2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Cleveland Browns

In a draft loaded with Hall of Fame caliber talent, Courtney Brown was considered the top prospect. If you could design a defensive end in a laboratory, he would look like Courtney Brown. At 6-foot-5 and 275 lbs, Brown ran the 40-yard dash in a mind blowing 4.52 seconds. That is faster than some running backs and wide receivers!

But nagging injuries (he missed over 1/3rd of the games in his six year NFL career) and a lack of a killer instinct, he never lived up to the lofty expectations. Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was once quoted as saying Courtney Brown “Look like Tarzan, play like Jane.”  Brown retired after the 2005 season — finishing his career with a total of 19 sacks in six season.

Looking back at it now, if you’re grading the 2000 NFL Draft, Brown was obviously the worst pick. And the best pick of the draft is just as obvious… With the 199th pick in the sixth round, the New England Patriots selected Tom Brady from the University of Michigan. The rest is history…