National Football League

Finds, flops from NFL drafts in past decade

Published Apr. 19, 2010 5:45 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

For all the hours spent disseminating information and dissecting players' strengths and weaknesses, the NFL draft is a virtual guessing game. A look at the last 10 drafts proves that.

With input from each Associated Press sports writer who covers an NFL team, here's a sampling of the top draft finds and flops over the past decade.

--

AFC EAST:

New England:

Find: Tom Brady, QB, Michigan, 6th (199), 2000: NFL's premier QB; led Pats to three Super Bowl wins.

Flop: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida, 2nd (36), 2006: Released in '08 after two injury-plagued seasons.

New York Jets:

Find: Jerricho Cotchery, WR, NC State, 4th (108), 2004: Among most reliable WRs after barely making team.

Flop: Dewayne Robertson, DT, Kentucky, 1st (4), 2003: Never came close to impact player hopes.

Miami:

Find: Yeremiah Bell, S, Eastern Kentucky, 6th (213), 2003: Team's leading tackler past two seasons.

Flop: Jamar Fletcher, CB, Wisconsin, 1st (26), 2001: Eight seasons, three with Miami, seven interceptions.

Buffalo:

Find: Terrence McGee, CB, Northwestern State, 4th (111), 2003: Dual-threat on D/punt returns.

Flop: Mike Williams, OT, Texas, 1st (4), 2002: Weight issues, back woes led to '04 benching; cut in '05.

AFC SOUTH:

Indianapolis:

Find: Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse 1st (11), 2002: Five-time Pro Bowler and feared pass rusher.

Flop: Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas 2nd (42), 2007: Failed as Tarik Glenn's successor; future cloudy.

Houston:

Find: DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama, 2nd (33), 2006: Four-year-starter and a Pro Bowler.

Flop: David Carr, QB, Fresno State, 1st (1), 2002. Released after five bad/mediocre seasons.

Tennessee:

Find: Cortland Finnegan, CB, Samford, 7th (215), 2006: All-Pro in '08, 10 interceptions past two years.

Flop: Adam ``Pacman'' Jones, CB, West Virginia, 1st (6), 2005: Problem child throughout career.

Jacksonville:

Find: David Garrard, QB, East Carolina, 4th (108), 2002: Durable starter past two seasons.

Flop: R. Jay Soward, WR, USC, 1st (29), 2000: One-year career - and that's all folks.

AFC NORTH:

Cincinnati:

Find: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Oregon State, 7th (204): Bengals' leading receiver from 2006-08.

Flop: Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State, 1st (4), 2000: Caught only 18 TDs passes in six pro seasons.

Baltimore:

Find: Le'Ron McClain, RB, Alabama, 4th (137) 2007: Leading rusher in '08; Pro Bowl FB in '09.

Flop: Travis Taylor, WR, Florida; 1st, (10), 2000: Bounced around league as a No. 3 receiver.

Pittsburgh:

Find: Troy Polamalu, S, USC, 1st (16), 2003: They don't win two Super Bowls without him.

Flop: Alonzo Jackson, LB, Florida State, 2nd (59), 2003: Cut after two unproductive seasons.

Cleveland:

Find: Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin, 1st (3), 2007: Might be best tackle in the league already.

Flop: Gerard Warren, DT, Florida, 1st (3) 2000: Less effective in each of four seasons before traded.

AFC WEST:

San Diego:

Find: LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, TCU, 1st (5) 2001: Record-setting back and 2006 league MVP.

Flop: Sammy Davis, CB, Texas A&M, 1st (30), 2003: Traded to 49ers after three seasons; out of football.

Denver:

Find: Brandon Marshall, WR, Central Florida, 4th (119), 2006: two 100-catch, 1,000-yard seasons; now with Miami.

Flop: Maurice Clarett, RB, Ohio State, 3rd (101), 2005: Off-field woes, never played.

Oakland:

Find: Shane Lechler, P, Texas A&M, 5th (142), 2000: Five-time Pro Bowler; among best ever.

Flop: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU, 1st (1), 2007: 18 TDs pass, 23 interceptions in three weak years.

Kansas City:

Find: Jared Allen, DE, Idaho State, 4th (126), 2004: Best pass-rushing DE in the NFL; traded in '08.

Flop: Sylvester Morris, WR, Jackson State, 1st (21), 2000: Lasted one season due to injuries, poor work ethic.

NFC EAST:

Dallas:

Find: Jay Ratliff, NT, Auburn, 7th (224), 2005: Two-time Pro Bowler anchors top-notch D-line.

Flop: Quincy Carter, QB, Georgia, 2nd (53), 2002: Cut before '04 season; poor play, drug issues ended career.

Philadelphia:

Find: Brian Westbrook, RB, Villanova, 3rd (91), 2002: Among most versatile players; over 10,000 total yards.

Flop: Jerome McDougle, DE, Miami, 1st (15), 2003: Injury-prone; never started a game in four seasons.

New York Giants:

Find: Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi, 1st (1), 2004: Chargers-to-Giants in prearranged draft deal; led team to 2008 Super Bowl win.

Flop: Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin; 1st (11), 2000: Top college rusher failed to impress in four seasons.

Washington:

Find: Chris Cooley, TE, Utah State, 3rd (81), 2004: Two-time Pro Bowler and six-year starter.

Flop: Rod Gardner, WR, Clemson, 1st (15), 2001: A 1,000-yard season in '02 only claim to fame.

NFC SOUTH:

New Orleans:

Find: Marques Colston, WR, Hofstra, 7th (252) in 2006: 1,000 yards-plus in three of four seasons.

Flop: Johnathan Sullivan, DT, Georgia, 1st (6), 2003: Sent to Pats after three unproductive seasons.

Atlanta:

Find: Kynan Forney, OL, Hawaii, 7th (219), 2001: Key starter when team led NFL in rushing in '04-'05.

Flop: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas, 1st (8), 2007: Just 2 1/2 sacks in three not stellar seasons.

Carolina:

Find: Steve Smith, WR, Utah, 3rd (74), 2001; Four-time Pro Bowler with five 1,000-yard seasons.

Flop: Rashard Anderson, CB, Jackson State, 1st (23), 2000: Substance abuse woes; lasted two seasons.

Tampa Bay:

Find: Tanard Jackson, S, Syracuse, 4th (106), 2007: Solid starter from outset with eight INTs.

Flop: Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian State, 2nd (58), 2008: Lasted one season, with no catches.

NFC NORTH:

Minnesota:

Find: Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State, 1st (9), 2003: Five-time Pro Bowler.

Flop: Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina, 1st (7), 2005: Three TD catches in three years.

Green Bay:

Find: Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan, 2nd (52), 2006: Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Flop: Justin Harrell, DL, Tennessee, 1st (16), 2007: Injuries limited him to two starts in three years.

Chicago:

Find: Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico, 1st (9), 2000: Six-time Pro Bowler, franchise cornerstone.

Flop: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas, 1st (4), 2005: Failed to come through when able to play; didn't get along with teammates.

Detroit:

Find: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech, 1st (2), 2007: Top scoring threat; averages over 1,000 yards per season.

Flop: Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State, 1st (2), 2003: Tops long list of No. 1 busts; 36 catches in three years.

NFC WEST:

Arizona:

Find: Steve Breaston, WR, Michigan, 5th (142), 2007: Three-year starter and dangerous return man.

Flop: Wendell Bryant, DT, Wisconsin, 1st (12), 2002: Released in '05 with 1 1/2 sacks, and before drug suspension.

San Francisco

Find: Frank Gore, RB, Miami, 3rd (65), 2005: Overcame knee surgeries to be consistent 1,000-yard rusher.

Flop: Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State, 1st (31), 2004: Seven catches as rookie; never played again.

Seattle:

Find: Shaun Alexander, RB, Alabama, 1st (19), 2000: Record-setting back and '05 league MVP.

Flop: Jerramy Stevens, TE, Washington, 1st (28), 2002: Released in '07 after series of legal woes.

St. Louis:

Find: Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State, 1st (24), 2004: Five 1,000-yard seasons, two-time Pro Bowler.

Flop: Robert Thomas, LB, UCLA, 1st (31), 2002: Sent packing after three less than stellar seasons.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League