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If there was ever a position in the NFL Draft that best symbolized the idea of the draft being “more art than science,” it’s the wide receiver position. You could have athletes built like Greek gods, with the speed and fluidity of a cheetah, and all the college production you could ask for, only to watch them turn into complete flops when they get to the NFL.
Don’t believe us? Go back and take a look for yourself. For every one stud receiver you’ll find that was selected with a first round pick in the draft, you can probably find three more busts – who we all thought were “can’t-miss” guys when they were drafted.
If you need even more proof, take a look at this list of 32 of the most disastrous first round picks at wide receiver.
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Tbolden says
So the moral of the story is the Jacksonville jaguars don’t know how to draft wide receivers
Thomas says
You forgot about Braylon Edwards
Mike Constantino says
Sammy Watkins should be on here too. He’s good when healthy and that’s not often. The main argument for his inclusion on this list is that he was the first WR chosen at 4th overall. Odell, Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks and Jarvis Landry all were taken later and all have been much, much better and that’s unlikely to change.
Mike Johnson says
Some interesting ones, I remember as an MSU fan, we had so much hopes for Charles Rodgers. He was 6’3, ran a legit 4.3. fo, had less than 4% body fat, vertical leap, and hands that could catch anything. However, he had attitude and off the field problems at MSU, which carried into his NFL career with the Lions. The last I read he got arrested, while running form the cops. Apparently these days, he runs a 4.8.
DHB-Raider fan man talk about a huge bust. I remember when Raiders selected him 9th, I as blown away because they had him as a projected low first rounder. However, nobody is surprised because if you run a 4.3, you are a Raider. DHB had all the tools, except he couldn’t catch a cold.
These two stand out only because of how high they were selected, Rodgers was the #2 pick, The Lions hoped they had their playmaker WR or the next decade. Well after injuries, substance abuse, and run ins with the law, he is out of the league. Now as for Desmond Howard, yes he was just a return specialist and I have nothing nice to say about UM guys but at least he lasted for 9 seasons, and won a SB.
Robert Rosenberg says
what about johnny lam jones?