With the NFL Draft around the corner on April 28, teams always believe their first few picks can become cornerstones on their roster for years to come. Of course, that often isn’t the case.
Here’s a look at the least productive player selected at each draft position from 1-16 since 2000. As a subjective list, some of the choices can be debated. Players drafted last year were not a part of this as it takes more than one year to see how productive a player’s career is.
(Note: Gaines Adams, who was drafted fourth overall in 2007, is not included. He passed away in 2010 from cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.)
To see the best players selected at each draft position 1-16 since 2000, click here.
To see the best players selected at each draft position 17-32 since 2000, click here.
1. JaMarcus Russell (2007)
Taken by the Raiders out of LSU, Russell lasted just three seasons in the NFL. He went 7-18 as a starting quarterback with 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Dishonorable mentions: Courtney Brown (2000), David Carr (2002)
2. Charles Rogers (2003)
Rogers had 2,821 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior years at Michigan State. In 15 career NFL games from 2003-05, he compiled 36 catches for 440 yards.
Dishonorable mention: Jason Smith (2009)
3. Dion Jordan (2013)
Jordan, a defensive end, has more violations of the NFL's substance policy (three) than career starts (one).
He was suspended the entire 2015 season due to his violations.
Dishonorable mentions: Joey Harrington (2002), Vince Young (2006), Trent Richardson (2012)
4. Aaron Curry (2009)
Curry's professional career lasted all of just four seasons and 48 games. He had been the highest draft pick as a linebacker since LaVar Arrington went second overall in 2000.
Dishonorable mentions: Peter Warrick (2000), Mike Williams (2002)
5. Justin Blackmon (2012)
Troubles with the law and suspensions handed down by the NFL ended Blackmon's career effectively after the 2013 season. He was a two-time Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top wide receiver at Oklahoma State.
Dishonorable mention: Mark Sanchez (2009)
6. Vernon Gholston (2008)
The defensive end Gholston did not record a single sack at the pro level before his career was over after three seasons.
Dishonorable mention: Johnathan Sullivan (2003)
7. Troy Williamson (2005)
Williamson gets the nod over another wide receiver, Kevin White because White still has time to redeem himself. Drafted seventh by the Vikings in 2005, his career ended with only 87 catches for 1,131 yards and four touchdowns.
Dishonorable mentions: Kevin White (2015)
8. Justin Gilbert (2014)
Gilbert was suspended all of last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. If no team picks him for 2018 or after, the cornerback's career lasted 35 games with three starts and one interception.
Dishonorable mentions: David Terrell (2001), Jamaal Anderson (2007), Derrick Harvey (2008), Jake Locker (2011)
9. Dee Milliner (2013)
Injuries limited Milliner’s action on the field in 2014 & 2015, and he hasn’t played since.
In 21 career games, he has three interceptions.
Dishonorable mentions: Reggie Williams (2004), Keith Rivers (2008)
10. Jamal Reynolds (2001)
Reynolds’ career got off to a slow start as he didn’t play the first 10 games of his rookie year for the Packers. The defensive end played 18 games (zero starts) over three years and had three sacks.
Dishonorable mentions: Mike Williams (2005), Matt Leinart (2006), Blaine Gabbert (2011)
11. Aaron Maybin (2009)
It took the Bills just until his second season to see Maybin wasn’t productive and shouldn’t even see the field. The linebacker played 48 career games, only one of which was a start.
Dishonorable mention: Ron Dayne (2000)
12. Wendell Bryant (2002)
Bryant was suspended for the 2005 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and never played again.
The defensive tackle only appeared in 29 games recording 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Dishonorable mentions: Jimmy Kennedy (2003), Christian Ponder (2011)
13. Adam Carriker (2007)
An injury to his leg and multiple knee surgeries ended Carriker’s season prematurely in 2012 and kept him out of action in 2013. He can’t be considered a true bust (65 career games, 58 starts), but the 13th pick has done a good job at avoiding those.
Dishonorable mentions: None
14. Michael Haynes (2003)
The defensive end Haynes was cut by the Bears after three unproductive seasons. He tried latching on with a couple of other teams but never played in the NFL again ending his career with just 5.5 sacks.
Dishonorable mentions: None
15. Jerome McDougle (2003)
Injuries and bad luck (shot in an armed robbery which forced him to miss the 2005 season) derailed McDougle’s career before it could get going. The defensive end had three sacks in 37 career games.
Dishonorable mentions: Michael Clayton (2004), Tye Hill (2006)
16. Justin Harrell (2007)
The defensive tackle played 14 career games with two starts. That is the NFL resume for Harrell in a career with the Packers that lasted four uneventful seasons.
Dishonorable mentions: William Green (2002), Travis Johnson (2005), Larry English (2009), Quinton Coples (2012), E.J. Manuel (2013)
