Who was the biggest bust in NFL history?
Let's take a look at the player who is labeled the biggest draft bust in NFL history.
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NFL is one of the most popular sporting leagues in the world thanks to the non-stop action and unlimited entertainment throughout the year. Every year, from September to February, 32 NFL teams compete on the gridiron to win the coveted Lombardi Trophy. And throughout the rest of the year, the teams compete off the field to give themselves a better shot than other teams to win the Championship.
The teams will try to build the best roasters possible during free agency and NFL Draft in the off-season. Free agency is for people who are already in the league and it’s pretty simple. Teams will pay more money to the players who have proven their potential in the league. But NFL Draft on the other hand is tricky.
The NFL Draft consists of a pool of college football players who have used up their college eligibility. Throughout the draft process, teams will evaluate the players with the help of the NFL Combine, pro day, and individual interviews. And when Draft day comes, teams will select the players on the back of their evaluations of the available players. Sometimes, they select the players who are the right fit for the team, but in other instances, the teams will often fail in their evaluations and draft a player who will be out of the league in a few years.
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What makes a player get labeled a ‘bust‘?
As previously mentioned, teams will often fail to pick the right players for their teams. But on rare occasions, the scouts might completely fail in their assessment. So, when a player is highly touted and highly selected in the draft and doesn’t meet expectations on the field, then he’ll be considered a bust.
A player will be considered a bigger bust if more players selected after him went on to have a successful career. In brief, a bust is a term used to describe a player who was selected high in the draft but never came close to fulfilling those expectations.
Who is considered the biggest NFL bust ever?
There are many players in NFL history who were labeled as the next big thing coming out of college, just to fall short of expectations. Even in recent years, players like Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen are considered the biggest busts since they were both drafted in the first round but didn’t turn out to be franchise-saving QBs.
Like them, there are many other busts throughout the league’s history, but there is one player who stands tall among that list, JaMarcus Russell. The Oakland Raiders drafted Russell with their first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. During that year’s draft process, he was considered the most promising prospect in that draft class. He stood tall at 6’6″ and weighed in at over 260 pounds.
Besides, Russell was considered a generational talent, thanks to his physical attributes and a cannon arm. But none of those ever transcribed to the NFL. During his three-season stint with the Raiders, JaMarcus Russell threw for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions while just completing 52.1% of his passes, pair that with his questionable work ethic, and he was out of the league in 3 years.
Why is JaMarcus Russell considered the biggest bust?
When the Oakland Raiders drafted JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, he was considered to be a franchise changer. But apart from his on-field failures, he also had some off-field issues.
Russell was constantly criticized for his work ethic and lack of commitment. In fact, the quarterback reportedly gained over 40 pounds after his second season, which became a concern for the Raiders.
Anyway, the Raiders decided to move on from Russell and released him in 2010. The 2007 1st-overall pick didn’t even play out his rookie deal. Despite his several attempts at a comeback, Russell was never able to get a contract with an NFL team again. Which is why he is widely considered the greatest draft bust of all time.
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Aravind Raj
(2075 Articles Published)