Worst NFL Draft Picks of All Time

1. Akili Smith, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (1999)

In the 1999 NFL Draft, a year when five quarterbacks would be drafted in the first round, Smith was the third quarterback and third player selected overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a pick that for various reasons has produced some real ulcers: Heath Shuler, Joey Harrington, Gerard Warren, Andre Wadsworth, Bruce Pickens and others. But Smith takes the cake, and might be one of the worst first-round picks ever.

2. Art Schlichter, QB, Baltimore Colts (1982)

Schlichter was picked fourth in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Baltimore. Expected to be the starter, he lost the job to Mike Pagel, but was expected to be the Colts’ quarterback of the future. There have been some disappointing No. 4’s, guys such as Peter Warrick, Keith McCants, Brent Fullwood and others, but none comes close to Schlichter. A self-described gambling addict, he was suspended for a year by the NFL prior to his second season for having massive gaming debts. He played only three seasons with the Colts, washing out of the league with only six starts and three touchdown passes.

3. Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Ki-Jana with the first overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft. They acquired the pick in a trade with the expansion Carolina Panthers. He signed a 7 year, $19.2 million dollar deal which included a $7.125 million dollar signing bonus, which at the time was an NFL record contract for a rookie. Carter tore a ligament in his knee on his third carry of his first preseason game of his rookie year, and never fully recovered. He played on the Washington Redskins from 2001–2002 and the New Orleans Saints from 2003-2004 contributing as a part-timer. He only had 464 yards in a single season as his career best. For a variety of reasons, there have been plenty of letdowns at this pick: guys like Tim Couch, Courtney Brown and Steve Emtman. Some might add Tom Cousineau, but despite fleeing to the Canadian Football League, he had a decent NFL career and Buffalo did eventually trade him for a draft pick that became Jim Kelly. Carter gets the nod, despite the fact that he had a knee injury during his rookie season.

4. Larry Stegent, RB, St. Louis Cardinals (1970)

Larry Stegent was a NFL running back for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. Although highly touted during his collegiate career at Texas A&M, he proved to be a disappointment in the NFL (owing in part to a knee injury in his first and only preseason game) as he only played in seven games recording just one reception for 12 yards.

5. Percy Snow, LB, Kansas City Chiefs (1990)

Snow had a successful rookie season in 1990 and was expected to be a major contributor to Marty Schottenheimer’s defense with the Chiefs. However, he was involved in an accident while riding a moped during training camp in 1991. Snow sustained season-ending injuries to his knee in the wreck and he never fully recovered from the accident. His career ended after only three active seasons (he spent 1991 on the disabled list) with just one start in his final two. An extremely productive pick over the years, there haven’t been a lot of huge misses, unless you count the extenuating circumstances of David Overstreet or Leon Burns. Snow was more of a natural bust, when you consider the hype he generated at Michigan State as the country’s best linebacker.

6. Clyde Duncan, WR, St. Louis Cardinals (1984)

Clyde Lewis Duncan is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played two seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Potomac High School, in Oxon Hill, Md. For the most part, the 17th pick has been very good to teams over the years, making Duncan the slam dunk bust of the crop. First, he started his career with what was considered at the time a nasty holdout. He eventually signed and saw little playing time, playing only eight games. He was used primarily as a kick returner the following year, but had fumbling problems. The NFL was done with him after only two years.

7. Steve Pisarkiewicz, QB, St. Louis Cardinals (1977)

Stephen John Pisarkiewicz is a former professional American football player who played quarterback for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers. This is a pick littered with great talent over the years, and a few busts: Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, Perry Tuttle and others. Pisarkiewicz gets this spot because the Cardinals were depending on Pisarkiewicz finally moving the team on from an aging Jim Hart. What they got instead was a quarterback who wasn’t even consistent enough to get on the field, let alone wrestle the job away from Hart.

8. Jim Druckenmiller, QB, San Francisco 49ers (1997)

Druckenmiller was drafted in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He played in only six games, completing 21 of 52 pass attempts while throwing only one touchdown pass and four interceptions. Following this unsuccessful stint in San Francisco, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins and subsequently released.

9. Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, New England Patriots (1999)

This is a tough pick because remarkably, most guys taken in this spot have had solid, productive careers and hung around the league for a while. Katzenmoyer was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He suffered a neck injury during his first season with the Patriots that eventually forced him to have surgery and miss half of the 2000 season. During training camp in 2001, Katzenmoyer walked out citing concern about a feeling in his neck. He was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. The Patriots released Katzenmoyer before the beginning of the 2002 season, and he has not returned to professional football.

10. Patrick Ramsey, QB, Washington Redskins (2002)

Patrick Jones Ramsey is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins 32nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tulane. Ramsey has also played for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. OK, so it seems a little harsh to drop Ramsey here considering he has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions in his career. And he did start and have an oh-so-brief flourish with the Redskins. But up to now, he qualifies as little more than Steve Spurrier’s busted project.