As Sonny Weaver mentioned within the film Draft Daysome crew at all times walks out of Spherical 1 wanting like a donkey.
It’s the reality. You understand concerning the JaMarcus Russells and the Ryan Leafs as a result of they’re at all times talked about among the many worst picks in NFL Draft historical past. However let’s check out a few of the extra slept-on busts — those that don’t get sufficient scrutiny.
Josh Rosen, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Nothing screams “bust” fairly like a first-round quarterback who was changed by the No. 1 total choose the very subsequent 12 months, however that’s precisely what occurred to Josh Rosen.
Rosen was chosen No. 10 total by the Arizona Cardinals within the 2018 NFL Draft, began simply 13 video games as a rookie, gained solely three of them, and was promptly changed by Kyler Murray — the No. 1 total choose within the 2019 draft.
As a rookie, Rosen threw 11 landing passes to 13 interceptions whereas finishing simply 55 p.c of his passes. He was solely 21 years outdated, although.
He obtained one other alternative with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, shedding all three video games that he began whereas throwing only one landing cross in comparison with 5 interceptions. His subsequent NFL motion got here in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons, the place the 24-year-old Rosen didn’t look developed in any respect, throwing two extra interceptions in simply 11 makes an attempt.
After bouncing across the league as a third-string quarterback and a apply squad man, Rosen is presently a pupil on the Wharton College of Enterprise on the College of Pennsylvania.
Justin Gilbert, CB, Cleveland Browns
Yeah, yeah, yeah. A homeless man advised Cleveland Browns proprietor Jimmy Haslam to draft Johnny Manziel. We’ve all heard the identical humdrum story each single draft. However seldom talked about is the truth that the Browns had an excellent worse choose at No. 8 total.
Gilbert was broadly thought of probably the greatest cornerbacks within the 2014 class, however the Browns by no means even met with him earlier than choosing him within the prime 10.
He missed practices for oversleeping his alarm and was flat-out unplayable within the secondary.
The No. 8 total choose began solely three video games for the Browns — who weren’t precisely stacked with expertise on the time — earlier than being traded to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016 for a future sixth-round choose. Speak about giving up on a man.
Mike Tomlin couldn’t save Gilbert, both. He fell out of the league after simply 12 video games in Pittsburgh.
His final recognized cease in soccer was with the Sioux Metropolis Bandits of the Nationwide Enviornment League.
Russell Erxleben, P, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints made Erxleben the highest-drafted particular groups participant within the widespread draft period once they chosen the punter No. 11 total in 1979.
Whereas that may look like a very long time in the past, it’s nonetheless current sufficient to know higher.
Throughout his first two seasons, he tried to be each the kicker and the punter for the Saints however wasn’t nice at both. He switched to only punting, the place he lasted solely three extra seasons in New Orleans.
So as to add insult to harm, he was chosen simply two slots forward of Corridor of Fame tight finish Kellen Winslow. Erxleben would later obtain a seven-year sentence for operating an unlawful funding rip-off.
Vernon Gholston, OLB, New York Jets
Talking of Draft DayGholston was the unique No. 50 exterior linebacker out of Ohio State. However he by no means panned out the best way the film anticipated Vontae Mack would within the NFL.
The Jets drafted Gholston No. 6 total within the 2008 NFL Draft. He a minimum of lasted three seasons in New York, showing in 45 video games — however beginning none of them — and recording precisely zero sacks.
