The Ten Worst NFL Draft Picks Since 2000
10) Troy Williamson: 2005 Draft: Round 1/Pick 7; Wide Receiver – South Carolina taken by the Minnesota Vikings
When the traded Randy Moss to the Raiders, this pick was part of the deal. The Vikes used it hoping Williamson would at least replace Moss’ speed. He did have 4.32 speed; he also had bad eyes and had trouble seeing the football to catch it. Williamson finished up his three-year career in Minnesota with 79 catches, 1,067 yards and three touchdowns.
Could have Drafted: Antrel Rolle (8th overall), DeMarcus Ware (11th overall), Jammal Brown (13th overall), or Aaron Rodgers (24th overall)
9) Jamal Reynolds: 2001 Draft: Round 1/Pick 10; Defensive End – Florida State taken by the Green Bay Packers
The Packers traded Matt Hasselbeck and the 17th pick to move up to draft a guy who racked up three sacks for his entire 18-game NFL career.
Could have Drafted: Dan Morgand (11th overall) or Steve Hutchinson (17th overall)
8 ) Wendell Bryant: 2002 Draft: Round 1/Pick 12; Defensive Tackle – Wisconsin taken by the Arizona Cardinals
If it weren’t for Andre Wadsworth, Wendell Bryant might be the worst Cardinal draft pick in recent memory. Bryant’s career totals: 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks; it only took him three years to do it.
Could have Drafted: Jeremy Shockey (14th overall)
7) Mike Williams: 2005 Draft: Round 1/Pick 10; Wide Receiver – USC taken by the Detroit Lions
Mike Williams had two great seasons at USC; he notched 176 catches in only 26 games. The problem is that his entire NFL career only lasted 30 games which contained a scant 44 receptions. Naturally, this isn’t the only Matt Millen draft choice on this list which helps to explain why the Lions were one of the worst franchises of the last decade.
Could have Drafted: Antrel Rolle (8th overall), DeMarcus Ware (11th overall), Jammal Brown (13th overall), or Aaron Rodgers (24th overall)
6) Matt Jones: 2005 Draft: Round 1/Pick 21; Wide Receiver – Arkansas taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jones was a 6’6″ converted quarterback who could run a 4.36 40 and had a 40-inch vertical. He also had the ability to snort the 50-yard line. He finished his Jaguar career with just 15 starts in four seasons, during which he was arrested twice on felony drug charges.
Could have Drafted: Aaron Rodgers (24th overall), Roddy White (27th overall) or Logan Mankins (32nd overall)
5) Peter Warrick: 2000 Draft: Round 1/Pick 4; Wide Receiver – Florida State taken by the Cincinnati Bengals
Peter Warrick proves what can happen when you get called a “can’t miss” prospect. A two-time All-American, Warrick’s career in the NFL amounted 6 sub-par seasons; 79 games, 275 catches, and 2,991 yards total.
Could have Drafted: Jamal Lewis (5th overall) or Brian Urlacher (9th overall)
4) Charles Rogers: 2003 Draft: Round 1/Pick 2; Wide Receiver – Michigan State taken by the Detroit Lions
In yet another example of what I like to call a “Millen Type Decision,” the Lions took Charles Rogers believing him to be their receiver of the future. Within five years, Rogers was in jail for assault and battery.
Could have Drafted: Andre Johnson (3rd overall)
3) Joey Harrington: 2002 NFL Draft: Round 1/Pick 3; Quarterback – Oregon taken by the Detroit Lions
Two fact say all you need to know about this pick. One, this is the Lions’ third appearance on this list, which explains a lot about the evaluation of talent in the Millen era. . Two, the only other quarterback besides Joey Harrington to average less than 6 yards per attempt was fellow draft-bust Rick Mirer.
Could Have Drafted: Quentin Jammer (5th overall)
2) Ryan Sims: 2002 Draft, Round 1/Pick 6; Defensive Tackle – North Carolina taken by the Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Mandarich may be the poster child for draft busts, but Sims may in fact be worse. In five seasons, he had 65 total tackles and five sacks. He was so unproductive that he was traded to Tampa Bay for a seventh round pick, meaning he may have been a waste of two draft picks.
Could Have Drafted: Dwight Freeney (11th overall)
1) JaMarcus Russell: 2008 Draft, Round 1/Pick 1; Quarterback – LSU taken by the Oakland Raiders
Russell’s 2009 passer rating of 50.0 was the lowest rating by a starting quarterback in the NFL since 1998. His final stats during his tenure as a Raider were 52.1 % completion precentage, 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, a passer rating of 65.2, and 15 lost fumbles. For this, the Raiders signed him to a contract worth $32 million guaranteed. In three seasons with the Raiders, Russell finished 7–18.
Could Have Drafted: Calvin Johnson (2nd overall)
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Jeesh there Lions players on the list. I would add lights out to the list for the 2005 draft class, although Ware and Rodgers have turned out to be the man of that class.
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I remember when the Raiders picked Russell I was shocked. Usually when a #1 pick is selected, they shine in college, but Russell wasn’t spectacular.
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As a Lions fan, I would say Williams was worse than Rogers. I was mortified when they drafted Williams. Even at USC I thought he would be just a great college player but not a pro. Matt Millen is one of my least favorite human beings on the planet.
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Obviously there is no debate about number one.
Listen, Matt Jones was fucking hard. He really was. Unfortunately he also had a massive cocaine problem.
I remember watching a playoff game where Jacksonville played the Partiots… It was on a Saturday night, Jones caught a touchdown pass in the center of the end zone… and then no one ever heard from him again.
The kid was built like a brick shithouse. For a white kid, there’s no way you would “accidentally” fight that motherfucker in a bar.
I was rooting for him too, not in the sense that I felt sorry for him, but in the sense that he might end up working at eleventh street precinct as a bouncer and he would throw my ass out because he had found my bookie’s shit.
Meehan
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A) There’s a reason the Lions made three appearances on this list.
B) JaMarcus…who else could there be?
C) Matt Jones was a stud. Do you remember that Arkansas team with him at QB, and RBs Felix Jones and Darren McFadden? Shows you the power of the spoon.
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The “Could Have Drafted” are just killers compared to those chosen. Brutal. That comment about the Razorbacks with Jones, Jones and McFadden…sounds like a hell of a law firm…they were indeed awesome. Joey Harrington played one mean piano…gotta give him props for that.
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Kinda like finding out the ribeye steak is on special right after you ordered two chili dogs…
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A brutal yet pleasant walk down memory lane.
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“Brutal yet pleasant.” Sounds a bit “jumbo shrimp” -like, but I’ll take it 🙂
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I always rooted for Joey for some reason he seemed like such a nice guy… Jamarcus will be #1 on the draft bust list until everyone that saw him play dies…
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Was I the only one who thought from day one JaMarcus would lay an egg?
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What? No Tebow? he he
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We could make an all-Gator QB Bust list…Kerwin Bell, anyone?
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That’s a long ass list, man. Jesse Palmer, Doug Johnson, Rex Grossman, Danny Wuerffel. This could take a while.
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JaMarcus Russell definitely has to be on the list. The guy was a major bust. Reading this post made me think of Kyle Brady, the tight end that the New York Jets drafted in front of Warren Sapp. Dumb move!
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This reminds me how Mel Kiper, Jr, got famous for saying two things:
1) “Trev Alberts sucks.”
2) “The New York Jets have no idea what the draft is all about.”
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