Draft related- Players you thought would be great, but were busts

[Nunchucks]

Chad Jackson was a complete bust. I remember everybody being so hyped about him being drafted. Then in the first mini-camp the reporters were raving about his speed, smoothness, and ability to catch the ball. Maybe he didn't drop anything? I forget.

Then training camp happened.

 

[Bill Lee]

Maroney *was* a top player but got injured and never properly came back. That's the risk with first-round running backs. If you remember him in 2006 -- especially as a KR -- he was the most aggressive runner you could imagine. All that stuff about "dancing" was later.

We found a solution to that, we now draft pre-injured 1st round RBs #boneonbone.

 

[FortressX]

Trevor Matich

 

[Mike the Brit]

We found a solution to that, we now draft pre-injured 1st round RBs #boneonbone.

That's not just a joke.

I think BB has a policy of trying to "steal" players who would have gone earlier but for injury concerns, which is understandable when you are consistently drafting at the bottom of Round 1.

Unfortunately, the only ones I can think of where that worked are Gronk and (in the end) Cannon. On the other hand, there are Easley, Dowling, Brandon Tate, Stork and probably a few others I've forgotten. BB is a better scout than he is medical expert.

 

[Bill Lee]

That's not just a joke.

I think BB has a policy of trying to "steal" players who would have gone earlier but for injury concerns, which is understandable when you are consistently drafting at the bottom of Round 1.

Unfortunately, the only ones I can think of where that worked are Gronk and (in the end) Cannon. On the other hand, there are Easley, Dowling, Brandon Tate, Stork and probably a few others I've forgotten. BB is a better scout than he is medical expert.

Correct. Easley is the poster child for this. Of course, what else are you going to do? BB is already great at getting "middle class" players. The draft is when he takes a few swings for the fences by taking risks at players with high upsides but some other flaw, typically medical. In the case of Easley he also was a head case.

 

[SteveKiner]

No Shawn Crable peeps?

I watched a lot of the Big 10 then, Wisconsin Fan, and thought Crable was going to be a monster. He was an unbelievable talent with a nasty attitude especially against Wisconsin (multiple personal fouls) so I loved when they drafted him. I thought he was the next great outside LB for the Pats. Shows what I know. My scouting report on him was almost as bad as my feelings about TB12. "why waste a draft pick on this skinny kid from MI. We have Bledsoe and already have the qb of the future in Michael Bishop" What a dope Belichick is."
Sadly I also loved the Easley pick.

 

[rads2005]

I thought Courtney Brown and Dan Wilkinson would be a lot better than they were.

JJ Stokes too.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Does Brandon Spikes count as a bust? Easily the most disappointing LB to me, I thought he and Mayo would be a force for a long time. Then he went batshit crazy with his porn and legal problems and his 4 yEaRs A sLaVe garbage

 

[Chevy]

Tony Simmons
Chad Jackson

 

[Julius]

Anyone remember NT Mike Ruth out of Boston College?

Benched a mountain of weight, but he had short arms and could separate from offensive linemen. He was an unguided missile on the kickoff team, but my defining memory of him was watching him hopelessly dance with Dolphins great center Dwight Stephenson.

 

[PatsDeb]

I watched a lot of the Big 10 then, Wisconsin Fan, and thought Crable was going to be a monster. He was an unbelievable talent with a nasty attitude especially against Wisconsin (multiple personal fouls) so I loved when they drafted him. I thought he was the next great outside LB for the Pats. Shows what I know. My scouting report on him was almost as bad as my feelings about TB12. "why waste a draft pick on this skinny kid from MI. We have Bledsoe and already have the qb of the future in Michael Bishop" What a dope Belichick is."
Sadly I also loved the Easley pick.

I'm hoping you HATE this year's draft ;-)

 

[luuked]

Correct. Easley is the poster child for this. Of course, what else are you going to do? BB is already great at getting "middle class" players. The draft is when he takes a few swings for the fences by taking risks at players with high upsides but some other flaw, typically medical. In the case of Easley he also was a head case.

Comparing a bone-on-bone situation to Easley who had shredded knees from the get go is not really fair. One of the two is an immediate issue the other one something for the second contract really.

And lets also not forget that taking chances on injured players is the only reason why we have Gronk.

 

[Bill Lee]

Comparing a bone-on-bone situation to Easley who had shredded knees from the get go is not really fair. One of the two is an immediate issue the other one something for the second contract really.

And lets also not forget that taking chances on injured players is the only reason why we have Gronk.

Yes, I think that's an important clarification, and I agree that we have no choice but take some gambles on injured players.

FWIW, Sony Michel injury history and analysis gives Sony's injury history.

 

[NormZauchin]

Yes, I think that's an important clarification, and I agree that we have no choice but take some gambles on injured players.

FWIW, Sony Michel injury history and analysis gives Sony's injury history.

Michel's injury history doesn't seem to be a problem to me. Half of the injuries were three plus years ago in high school and one was non-football related. Just put a clause in his contract that he has to stay off all terrain vehicles, even if Gronk challenges him to a race riding a dirt bike.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

After watching highlight reels and workout footage of him effortlessly snagging balls out of air left and right, Chad Jackson looked pretty darn good. Also on the WR front, had higher expectations for Bethel Johnson.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Kenyatta Jones. Not even the best Kenyatta in his draft class.

 

[UFGatorPat]

If I'm not mistaken, Cunningham was a better scheme fit for the defense we ran at the time.

Dunlap fell asleep drunk a week prior to the SEC Championship game in his vehicle at a stop light.

I never got the fascination with Cunningham. Did not ever see elite NFL get off or moves, but I saw him every week.

Same for Chad Jackson, softest WR to ever play at UF. Obviously the speed and measurables we’re there but he didn’t like to be physical or get hit which translated to confidence and performance issues at the NFL level. System WR

 

[TBR]

Aaron Dobson and Chad Jackson.

Players I thought would be busts and were busts: Jordan Richards

 

[dafoe2016]

He wasn't exactly a bust, but I thought Lawrence Maroney would be way better than he was.

Maroney was a massive bust. One of the worst running backs the league has ever seen. The original Trent Richardson.

 

[dafoe2016]

Ron Mercer. Or are we only doing NFL picks?