5 Worst 1st NFL Draft Picks in the 21st Century
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NFL draft
The NFL 2022 draft is all set to take place in a few days’ time in Las Vegas, giving the franchises a fresh opportunity to bring in quality players which will boost their rosters for the upcoming season. The NFL draft is scheduled to run from the 28th to the 30th of April.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will once again have the opportunity to make the first pick for the second season in a row, followed by the other franchises. Ahead of the big NFL draft, the teams have already made up their mind on whom to sign but often things do not go to plan for them when they take the pitch later on in the season.
With that in mind, we take a look into the 5 worst 1st draft picks the league has seen in this current 21st century.
Worst first-round NFL draft picks in the 21st century
#5. Vernon Gholston (New York Jets)
The Jets drafted Vernon Gholston in the 2008 NFL draft, and the defensive end had a shocking time with the franchise. He recorded only 42 tackles in his 45 matches which spanned three seasons. Despite signing a 5-year contract initially he was let go after only 3 years and failed to make his stake in the NFL any further.
#4. Dion Jordan (Miami Dolphins)
Dion Jordan had a decent start to his career at the Dolphins and played a total of 16 matches in his rookie year. However, things took a turn for the worse in 2014 when he was found to violate the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy and was suspended for the 2015 season. He did not play in the league since then and was released in 2017 after failing a drug test.
#3. Charles Rodgers (Detroit Lions)
The No. 2 overall pick of the 2003 draft caught 36 passes in three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He suffered two major injuries in his first 2 seasons and then was found guilty of violating NFL’s substance abuse policy. He did not play further in the NFL after his stint with the Lions, which capped off a disastrous draft pick. Sadly, Charles Rodgers passed away at the age of 38 due to liver failure.
#2. Justin Gilbert (Cleveland Browns)
Justin Gilbert was drafted by the Browns in 2014 and was considered one of the hottest prospects in the cornerback position that year. However, he only had a one year spell with the Browns and recorded four tackles and one interception.
#1. JaMarcus Russel (Oakland Raiders)
The worst of the first-round picks in the 21st century in the NFL has to be JaMarcus Russel. The quarterback was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and had a shocker of a season with them. The player had plenty of disputes with the franchise during his 3-year stay which hampered his performance on the pitch. He only played the three seasons in the NFL.
Also Read: 49ers Star Receiver Deebo Samuel wants trade move amidst interest from Chiefs, Packers and the Jets
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