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Make no mistake about it, playing in the NFL is hard. Being a good player in the NFL is even harder. No matter how excellent a player might be in college, it doesn't always translate to the professional level.
If making it in the NFL is difficult for a player, you can imagine the almost impossible task that falls on talent evaluators, scouts, and front-office decision-makers. Jobs are often on the line when making decisions with precious first-round draft picks. Despite all the effort that's poured into selecting the best available player, these choices can sometimes be disastrous.
In this article, we'll take a look at some of the biggest NFL Draft misfires of the 2020s, so far. Some of these players have suffered bad injury luck, some have dealt with off-the-field issues, or been placed in almost impossible situations on it. Others just simply haven't been good enough. Let's take a look at 10 players who have either already solidified their "bust" status or appear to be well on their way.
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10. Bryce Young - 2023 NFL Draft, No. 1 Overall Pick
We want to give Bryce Young the benefit of the doubt, as he just recently finished his rookie season in what's a terrible situation in Carolina. However, things aren't looking great for the diminutive signal-caller who the Panthers traded the farm to draft at No. 1 last year.
Carolina sent stud WR D.J. Moore, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks to Chicago in exchange for the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which they used to select the Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama. Playing for first-year Panthers head coach Frank Reich (who was ultimately fired after the team's 1-10 start) behind an abysmal offensive line with few weapons at the skill positions, Young struggled mightily. He averaged a paltry 5.3 yards per attempt, which was the lowest in the NFL among regular starters.
In addition to Young's underwhelming play, the QB drafted right behind him - Houston's C.J. Stroud - looked like an honest-to-goodness superstar while leading the Texans to an AFC South title and playoff berth. It all adds up to the Panthers very likely feeling a sense of buyer's remorse with their decision to select Young over Stroud. We won't write him off yet, as we've often seen rookie QBs struggle, but if things don't improve Young could skyrocket to the top of this list of draft busts.
“Houston has a better situation,” an executive from another team said. “If you drop Stroud in Carolina, would he have the same success? No way in hell.”
✍️: @jeffphowe https://t.co/MzpmKQ2UmC
— Panthers On Tap (@PanthersOnTap) January 18, 2024
9. Jalen Reagor - 2020 NFL Draft, No. 21 Overall Pick
While in a vacuum, Jalen Reagor has been a certified bust, what makes things so much worse is who was selected one pick after Reagor in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. With the Philadelphia Eagles in desperate need of wide receiver help going into the 2020 draft, two strong options were still available to them with the 21st pick...Jalen Reagor and Justin Jefferson. They chose wrong.
Philadelphia infamously selected Reagor over Jefferson, with Minnesota grabbing JJ with the very next pick. It's a choice that still infuriates Eagles fans and one GM Howie Roseman would surely love to have back. Jefferson has gone on to become a legitimate superstar who's displayed generational talent, while Reagor lasted just two seasons in Philly before being traded to the Vikings for a seventh-round pick. Reagor was cut by Minnesota after just a year on the team and finished the 2023 season as a fringe player with the New England Patriots.
8. Kenny Pickett - 2022 NFL Draft, No. 20 Overall Pick
Pickett wasn't selected as high as most other QBs on this list. The Steelers made the hometown star the first QB taken in the 2022 draft with the 20th overall pick in what was roundly considered to be the weakest QB class in years. The former Pittsburgh Panther has done little to disprove that assumption during his two years in the NFL.
Pickett began his rookie season on the bench behind Mitch Trubisky but quickly made his way into the Steelers starting lineup with the squad compiling a 7-5 record in games he started under center. He finished his first pro campaign with 2,404 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with three rushing touchdowns in 13 games.
In his second NFL season, Pittsburgh was again 7-5 in games Pickett started, but the Steelers offense rarely clicked with him under center. After suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 13, he ended the season on the sidelines, as Mason Rudolph helped lead the AFC North squad to a Wild Card playoff berth and the Steelers decided to cut ties with Pickett this offseason, sending him to the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade.
7. Treylon Burks - 2022 NFL Draft, No. 18 Overall Pick
Burks entered the NFL with almost impossible shoes to fill. Tennessee tabbed the University of Arkansas product to replace star receiver A.J. Brown, who the Titans traded to Philadelphia for the No. 18 pick they would use to draft Burks and an additional third-rounder. Burks and the Titans have had about as much luck with this succession plan as Kendall Roy.
While Burks demonstrated the size, speed, and talent that made him such a high draft pick in small doses, his production has been nowhere near consistent. He's consistently battled injury issues that have kept him off the field, as well as drops and ineffectiveness when he has been able to suit up.
Titans' Treylon Burks talks injuries, how he'll work to prevent them https://t.co/1IdYYKhWVY pic.twitter.com/QSw4mn0JpS
— The Titans Wire (@TheTitansWire) January 12, 2024
He tallied just 33 catches for 444 receiving yards and a single TD in 11 games as a rookie. That underwhelming production dipped in his sophomore season with the Titans, as Burks managed 16 catches for 221 yards while playing in parts of 10 games and battling multiple injury issues.
6. Mac Jones - 2021 NFL Draft, No. 15 Overall Pick
In desperate need of a QB following Tom Brady's exit from New England, the Patriots were forced to watch four quarterbacks come off the board ahead of them in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Bill Belichick and company settled on the University of Alabama's Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick.
It initially appeared as though the Pats had struck gold with Jones, as he led New England to a playoff appearance while amassing 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and a 67.6 completion percentage, which were all the highest among rookie quarterbacks in 2021. However, following the offseason departure of then-Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Jones notably regressed in his second year as a pro while battling injuries and being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe.
Things didn't get any better in 2023, as the Patriots went just 2-9 in games that Jones started. He logged career lows in passing yards, TDs, and completion rate, and finished the season on the bench behind Zappe. With New England moving on from legendary head coach Bill Belichick and owning the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Jones' time with the Patriots came to an end with New England shipping him to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason.
5. Evan Neal - 2022 NFL Draft, No. 7 Overall Pick
To say Neal's NFL career has gotten off to a rough start would be a huge understatement. The Giants probably thought they had solidified their offensive line for years to come with the selection of Neal with the seventh pick of the 2022 draft. However, the Alabama alum struggled immediately at the NFL level, finishing his rookie season ranked 39th out of 39 graded offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Things didn't improve for the much-maligned 0-lineman in 2023, as he somehow looked even worse than he did as a rookie during the early portion of the season. Neal didn't do himself any favors with New York fans by trashing their opinions in the media. After playing just seven games, his 2023 season was (mercifully) ended by an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery.
2023 Talkin’ Giants Most Underwhelming Player of the Year: Evan Neal
Back to back for Evan Neal & the 3rd time in 4 years it’s been won by someone named Evan. pic.twitter.com/PSdB2X9DQx
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) January 16, 2024
4. Henry Ruggs III - 2020 NFL Draft, No. 12 Overall Pick
Ruggs' story is an honest-to-goodness tragedy. The first wide receiver taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, the University of Alabama product flashed blazing speed and game-breaking ability during an uneven rookie campaign that resulted in 452 yards and two TDs in 13 games.
His second NFL season was off to a strong start before Ruggs was involved in a fatal car crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog on the night of November 2, 2021. It was revealed that the Raiders receiver was driving at over 150 mph with a blood alcohol content level of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into Tintor's vehicle. He was quickly released by Las Vegas and is currently serving a sentence of 3-10 years in a Nevada prison.
3. Chase Young - 2020 NFL Draft, No. 2 Overall Pick
Yes, Young was named the 2020 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, this "can't miss" prospect that the Washington Commanders drafted with the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft hasn't done much since. We can place a lot of blame on injuries. Since playing 15 games as a rookie, Young played in only 12 games across 2021 and 2022.
Chase Young has 247 pass rush snaps w/ Wash and 233 w/ SF.
Wash: 6 sacks, 27 hurries, 79.7 PFF pass rush grade
SF: 4 sacks, 21 hurries, 66.4 PFFPlaying opposite Nick Bosa and for perhaps the best D Line coach in the NFL (Kris Kocurek) hasn’t improved his pass rushing. pic.twitter.com/a6pttlJAj0
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) January 12, 2024
Washington was so tired of Young's disappearing act - and expiring rookie contract - that they traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round draft pick at this year's NFL trade deadline. The former Buckeye will try to help the Niners win a Super Bowl and has recorded 2.5 sacks while being a disruptive presence on the edge since joining the team.
Still just 24 years old, Young has plenty of time to course-correct the trajectory of his career. That will start with him being able to stay on the field. He's also currently set to be a free agent in 2024.
2. Zach Wilson - 2021 NFL Draft, No. 2 Overall Pick
Yep, the 2021 NFL Draft was a rough one for quarterbacks and Zach Wilson has undoubtedly been one of the biggest misfires of the 2020's. The New York Jets selected Wilson with the second overall pick after he put together a brilliant campaign at BYU during the infamous Covid year of 2020.
Unfortunately, the impressive play that Wilson demonstrated in college never materialized in the Big Apple. He struggled mightily as a rookie, posting a 3-10 record as the Jets starter in 2021 while completing just over 55% of his pass attempts. Wilson looked so overwhelmed in his nine 2022 starts that Gang Green pulled off a blockbuster trade for Aaron Rodgers following the season.
After battling injuries and ineffectiveness while filling in for the injured Rodgers this season, the Jets finally elected to move on from Wilson by sending him to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a modest package of draft picks.
1. Trey Lance - 2021 NFL Draft, No. 3 Overall Pick
We've seen teams swing and miss on QBs in the draft, but whoa, Trey Lance was a big swing and a big miss by the normally sharp San Francisco 49ers. The Niners gave up a haul to move up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, a pick that they spent on the athletically gifted Lance, a QB that seemed to be a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offensive system, but who had only played 19 total games collegiately at North Dakota State.
Was the 49ers trade for Trey Lance the worst draft day trade in NFL history? Former NFL GM Randy Mueller weighed in today on @SportsMapRadio ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/btzVuGcqIN
— Luke Mauro (@MauroOnTheMic) August 29, 2023
San Francisco traded first-round picks in the 2021, 2022, & 2023 NFL Drafts - as well as a 2022 third-rounder - for the right to select Lance. Unfortunately for the Niners, after spending 2021 behind Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart, their prized pick suffered a season-ending ankle injury just two games into the 2022 season, which paved the way for current Niners starter Brock Purdy to impress the organization. The team cut their losses this season, trading Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.
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