The NFL Draft is the most important time of year for front offices and players alike. And while some draft picks have outperformed their expected value over the years, many of the head-scratching decisions made by certain franchises turned out exactly as expected.
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7.) Johnny Manziel - 22nd Overall (Browns)- 2014
Controversy: Coming off two electrifying college football seasons at Texas A&M, where he put up 93 total touchdowns, Manziel was taken in the first round of the 2014 Draft. Yet, there was growing concern over the Heisman trophy winner's off-the-field partying leading up to the draft.
Reaction: Many fans cheered for the pick, yet NFL Draft insiders considered this a highly questionable selection for a team that still hasn't found a franchise quarterback since Bernie Kosar.
Outcome: Years after his playing days were over, Manziel admitted he never took his professional football job seriously, as he went on record saying he watched "zero" film in his two seasons in Cleveland. He appeared in 14 games (8 starts), completing 147 passes for 1,675 yards (57% completion) to go with 7 pass TD's /7 INT's.
6.) Maurice Clarett - 3rd Round (Broncos)- 2005
Controversy: The Ohio State star running back, who led the Buckeyes to the 2003 National Championship, was selected in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. This would be a good pick if it wasn't for the fact, he hadn't played football in over a year, was in the heat of legal battles, and not in football shape at all.
Reaction: Many viewed this as a total shocker, considering the off-the-field uncertainty of Clarett maybe going to jail.
Outcome: Clarett never played a regular-season game, as he was released by the team after only a month due to suffering an injury. And Clarett later pleaded guilty in 2006 to charges for robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.
5.) Darius Heyward-Bey - 7th Overall (Raiders)- 2009
Controversy: The 6-foot-2 star wideout out of Maryland was drafted purely for his speed (4.30 40-time) over higher rated receivers such as: Michael Crabtree (10th overall; 49ers) and Jeremy Maclin (19th overall; Eagles).
Reaction: Viewed as a reach by Al Davis, Hayward-Bey was highly considered to be a late first round/second-round pick by draft analysts.
Outcome: Appeared in 144 NFL games throughout his career, catching 202 passes for 2,897 yards and 16 TD's. In 2011, he accumulated 64 receptions for 975 yards and four touchdowns.
4.) Daniel Jones - 6th Overall (Giants)- 2019
Controversy: Draft experts had the Duke quarterback projected as mid-to-late 1st rounder at best, yet the Giants front office took him off the board with the 6th pick hoping he could be the franchise's next Eli Manning.
Reaction: Giants fans heavily booed the pick, and still to this day is seen as a reach.
Outcome: In 70 games (69 starts) in a Giants uniform, Jones passed for 14,582 yards (64.1% completion), to go with 70 TD's and 47 INT's. Despite the mediocrity, he was surprisingly signed to a 4-year/$160 million deal in 2023, yet was later released by the Giants midway through the 2024 season.
3.) Mike Ditka Trades Entire 1999 Draft for Ricky Williams - 5th Overall (Saints)
Controversy: The New Orleans Saints gave up all their picks from the 1999 NFL Draft (plus two of their first three picks in the 2000 NFL Draft) in exchange for the No. 5 overall pick, which they used to select Heisman trophy running back Ricky Williams.
Reaction: Seen as an unprecedented risky move that to this day is still baffling.
Outcome: While Williams didn't have a bad career, this has long been viewed as a regrettable decision by the Saints, as head coach Mike Ditka was fired the following season after going 3-13. Although, in 2000, the Saints went 10-6, and won their first playoff game in franchise history. After three seasons, Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he put up a career-high 1,853 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2002. Ultimately, he ended his career with 10,009 rushing yards and 66 rush TD's.
2.) Jalen Reagor - 21st Overall (Eagles)- 2020
Controversy: In a 2020 Draft class that was filled with wide receiver talent: Henry Ruggs (No. 12; Raiders), Jerry Jeudy (N0. 15; Broncos), CeeDee Lamb (No. 13; Cowboys), Reagor was selected at pick No. 21 by the Philadelphia Eagles. Notably, Justin Jefferson was selected one pick later at No. 22 by the Minnesota Vikings.
Reaction: Even at the time, this pick was highly criticized, considering some draft experts had Reagor falling all the way to the 3rd round.
Outcome: In 64 games played so far throughout his career, Reagor has 86 catches for 1,037 yards and four touchdowns. On the other hand, Jefferson turned out to be a generational superstar, and even other notable receivers taken after Reagor went on to become stars, such as: Brandon Aiyuk (No. 25; 49ers), Tee Higgins (No. 33; Bengals), and Michael Pittman (No. 34; Colts).
1.) Mitchell Trubisky - 2nd Overall (Bears)- 2017
Controversy: The Chicago Bears traded up one spot to take North Carolina QB Trubisky over Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes (No. 10; Chiefs) and Clemson QB Deshaun Watson (No. 12; Texans) in the 2017 NFL Draft. This was seen as a gamble since Trubisky only logged 13 college starts, while Mahomes was seen as a quarterback with off-the-chart potential and Watson was coming off of two incredible back-to-back National Championship performances.
Reaction: This move by the Bears was highly criticized, and in hindsight was a swing & a miss to say the least.
Outcome: In 78 games played (57 starts), Trubisky has thrown for 12,715 yards (64.2 % completion) to go with 74 TD's/48 INT's. He is now currently a backup QB for the Buffalo Bills. On the other hand, Mahomes has went on to win two NFL MVPs and three Super Bowls. All in all, the Bears' newfound 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick, QB Caleb Williams, hopes to help fans forget about this historical bad move.
