The 20 Worst NFL Draft Picks Ever—Ranked

Name: The 20 Worst NFL Draft Picks Ever—Ranked
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The 30 Worst Draft Picks In NFL History
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The 30 Worst Draft Picks In NFL History
Roger Cumberbatch
| 4/17/26
Most of us will never experience being drafted in the NFL. Being an NFL draft pick is special and comes with high expectations. The NFL Draft has produced many great players, but even more busts. Check out the worst NFL Draft picks of all time.
Bobby Carpenter
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Bobby Carpenter joined an impressive list of defensive lineman picked highly in an NFL Draft. Carpenter, picked 18th by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2006 NFL Draft, played for Dallas, Miami, Detroit, and New England, in his six NFL seasons.
Carpenter's career ended with 3.5 total QB sacks.
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Johnny Manziel
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With the nickname "Johnny Football", the Cleveland Browns thought that the sky was the limit for 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Johnny Manziel.
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Manziel's on-field play was rivaled only by his terrible off-field legal issues. Manziel in 15 NFL games, threw seven TDs, and seven INTs.
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Brian Bosworth
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"The Boz", Brian Bosworth entered the 1987 NFL Draft with promise and controversy. Bosworth's first NFL moves, drafted by Seattle, were a lawsuit involving wearing the #44, and a list of teams he would refuse reporting to.
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Bosworth had four sacks and three fumble recoveries in two seasons.
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Andre Ware
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Andre Ware personified that winning a Heisman Trophy, guarantees nothing. Ware won the Heisman in 1989, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions.
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Even with Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in the backfield, Ware struggled. Ware's six games, five TDs, eight INTs, and seven fumbles.
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Heath Shuler
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The Washington Commanders rich history of drafting well at the QB position took a major blow when they drafted Heath Shuler, one of the worst draft picks in NFL history.
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Shuler, drafted 3rd overall in 1994, completed 47% of his passes in four games, in three seasons with Washington.
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Tony Mandarich
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The Green Bay Packers drafted Tony Mandarich #2 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft for a reason. Mandarich put up impressive pre-draft workout numbers, and did nothing more in seven NFL seasons.
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Green Bay never started Mandarich, and he exited the league with two fumble recoveries total.
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Matt Leinart
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Matt Leinart was selected 10th in the 2006 NFL Draft and played in 17 games for his career. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Leinart to transition the team from Kurt Warner, but that dream never came alive.
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Leinart threw fifteen touchdowns, 21 interceptions, and had a 57% completion percentage.
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Steve Emtman
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Gary Mook /Allsport/Getty Images/Archive
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Injuries shortened a potentially brilliant career for Steve Emtman, drafted #1 overall in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
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Emtman was released after three seasons and five total QB sacks. Emtman refused a 1994 pay cut offered over his injury issues, and his career ended in 1997.
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Ryan Leaf
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Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning, a Hall of Fame QB, and two-time Super Bowl champion, were in the same draft.
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Leaf and Manning being in the same 1998 draft was their only similarity. Leaf's career ended with a 48% completion percentage, and 22 more interceptions than TD passes.
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JaMarcus Russell
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JaMarcus Russell, considered widely by NFL pundits as the worst draft pick ever, was drafted first overall in the 2007 draft by the Oakland Raiders.
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Russell started his career by refusing to play over contract issues. Russell started once for Oakland, and left the NFL after only three seasons.
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Isaiah Wilson
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Isaiah Wilson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and played only 3 games as a rookie.
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Tennessee traded Wilson to Miami, was cut without playing once, and unceremoniously left the NFL after a chance granted by the New York Giants.
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Art Schlichter
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NFL players, and coaches, know about the league's personal conduct policies, and are expected to abide by it. Apparently not Art Schlichter, drafted in 1982, a known gambler. Schlichter was suspended for gambling in his first season.
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Schlichter started six games, completed 45% of passes, and lost every game.
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Justin Blackmon
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Justin Blackmon was picked 5th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 NFL Draft. Jacksonville traded up to snag what they thought was a steal in Blackmon.
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Blackmon currently attempts to comeback, after two suspensions for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, and his off-field legal issues.
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Kevin White
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West Virginia product, Kevin White, was one of the most highly touted wide receivers in the 2015 NFL Draft. White's NFL debut was postponed until his second season as he was injured his entire rookie year.
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White has zero TDs, and currently trying to stay in the league.
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Josh Rosen
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Former U.C.L.A. Bruins star QB Josh Rosen was drafted 10th in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
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Rosen started thirteen games in his rookie season, with a horrendous offense in front of him. Rosen has twelve career TDs, 21 INTs, and currently is a Cleveland Browns backup.
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Justin Gilbert
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Many of the cornerbacks drafted by the Cleveland Browns, are out of the league as fast as they enter it.
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Justin Gilbert is no different, drafted 8th by Cleveland in 2014, and out of the NFL by 2016. Gilbert's career ended with 1 INT and 1 defensive TD.
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Andy Katzenmoyer
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Past NFL analysts shared an overwhelming belief that Andy Katzenmoyer is among the worst NFL draft picks of all-time. The former 1999 NFL Draft pick of the New England Patriots, was once thought of as college football's best-ever linebackers.
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Katzenmoyer retired after one season, from a lingering neck injury.
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Jason Smith
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When the St. Louis Rams, now the Los Angeles Rams, selected Jason Smith #2 overall, it was to fill a serious void on their offensive line.
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St. Louis initially signed Smith for $50 million total, $33 million of which was guaranteed. A concussion ended Smith's rookie season early.
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Vernon Gholston
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A plethora of NFL pencil-pushers, believe that Vernon Gholston is the New York Jets' worst-ever draft pick. Gholston, like many before and after him, fooled prospective teams with impressive pre-draft workout stats.
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Gholston only played two complete seasons, in New York mostly, and had 0 total sacks.
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Archie Griffin
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A player that retired from the NFL with almost 3,000 rushing yards, should…

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