You remember that feeling on draft day, don’t you? The excitement of your team picking that can’t-miss prospect, the next superstar that was going to lead your franchise to glory. Yeah, that didn’t exactly work out. Not every draft pick pans out the way teams hope. Sometimes top prospects just never put it together at the pro level. Other times injuries derail promising careers. Whatever the reason, some draft picks fail to live up to the hype. Today we’re looking at one of the biggest draft disappointments in recent memory. Strap in as we break down how this once-heralded prospect went from future franchise player to draft bust. You’ll see what went wrong and why this pick went so horribly awry.
Defining an Unsuccessful Draft Pick in Sports
In sports, an unsuccessful draft pick refers to a player who was selected in the draft but failed to meet expectations. Teams put a lot of time and money into scouting and drafting players they hope will positively impact their franchise for years to come. However, it’s impossible to predict how an athlete will actually perform at the pro level.
Some signs of an unsuccessful pick include:
- The player struggled to get playing time or make the active roster. They may have been cut from the team quickly.
- Performance and statistics were well below average for their draft position. For example, a first-round pick who never became a consistent starter.
- Off-field issues like injuries, attitude problems, or legal troubles prevented the player from reaching their potential.
- The pick was considered a “reach” at the time and the player was drafted higher than projected. They failed to live up to that elevated draft status.
- Another player drafted after them at the same position went on to have a far superior career. This makes the initial pick look especially misguided in hindsight.
Being an unsuccessful draft pick doesn’t necessarily make a player a “bust.” There are many reasons why a pick may not work out that are outside of the team’s control. However, for high draft picks in particular, the pressure is on to perform. When these athletes fail to deliver, they risk being labeled as a wasted selection and a disappointment to the organization and fans. The consequences of an unsuccessful draft pick can haunt a franchise for years.
Reasons a Draft Pick May Be Unsuccessful
Draft picks are risky business, and unfortunately, many don’t live up to expectations. Here are a few common reasons a draft pick can end up being a bust:
First, the player’s skills in college don’t translate well to the pros. What worked against amateur competition doesn’t cut it against bigger, faster, and more skilled opponents. Their strengths become weaknesses, and they struggle to adapt.
Second, injuries derail their development. Many players experience injuries in their first few years that hamper their progress and growth. By the time they’ve healed, other players have surpassed them.
Third, lack of work ethic or motivation. Some players get comfortable after signing their first big contract and lose the drive to improve. Their performance plateaus or declines as a result.
Fourth, a poor fit with the team or coaching staff’s style of play. Not every player, no matter how talented, is suited for every team’s culture or system. Their talents are misused or underutilized, and they never reach their potential.
Lastly, too much hype and pressure to perform. High draft picks come in with huge expectations, and not all players can handle the spotlight and scrutiny. The pressure to immediately prove themselves worthy of the pick often backfires.
The road to NFL stardom is littered with highly touted draft picks that didn’t pan out for one reason or another. With hard work, the right opportunity and environment, and a little luck, however, even an “unsuccessful” draft pick has a chance at redemption. The key is not giving up too soon.
Examples of Notable Unsuccessful Draft Picks
Not every first round draft pick turns out to be a star player. Some end up being major busts that fail to live up to expectations. Here are a few examples of unsuccessful draft picks:
The Cleveland Browns selected quarterback Tim Couch with the number one overall pick in 1999. Couch struggled with injuries and inconsistency, finishing his lackluster NFL career with more interceptions than touchdowns.
JaMarcus Russell was chosen first overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2007. The LSU quarterback held out during his rookie training camp, then reported out of shape. Russell played only three seasons, finishing with 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions before being released.
In 1984, the Houston Rockets picked center Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon first overall. However, with the very next pick, the Portland Trail Blazers infamously chose injury-prone center Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. Bowie played only 63 games over five seasons in Portland. Meanwhile, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six championships and became arguably the greatest player of all time.
Defensive end Courtney Brown was the Cleveland Browns’ first overall selection in 2000. While a dominant pass rusher at Penn State, injuries limited Brown to only 17 sacks over six lackluster pro seasons.
Sometimes even the most promising college stars fail to transition successfully to the NFL. Scouting and drafting is an inexact science. For every Peyton Manning, there’s a Ryan Leaf. Teams can only hope their extensive research and evaluation will lead to more hits than misses on draft day. But as these examples show, there are no guarantees when it comes to the NFL draft.
The Impact of an Unsuccessful Draft Pick on a Team
Teams put a lot of time and resources into scouting players and determining who to draft each year. When a draft pick doesn’t pan out, it can have significant consequences.
An unsuccessful draft pick means a team missed an opportunity to bring young, cheap talent onto the roster. High draft picks are expected to contribute quickly, so whiffing on a top pick leaves a hole that’s hard to fill. Teams have to scramble to find a replacement, often an expensive free agent.
The opportunity cost of a blown draft pick is huge. Imagine if your team had drafted a future star instead of a bust. They’d have many years of strong play at a budget-friendly price. Teams only get a limited number of high draft picks, so each one is precious.
Unsuccessful picks also damage a team’s future. Teams trade away future picks to move up in the draft, hoping to land a star. When that gamble doesn’t pay off, they’re left without upcoming picks to build for the future. Their prospect pipeline runs dry.
Failed draft picks hurt fan morale and trust in the front office. No one wants to watch a top draft pick struggle year after year. Fans question management’s decision making and talent evaluation abilities. The pressure mounts to finally get the next draft right.
In the end, the impact of an unsuccessful draft pick depends on the round and how high the pick was. Whiffing on a top-five pick can set a franchise back for years. Missing on a late first-rounder, while still disappointing, may just be a minor stumble. The only way to recover is to learn from your mistakes, then nail the next draft.
How Teams Can Avoid Making Unsuccessful Draft Picks
To avoid wasting a draft pick on a player who ends up being unsuccessful, teams should focus on thorough scouting and evaluation. Some key things teams can do:
Extensive Background Checks
Teams should do in-depth background checks on prospects to uncover any red flags like character issues, work ethic problems or off-field troubles that could affect their performance or availability. Even things like a prospect’s maturity level, leadership abilities and coachability are important to consider.
Careful Film Study
Teams must study a lot of film on a prospect to properly evaluate their skills, technique, instincts, and potential. Look for prospects that demonstrate consistent high-level play, positional versatility, and skills that will translate to the pro level. Watch for any weaknesses or limitations that could be hard to overcome.
Rigorous Combine Testing
The NFL Scouting Combine and team workouts provide valuable measurable data on a prospect’s athleticism, agility, speed and strength. But teams must look beyond just workout numbers. They should analyze how a prospect’s abilities and attributes might specifically fit with their team’s schemes and needs. Raw athletic potential means little without the skills and instincts to apply it on the field.
Extensive Medical Checks
A prospect’s long term durability and availability are hugely important. Teams must thoroughly check a player’s medical history and injury records. Have team doctors conduct comprehensive medical evaluations and testing to uncover any physical issues that could significantly impact a prospect’s career, even if not immediately apparent.
Interview and Questionnaires
Teams should conduct in-person interviews, phone interviews and written questionnaires with prospects to get a sense of their personality, work ethic, motivation, knowledge, and football IQ. Look for red flags as well as positive attributes like leadership, determination and a team-first mentality.
Avoiding unsuccessful draft picks is challenging, but thorough scouting, evaluation and due diligence on prospects can help teams make better choices on draft day. With so much at stake, teams can’t afford not to do their homework.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Even the most hyped draft picks can end up being total busts. Don’t just take the experts’ word as gospel. Do your own research on prospects to get the full picture. Look beyond the highlight reels and stats. How a player handles adversity and meshes with the team culture matters too. At the end of the day, landing a franchise player comes down to a combination of talent, work ethic, coaching, and luck. If a pick doesn’t pan out, don’t dwell on what could have been. Focus on developing the players you do have. With the right environment and mentality, even an unsuccessful draft pick can evolve into a contributor. Stay patient and keep building. Your championship core could be just one smart draft away.