Worst No. 1 Picks in NFL History
JaMarcus Russell played in 31 NFL games in his career after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft.
The NFL draft began in 1936 with team owners gathered in Philadelphia to make their picks off names written on a giant chalkboard. Those humble beginnings gave little evidence of the juggernaut the draft would become. But even then, someone had to go No. 1.
For better or worse, in over 80 years of No. 1 picks, it's not always bright lights and big paychecks for players in the top spot. That’s because if they don’t deliver on the field, the spotlight can feel more like a heat lamp in an interrogation room.
When this happens, careers go bust, and teams are left to wonder what could have been. These are the worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL history.
30. Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde lost twice as many games as he won in six seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Elmont, New York
High school: Sewanhaka High
College: University of Miami
Year drafted: 1987
Team that drafted him: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They could’ve picked: Two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year Cornelius Bennett (No. 2, Indianapolis Colts), Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (No. 10, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Bottom Line: Vinny Testaverde
It all started at Miami for Vinny Testaverde.
Vinny Testaverde, who played 21 seasons, lost an NFL-record 123 games as a starting quarterback.
While he found some success later in his career with the Jets and Ravens, his six years in Tampa Bay were a wasteland — all losing seasons and a 28-67 team record, including going 24-48 as the starter from 1987 to 1992.
29. John Matuszak
Oakland Raider John Matuszak exchanges pleasantries with Baltimore Colt quarterback Bert Jones during a 1977 playoff game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Oak Creek, Wisconsin
High school: Oak Creek High
College: University of Tampa
Year drafted: 1973
Team that drafted him: Houston Oilers
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers John Hannah (No. 4, New England Patriots) and Joe DeLamielleure (No. 26, Buffalo Bills)
Bottom Line: John Matuszak
John Matuszak played his college ball at the University of Tampa.
John Matuszak gained international fame as an actor, playing Sloth in the hit film "The Goonies," but he was one of the all-time bad boys in NFL history. He played only one season for the Houston Oilers, before being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, then finding a home with the Oakland Raiders.
His career was plagued by controversy and drug use, and no Pro Bowls, though it did include two Super Bowl wins with the Raiders.
Matuszak died of a drug overdose in 1989, at 38 years old.
28. Angelo Bertelli
Notre Dame quarterbacks Angelo Bertelli, left, and Johnny Lujack chat in 1943.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: West Springfield, Massachusetts
High school: Cathedral High
College: University of Notre Dame
Year drafted: 1944
Team that drafted him: Boston Yanks
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Otto Graham (No. 4, Detroit Lions) and Steve Van Buren (No. 5, Philadelphia Eagles)
Bottom Line: Angelo Bertelli
NFL success wasn't meant to be for Angelo Bertelli.
Angelo Bertelli couldn’t go play for the Yanks after being drafted because he had bigger concerns — fighting in World War II at the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he almost lost his life.
He returned to play three seasons of pro football, but not in the NFL. He played for the Los Angeles Dons and the Chicago Rockets in the All-American Football Conference.
In 1946, two years after selecting Bertelli, the Yanks took another Notre Dame quarterback with the top overall pick, Frank Dancewicz. The team went out of business in 1952.
27. Ricky Bell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rickey Bell cannot escape the clutches of Minnesota Vikings defenders in 1977.
Position: Running back
Hometown: Los Angeles
High school: Fremont High
College: University of Southern California
Year drafted: 1977
Team that drafted him: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett (No. 2, Dallas Cowboys), five-time All-Pro Gary Green (No. 10, Kansas City Chiefs)
Bottom Line: Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell rushed for 3,689 yards at USC.
Ricky Bell’s pick was controversial, since Tony Dorsett was viewed as a better all-around running back. But Buccaneers head coach John McKay had coached Bell at USC.
Bell led the Bucs to the playoffs in 1979, but his health (weight loss, migraines) forced him out of the NFL by 1983. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis (a muscle/skin disease) and died in 1989.
26. David Carr
David Carr had more interceptions (65) than touchdown passes (59) in 76 games with the Houston Texans.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
High school: Stockdale High
College: Fresno State University
Year drafted: 2002
Team that drafted him: Houston Texans
They could’ve picked: Six-time All-Pro Julius Peppers (No. 2, Carolina Panthers), seven-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney (No. 11, Indianapolis Colts), Hall of Famer Ed Reed (No. 24, Baltimore Ravens)
Bottom Line: David Carr
David Carr put up big numbers at Fresno State.
David Carr started the first game in Houston Texans' history and ran into trouble early on, setting the NFL single-season records for times sacked (76) and fumble recoveries (12).
In five seasons as a starter for Houston, Carr went 22-53, then played six more seasons as a journeyman backup quarterback.
25. Jeff George
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, second from right, joins 1990 first-round draft picks Jeff George, far left, Junior Seau, second from left, and Blair Thomas.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
High school: Warren Central High
College: University of Illinois
Year drafted: 1990
Team that drafted him: Indianapolis Colts
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy (No. 3, Seattle Seahawks), Junior Seau (No. 5, San Diego Chargers) and Emmitt Smith (No. 17, Dallas Cowboys)
Bottom Line: Jeff George
Jeff George mastered the art of making enemies.
Imagine if the Colts had picked Junior Seau or Emmitt Smith. Instead, they got George and signed him to the richest rookie contract in NFL history.
George had a cannon for an arm, but he didn't have the makeup to be a franchise player.
As a result, his performance (14-35 as an NFL starter) and bad attitude saw him play for seven teams over 14 seasons.
24. Bo Jackson
NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, stands with Auburn running back Bo Jackson after he was chosen first in the 1986 NFL draft.
Position: Running back
Hometown: Bessemer, Alabama
High school: McCalla McAdory High
College: Auburn University
Year drafted: 1986
Team that drafted him: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They could’ve picked: Pro Bowler Tony Casillas (No. 2, Atlanta Falcons), Pro Bowler Jim Everett (No. 3, Houston Oilers), Hall of Famer Charles Haley (No. 96, San Francisco 49ers)
Bottom Line: Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy at Auburn in 1985.
One of the more head-scratching picks, ever, because Bo Jackson repeatedly told the Bucs before the draft that he would not play for them.
He believed the team deceived him over a plane ticket that cost Jackson his baseball eligibility at Auburn, and he never played a down for Tampa Bay.
23. Billy Cannon
Oakland Raiders fullback Billy Cannon runs against the Houston Oilers in 1964.
Position: Running back
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
High school: Istrouma High
College: Louisiana State University
Year drafted: 1960
Team that drafted him: Los Angeles Rams
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Johnny Robinson (No. 3, Detroit Lions) and Ron Mix (No. 10, Baltimore Colts)
Bottom Line: Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon was a Louisiana legend at LSU.
Billy Cannon, reportedly the basis for the main character in the novel and film adaptation of "Everybody’s All-American," never played for the Rams.
A judge said the team and general manager Pete Rozelle took advantage of Cannon’s "naivete," when he signed a contract, and allowed him to sign with the Houston Oilers.
Cannon played his entire career in the AFL with Oilers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.
22. Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford went 18-30-1 in 49 starts for the Rams.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
High school: Putnam City North High
College: University of Oklahoma
Year drafted: 2010
Team that drafted him: St. Louis Rams
They could’ve picked: Five-time All-Pro Ndamukong Suh (No. 2, Detroit Lions), five-time All-Pro Earl Thomas (No. 14, Seattle Seahawks), three-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski (No. 42, New England Patriots)
Bottom Line: Sam Bradford
No one thought Sam Bradford was going to be a bust after his career at Oklahoma.
Sam Bradford signed a massive contract as a rookie, with $50 million guaranteed and worth up to $86 million.
Bradford played five seasons for the Rams, including just seven games over the last two seasons because of injuries. The team went 29-50-1 during that stretch.
21. King Hill
King Hill played in 123 games (29 starts) over 12 NFL seasons.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Freeport, Texas
High school: Brazosport High
College: Rice University
Year drafted: 1958
Team that drafted him: Chicago Cardinals
They could’ve picked: Nine-time All-Pro Alex Karras (No. 10, Detroit Lions), Hall of Famer Jim Taylor (No. 15, Green Bay Packers)
Bottom Line: King Hill
King Hill, right, played more like a pauper in the NFL.
King Hill had a lengthy career, but most of it was as a backup. That was for good reason. In 12 seasons for three different teams, Hill threw for just 5,553 yards, 31 touchdowns and a staggering 71 interceptions.
He went on to become an offensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints.
20. George Shaw
George Shaw played seven seasons in the NFL and one in the fledging American Football League.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
High school: Grant High
College: University of Oregon
Year drafted: 1955
Team that drafted him: Baltimore Colts
They could’ve picked: Three-time All-Pro Rosey Grier (No. 31, New York Giants), Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (No. 109, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Bottom Line: George Shaw
George Shaw was an All-American at Oregon.
George Shaw was an All-American at Oregon, but his career suffered more from bad luck than anything else.
After breaking his leg in his second season in Baltimore, he was replaced by backup Johnny Unitas, one of the NFL’s all-time greats. When Shaw became the starter in Minnesota, he was hurt and replaced by Fran Tarkenton, another of the NFL’s all-time greats.
Shaw appeared in 71 games in his pro career, completing 405 of 802 passes for 5,829 yards with 41 touchdowns and 63 interceptions.
19. Aundray Bruce
Aundray Bruce, center, holds up his future jersey with help from NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, and Atlanta Falcons president Rankin Smith Jr. in 1988.
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
High school: George Washington Carver High
College: Auburn University
Year drafted: 1988
Team that drafted him: Atlanta Falcons
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Tim Brown (No. 6, Los Angeles Raiders), Michael Irvin (No. 11, Dallas Cowboys), Randall McDaniel (No. 19, Minnesota Vikings)
Bottom Line: Aundray Bruce
Aundray Bruce played 11 seasons in the NFL.
Aundray Bruce’s selection was more of a result of the era — teams were desperate to find the next Lawrence Taylor.
Bruce was not that, but he still had a solid career over 11 seasons with the Falcons and Raiders.
No linebacker has been picked No. 1 overall since.
18. Dan Wilkinson
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson made 385 tackles and 54.5 sacks in 195 games over his 13-year career.
Position: Defensive tackle
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
High school: Dunbar High
College: Ohio State University
Year drafted: 1994
Team that drafted him: Cincinnati Bengals
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (No. 2, Indianapolis Colts), three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest (No. 4, New England Patriots), Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae (No. 36, Seattle Seahawks)
Bottom Line: Dan Wilkinson
Dan Wilkinson was hard to block at Ohio State.
Dan Wilkinson’s career wasn’t the disaster it seems like on the surface. He played 13 seasons and was productive for several different teams.
Off-the-field issues seemed to keep him from his full potential, including a nasty falling out with the Bengals and a domestic violence conviction for striking his pregnant girlfriend in 1996.
17. Randy Duncan
Quarterback Randy Duncan, left, led the Iowa Hawkeyes to two Rose Bowl wins.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
High school: Roosevelt High
College: University of Iowa
Year drafted: 1959
Team that drafted him: Green Bay Packers
They could’ve picked: Three-time Pro Bowler Dick Bass (No. 2, Los Angeles Rams), three-time All-Pro Dick LeBeau (No. 58, Cleveland Browns)
Bottom Line: Randy Duncan
Randy Duncan, left, did not have as many highlights in his pro career as he had at Iowa.
Randy Duncan never played for the Packers, instead choosing to play for the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions.
"They just offered me a lot more dough," Duncan told The Daily Iowan.
He played two seasons in Canada, then one season for the AFL’s Houston Texans before retiring to finish his law degree.
16. Gary Glick
Gary Glick in 1958.
Position: Defensive back
Hometown: LaPorte, Colorado
High school: Cache la Poudre High
College: Colorado State University
Year drafted: 1956
Team that drafted him: Pittsburgh Steelers
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Lenny Moore (No. 9, Baltimore Colts) and Forrest Gregg (No. 20, Green Bay Packers)
Bottom Line: Gary Glick
Gary Glick was drafted by the Steelers.
Gary Glick still is the only defensive back selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
He was a backup for all but one of his six seasons in the NFL, then played his final season in 1963 with the San Diego Chargers and won an AFL title.
15. Tom Cousineau
Cleveland Browns linebacker Tom Cousineau dives to tackle Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen in 1983.
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Lakewood, Ohio
High school: Lakewood High
College: Ohio State University
Year drafted: 1979
Team that drafted him: Buffalo Bills
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famer Dan Hampton (No. 4, Chicago Bears), Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms (No. 7, New York Giants), Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. (No. 13, San Diego Chargers)
Bottom Line: Tom Cousineau
Tom Cousineau was a feared linebacker at Ohio State.
The Bills acquired the No. 1 pick in a trade that sent O.J. Simpson to the San Francisco 49ers. Tom Cousineau never played a down for the Bills, instead choosing to play in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes, where he was the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player as a rookie.
In 1983, the Bills, who still owned Cousineau's NFL rights, traded him to the Cleveland Browns for a first-, second- and third-round draft pick.
He played four seasons with the Browns (57 games, 56 starts) and two with the San Francisco 49ers (9 games, 3 starts).
14. Jay Berwanger
University of Chicago coach Clark Shaughnessy, left, and captain Jay Berwanger in 1935.
Position: Halfback
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
High school: Dubuque High
College: University of Chicago
Year drafted: 1936
Team that drafted him: Philadelphia Eagles
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Joe Stydahar (No. 6, Chicago Bears) and Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans (No. 18, New York Giants)
Bottom Line: Jay Berwanger
Jay Berwanger was the first draft pick in NFL history.
Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman Trophy winner and first No. 1 overall pick in NFL history, never played professional football.
The Eagles traded his rights to the Bears, and Berwanger asked Bears’owner George Halas for $15,000. Halas offered $13,500, and Berwanger went to work at a Chicago rubber factory instead of playing.
13. Eric Fisher
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher during the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots on Jan. 20, 2019.
Position: Offensive tackle
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
High school: Stoney Creek High
College: Central Michigan University
Year drafted: 2013
Team that drafted him: Kansas City Chiefs
They could’ve picked: Two-time Pro Bowler Lane Johnson (No. 4, Philadelphia Eagles), three-time All-Pro LeVeon Bell (No. 48, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Bottom Line: Eric Fisher
Eric Fisher played at Central Michigan.
Eric Fisher has been a serviceable player for the Chiefs, but far from dominant and inconsistent at times.
He might be most famous for an infamous penalty. In a 2016 playoff game against the Steelers, he was called for holding after the Chiefs scored on a two-point conversion. They were penalized 10 yards, missed the next conversion attempt and lost 18-16.
On the bright side, Fisher is only 30 and did make his first Pro Bowl in 2018.
12. Kenneth Sims
New England Patriots defensive end Kenneth Sims pressures Houston Oilers quarterback Archie Manning in 1982.
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Kosse, Texas
High school: Groesbeck High
College: University of Texas
Year drafted: 1982
Team that drafted him: New England Patriots
They could’ve picked: Two-time Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon (No. 5, Chicago Bears), Hall of Famers Mike Munchak (No. 8, Houston Oilers) and Marcus Allen (No. 10, Los Angeles Raiders)
Bottom Line: Kenneth Sims
What might have been for Kenneth Sims.
Kenneth Sims played eight unremarkable seasons for the Patriots, including a Super Bowl XX loss, but his career was more known for off-field issues than his play.
He tested positive for marijuana in 1985, then cocaine in 1987 and 1988. Sims was arrested for cocaine possession in 1990, just months after he was released.
11. Bob Fenimore
Bob Fenimore played one season in the NFL.
Position: Halfback
Hometown: Woodward, Oklahoma
High school: Woodward High
College: Oklahoma State University
Year drafted: 1947
Team that drafted him: Chicago Bears
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Dante Lavelli (No. 103, Los Angeles Rams) and Art Donovan (No. 204, Baltimore Colts)
Bottom Line: Bob Fenimore
Bob Fenimore starred at Oklahoma State.
Bob Fenimore was arguably the most dominant player in college football in 1945, when he led Oklahoma State to the national title.
In 1946, he barely played because of injuries, but the Bears decided to roll the dice and pick him anyways.
His NFL career lasted 10 games.
10. Harry Babcock
Harry Babcock played 30 games in the NFL after being the top pick in the 1953 draft.
Position: End
Hometown: Pearl River, New York
High school: Pearl River High
College: University of Georgia
Year drafted: 1953
Team that drafted him: San Francisco 49ers
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Doug Atkins (No. 11, Cleveland Browns) and John Henry Johnson (No. 18, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Bottom Line: Harry Babcock
Harry Babcock went to Georgia.
Harry Babcock was a surprise pick at No. 1 for the 49ers, who drafted Hall of Fame offensive tackle Bob St Clair in the third round of the same draft.
Injuries defined Babcock’s career. He caught just 16 passes in three seasons and never scored a touchdown.
9. Walt Patulski
Notre Dame defensive end Walt Patulski, center, gets congratulations from NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, after being the first pick in the 1972 draft.
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Dewitt, New York
High school: Christian Brothers Academy
College: University of Notre Dame
Year drafted: 1972
Team that drafted him: Buffalo Bills
They could’ve picked: Four-time Pro Bowler Ahmad Rashad (No. 4, St. Louis Cardinals), Hall of Famer Franco Harris (No. 13, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Bottom Line: Walt Patulski
Walt Patulski had a standout career at Notre Dame.
Walt Patulski had unusual size and speed for the era in which he played. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, he could run a 4.8-second 40-yard dash.
But his quiet personality clashed with Buffalo Bills head coach Lou Saban, who traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals .
Putalski was out of the NFL after the 1977 season.
8. Terry Baker
Terry Baker attempted only 21 passes in his NFL career.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
High school: Jefferson High
College: Oregon State University
Year drafted: 1963
Team that drafted him: Los Angeles Rams
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Dave Robinson (No. 13, Green Bay Packers), Bobby Bell (No. 16, Minnesota Vikings), John Mackey (No. 19, Baltimore Colts)
Bottom Line: Terry Baker
Terry Baker was a star quarterback at Oregon State.
Terry Baker, the first Heisman Trophy winner from west of Texas, only played three seasons for the Rams and never had a winning record.
He played one more season in the Canadian Football League with Edmonton, then earned his law degree from USC and opened a firm in his hometown.
7. Jameis Winston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston watches from the sidelines during a 2018 game against the Washington Redskins.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Bessemer, Alabama
High school: Hueytown High
College: Florida State University
Year drafted: 2015
Team that drafted him: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They could’ve picked: All-Pro Vic Beasley (No. 8, Atlanta Falcons), 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley (No. 10, Los Angeles Rams), two-time All-Pro Marcus Peters (No. 18, Kansas City Chiefs)
Bottom Line: Jameis Winston
Is it fair to call Jameis Winston a bust?
Jameis Winston had major red flags coming out of Florida State, but the Bucs still picked the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner.
He was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season for groping a female Uber driver.
In four NFL campaigns, he has gone 21-33 as a starter.
6. Bobby Garrett
Bobby Garrett on a 1954 Bowman football card.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
High school: South Pasadena High
College: Stanford University
Year drafted: 1954
Team that drafted him: Cleveland Browns
They could’ve picked: Two-time AFL All-Star Cotton Davidson (No. 5, Baltimore Colts), Hall of Famer Raymond Berry (No. 232, Baltimore Colts)
Bottom Line: Bobby Garrett
Bobby Garrett went to Stanford.
The Browns envisioned Bobby Garrett as the replacement for legendary quarterback Otto Graham.
At his first practice, the Browns realized they had a huge problem — Garrett had a severe stutter that would not allow him to intelligibly make play calls.
He lasted one season in the NFL.
5. Courtney Brown
Cleveland Browns defensive end Courtney Brown played in 61 games over six NFL seasons.
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Alvin, South Carolina
High school: Macedonia High
College: Penn State University
Year drafted: 2000
Team that drafted him: Cleveland Browns
They could’ve picked: Six-time Pro Bowler Chris Samuels (No. 3, Washington Redskins), Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher (No. 9, Chicago Bears), four-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady (No. 199, New England Patriots … who knew?)
Bottom Line: Courtney Brown
Courtney Brown did not live up to the hype.
Courtney Brown played only one full NFL season, his rookie year, and had nine sacks in his first 21 games before the first of many injuries that derailed his career.
Over the next four seasons, Brown played five games or less twice, recorded only 10 more sacks and was out of the league after the 2005 season.
4. Tim Couch
Tim Couch went 22-37 as a starting quarterback with the Cleveland Browns.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Hyden, Kentucky
High school: Leslie County High
College: University of Kentucky
Year drafted: 1999
Team that drafted him: Cleveland Browns
They could’ve picked: Six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb (No. 2, Philadelphia Eagles), four-time All-Pro Edgerrin James (No. 4, Indianapolis Colts), Hall of Famer Champ Bailey (No. 7, Washington Redskins)
Bottom Line: Tim Couch
Tim Couch was an All-American at Kentucky.
The Browns made Tim Couch their franchise quarterback in their first year returning to Cleveland. He led them to the playoffs in 2002 but broke his leg in the regular-season finale.
Couch had to compete with Kelly Holcomb in 2003, was cut in 2004 and never played in the NFL again.
3. Ki-Jana Carter
Cincinnati Bengals running back Ki-Jana Carter played in 59 games in his career and rushed for 1,144 yards.
Position: Running back
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
High school: Westerville South High
College: Penn State University
Year drafted: 1995
Team that drafted him: Cincinnati Bengals
They could’ve picked: Hall of Famers Warren Sapp (No. 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ty Law (No. 23, New England Patriots) and Derrick Brooks (No. 28, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Bottom Line: Ki-Jana Carter
Ki-Jana Carter was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1994.
Ki-Jana Carter signed for a then-NFL record $7.125 million bonus, but his career was beset by injuries from the start.
He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the first preseason game of his rookie season, and in five seasons with the Bengals, he missed all or most of four seasons with injuries.
2. Steve Emtman
Steve Emtman made 75 tackles for the Indianpolis Colts over three years.
Position: Defensive end
Hometown: Cheney, Washington
High school: Cheney High
College: University of Washington
Year drafted: 1992
Team that drafted him: Indianapolis Colts
They could’ve picked: Super Bowl XXXI MVP Desmond Howard (No. 4, Washington Redskins)
Bottom Line: Steve Emtman
Steve Emtman's success at Washington did carry over to the NFL.
Steve Emtman played a total of 18 games over three seasons with the Colts and ended each season on the injured reserve.
He only played one complete season in the NFL, in 1995 with the Dolphins, and he was out of the NFL for good after 1997.
1. Jamarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell stands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Oakland Raiders as the No. 1 overall pick during the 2007 NFL draft.
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
High school: Williamson High
College: Louisiana State University
Year drafted: 2007
Team that drafted him: Oakland Raiders
They could’ve picked: Five-time All-Pro Calvin Johnson (No. 2, Detroit Lions), 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson (No. 7, Minnesota Vikings), six-time All-Pro Patrick Willis (No. 11, San Francisco 49ers)
Bottom Line: Jamarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell is No. 1 as the worst No. 1 overall pick of all time.
JaMarcus Russell signed a five-year, $68 million contract with $31.5 million guaranteed as a rookie, but lasted only three seasons.
Concerns over work ethic and his use of codeine cough syrup mixed with soft drinks ("purple drank") followed him constantly. In one infamous case, the Raiders coaching staff even sent Russell home with blank game film to review as they suspected he wasn’t studying film.
Russell was arrested for possession of codeine cough syrup in 2010 and never played again.
Related: Best Value NFL Draft Picks of All Time