowned before they even proved they belonged.
15. Josh Rosen
Drafted high, handed the keys, and then… completely ghosted. The league gave him every shot, and he still couldn’t hold down a backup role, let alone be the guy.
14. Dwayne Haskins
Washington sold him as the future, but the future never showed up. Accuracy issues, leadership questions, and zero traction made his stay short.
13. Trent Richardson
He was supposed to be Cleveland’s bulldozing, franchise-changing back. Instead, he was traded mid-rookie deal and couldn’t even find the right running lanes.
12. Paxton Lynch
Tall, athletic, and completely unplayable. Denver hoped he’d be their QB savior, but he couldn’t even win a preseason job.
11. Blake Bortles
He technically started for a few seasons, but let’s be honest—it always felt like a placeholder situation. Jacksonville tried to pretend he was the answer, but the league knew better.
10. Justin Blackmon
Incredible college talent, but his NFL career never even got off the runway. Off-field issues kept him from being more than a footnote.
9. Zach Wilson
Drafted to lead the Jets out of misery and ended up buried on the depth chart. The only consistent part of his game was inconsistency.
8. Kevin White
All the physical tools, none of the availability. He was sold as a WR1 and ended up a permanent injury report fixture.
7. Brady Quinn
The media hype was louder than any throws he made in the NFL. Multiple teams gave him a shot, and he never looked like a true starter.
6. David Carr
He had the look, the arm, and the draft status—but never the performance. Yes, Houston’s line was a disaster, but even after that, he never rebounded elsewhere.
5. DeShone Kizer
Cleveland hoped they’d found a diamond in the rough. Turns out it was just… rough.
4. Christian Hackenberg
Second-round pick, zero regular-season passes. The Jets somehow talked themselves into a prospect no coach could even get on the field.
3. Freddie Mitchell
He gave himself the nickname “First Down Freddie.” Unfortunately, he rarely got those first downs or much playing time at all.
Read More: Ranking the 20 WORST Starting NFL Quarterbacks of All Time
2. Johnny Manziel
Big name, big personality, but not even close to being a big-time NFL starter. His off-field antics overshadowed a career that never got started.
Read More: 15 Times the NFL World Crowned a Star Too Soon
1. JaMarcus Russell
Touted as a generational arm talent and given a massive rookie deal. Then he showed up out of shape and out of his depth—possibly the biggest bust of all time.
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