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…
Mike says
2009 with the 11th pick Buffalo takes…Aaron Maybin….who? Exactly!
Sunbun says
I really appreciate this post. I been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
Jeffy says
The worst draft pick was London ball
Jeffy says
*lonzo ball
Ralph K says
There seems to be a pattern of the same teams over and over having high draft picks
Fail in the NFL. Cleveland, Buffalo, Oakland. Maybe it’s the GM, the coaches. Somebody
Not doing their homework. Teams like New England, Pittsburgh, Philly seem to get it right.
There was a time when Cincinnati and San Diego had a lot of 1st round busts. They seem to have figured out the science of potential picks.
John Smith says
the 2010 Draft… CJ Spiller was the worst pick? Really? Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen, Toby Gerhart to name a few. At least CJ Spiller is still playing.
Phinphan76 says
Stunned anyone would pick EJ Manuel over Dion Jordan as the worst pick of ’13. Manuel contributed at least a little bit. Combine that with the Dolphins moving up to take him at #3, and getting nothing for it. Awful.
G2008 says
David Carr and Joey Harrington weren’t busts, They both had average length careers. Not great but not busts. Neither had anything around them. I remember watching Harrington throw to a receiver who fell down, and the ball went over the WR to the DB for an interception. Even playing at Detroit, he was still ranked about 20 or so statistically for the starting QBs. Not great but not a bust. Harrington was also part of the mess in Atlanta when the coach quit part way through the year. He did manage to win a couple games for Atlanta which other starters that year. didn’t. Harrington’s biggest weakness was his agent, He just went from one disaster to another. I remember a joke video that erased Carr’s line and backfield., It just showed him and the center playing against the defense.
Paul says
Ted Ginn until recently never had a team that knew how to use him to maximize his talents. Sean Payton showed what everyone else had been missing this last season having Ginn play opposite Michael Thomas. 9th overall was definitely too high for Ginn’s Caliber, but I don’t think it’d be fair to call him a bust. The draft choice was a bust, that’s on Miami.
Other than that I enjoyed the list and agree with your analysis. I can respect the opinion on some of the comments about Mahomes and there not being enough time yet to tell, but guys who else would you have chosen from this last year’s draft instead? Mahomes id say, operative word here being tenetatively, is first in the running for the biggest bust of the draft year. Doesn’t mean he will stay that way.
Kurt Anderson says
Football is still a team sport. If the QB can’t throw a WR can’t catch the ball. If WR can’t catch, QB stats are bad. If O line can’t protect, QB doesn’t have time to go through progression. If Defense can’t stop rush or has porous secondary, then team loses even if have decent offense. And then there are the special teams …
Brett_D says
Tedd Ginn Jr was not a great NFL player, but hes been in the league 10 years, and still has good speed. Fantasy wise I love Cam. But he likes to take off and run, which kills values of receivers like Ginn.
Sai H says
Many other teams including the Patriots skipped over Brady few times in the draft you know. It’s not like the pick would have been obvious. Also it’s still too early to judge Lynch but then again, you morons made draft suggestions after each examples on whom you believe who the said team should have went with without taken some factors into considerations. But players like Brees or Brady on the Browns, the former would have play like his 2003 self while the latter would play like the guy drafted right after him.
njersey5389 says
David Carr wasn’t so bad. He got killed because of the offensive line.
hjdfyit says
Y’all are stupid Patrick is the future of the chiefs and you haven’t even given Lynch a chance. Y’all must have been drunk when you made this list.
Eric Szczesny says
Joey Harrington was taken after Julius Peppers. So no the Lions did not pass him for Joey.