QB Jordan Love (2020, Green Bay)
Nobody knows the exact reason why the Packers decided to use a first-round pick on a QB with Aaron Rodgers still firmly in his prime. Maybe the team was trying to conjure up the same sort of magic the conjured after selecting a 22-year-old Rodgers with a three-time MVP Brett Favre still on the roster. There’s certainly an argument to be made that it lit a fire under Rodgers who is on his way to securing a second-straight MVP trophy. However, the selection may also be what ultimately drives Rodgers out of town.
Selecting Jordan Love started a clock on Rodgers’ remaining time in Green Bay. There were rumblings that Rodgers could be traded to another team dating back to last year’s draft. The two sides worked out an agreement for Rodgers to be with the team in 2021 – but that it would also be his final year with team. Early results for Love’s development haven’t been promising. If you’re going to make a pick which alienates Aaron Rodgers the player you selected better be special. So far, there’s no indication of Love being that caliber of player.
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RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2020, Kansas City)
The Chiefs surprised everyone when they made Edwards-Helaire the first running back taken in the 2020 NFL Draft. Many pundits expected him to have a large role for the defending champs. In 13 games, Edwards-Helaire totaled 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. Those numbers look good overall, but his production dwindled towards the end of the year – and took a significant hit once former Steeler RB Le’Veon Bell joined the team.
With Bell gone, Edwards-Helaire was once again set to be KC’s clear bell-cow. However, he has failed to make an impact in 2021. In fact, the Chiefs offense looks just about the same whether it’s been Edwards-Helaire, Darrell Williams or Derrick Gore toting the rock. If Kansas City wanted a true difference-maker at running back, they would have been better of selecting a better pure runner in Jonathan Taylor or a more explosive pass-catching option in D’Andre Swift.
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QB Daniel Jones (2019, New York Giants)
The Giants shocked everyone on draft night when they confidently selected Daniel Jones sixth overall after neglecting the quarterback position the year prior. Jones was selected as Eli Manning’s successor, and wasted little time taking over the starting role from the two-time Super Bowl winner. Jones joined an offense featuring multiple playmakers, and showed promise despite having a tendency to turn the ball over. Year 2 was rocky, at best, but Jones’ backers pointed to the lack of WR options and the injury to RB Saquon Barkley as a main reason for the QB’s regression.
Following a third mediocre campaign, it looks like the Giants could be moving in a different direction. In 38, Jones has now turned the ball over a whopping 57 times. The Giants finished 31st in points per game in 2020, only ahead of the putrid Jets. The Giants have scored 30 or more points just one time in Jones’ previous 26 starts. Equipped with two first-round picks in 2022, the Giants will almost certainly be doing their homework on all of the top incoming QB prospects.
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QB Baker Mayfield (2018, Cleveland)
Baker Mayfield has shown flashes of being a competent NFL quarterback. He set the rookie record for touchdowns (27) after starting the season as a backup. Following a down sophomore season, Mayfield responded well in Year 3 with a 26-TD, 8-INT campaign that culminated in Cleveland’s first playoff victory since 1994. Still, there were plenty of questions the former No. 1 overall pick needed to answer in terms of his potential as a franchise-leading QB.
Mayfield has failed to answer those questions by his fourth year in the league. Somehow, Mayfield seems to have regressed as a passer. His QB rating ranks among the league’s worst – the only starters with a lower QBR than Mayfield are four first-year players (Lawrence, Wilson, Fields, and Mills) plus Sam Darnold. It’s not like the Browns failed to put significant talent around their prized pick. Cleveland boasts one of the league’s best offensive lines plus a deep pool of skill players.
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QB Tua Tagovailoa (2020, Miami)
Year 1 was shaky for Tua who was in and out of the lineup. He made his first official start in Week 7, but was taken out mid-game on several occassions throughout the season in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Rookies tend to be inaccurate, and Tua was no different. Tagovailoa also made it known that he didn’t have a great grasp on the team’s playbook last year – not a great sign for a player who is supposedly your franchise cornerstone.
Fair or not, Tua will always be compared to the other top quarterbacks from his draft class – Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. Both Burrow and Herbert hit the ground running, while Tua has struggled mightily. When a group of quarterbacks are taken in the first round, there always seems to be at least one who doesn’t pan out. It’s not too late to turn it around, but the odds are stacked against Miami’s young QB.
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DE Clelin Ferrell (2019, Las Vegas)
No two draft busts are the same and there are several variations within the genre. There are loud drafts busts — i.e. Jamarcus Russell — who triumphantly flame out of the league in dramatic fashion and leave a reel of lowlights in their wake that fans can chuckle at for years proceeding their exit. And then there are the quiet busts. These ones might even show some promise their rookie year, but they slide under the radar, slowly lose playing time to an undrafted player out of BYU, maybe change teams a few times, and are eventually out of the league at 28.
Ferrell wasn’t even the best pass rusher Vegas selected in the 2019 Draft — that would be fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby from Eastern Michigan. Vegas had a chance to transform its defense with guys like Devin White, Josh Allen or Devin Bush, but opted for the pedigree in Clemson’s Ferrell. Not one of Mike Mayock’s shining moments as the Raiders’ GM.
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CB Damon Arnette (2019, Raiders)
There aren’t many franchises with a darker recent draft history than the Raiders. Vegas has whiffed on several picks dating back to the start of the new Millennium. Hearing names like Jamarcus Russell, Robert Gallery, and Darrius Heyward-Bey still sends shivers down the collective spine of Raider Nation. In recent years, the Mayock-Gruden tandem made several puzzling picks. Perhaps none worse than former Ohio State corner Damon Arnette.
Arnette was viewed as a reach with the 19th overall pick in 2020, and has done nothing during his Raiders tenure to prove he was worthy of that selection. In Year 2, Arnette was already buried deep down on the depth chart with the emergence of Nate Hobbs and 32-year-old veteran Casey Hayward Jr. The Raiders cut ties with Arnette in November following a series of social media posts made by the CB which featured him making death threats and brandishing a firearm. He was signed by the Dolphins practice squad but has yet to make his Miami debut.
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QB Sam Darnold (2018, New York)
The 2018 QB class will be talked about for years to come. The good: breakout star Josh Allen and league MVP Lamar Jackson – the third and fifth QB’s selected, respectively. The bad: the previously mentioned Baker Mayfield and Darnold – the first two QB’s selected. The Jets put an end to the Darnold era by selecting BYU QB Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick back in last year’s draft. Darnold was jettisoned to Carolina, and it hasn’t gone all that much better.
The early returns were great. Carolina began the season 3-0 and Darnold was unleashed as a dual threat who had the ability convert big plays on the ground. Unfortunately, in typical Darnold fashion he has been mired by inconsistency. He’s thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (7) for the second year in a row. The Panthers are 1-6 over Darnold’s last seven starts and have been one of the league’s worst offenses over the second half of the season.
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WR Jalen Reagor (2020, Philadelphia)
This could be one the Eagles faithful hold onto for a very, very long time. It was not an ideal rookie campaign for Reagor. The TCU speedster was projected to be one of the top WR’s taken off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Eagles weren’t scared off after a disappointing 40-yard time (Reagor ran a 4.47 after many believed he could break into the 4.2-range), and took him with the 21st overall pick.
One pick later, the Vikings – who had acquired the 22nd overall pick in exchange for All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs – took LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Going back-to-back in the draft and playing the same position, Reagor and Jefferson will likely be linked for the remainder of their careers. In Year 2, Reagor is averaging 17.5 yards per game to Jefferson’s 90. Reagor will soon pass 700 career yards – or half as much as Jefferson had in his record breaking 1400-yard rookie campaign. Ouch. Sorry, Philly fans.
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QB Josh Rosen (2018, Arizona)
Rosen has received the short-end of the stick on more than one occasion during his NFL career. The 23-year-old is now on his third team in as many years, currently residing as a practice squad player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cardinals traded up in the 2018 NFL Draft for a chance to select Rosen. The former UCLA passer started 13 games in his rookie year for Arizona, but the Cardinals won just three games all year (all came with Rosen as the starter) which led to them securing the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Arizona selected Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, and Rosen was deemed expendable. Rosen then lost a position battle in Miami to Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the Dolphins selected their QB of the future in Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft. Rosen now looks for a fresh start in Tampa San Francisco Atlanta, but something has to be said about how easily each of his two three four former teams were willing to part with Rosen.
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QB Mitchell Trubisky (2017, Chicago)
It’s not too often you see a QB get benched with an undefeated record. The Bears were 2-0 when they pulled Trubisky in favor of backup Nick Foles while trailing in a game versus the Atlanta Falcons. Foles would go on to lead a comeback victory against the Falcons, and Trubisky had officially lost his starting job. Neither QB fared particularly well throughout the year, and it was Trubisky who eventually earned the playoff start – leading an offense that scored just 9 points in a loss to the Saints.
Though he holds an admirable 29-21 career record as a starter, Trubisky has been nothing short of a disaster as a former No. 2 overall pick. After four years in Chicago, the Bears moved on from their QB by selecting Ohio State dual threat Justin Fields in the 2021 draft. Trubisky is now serving as Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo. The sting of selecting Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson will last within Bears’ fans minds for quite some time.
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CB Jeff Okudah (Lions, 2020)
Like every player drafted in 2020, Jeff Okudah walked into an unfavorable situation as a first-year player. With a shortened off-season regimen, rookies were tasked with learning everything on-the-fly. Cornerback, in particular, is said to be one of the most difficult positions to get acclimated at the NFL level. Okudah was one of many rookie corners who struggled, but he was also the first one drafted.
Detroit took Okudah third overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, ahead of names like Justin Herbert, Isaiah Simmons, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs and Ceedee Lamb. Okudah didn’t play well in Year 1 and landed on the injured reserve in December. In the Lions first game in 2021, Okudah tore his Achilles tendon and underwent season-ending injury. Poor play and the inability to stay on the field is not a recipe for NFL success.
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QB Drew Lock (2019, Denver)
A team in dire need of improved QB play, the Broncos were believed to have gotten a steal after selecting Drew Lock with the 42nd overall pick in ’19. Lock showed immense arm talent at Missouri to go along with some playmaking ability on the run. It isn’t too often you find a player of his pedigree in the second round. Year 1 went splendidly after Lock spent a majority of the year on the bench. Once he was named a starter, Lock led the Broncos to a 4-1 record down the stretch and exhibited the characteristics of a franchise QB.
It all fell apart in 2020. Lock was one of the least productive quarterbacks in the league as sophomore, despite Denver having a strong collection of pass-catchers. Lock led the league in interceptions (15) and recorded the worst completion percentage (57.3) among 35 qualified QB’s. The Broncos chose not to address the QB position in April’s draft, but did acquire veteran Teddy Bridgewater via trade. Denver has been a far more competent team with Bridgewater center than Lock. It seems like the youngster gives the offense no chance to win games with his routine mistakes and shaky decision-making.
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WR Andy Isabella (2019, Arizona)
5-foot-9, 180-pound Andy Isabella was selected 62nd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft – two picks before the 6-foot-4, 230-pound juggernaut D.K. Metcalf was taken by Seattle. Safe to say, the Seahawks are overjoyed by the fact that their division-rival Cardinals opted to go with one WR over the other. Metcalf is primed to dominate the NFC West for the next several years, while Isabella will fight for touches at the bottom of the Cardinals depth chart.
Arizona’s offseason acquisitions give a glimpse into their comfort level with Isabella. Already boasting a WR group featuring Deandre Hopkins and Christian Kirk, the Cards went out and signed seven-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green and spent a second-round pick on Purdue’s Rondale Moore. Green and Moore have both been boons for the Cardinals, relegating Isabella to the very bottom of Arizona’s depth chart.
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OT Isaiah Wilson (2020, Tennessee)
Availability is the most important ability, and Isaiah Wilson was unavailable in Year 1 for the Titans. Following an excellent two-year run starting at Georgia, Wilson was taken 29th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Titans have typically fared well drafting in this range, but Wilson was a clear miss. Wilson entered the year expecting to battle for a starting job, but wound up playing in just one game all season. The former Bulldog spent the entirety of the year on-and-off the reserve/COVID list as he dealt with several off-the-field issues.
Wilson was arrested and charged with a DUI in September. In December, Wilson was suspended for violating team rules. Less than a month later, Wilson was stopped on the road again – this time for driving 140 MPH and was charged with a felony for evading the police. After claiming to his Twitter followers that he was “done with football”, the Titans traded the 22-year-old to Miami for a seventh-round pick. He was released three days later after missing a physical. Wilson has been a member of the Giants practice squad since September.
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OT Andre Dillard (Eagles, 2019)
By most measures, Andre Dillard grades out as a perfectly competent tackle in the NFL. However, first-round picks are typically expected to be more than competent. Dillard has been mostly a reserve during his time with the Eagles. The only time he gets a chance to start is when one of the Philly’s other linemen go down with an injury. In three seasons, Dillard has started in just eight of 24 games.
While having depth is a vital asset to any team, the Eagles could have afford to upgrade its weak defense or shaky receiving corp with their first-round pick instead. Some of the names Philadelphia passed on to select a backup tackle include WR’s Marquise Brown and Deebo Samuel, CB’s Byron Murphy Jr. and Trayvon Mullen, and pass rusher Montez Sweat. If they were set on drafting the best possible reserve lineman, Philly should have taken the versatile Elgton Jenkins (44th overall to GB) who can play every spot on the line.
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WR John Ross (2017, Cincinnati)
The disappointing start to John Ross’ career is a story that feels all too familiar within the NFL. Ross leaped up draft boards after posting a record-breaking 40-yard-dash time of 4.22-seconds at the 2017 NFL Combine. With teams yearning for a speed threat on the outside, Ross flew all the way up to No. 9 overall in the draft — ahead of names like Patrick Mahomes, Marshon Lattimore and Deshaun Watson. Ross has been plagued with injuries ever since, though he hasn’t exactly been productive when he’s suited up. In 32 career games, Ross is averaging just 28.8 yards per contest. He’s spent 2021 as a reserve for the New York Giants.
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RB Sony Michel (2018, New England)
Selecting a running back in the first round in today’s NFL landscape will always raise a few eyebrows, but selecting a bad running back is downright indefensible. Michel has been an uninspired runner for the Patriots over the last three seasons. Billed as an electric do-it-all back with big play potential, Michel has failed to live up to the hype. He lacks top-end speed and has been virtually invisible in the passing game. With the emergence of Damien Harris, New England finally cut ties with Sony Michel and shipped him to the Los Angeles Rams. While Michel has run well in spurts for LA, Once Cam Akers returns to health, it’s likely that Michel will be a third-string option on LA’s depth chart.
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WR N’Keal Harry (2019, New England)
The Patriots are very good at a lot of things, but drafting in the first round hasn’t been their strong suit over the past few years. Harry was an exceptional college player at Arizona State where he finished second in the Pac-12 in receiving yards in each of his last two seasons. The start to his NFL career hasn’t quite been as successful, as the 32nd overall pick (second WR taken) has battled injuries and a lack of playing time.
The Patriots desperately needed to add a playmaker with this pick to aid Tom Brady, and seeing all of the players they could have had instead of Harry makes the selection look even worse. In the second round alone, we saw names like D.K. Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Miles Sanders, A.J. Brown, and Mecole Hardman come off the board. If they had taken a different (better) WR here, then maybe the team wouldn’t have had to spend $26 million in Nelson Agholor this past offseason. And with a better receiving corps, there’s a chance Brady never leaves New England in the first place.
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CB Deandre Baker (2019, New York Giants)
The easiest path to becoming a draft bust is to not play at all. And what easier way to not play than to get yourself cut. Just a year after selecting him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft (30th overall), Baker was released from the New York Giants after being charged with armed robbery. The Giants traded three picks to the Seattle Seahawks for the pick that ended up becoming Baker. It’s safe to say the Giants will not be getting their value back for all those picks they traded away.
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WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (2019, Philadelphia)
The Eagles have had their fair share of rotten draft picks at WR. Philly attempted to grab Wentz a big-time perimeter threat in Stanford’s Arcega-Whiteside, but the move has backfired considerably. Arcega-Whiteside can hardly stay on the field even when multiple Eagles pass-catchers have been forced to miss games due to injury. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, and caught just 10 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown. JJAW was selected seven spots ahead of Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf — who has nearly twice as many career touchdowns (25) than Arcega-Whiteside has career receptions (14). Philly hopes after missing on Arcega-Whiteside and Reagor that they finally found a No. 1 receiver in former Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Third time’s a charm.
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WR Corey Coleman (2016, Cleveland)
HBO’s Hard Knocks can create stars and also highlight potential busts. Coleman, frustrated by his place as a second-stringer, became the center of attention on the show when he entered then-Browns coach Hue Jackson’s office and demanded a trade. Coleman had been on the Browns for two seasons after being selected 15th overall (the first receiver off the board) in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The change of scenery didn’t amount to much for the Baylor product, as Coleman eventually landed on the Giants where he caught five passes in eight appearance for New York in 2018. He missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL, and is now loitering on the Giants practice squad roster in hopes of making a return.
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CB C.J. Henderson (Jaguars, 2020)
It’s never a good sign when a first-round pick is traded early on in their career. That was the case with Jaguars first-rounder C.J. Henderson who was taken 9th overall in 2020. Henderson played eight games with Jacksonville in Year 1 before a groin injury ended his year prematurely. Heading into his second year, there were high expectations for Henderson as he was set to line up opposite Pro Bowl CB Shaquill Griffin who had been acquired in free agency. It took just two games into his sophomore campaign for the Jaguars to conclude they had seen enough. Henderson was shipped to Carolina for TE Dan Arnold and a swap of mid-round draft picks.
Though Jacksonville was quick to cut ties, the disastrous pick could prove to have a lasting impact on the team moving forward. Jacksonville was mired by poor play from its WR group in Trevor Lawrence’s first year with the club. Looking at the 2020 draft class, the team could have used the first-round selection on a number of gifted wideouts including Jerry Jeudy, Ceedee Lamb, or Justin Jefferson. Instead, the Jags waited until the second round to address the position by taking Laviska Shenault who hasn’t yet proven to be a consistent downfield threat.
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QB Mason Rudolph (2018, Pittsburgh)
Steeler fans got a chance to take a glimpse at their post-Roethlisberger future when Mason Rudolph stepped in as a starter in 2019, and it looked awfully dreadful. Rudolph wasted no time in making it certain he will not be the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh. The former Oklahoma State QB posted a 36.8 QBR in eight starts. The Steelers failed to reach 30 points in any game Rudolph was featured in.
With Ben Roethlisberger set to retire, Steeler fans perhaps got a glimpse into the team’s future when Rudolph stepped in earlier this season. In his only start in 2021, Rudolph and the Steelers had to settle for a tie against a winless Detroit Lions team.
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OG Alex Leatherwood (2021, Vegas)
Here come the Raiders…again! A signature staple of all Mayock-Gruden drafts was flubbing their first pick and finding value in the later rounds. 2021 looks to be no different. Trevon Moehrig (2nd), Divine Deablo (3rd), and Nate Hobbs (5th) have all proven to be quality selections on the defensive side of the ball. However, we can’t say the same about Vegas’ first-round selection, former Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood.
Selected 17th overall, Vegas scooped up the 2020 Outland Trophy winner a bit earlier than most expected. After making a shift from tackle back to guard, Leatherwood has failed to produce at either spot. Reportedly, the team wanted to select Northwestern lineman Rashawn Slater, but he was taken four picks earlier by their rival Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders won a rather meaningless game in Week 17 of 2020 versus the Broncos after already being eliminated from postseason contention. Had they not won that game, Vegas would have been in position to select Slater who has graded out as one of the top tackles (not just among first-year players) this season.
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LB Rueben Foster (2017, San Francisco)
Foster tumbled down boards following a failed drug test during the 2017 draft process. The Alabama standout was looked at as one of the best overall defenders in the entire class, and 49ers were likely filled with glee when they saw he was still available when they were picking 31st overall in the first round. He would go on to play two seasons for the 49ers before being cut following an arrest for domestic violence. Foster was a rare miss for this current 49ers regime. He was selected in between two future All-Pros — Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt and New Orleans tackle Ryan Ramczyk. He signed with Washington prior to the 2019 season but sustained a torn ACL and LCL during his first practice with the team.
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CB Eli Apple (2016, New York Giants)
The top of the 2016 draft was absolutely stacked with talent. Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Ronnie Stanley, Jared Goff, Jack Conklin, Jalen Ramsey, and Carson Wentz are all integral to their teams’ success, but rounding out the top-10 is a journeyman cornerback who has already been on three teams in his career. Apple’s career started off shaky as teammate Landon Collins even reportedly referred to him as a “cancer” within the team. Apple spent two years with the Giants, had one forgettable season with the Saints, played with the Panthers last year, and is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
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CB Mike Hughes (2018, Vikings)
The Vikings have had trouble scouting cornerbacks in recent years. 2020 first-round pick Jeff Gladney isn’t off to a great start, though a glimmer of hope still remains for the 24-year-old who started 15 games for Minnesota as a rookie. 2016 second-round pick Mackensie Alexander and 2015 first-round pick Trae Waynes made a combined zero Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams during their Vikings’ careers.
Mike Hughes has been equally as unimpressive as the rest. The 30th overall pick in 2018, Hughes was expected to be a contributor as both a cornerback and return specialist for the Vikes. He didn’t contribute much in either department and lasted just three seasons in Minnesota – finishing his Vikings career with two interceptions and 224 total return yards in 24 games. Now, Hughes is one of the many defensive backs who routinely get burned for the awful Kansas City Chiefs defense.
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QB Jameis Winston (2015, Tampa Bay)
Jameis Winston led the league in passing yards in 2019, and his former team still seemed perfectly content letting him walk in free agency. Winston has always been a sort of enigma within the NFL. While he boasts the arm talent of a top-tier quarterback, his dreadful decision-making has made him an expendable asset. One of college football’s winningest QB’s of all-time, Winston has not shown that he’s capable of playing consistently winning football in the NFL.
With Drew Brees announcing his retirement, Winston was elevated to the starting position in 2021. Though fans were interested to see how Winston would fare in Sean Payton’s offense, we were instead treated to a run-heavy scheme which emphasized keeping the ball out of Winston’s hands to limit turnovers. Outside of an impressive Week 1 performance which saw Winston toss five touchdowns against the Packers, the Saints offense looked rather pedestrian with Jameis under center. A torn ACL and MCL ended Winston’s first-year as New Orleans’ starter prematurely.
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QB Marcus Mariota (2015, Tennessee)
Mariota lit the Pac-12 on fire during his time at Oregon, and looked the part of a franchise QB early on in his NFL career. After taking over as the team’s full-time starter in Year 2, Mariota led the Titans to three consecutive winning seasons. In 2017, Mariota led the Titans’ first postseason win in 10 years with a 22-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. And then, the injury bug hit. Mariota was zapped of his athleticism, and has looked timid in the pocket ever since. After being usurped of the starting role by Ryan Tannehill, Mariota’s now featured as Derek Carr’s primary backup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
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DE Solomon Thomas (2017, San Francisco)
The 49ers will forever be known as the team that “fleeced” the Bears on draft night in 2017. In exchange for moving down exactly one spot in the draft, the 49ers received a heap of Chicago’s draft picks while still having the ability to draft the player they ultimately wanted — in this case, Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. While the extra picks certainly helped San Francisco’s rebuilding process, Thomas didn’t turn out to be the prized possession they were hoping for.
Thomas was used as mostly a reserve during the 49ers’ Super Bowl run in 2019, and has just 6.0 career sacks in 48 games. Thomas has had a resurgence as a rotational player with the Raiders, but more was expected out of the No.3 pick. He’s enjoyed a quiet resurgence as a rotational piece for the Raiders, but certainly hasn’t produced at the level a top-three draft pick should.
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QB Blake Bortles (2014, Jacksonville)
Bortles had one of the more prolonged runs as a starter among QB’s who are now considered draft busts. Bortles operated as the Jaguars’ primary starter for the better part of five seasons, and even engineered a trip to the AFC Championship game in between. Expectations were high following Jacksonville’s run in 2017, but the team took a massive step back the following year which led to Bortles’ benching towards the end of the season.
It was a dramatic fall from grace for the former third overall pick. After spending last season with the Rams, Bortles is now a member of the Green Bay Packers. With Aaron Rodgers potentially on the move, we could see Bortles back on the field sooner rather than later.
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