Every NFL Draft comes with a few head-scratchers, but nothing turns into a regret faster than a wide receiver who was taken too early and never quite lived up to the hype. Teams convince themselves they’re drafting the next megastar, only to get a player who fades into the background while the mid-round guys go on to dominate Sundays.
Whether it was a poor fit, a lack of development, or simply too much hype, these wide receivers were taken way earlier than they should’ve been, and their careers never justified the investment. From busts to forgotten names, here are 20 overdrafted wideouts who left their teams wanting a whole lot more.
20. Josh Doctson
Washington thought they found their go-to guy, but instead, they got a wideout who barely stuck around. Doctson struggled with injuries and never found his rhythm in the league.
19. Tavon Austin
Explosive in college, yes, but the Rams bet big and didn’t get much back. He was a gadget guy who never turned into a reliable receiver.
18. A.J. Jenkins
The 49ers reached way too early for Jenkins, and he never caught a pass in his rookie year. He was traded after one season and barely made a ripple after that.
17. Kevin White
White had top-10 athleticism and zero luck. Injuries wiped out what could’ve been a promising career before it ever really started.
16. Freddie Mitchell
Freddie was good at soundbites but not much else. The Eagles expected a playmaker and got a guy with more media quotes than touchdowns.
15. Corey Coleman
The Browns swung big with this pick, but Coleman was inconsistent and couldn’t find a long-term home. He bounced around a few teams but never lived up to the hype.
14. Nelson Agholor
Agholor had a few solid stretches, but for a first-rounder, he never became the WR1 Philly hoped for. Drops and inconsistency defined much of his early career.
13. Mike Williams (Detroit)
No, not the Chargers’ Mike Williams, the other one, drafted by Detroit in 2005. He came into the league after a year off and never got going.
12. Rashaun Woods
A prolific college player who couldn’t translate it to the NFL. The 49ers never saw a return on their first-round investment.
11. Peter Warrick
Warrick was electric in college but just never found that gear in the pros. The Bengals waited for a breakout that never really came.
10. Laquon Treadwell
Minnesota thought they were getting a physical, possession receiver. Instead, they got a guy who struggled to separate and fell down the depth chart fast.
9. Troy Williamson
Minnesota again, this time hoping to replace Randy Moss. Let’s just say that didn’t go according to plan.
8. Jalen Reagor
The Eagles took him one pick before Justin Jefferson, and that’ll be on highlight reels forever. Reagor has had flashes, but not enough to justify the pick.
7. John Ross
He broke the 40-yard dash record, and that was the peak of his NFL career. Injuries and inconsistency kept him from ever becoming a reliable threat.
6. Justin Blackmon
Blackmon had all the talent in the world, but off-field issues cut his career short. The Jaguars never got the return they hoped for when they picked him fifth overall.
5. Darius Heyward-Bey
Speed kills, but it doesn’t always catch passes. The Raiders reached for Heyward-Bey and got a track star who never developed as a top receiver.
4. Charles Rogers
A tragic case of talent that never materialized. Injuries and personal struggles derailed what was supposed to be a franchise-changing pick for Detroit.
3. David Terrell
The Bears needed a playmaker, but Terrell never took that next step. He was more potential than production for most of his time in Chicago.
Read More: 15 Forgotten Wide Receivers Who Deserved More Love
2. Reggie Williams
Jacksonville bet big on Reggie in the top 10, but he never found consistency. He had one decent season and then disappeared.
Read More: The 10 Most Fragile Wide Receivers of All Time
1. N’Keal Harry
The Patriots rarely go WR in the first round, and Harry showed why. He never developed into a reliable target and was quickly overtaken by later-round receivers in New England.
Read More: 10 NFL Wide Receivers Who Built Their Brand Before Their Legacy
