24. Rick Mirer (1993, Pick #2)
If you’re looking for a cautionary tale of why you should never anoint someone as “the next [legendary player],” look no further than the case of Rick Mirer. A prolific quarterback at Notre Dame University, finishing among the school’s historical leaders in several passing categories, Mirer was anointed by some zealous college football fans and Fighting Irish alumni as “the next Joe Montana.”
That’s why there was a riveting debate leading up to the 1993 NFL Draft, when teams evaluated Mirer versus the other quarterback stud in the draft, Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe would end up going #1 overall, with the Seattle Seahawks then taking Mirer at #2. After a somewhat promising rookie season, Mirer would go on to throw 39 interceptions over his next three years as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, culminating in Seattle trading him to Chicago in 1997. He subsequently demanded a release, and spent the rest of his career as a journeyman backup.