6. Robert Griffin III (2012, Pick #2)
Thanks to a meteoric rise during his senior year at Baylor University, Robert Griffin III not only became a household name among college football fans, but with the help of a very catchy nickname (“RG3”), he became an outright phenomenon who would go on to win the 2011 Heisman Trophy. In the ensuing NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins traded three first-round picks to move up six spots in order to put themselves in position to draft Griffin.
Griffin had a downright magical rookie year, being named to the Pro Bowl after his first year, winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, and putting on several spectacular performances. But Griffin would let the fame — and his favoritism from owner Daniel Snyder — go to his head, clashing with former Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan (which led to the latter eventually being dismissed). Three years later, the Redskins made Griffin a game day inactive for the entire season, leading to his release just four seasons after he was drafted.