I think one of the biggest NFL draft busts of all time has to be JaMarcus Russell. The Oakland Raiders took him first overall in 2007, and he was out of the league after just three seasons. He was a huge disappointment and is widely regarded as one of the biggest busts in NFL history.
One big draft bust was Ryan Leaf. He was taken second overall in 1998 by the San Diego Chargers, but he only lasted four seasons in the league. He struggled with injuries and poor performance and is now considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history.
Don’t forget about Akili Smith. He was taken third overall in 1999 by the Cincinnati Bengals and was supposed to be their franchise quarterback. However, he only started 17 games in his career and was out of the league after just four seasons.
How about Tim Couch? He was the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, taken by the Cleveland Browns. He had a promising rookie season, but injuries and poor performance plagued him throughout his career. He was out of the league after just five seasons.
There are so many NFL draft busts, but I have to mention Trent Richardson. He was taken third overall in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns and was supposed to be a star running back. However, he only played two seasons for the Browns before bouncing around to several other teams and eventually being out of the league. He’s considered one of the biggest draft busts in recent years.
I have to bring up Tony Mandarich. He was drafted second overall in 1989 by the Green Bay Packers and was supposed to be a dominant offensive lineman. However, he struggled with injuries and drug addiction, and he never lived up to the hype.
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