Biggest Busts of the NFL Draft

The top prospects who could have, but didn't
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 18, 2008 10:42 AM CDT
Biggest Busts of the NFL Draft
Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning smiles before the 2008 Pro Bowl. Selected just before Ryan Leaf, Manning couldn't have had a more different career than his draft classmate.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Hype is mounting for this year's NFL draft class, but plenty of hopes are dashed each year.  ESPN catalogs the top 50 picks who fizzled:

  1. Ryan Leaf: drafted No. 2, behind Peyton Manning, but racked up 14 TDs to 65 sacks in 4 seasons
  2. Lawrence Phillips: had troubles with the law and with his own attitude

  1. Art Schlichter: played in just 13 games in 1982 while wrestling with gambling problems
  2. Heath Shuler: threw 21 interceptions to 5 TDs in 3 years before leaving the league
  3. Charles Rogers: began the Lions' tradition of drafting underwhelming wide receivers.
To see the full list, click the link below. (More NFL stories.)

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