The NFL Draft is a beautiful, chaotic mix of optimism and delusion. For every future Hall of Famer taken in the first round, there’s a pick that makes fans ask, “Wait, we picked who?”
Sometimes it’s poor development. Sometimes it’s injuries. And sometimes it’s just flat-out bad judgment. These 20 draft picks were hyped on Day 1 and cringed at by Year 3—or sooner.
20. Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals (2018)
The “nine mistakes ahead of me” quote did not age well. One year and one head coach later, the Cardinals dumped him like expired yogurt.
19. Dwayne Haskins, Washington (2019)
Big arm, big hype, but the on-field decision-making never caught up. Washington moved on fast, and his NFL career never ended.
18. Tony Mandarich, Green Bay Packers (1989)
Dubbed “The Incredible Bulk,” Mandarich was more myth than mauler. He never lived up to the billing and flamed out quickly in Green Bay.
17. Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
Ruggs had elite speed, but an off-the-field tragedy ended his NFL career early. A sobering reminder that talent doesn’t always tell the whole story.
16. Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)
He looked like a future WR1 on paper. Unfortunately, suspensions and off-field issues derailed everything before it could even begin.
15. Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (2020)
Taken right before Justin Jefferson. That’s all you need to know—and Eagles fans haven’t forgotten.
14. Dion Jordan, Miami Dolphins (2013)
A top-three pick with freaky athleticism who never found an absolute position or consistent playing time. Miami reached and paid the price.
13. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals (2006)
The USC pedigree was strong, but the NFL arm wasn’t. Leinart never became the franchise savior Arizona hoped for.
12. Kevin White, Chicago Bears (2015)
Injuries kept White stuck on the sidelines more than on the field. What looked like a big-bodied receiver gem became a long list of “what-ifs.”
11. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (2011)
Locker had toughness and tools, but accuracy was a lifelong enemy. He retired shockingly early, and the Titans had to hit restart again.
10. Vernon Gholston, New York Jets (2008)
A combined warrior who couldn’t find the quarterback with a map. Gholston ended his career without a single sack.
9. Robert Nkemdiche, Arizona Cardinals (2016)
The talent was mouthwatering, but the effort was not so much. Arizona bet on upside and got more headlines than highlights.
8. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns (2012)
Drafting a 28-year-old rookie quarterback in the first round? Only the Browns. He never had a shot at long-term success.
7. Artie Burns, Pittsburgh Steelers (2016)
The Steelers reached, hoping for raw athleticism to translate. Spoiler alert: it did not.
6. Isaiah Wilson, Tennessee Titans (2020)
Played just one game for the Titans before spiraling off the roster. A first-rounder who barely made it past training camp.
5. Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns (2014)
The swagger was there, but the work ethic was less so. Johnny Football quickly turned into Johnny Fizzle.
4. Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns (2012)
The Browns thought they had a bulldozer at running back. Instead, they got a guy who couldn’t find a hole with a GPS.
3. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (2021)
Traded a boatload of picks for a guy who barely saw the field. Lance became a cautionary tale faster than anyone expected.
Read More: 20 NFL Draft Picks Who Had All the Buzz and None of the Results
2. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders (2007)
The arm strength was the stuff of legend. Unfortunately, there was also a lack of film study.
Read More: Ranking the Most Confusing NFL First-Round Picks Ever
1. Zach Wilson, New York Jets (2021)
Chosen as the savior, but quickly became a weekly meme. The Jets spent two years trying to fix a mistake in two minutes.
Read More: 15 NFL Draft Picks That Looked Great at the Time (and Aged Terribly)
