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With the approaching NFL Draft next month, we thought we'd help NFL scouts and general managers by pointing out their biggest mistakes. After all, if you're not willing to learn from your mistakes you won't make it very long in an NFL front office...unless you're Matt Millen...
The parameters
Players must have been drafted in 1970 or later, when the NFL and AFL officially joined, and must have been picked in the top 10.
Given those parameters, here are the top 50 Biggest NFL Draft Busts as chosen by our staff.
1. Ryan Leaf, QB Drafted: Chargers, 1998, Round 1, Pick 2
That there was even a debate between drafting Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf before the 1998 draft is laughable more than a decade later. Manning is one of the storied quarterbacks in NFL history while Leaf is now the answer to a trivia question. Touted for his 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame coming out of Washington State, Leaf's lack of mobility hurts him in the pros. His first season is a disaster, as he throws just two touchdowns and is intercepted 15 times. In the third game of his rookie campaign, he completes 1-of-15 passes for four yards and fumbles three times. Leaf's second season never gets off the ground due to a shoulder injury that is discovered in the preseason. Leaf's tenure with the Chargers ends mercifully after 2000. He toils with the Cowboys, but never makes an impact in Big D. One of Leaf's more infamous moments comes with a reporter in the locker room. He is caught on camera yelling, "Just don't f------- talk to me, all right! Knock it off." After retiring, Leaf joins West Texas A&M's coaching staff as quarterbacks and golf coach. According to an ESPN report, Leaf resigns after allegedly asking one of his players for a pill to deal with his wrist pain.
2. Tony Mandarich, OT Drafted: Packers, 1989, Round 1, Pick 2
Mandarich is as intimidating as they come while an offensive tackle at Michigan State, and is named Big Ten Lineman of the Year twice. In 1989, Sports Illustrated labels him the best offensive line prospect ever, coining the moniker the "Incredible Bulk." He holds out until about a week before the first game in 1989, and then spends most of his time on special teams. Mandarich admits to using steroids in college and struggles with an addiction to painkillers. "I was taking Winstrol V, equipoise, Anadrol 50s, testosterone, Anavar, Dianabol," he tells ESPN.com. The Packers release him after the 1991 season.
3. Brian Bosworth, LB Drafted: Seahawks, 1987, Supplemental Draft
Bosworth makes the list because of the contract he signs coming into the league: 10 years, $11 million. He doesn't meet the hype. Bosworth has four sacks in his rookie campaign, but is out of football two seasons later. He's arguably had a better career in film than in football. In 1991, he hits the big screen in Stone Cold, and has made appearances in The Longest Yard and Three Kings.
4. Heath Shuler, QB Drafted: Redskins, 1994, Round 1, Pick 3
Shuler is Tennessee's all-world quarterback before Peyton Manning rolls around. In 1993, he finishes second in the Heisman voting. His professional career, however, pales in comparison to the mighty Manning's. With competition from fellow 1994 seventh-round pick Gus Frerotte, Shuler loses the Redskins' quarterback battle as a rookie. In his first season, Shuler's 1-7 record as a starter doesn't do much to wow the Hogettes. Though he goes 3-2 in 1995, he throws just three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Shuler is traded to the Saints before the 1997 season, but a foot injury curtails his time there and essentially ends his career. Shuler's time in Washington seems to inspire his current career: The North Carolina product is now a member of the House of Representatives for his home state.
5. Akili Smith, QB Drafted: Bengals, 1999, Round 1, Pick 3
Smith's tenure in the NFL pads the legacy of quarterback flops from Oregon. Taken after Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb, Smith is one of five quarterbacks taken in the first round. He's also one of many failed experiments for the Bengals under center, playing 22 games in four seasons with Cincinnati. Smith throws five touchdowns and 16 interceptions with the Bengals before failed attempts to make it as a backup with both the Packers and Buccaneers. Smith spends part of 2007 with the Calgary Stampeders, who release him, unimpressed.
6. Art Schlichter, QB Drafted: Colts, 1982, Round 1, Pick 4
The Colts go all-in on Schlichter, and lose. Aside from his on-field woes, Schlichter's gambling problems keep him in the headlines. By the end of the 1982 strike, Schlichter reportedly amasses around $700,000 in debts. In the winter of 1982 and spring of 1983, he loses $389,000 on basketball games. Schlichter goes to the FBI after his bookies try to strong-arm him, and he is the first player suspended for gambling since 1963. Schlichter's penchant for gambling continues after his suspension, and in January 1987, Commissioner Pete Rozelle refuses to allow Schlichter to sign with another team after his arrest for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar sports betting operation. He files for bankruptcy in 1988. Schlichter starts just six games in three seasons with the Colts.
7. Charles Rogers, WR Drafted: Lions, 2003, Round 1, Pick 2
Rogers' once-promising career is cut short because of injuries. During his rookie campaign, Rogers hauls in 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in his first five games, but breaks his collarbone in a speed drill and lands on injured reserve. He returns the next season and suffers the same injury on the third play of 2004. He's also suspended four games in 2005 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. In Sept. 2008, he's charged with assault and battery of a female acquaintance and is jailed in March of 2009 for violating probation.
8. Steve Emtman, DL Drafted: Colts, 1992, Round 1, Pick 1
Emtman tallies just eight sacks in six seasons in the NFL - not exactly what the Colts expect from their No. 1 pick and a future member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The injury-riddled Emtman finishes each of his three seasons with the Colts on injured reserve. He is just 27 when he retires after the 1997 season.
9. Blair Thomas, RB Drafted: Jets, 1990, Round 1, Pick 2
One of many Gang Green mistakes, Thomas is a prodigy in the Penn State backfield of the late 1980s. The Philadelphia native is a member of the 1986 national championship team and finishes with the second most yards in school history (3,301). He lasts only four years with the Jets, however, rushing for just 2,009 yards as injuries take their toll. After 1993, Thomas spends parts of the next two seasons with the Patriots, Cowboys and Panthers before calling it quits.
10. Curtis Enis, RB Drafted: Bears, 1998, Round 1, pick 5
Another in a string of Penn State running back busts, Enis never reaches his potential with the Bears. He lasts three seasons in Chicago, rushing for 1,497 yards and four touchdowns. By comparison, Enis rushes for 1,363 yards and 19 touchdowns in Happy Valley in 1997.
11. Ki-Jana Carter, RB Drafted: Bengals, 1995, Round 1, Pick 1 Three plays into his first preseason game, the script for Carter's NFL career is written. A torn ACL sidelines the Penn State product for his entire rookie campaign, and he never fully recovers. Carter amasses just 1,144 yards in 10 professional seasons with the Bengals, Redskins and Saints - compared to 2,829 yards as a Nittany Lion. Carter also has 38 touchdowns at Penn State, winning co-MVP of the 1994 Rose Bowl.
12. Bruce Pickens, CB Drafted: Falcons, 1991, Round 1, Pick 3 In 7 games his rookie season, Pickens racked up 7 tackles. He played in 16 games in 1992, starting 4, intercepting 2 passes and racking up 51 tackles. It would prove to be his most successful season. After starting 4 games for the Falcons in 1993, Pickens was traded to Green Bay and was again traded later in the season, this time to his hometown Kansas City Chiefs. He was not on an NFL roster in 1994, but played in all 16 games in 1995 for the Oakland Raiders (starting 1), where he racked up 12 tackles and recovered a fumble.
13. Tim Couch, QB Drafted: Browns, 1999, Round 1, Pick 1 The supposed face of the "new" Browns, Couch almost avoids the bust tag. After three ho-hum seasons, the Kentucky grad helps the Browns make the playoffs in 2002. But Couch breaks his leg during the final game of the regular season and watches Kelly Holcomb lead the team into Pittsburgh for a Wild Card playoff game. Though the Browns lose, the next season head coach Butch Davis dubs Holcomb the starter, effectively ending Couch's shot as the franchise quarterback of the reborn Browns. Couch has a preseason stint with the Packers in 2004 and the Jaguars in 2007, but is now out of football.
14. JaMarcus Russell, QB Drafted: Raiders, 2007 Round 1, Pick 1 While arguments may ensue about who should or should not be on this list, there is no denying that Russell belongs on the list. Russell is just atrocious as a starting quarterback and it seems like he will never regain his starting position. At the end of the 3 year waiting period, the Raiders have all but given up on Russell and handed the position to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski, a reject from Tampa Bay. As if that wasn't insulting enough, after Gradkowski was injured in a game against the Washington Redskins on December 13, 2009, Russell came in and promptly did what he does so well: miss receivers, overthrow the ball, and throw an interception. His 2009 quarterback rating is an unbelievable 50.0 with 2 touchdowns and 10 interceptions! Ouch! As if losing his job wasn't enough, the Raiders have since decided to hand the ball to another journeyman: Charley Frye. Who the heck is Charley Frye? He's a 2005 third round pick of the Cleveland Browns with a career 69.7 quarterback rating.
15. Lawrence Phillips, RB Drafted: Rams, 1996, Round 1, Pick 6 Phillips goes from running behind blockers at Nebraska to sitting behind bars. Phillips is a dominant force at Nebraska, leading the Cornhuskers to an undefeated season and a national title in 1994 and rushing for 1,722 yards. However, Phillips' legal problems start when he assaults an ex-girlfriend - the first in a long series of legal woes. After joining the Rams, Phillips is cut in just his second season with the club for feuding with head coach Dick Vermeil. He's picked up by the Dolphins, but carries the ball just 18 times for 44 yards. He later gets a shot with the 49ers, where he's remembered for missing the block on Aeneas Williams that ends Steve Young's career. He's currently serving a 10-year prison term for assault with a deadly weapon.
16. Andre Ware, QB Drafted: Lions, 1990, Round 1, Pick 7 Ware's star begins to rise at Houston, where he became the first black quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy in 1989. The Lions hope Ware and 1988 Heisman winner and future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders would lead Detroit to its first Super Bowl title. Instead, Ware plays just 14 games in four years, starting just six. Unable to hack it in the NFL, Ware flames out in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europe.
17. David Klingler, QB Drafted: Bengals, 1992, Round 1, Pick 6 Klinger wears Boomer Esiason's No. 7 for a brief time, but the Houston grad is far from a Super quarterback. While a Cougar, Klinger throws 11 touchdowns against Eastern Washington State on Nov. 17, 1990. That promise doesn't translate to the pros. Klinger, who plays sparingly in four games as a rookie, never gets things going in Cincy. Through three seasons, he tallies a 4-20 record, throwing 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. After playing in just three games - and starting none - in 1995, his final year with the Bengals, Klinger heads to Oakland for two more seasons, throwing just 31 passes.
18. Rick Mirer, QB Drafted: Seahawks, 1993, Round 1, Pick 2 Meet the guy Bill Parcells decides not to draft in favor of Drew Bledsoe. While Bledsoe helps lead the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Mirer gets mired in hard times. Despite starting all of Seattle's games in his rookie year and setting rookie records for attempts, completions and yards, his NFL star never rises to its heights at Notre Dame, where Mirer goes 29-7-1. The 1994 season is the only one in which Mirer throws more touchdowns than interceptions. Jets fans may remember Mirer's stint with Gang Green in 1999, when he posts a 2-4 record as a starter after Vinny Testaverde blows out his Achilles in Week 1. Mirer bounces around the Bay Area with the 49ers and Raiders between 2000 and 2003, and is now out of football.
19. Trev Alberts, LB Drafted: Colts, 1994, Round 1, Pick 5 After they struck gold with Marshall Faulk at the second pick of the draft, the Colts struck out with the fifth overall pick. Over a three year injury-riddled career, Alberts racked up just four sacks.
20. Rich Campbell, QB Drafted: Packers, 1982, Round 1, Pick 6 Drafted out of California, Campbell played just four seasons and attempted just 68 passes in his NFL career (30 in 1981 and 38 in 1984). He never started a game and did not attempt a single pass in 1982 or 1983. Looking back, it was pretty brave of Green Bay to take another Cal quarterback in 2005.
21. Joey Harrington, QB Drafted: Lions, 2002, Round 1, Pick 3 After a 25-3 mark as a starter at Oregon, the Detroit Lions think they land a quarterback that will turn their franchise around. Instead, he turns stomachs in Detroit. Harrington leads the Lions to a 3-13 mark in 2002. In 2004, Harrington shows some promise, throwing for 3,047 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, but that is as good as it gets for Harrington. He's sent packing by the Lions and starts 11 games for the Dolphins in 2006, then spends 2007 with the Falcons. He is currently a backup on the Saints.
22. David Carr, QB Drafted: Texans, 2002, Round 1, Pick 1 The hits just kept on coming for Carr, the first player selected in 2002 and the first in Texans' history. In his rookie season, Carr is sacked 76 times, the most any signal-caller has ever been taken down. The Texans finish 2-14. In 2004, Carr is sacked 49 times, but has his most productive season, throwing for 3,531 yards and 16 touchdowns. But Carr never becomes the face of the Houston franchise, partially because he is running for his life. In 2005, Carr is sacked 68 times. After the 2006 season, Houston trades for Atlanta backup Matt Schaub and Carr is released. He now backs up Eli Manning on the Giants.
23. David Terrell, WR Drafted: Bears, 2001, Round 1, Pick 8 Terrell was the first wide receiver taken in the 2001 draft. Other wide receivers in the 2001 draft: Reggie Wayne, Chris Chambers, Chad Johnson, Santana Moss and Steve Smith. His first year in the NFL was by far his best, scoring a total of 4 touchdowns. Terrell averaged 400 receiving yards per year in his 4 year career. Being the first receiver in the 2001 WR heavy draft is what makes him one of the draft's biggest busts.
24. Jack Thompson, QB Drafted: Bengals, 1979, Round 1, Pick 3 Thompson attempted just 370 passes in four years for the Bengals (234 in 1980). Thompson's best season was in his fifth season in the league for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he threw for 2,906 yards, 18 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Oddly, he was not the biggest quarterback bust to come out of Washington State...
25. Courtney Brown, DE Drafted: Browns, 2000, Round 1, Pick 1 After drafting Tim Couch first overall the previous year, the Browns think Brown will anchor their defense. Instead, Brown and Couch both flame out in Cleveland. Brown shows promise in his rookie campaign, with 4.5 sacks and 70 tackles. Injuries, though, curtail his time with the Browns and his career. He signs with the Broncos in the summer of 2005, but tears his ACL in 2006. After failing a physical in 2007, he retires.
26. Kelly Stouffer, QB Drafted: Cardinals, 1987, Round 1, Pick 6 Stouffer sat out his rookie season due to a contract dispute and had his rights traded to the Seattle Seahawks the following year. He enjoyed very brief success filling in for an injured Dave Krieg, but quickly fell out of favor in Seattle. He started 7 games in 1992, but was released the following year. Stouffer was signed by the Carolina Panthers in 1996 (four years after being released by the Seahawks), but never made the active roster.
27. Todd Blackledge, QB Drafted: Chiefs, 1983, Round 1, Pick 7 Chosen ahead of four future Hall of Famers (Bruce Matthews, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Darrell Green), Blackledge never started more than 8 games in a season and never passed for more than 2,000 yards or more than 10 touchdowns in any season. His best season came in 1986 when he played in 10 games (8 starts), completed 45.5% of his passes and threw for 1,200 yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
28. Joe Profit, RB Drafted: Falcons, 1971, Round 1 Pick 7 Profit lasted just three seasons in the NFL, rushing for just 471 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was probably the best thing that could have happened to him. He went on to have a very successful professional career in the information technology industry. Profit went on to serve on the FCC, White House Small Business Advisory committee and several other federal commissions, task forces, etc. He was even appointed to serve on the Internal Trade Commission by President Reagan. I don't think Profit has any problem with being labeled an NFL bust.
29. Mike Junkin, LB Drafted: Browns, 1984 Round 1, Pick 5 A guy who racked up big stats on a small-school Duke team, he just wasn't a very good player. And to think the Browns swapped a solid veteran in Chip Banks and flip-flopped a couple of draft picks with San Diego just to get a shot at him. Rod Woodson and Jerome Brown went a few picks later.
30. John Wesley Jones, WR Drafted: Jets, 1980, Round 1, Pick 2 Also known as Johnny "Lam" Jones, this speedy wideout never quite has the hands to cut it in the NFL. The most productive season of his five-year career comes in 1983, when he catches 43 passes for 734 yards and four touchdowns.
31. Andre Wadsworth, DE Drafted: Cardinals, 1998, Round 1, Pick 3 Selected behind Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, Wadsworth felt he deserved a contract in line with the two quarterbacks. His holdout lasted until the day before the season opener. Wadsworth played in all 16 games in 1998, recording 57 tackles and 5 sacks, but injuries shaped his next two seasons, which proved to be his last in the NFL. He attempted a comeback in 2007 that never panned out. It's hard to call a guy whose short career was largely due to injuries a bust (which is why he's 30 instead of in the top 10), but if you're picked third overall and spend your first offseason in the pros demanding more money, you better finish your career with a few pro bowls under your belt. (Remember that, Michael Crabtree.)
32. Dewayne Robertson, DT Drafted: Jets, 2003, Round 1, Pick 4 A pick that will forever live in infamy for the Jets. Gang Green trades two first-rounders for Robertson, who, despite playing in every game as a rookie, amasses just 1.5 sacks and 43 tackles. He never develops into the run-stopping force the Jets had hoped for, and in April 2008, is dealt to the Broncos - who release him after the season.
33. Tim Biakabutuka, RB Drafted: Panthers, 1996, Round 1, Pick 8 The Michigan record holder for rushing yards in a season (1,818, 1995) became the Panthers' second first-round selection in franchise history. Having taken Kerry Collins in the 1995 NFL Draft, they then set out to find a suitable compliment in the running game. Biakabutuka did not rush for over 500 yards in a season until 1999 and finished with just 2,530 yards and 14 touchdowns over his 7 year career.
34. Reggie Williams, WR Drafted: Jaguars, 2004, Round 1, Pick 9 Played for 5 years for the Jags and in 4 of those years scored a total of 8 TD's (average of 2TD's per year). Had a good season in 2007 scoring 10 touchdowns and 629 yards. Arrested in 2006 for possession of marijuana; February of 2009 arrested for DWI and possession of marijuana; then two months later he was arrested again for felony drug charges and fought with the police during the arrest. The police tasered Williams to get him under control and later found a bag of cocaine in his back pocket.
35. Reggie Rogers, DE Drafted: Lions, 1987 Round 1, Pick 7 Rogers couldn't get on the field for the Lions despite his immense talent. Then he slammed into a car while driving drunk and killed three teenagers, an offense that got him only one year in prison. The Bills and Buccaneers took a chance on him after he got out, but he ended up out of the league with only 15 games and two starts under his belt.
36. Keith McCants, LB/DE Drafted: Buccaneers, 1990, Round 1, Pick 4 Selected as a linebacker, McCants is eventually moved to defensive end. Despite 10 sacks at his new position in 1991 and 1992, the Bucs cut McCants after just three seasons in Tampa Bay. He plays for Houston and Arizona over the next two seasons, but only cracks the starting lineup twice. In March of 2008, McCants is arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and LOI.
37. Michael Haddix, RB Drafted: Eagles, 1983, Round 1, Pick 8 Rushed for over 300 yards once in 8 years (311 in 1990) and only scored 3 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career. This is the same year Roger Craig entered the draft and was selected with the 49th overall pick (second round).
38. Mike Williams, WR Drafted: Lions, 2005, Round 1, Pick 10 He was the third wide receiver taken in the first round in as many years by the Lions. He would be their second draft bust in three years. His rookie season was his most productive, playing in 14 games and catching 29 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown. He was traded to Oakland on draft day in 2007, but was released midway through the season. The Titans gave him a shot, but he never caught a pass in Tennessee.
39. Alex Smith, QB Drafted: 49ers, 2005, Round 1, Pick 1 Joe Montana. Steve Young. Alex Smith? No way. With the hopes of finding the next great 49ers quarterback, San Francisco picks Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers, now Brett Favre's successor in Green Bay. On a team with very little talent, Smith's rookie campaign is a disaster. He throws just one touchdown and gets intercepted 11 times. In 2006, he shows promise with Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, throwing as many touchdowns (16) as interceptions, but when Turner bolts to the Chargers, Smith's fortunes take a turn for the worse. He gets knocked out with a shoulder injury in 2007 after Seattle defensive lineman Rocky Bernard lands on him and doesn't play in 2008. He publicly feuds with former 49ers coach Mike Nolan, and takes a pay cut to stay with the 49ers in 2009. The 49ers haven't given up on Smith just yet, like the Raiders seem to have with JaMarcus Russell, but 2010 will determine whether Smith moves up or down this list.
40. Aundray Bruce, LB Drafted: Falcons, 1988, Round 1, Pick 1 Despite posting six sacks in each of his first two seasons, Bruce ultimately fails to become the dominant defensive force the Falcons expected. Atlanta cuts him after 1991, and he spends the next seven seasons with the Raiders, starting just seven games in a reserve role. In all, he starts just 42 of his 151 games in the league.
41. Larry Stegent, RB Drafted: Cardinals, 1970 Round 1, Pick 8 Normally, you don't rip a pick because of injury, but Stegent is about as bad as it gets. He played in seven games for the Cardinals and registered one catch - one - for 12 yards. That, folks, was his NFL career. Let's recap: one season, one catch, one injury. Done! That's some serious disappointment.
42. Alonzo Highsmith, RB Drafted: Oilers, 1987 Round 1, Pick 3 4 of the top 7 picks in the 1987 draft would flop. A member of the 1983 Miami Hurricanes national championship squad, Highsmith was selected by the Houston Oilers with the third overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. Expected to be their running back for years to come, Highsmith was less than impressive in his rookie season. In fact, the Oilers spent their first-round pick the following year to select yet another running back, Lorenzo White. Highsmith also played for the Cowboys and Buccaneers, but a series of knee injuries led to his retirement in 1992. Following the NFL, he turned to a career as a professional boxer and amassed a record of 27-1-1 in the heavyweight division.
43. Kevin Allen, T Drafted: Eagles, 1985 Round 1, Pick 9 He played one NFL season (poorly). Then he tested positive for cocaine when he reported to Eagles training camp in 1986, spent nearly three years in prison for sexual assault and was eventually banned from the NFL. And you can't mention him without the zinger from former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan, who said Allen was a good player to have around "if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass." Pro Bowler Jim Lachey, another offensive tackle the Eagles were considering, was taken three spots later and played 10 years in the league. Whoops!
44. Cedric Jones, DE Drafted: Giants, 1996, Round 1 Pick, 5 Jones managed 6, 9 and 13 tackles in his first three NFL seasons, respectively. He continued the upwards trend the following year, recording 43 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 1999, but would play just one more NFL season. Jones is blind in one eye.
45. Ryan Sims, DT Drafted: Chiefs, 2002, Round 1, Pick 6 They passed on Albert Haynesworth and John Henderson to pick Sims. Played in 74 games for the Chiefs and recorded 54 tackles, 5 sacks and 1 interception. He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2007 for an undisclosed future draft pick. Sims has averaged 1 sack per YEAR in his 8 year NFL career. He is still playing for the Bucs.
46. Jamal Reynolds, DE Drafted: Packers, 2001 Round, 1 Pick 10 The Packers traded Matt Hasselbeck and another first-round pick to move up and take Reynolds. Reynolds, whose lack of size (6-3, 260) hurt him, played three years, totaled 16 games (with no starts) and recorded three sacks. Perennial Pro Bowlers Marcus Stroud and Steve Hutchinson were taken just a few picks later. Well, even Ron Wolf, architect of the 1996 team that won the Super Bowl, makes mistakes.
47. Mike Williams, OT Drafted: Bills, 2002 Round 1, Pick 4 A standout offensive tackle for the University of Texas, Williams was expected to be a force in the NFL for many years to come. The Buffalo Bills took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft (ahead of players like Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, Ed Reed and Albert Haynesworth). While he was adequate at run blocking, he struggled at times in pass protection. He was eventually moved to left guard, but a series of injuries eventually led to the Bills cutting him after the 2005 season. He signed with the Jaguars in 2006, but another injury caused him to be placed on injured reserve for the year.
BTW - Mike Williams the offensive tackle should not be confused with Mike Williams, the draft bust taken by the Detroit Lions with the 10th pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. Let's just say the Matt Millen thing didn't work out too well.
48. Peter Warrick, WR Drafted: Bengals, 2000, Round 1, Pick 4 Peter Warrick was a standout wide receiver at Florida State with great speed and good hands. He was the MVP of the Sugar Bowl, and led Florida State to two consecutive appearances in the NCAA National Championship. His NFL career wasn't a complete disaster, as he managed to snare 79 catches for 819 yard and 7 touchdowns in 2003. He was eventually replaced by T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and was subsequently released after the 2005 season. Stops in Seattle and New England were his final NFL experiences before bouncing around in the Arena Football League, Canadian Football League, and most recently in 2009, the United Football League.
49. Vernon Gholston, LB Drafted: Jets, 2007, Round 1, Pick 6 Vernon Gholston was an absolute monster in college. In his last collegiate season, he recorded 14 sacks and was the only man to record a sack against number one pick Jack Long. Gholston's combination of size (6'4'', 265,) speed (4.58 40) and strength (37 reps) made him a highly coveted prospect. The only knock on him was the fact that he hadn't played football his whole life and needed work on coverage and was thus labeled a bit of a project. Gee, ya-think! After two seasons he's got 0 sacks and 30 tackles, 17 of them solo. DOH! He'll probably move up the bust board over the next few years.
50. Ken MacAfee, TE Drafted: 49ers, 1978, Round 1, Pick 7 MacAfee started at tight end in his first two seasons, catching 22 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown as a rookie and then 24 passes for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in his second season. After being asked to play guard in 1980, MacAfee left the team in favor of dental school. He has his own dental practice in Waltham, Massachusetts.- Danny Hobrock
Danny is a sports journalist primarily covering college football and professional baseball. His work for Xtra Point Football has garnered national attention and is critically acclaimed. Danny is the former editor of a political and current events website and the editor of our college football content.
- For player profiles and complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, visit our NFL Draft Prospects Home Page with new profiles being added each week.
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