Ah, the NFL Draft—a time when teams dream of future glory, fans salivate over highlight reels, and sports analysts wax poetic about “can’t-miss” prospects. But sometimes, the only thing that gets missed is the mark. Here, we take a look at the five biggest NFL busts of all time, where the hype was sky-high, but the performance… well, let’s just say it was less “Pro Bowl” and more “What the hell were they thinking?”

1. JaMarcus Russell – The King of Letdowns

Let’s start with the undisputed champ of NFL busts: JaMarcus Russell. The Oakland Raiders thought they struck gold when they selected Russell as the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. I mean, who wouldn’t be enticed by a 6’6” quarterback who could throw a football 70 yards from his knees? Sadly, that was the last time anyone saw him put in any effort.

Russell showed up to training camp overweight, underprepared, and with a work ethic that made your average couch potato look like an Olympic athlete. His three-year NFL career was defined by erratic play, poor leadership, and an infamous love of “Purple Drank.” Russell’s stint with the Raiders was so bad it could be classified as a natural disaster.

2. Ryan Leaf – The Walking Disaster

Before JaMarcus Russell, there was Ryan Leaf, the NFL’s original cautionary tale. Taken second overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Leaf was supposed to be the alternative to Peyton Manning. Yeah, and New Coke was supposed to be better than the original.

Leaf’s NFL career was a masterclass in how not to be a professional athlete. On-field, he was a turnover machine, and off-field, he was a walking PR nightmare. His infamous meltdown with a reporter, combined with his generally terrible play, made him the poster child for NFL busts. Leaf lasted only four years in the league, leaving behind a legacy of shattered expectations and a highlight reel that looks more like a blooper reel.

3. Tony Mandarich – The Steroid Mirage

In the 1989 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Tony Mandarich with the second overall pick, ahead of future Hall of Famers like Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders. Mandarich was dubbed “The Incredible Bulk” and was supposed to redefine the offensive tackle position. What the Packers got instead was a steroid-fueled mirage.

Mandarich was exposed as a fraud when his play on the field didn’t come close to matching the hype. He was strong but slow, with a technique that was as effective as trying to tackle a ghost. Mandarich was out of the NFL in three seasons, leaving Packers fans to forever wonder what might have been if they’d gone with someone else—like, say, Barry Sanders.

4. Charles Rogers – The Short-Lived Star

The Detroit Lions have a long history of drafting wide receivers who don’t pan out, but Charles Rogers might be the most tragic of them all. Selected second overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, Rogers was supposed to be the next big thing in the Motor City. Unfortunately, injuries and off-field issues turned him into a cautionary tale.

Rogers played only 15 games in the NFL, with injuries sidelining him for most of his career. Even when he was on the field, he couldn’t replicate the success he had in college. By 2005, he was out of the league entirely, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.

5. Akili Smith – The Draft Day Disaster

When the Cincinnati Bengals selected Akili Smith with the third overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, they thought they had found their franchise quarterback. Spoiler alert: They hadn’t. Smith was raw, unpolished, and about as prepared for the NFL as a cat is for calculus.

In his four-year NFL career, Smith managed to throw just five touchdowns against 13 interceptions, posting a quarterback rating that would make even Tim Tebow cringe. The Bengals’ gamble on Smith set the franchise back years, proving once again that not all draft day dreams come true.

Honorable Mentions: The Almost Awfuls

Of course, the list of NFL busts could go on forever. Tim Couch, Matt Leinart, and David Carr all deserve mentions, but they at least showed glimpses of competency before fading into obscurity. The five we’ve listed here? They’re in a league of their own—the “Why, oh why did we draft this guy?” league.

Final Thoughts: A Cautionary Tale

The NFL Draft is a time of hope and excitement, but it’s also a time of great risk. For every Peyton Manning, there’s a Ryan Leaf. For every Barry Sanders, there’s a Tony Mandarich. The lesson here? No matter how much potential a player seems to have, there’s no guarantee they’ll live up to it. And when they don’t, they end up on lists like this—forever remembered as the biggest busts in NFL history.

So, the next time your team drafts the “next big thing,” maybe don’t buy that jersey just yet. You never know when you might end up with the next JaMarcus Russell.