Ranking the Top-10 Worst No. 1 NFL Draft Picks of All Time

April 19, 2024

Alex Ciulla ranks his 10 worst first overall selections of all time in NFL history. Evaluating each player's circumstances, Alex determines the factors for who could've succeeded or not in the NFL.

Having the first overall selection in the NFL Draft is a bit of a double-edged sword. It can be a gift or curse for the franchise at the helm. This pick also comes with much scrutiny as "calling your shot" over the other 223 players leaves you wide open for criticism. Many NFL franchises have positively changed their trajectory with the correct selection at the top of Round 1. Others who coincidentally have burned their pick spent the following season toiling at the bottom of the standings.

There is a litany of factors that go into the selection of the No. 1 overall pick. Then, many more factors determine whether or not said player will succeed once they hit the field. Some tangible skills -- like football intelligence and athleticism -- are evident when watching a player. Other factors cannot be gleaned -- not with just the naked eye. It is impossible to know what kind of player you are drafting until you actually draft them -- this includes marked personality traits like their work ethic and internal drive.

NFL teams have done better as time has gone on to snuff out the prospects that might be potential problems, but some still slip through the cracks. As many great picks as there have been through the years, we've also seen our fair share of blunders. While some of these stories were ridiculous at the time, at least we can look back now through a humorous lens. It's time to dive into the top-10 worst No. 1 overall draft picks in NFL history.

10.) Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (2010)

Sam Bradford lit it up his sophomore year as a Sooner. He threw for 4,720 yards, 50 (!) touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Bradford won the Davey O'Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy. Instead of being one of the top quarterbacks drafted in 2009, he elected to forego the NFL for his junior season at Oklahoma.

Sadly, Bradford injured his AC joint after breaking the all-time passing record there. After three weeks on the bench nursing his injury, Bradford returned only to throw for 562 yards and two TDs. He still was drafted first overall.

Sam Bradford's performance on Monday Night Football highlights #Sooners in the @NFL: Week 1. #OUDNA

More 🎥➡️ https://t.co/8tB0jytOYH pic.twitter.com/8LRgAWJTB3

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 13, 2017

Bradford wasn't an outright bust, but his promising rookie season did not quell the expectations set for the Heisman Trophy winner. After setting a then-rookie record of 169 consecutive passes without an interception, Bradford would lead the St. Louis Rams to a 7-9 record while also breaking Peyton Manning's all-time mark of 575 pass attempts for a rookie. The encore to his rookie season, however, was far less impressive.

The Rams would go 1-9 with Bradford under center in 2011 -- and 2-14 on the season. He would play one more full season in his third year -- but not again after. Bradford never threw for 4,000 yards, would not throw more than 21 TDs, and ended his career with a 34-48-1 record. Not what the Rams expected out of their first selection.

9.) Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs (2013)

Eric Fisher played offensive tackle for four years at Central Michigan University. Before being tabbed the top prospect in the 2013 draft, Fisher garnered first-team All-American honors by Pro Football Weekly. Fisher was also a part of two bowl wins at Central Michigan (2010/2012). He joined Joe Staley as the only Central Michigan alumni drafted in the first round.

On to the Elite 8️⃣!

Vote CPR for #CelebrationOfTheYear ➡️ https://t.co/axBiW1q1Q1 pic.twitter.com/UQxPd4blhn

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 16, 2019

Like Bradford, Fisher also did provide value for the Chiefs -- maybe even more so. He was a reliable starter in Kansas City and provided stability at the OT position over his eight seasons there. Although he did not live up to his perennial star billing, he did attend two Pro Bowls during his time in the league. Fisher would have been a fine pick in Round 1 -- not worth being the first selection off the board. This draft class featured Kyle Long, Lane Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, and Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah.

8.) Steve Emtman, Indianapolis Colts (1992)

First overall picks that share the DE moniker have been kind of hit and miss. After redshirting in 1988, Steve Emtman helped lead Washington to a 10-2 record in 1990, culminating in a Rose Bowl win. Emtman was a consensus All-American and won a ton of awards as a collegiate contributor. These include the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. He also finished fourth in Heisman voting that year.

Steve Emtman, @UW_Football's star defensive tackle, is celebrating his 50th birthday today. Emtman claimed the 1991 @outlandtrophy during the glory years of Coach Don James. He was selected No. 1 overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the @Colts. @TheFWAA pic.twitter.com/yfJvcBhjD7

— Outland Trophy (@outlandtrophy) April 16, 2020

Emtman was plagued by injuries throughout his career. In his rookie year, he showed glimpses of the dominant defender he could be. A few games after housing a Dan Marino pass 90 yards to help defeat the 6-0 Dolphins, Emtman blew out his left knee -- effectively ending his rookie campaign.

He returned in 1993 for five games only to injure his right knee this time, tearing his patellar tendon -- an injury no players had ever come back from. Emtman did, and after beating the odds, he only did so to land on the injured list four games later. Unfortunately, Emtman ruptured a disc in his neck during a collision with a teammate.

He would play for three more seasons but only appear in 32 games -- truly ending as a "what if" scenario.

7.) Jay Berwanger, Philadelphia Eagles (1936)

John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger was a running back for two seasons at the University of Chicago. Although RB was his listed position, Berwanger might have been the first truly "positionless" player in college football history. He scored 22 touchdowns in 24 games on 4.2 yards per carry and averaged 25.7 yards per return on 35 kickoffs. Berwanger played defense -- linebacker -- but only for three downs because he was also the punt returner.

With time running out in his final game at college, Berwanger returned a punt evasively for 49 yards down to the 1-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, he burst through the line to score and then successfully kicked the ensuing point attempt -- single-handedly winning the game 7-6.

The first winner of the Heisman Trophy, Jay Berwanger of Chicago, enrolled in the Navy’s flight-training program and became a naval officer during World War II, serving as a flight instructor and reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander before going into private business. pic.twitter.com/WPA8EmGRcS

— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) November 11, 2023

Jay Berwanger would win the Heisman Trophy that year -- the first player ever -- and go on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles (in the first-ever draft) -- though he never actually played for them. The Eagles traded the negotiating rights of Berwanger to Chicago, but he didn't play there, either. It turns out that the former University of Chicago do-it-all player would end up pricing himself out of the league.

At a time when NFL athletes were making ~$50 per game, Berwanger self-priced his skill set to be worth $1,000 a game and refused to play for less -- ending his career before it started. Jay became a successful businessman in Chicago, so it worked out for him, just not on the football field. This incident was a poor start to the NFL Draft, one might say.

6.) Aundray Bruce, Atlanta Falcons (1988)

Aundray Bruce was a dual-sport athlete at George Washington Carver High School (basketball) and was uber-talented with both. Bruce started at linebacker and tight end in high school and played eight (!!) other positions across both sides of the ball.

At Auburn, Bruce's play continued to shine as he'd eventually be named an All-American and Citrus Bowl MVP in 1987. His most memorable game came that year, too. Against Georgia Tech, Bruce put on a show -- nine solo tackles, three sacks, three interceptions (one returned for a TD), a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble recovered for a TD. Khalil Mack, who?

Bruce appeared massive on the field, and that includes standing directly next to a not-so-small Howie Long.

Happy birthday to former Raiders DE Aundray Bruce, April 30, 1966. pic.twitter.com/8M1tsQXrNJ

— AFL Godfather 🏴‍☠️👓🏈🔥 (@NFLMAVERICK) April 30, 2023

Unfortunately, Bruce did not work out for the Falcons. He played 11 seasons, but only four for the team that drafted him before signing with the then-Oakland Raiders.

If not for the lofty draft-day hope and projection of the next Lawrence Taylor -- a player archetype that the NFL adored at the time -- Bruce would not have made this list. Bruce did note that his style of play didn't mesh with what the Falcons expected of him. He brought "zoom boom" to the field but was frustrated when the Falcons "did not want that." He was so frustrated that he spent two years silent at practice.

It's worth mentioning that although Bruce's career might not have had a Hall of Fame trajectory, some of his classmates did, including Tim Brown, Michael Irvin, and Thurman Thomas, among others.

5.) Tim Couch, Cleveland Browns (1999)

Tim Couch was a decorated collegiate quarterback before being selected by the upstart Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft. After limited playing time in his first year at the University of Kentucky, Couch exploded onto the scene in the first game of the 1997 season, setting a then-school record with 398 yards and four TDs -- never looking back.

Couch had Kentucky in such a buzz during his first year as a starter that the average attendance went from 40,000 to 59,000 at home games. In response, a 10,000-seat upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium was dubbed "The House That Couch Built." In his two seasons as a starter, Couch broke seven NCAA records, 14 SEC records, and 26 school records.

Oct. 4, 1997 – Tim Couch connects with Craig Yeast on a 26-yard TD in overtime as Kentucky defeats Alabama 40-34 at Commonwealth Stadium, the Wildcats' first win over the Crimson Tide in 75 years. #BBN pic.twitter.com/sjP0SQGTrJ

— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) November 10, 2023

Couch declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, and immediately expectations were stratospheric. The tools and traits were there, but so was the on-field production and consistency -- Couch seemed like a sure thing. He probably would have been, too, if not for the poor circumstances surrounding him.

In 1999, the Browns would return to Cleveland for the first time in three years since Art Modell took the former Browns to Baltimore. In an expansion draft, the other 30 NFL teams were to make five players available for the Browns to choose from, and the Browns had 30 picks to build their team.

Essentially, Cleveland selected a ragtag group of "scrubs" from around the league to build around their gun-slinging quarterback. This experiment failed miserably. Couch was sacked a ludicrous 56 times his first year and tore his labrum the next. He did lead Cleveland to its first playoff berth in 2002 -- one of three for the franchise all time -- but retired after the 2003 season due to injuries.

Couch gets a lot of flak for not living up to his draft selection, but the Browns didn't do him any favors. Bruce Arians has said that Couch was a "hell of a player" and "he would have been a real good one." This is a shining endorsement from a heralded coach.

4.) Bobby Garrett, Cleveland Browns (1954)

Robert Driscoll Garrett -- the original 1.01 QB selected out of Stanford -- must have been a wonder to see on the field. Garrett came out of nowhere in 1953 when he essentially beat UCLA all by himself.

The Bruins were ranked fourth in the country then, and Stanford was predicted to pose little threat to stopping them. Lo and behold, Garrett led Stanford to a 21-20 upset -- scoring all three touchdowns, kicking all three extra points, and playing every minute on offense and defense. Before even arriving in Cleveland, Garrett was dealt to the Packers.

A common misconception is that Garrett's stutter was so woefully awful that he had trouble calling the plays, and that's why Coach Paul Brown traded him away. The real reason is that Brown was unaware that Garrett faced two years of military service. Garrett didn't even know he was to be shipped off -- hearing his own trade being reported on the radio as he drove across the country to Cleveland.

3.) David Carr, Houston Texans (2002)

David Carr was a talented collegiate prospect, gifted with athleticism and more than enough zip in his arm to make NFL throws. In his final season at Fresno State, Carr threw for 4,308 yards and had a 42:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist that year, too.

OTD 20 years ago, back 9/28/2003, the #Texans got their first home victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. And QB David Carr ended the game with a leaping Touchdown to win the game. #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/yy0NL8CyZX

— Josh ⚾🏈🤘🏽 (@Josh_b_lewis92) September 28, 2023

Sadly, Carr would fall to a similar fate as Tim Couch. Unsurprisingly, the former first overall pick was likely entering a less-than-favorable situation. Carr and Couch, though, were robbed of the luxury afforded by years of team-building, and, in turn, we might have been robbed of future stars.

Anyone who remembers watching Carr will recall the constant pressure he was under. The sad part is that he did well with the situation he was dealt with -- allowing us only to wonder what could have been. Carr got sacked an absurd 76 times as a rookie, and over his years there, a total of 249 times. Incredibly, he missed just four games in that span as a Texan.

2.) Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)

Ki-Jana Carter was a standout running back during his time at Penn State. He never averaged less than 6.3 yards per carry -- even as a true freshman -- and was the most talented running back prospect in 1995.

In his last year as a Nittany Lion, Carter ran roughshod over his opponents, averaging 139.9 yards per game and scoring 23 TDs while amassing 1,620 scrimmage yards on 7.3 yards per carry. Carter cemented his place at the top of the draft when he dominated in the Rose Bowl, toting the rock 21 times for 153 yards and three TDs -- including an 83-yard touchdown scamper.

#TBT: Ki-Jana Carter in the 1995 Rose Bowl pic.twitter.com/FKD1ex8tTH

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 29, 2022

There are a few reasons why running backs aren't taken highly in drafts anymore. Among them is their high propensity for injury. That's just what happened to Carter. On his third professional carry -- in a preseason game of all places -- he tore his ACL.

With the caveat of modern medicine, this injury is no longer a death sentence for NFL careers. However, Ki-Jana Carter -- perhaps a prisoner of his time -- was denied this luxury. In seven seasons, Carter played in just 59 games, totaling 1,144 yards and 20 rushing scores on 319 attempts -- a dreary 3.58 yards per carry.

1.) JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders (2007)

JaMarcus Russell never really had the crazy accolades or over-the-top stat totals in college. He was, however, a hulking physical specimen with all the toolsy skills to be an NFL superstar.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Russell was more than just a towering pocket quarterback. He had enough athleticism to extend plays with his legs and threaten the defense with a well-timed scramble. During his time as an LSU Tiger, Russell improved steadily throughout his three seasons -- culminating in a final season line of 3,129 yards and 28 TDs.

JaMarcus Russell talked about his NFL career. pic.twitter.com/EJqCsG2DgK

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 12, 2022

In perhaps one of the best stories of all time -- JaMarcus Russell lied to his coaching staff about watching game films given to him to use as study materials. While the Raiders suspected this to be the case, it was not confirmed until they decided to pull a bit of trickery and give Russell blank tapes to study. The Raiders told him the tapes had blitz packages to view, and he confirmed that he did the next day. Hysterical.

Russell only played three seasons as a pro. He flashed the upside that made him so tantalizing during his second season, but it never came to fruition. Over 31 games, he threw for just 4,083 yards and 18 TDs, along with a 7-18 record as a starter. Despite this, the Raiders paid him $36.4 million for his services.

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