The time has finally come!!!! For 2 1/2 months, we have talked about it until we became blue in the face. It's finally here. The 2006 NFL Draft (I know you can't contain yourselves, but hold all applause). Yes boys and girls, it's the time of year that gives us something to get happy about, because it gives football fans something else to talk about for the next month, until minicamps start.
I want to know who do you consider a first round bust from your favorite team. I made this blog, so I guess I should go first.
My 1st round bust will be none other then........drum roll, please......... Travis Taylor!!!
Okay, folks. I know what you're thinking. Travis Taylor? She has got to be crazy! Last time I checked, Kyle Boller is on the Baltimore Ravens. I get that. And I'll tell you why I DIDN'T pick Boller in a sec. But first, let me break down to you Travis Taylor's tenture as a Baltimore Raven:
College: Florida
Drafted: 10th overall pick, Baltimore Ravens in 2000
In 5 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Travis Taylor had 204 rec., 2758 yds., 15 TDs in in 67 games
Overall career: 254 rec., 3362 yds., 19 TDs in 83 games
I'm no NFL guru, but this is all we got from what was supposed to be one of the best WR's in the 2000 draft? Thanks, but no thanks. I know there are a few of you who knows that this offense has been anemic for years, pretty much Taylor's whole career there. But there are a couple of things I can say to defend that. One, in 2001 when the Ravens had Elvis Grbac, the offense was ranked 14th in total yards per game, and even 16th in total yards the year before, during their SB season. I'm sure the likes of Quadry Ismail, Shannon Sharpe, and Brandon Stokley couldn't complain about getting the ball with this anemic offense. Also, regarding the 2001 season, Jamal Lewis went down with a knee injury that had our backfield blessed with the likes of Jason Brookings and Terry Allen. Taylor only contributed with 42 rec for 560 yds. In a season were the rushing avg went from 8th in 2000 to 25th in 2001, that should've gotten him 1,000 yds easy. But he was unreliable and Stokley, Ismail, and Sharpe received more balls. Case in point, Taylor didn't live up to round 1 expectations.
The reason why I didn't pick Boller is for a number of reasons. Lets take a look at his overall performance as a Raven:
College: California
Drafted: 19th overall pick in 2003
2005 stats: 293 att, 171 cmp for 1799 yds. 58.4 cmp %, 11 TDs, 12 INTs, QB rating of 71.7 in 9 games
Overall stats: 981 att, 545 cmp for 5618 yds. 55.6 cmp %, 31 TDs, 32 INTs, QB rating of 69.2 in 36 games
Looking at Boller's numbers, they are below average and do not show any real improvement since he came in the league in 2003. However, there are a few main factors that do not prove he is a first round bust. First, Boller was handed the starting job on a silver platter. When Boller was drafted, the coaching staff advised that it would be an open competition between Blake, Redman and Boller. When Blake decided that he wasn't interested in the competition and left the team, that only left Redman as the "veteran QB" on the team. The job instantly became Boller's to lose. There was no QB that helped him in his development and the transition to the NFL.
Also, the decline in the offensive line. Since Jamal rushed for 2066 yds in 2003 (Boller's rookie season), his rushing avg has gone down every year. From 5.3 yds in 2003, to 4.3 yds in 2004 and finally to a horrible 3.4 yds last season. The offensive line is slow and old, and pass protection has gotten worse. With Rabach signing to the Redskins last season, Ogden and Mulitalo getting slower and Orlando Brown getting older, the offensive line played a fair role in the inept play of the offense overall.
With the possible addition of McNair, Boller can get a second chance by sitting on the bench to actually LEARN what it's like to be a QB, similar to what will happen if Harrington gets traded to Miami. And hey, if Harrington can get another chance, then so can Boller.
Okay, enough about who my team's first round bust is. Tell me who yours is and why.
I'm a Bears fan...are you actually going to make me pick one? There's just so many...Rashaan Salam (sp)?, Curtis Enis, Cade McNown...it's just too hard.
Moore, it's funny you mentioned McCown. He was he was almost on my wall of busts at the top. But I decided at the last minute to go with Phillips. Hahahahahahahah
Interesting topic. I was looking at the list of successful undrafted players...and my Eagles have a few on that list. It seems that everyone expects those first rounders to make big names...when many of them are out of the NFL in a matter of a few seasons...or maybe just become mediocre players. This draft should be no different.
Can't thing of a bigtime recent bust for the Eagles...but I'm sure that's open to interpretation. Hopefully, the Eagles select a good linebacker with their 14th pick this year...and he WON'T be a bust. To be determined...
Shooter, I was telling someone the same thing about undrafted FAs. There are so many that do well, while these 1st rounders do jack #### when they get here. The Ravens is another team that has a talent for undrafted players, like Priest Holmes and Will Demps.
I just think that players in the first round are expected to do so much, and when they DON'T, people become extremely judgemental and pessimistic. As long as you can contribute to my team, I could care less.
I am really interested in how the top 3 QB's pan out, compared to the others like Croyle and Clemens
Irish.. Me, too. I'm sick of hearing about him, too and with that title of being "freakish". I know the Phreak Jevon Kearse can't be too happy about that title being handed to him
tony mandarich, john michaels, brent fullwood (i think he was a 1st rounder), terrell buckley, ahmad carroll, there's so many, now i'm just paranoid there will be another one this year. geez, i need to go to therapy now. thanks for this. lol
I feel bad for the guy in a way because of how his father pushed him from birth to be a "perfect" football machine. As soon as he slipped up and started toking, the nickname was born. It was a natural so it stuck.
People wonder why the Raiders haven't taken a first round QB in ages. That my friends, is the reason.
Well, looks like that'll end this year. I see the Raiders taking Young this weekend. I'm hoping they do. I actually follow the Raiders (I mentioned that before), and we play them at home 9/17 for our first home game. I got tix, so I want to see what Young has up his sleeve for the NFL
Dat - Um, yeah we know. If you read above that's why I brought up Todd Marinovich, 1991 out of USC. He is the team's biggest draft bust. I have to show respect for the deceased or I would choose Darrell Russell.
hill - Don't expect to see Young doing anything but holding a clipboard even if they do take him. Brooks will have the job to lose and unless they start poorly (very easy schedule so that's unlikely) he should play well into the season. I only see Vince Young starting a game if it is the finale and they are out of the hunt. Some think Huff is going to be the man in that spot, and if something funny happens Hawk could be the guy too.
What I would love is if the Raiders grew a pair and dealt into the #3 for Leinart. I am so on board with whatever they have to give up. He would love to stay in Cali (heck, Reggie Bush wants to play for the 49ers!) and be a freaking superstar by 2007. Carson Palmer II.
I am a forty niner fan and with Terry Donahue, the question is more like, "who isn't your team's first round bust"??? Druckenmiller, McQuarters, Ahmed Plummer, Rashaun Woods. OUCH!!!Thank God they finally got rid of him!!
Last edited by NickelBack on April 25th at 12:10 PM.
Whoa Norcal. Carson Palmer II, not sure. I think that Leinart is NFL ready, but Palmer has an arm on him and can make passes I'm not sure Leinart can do. I like Leinart, but some say he's more of a Hollywood star rather then a football player, and many wonder his dedication to the game.
Young nmay sit on the bench, but I'm not a big fan of Brooks. I can see him losing his spot by the 9th game of the season
WViking- How about, I never realized Rudd was a 1st rounder. Isn't that the guy who threw his helmet off and lost the game against KC a couple of years ago?
NorthSide- I didn't mean to hurt Da Bears fans in the blogging community. I never knew you guys went threw so many bad ones. :( I'll be more sensitive next time
Hill - I actually like Leinart's desire more than Palmer's. Carson is sort of a quiet leader, whereas Matt has that nasty "we're going to kick your ####" attitude that fits perfectly into returning the Raiders to where they should be.
Brooks is no savior, I'll grant you that, but he has been a very productive QB who just needs to learn how to avoid that crucial error. If you look back on Kerry's 1st half of last season you will see that after coming in with similar baggage he picked up on the "don't screw it up!" theory pretty well.
I am giving Brooks a 80% chance to start 14 games, and would be surprised if he blew it badly enough to warrant throwing a rookie or Walter to the wolves while the season is still on the line (ie week 9 when they definitely won't be 3-6 or worse).
My original point was that you won't see Young taking snaps other than before the game starts!
Of course the obvious is Heath Shuler in '94. But let's not forget Andre Johnson, T, Penn State in '96. The Skins traded a 2nd and 3rd round pick to move up and take him #30 overall, he never played in an regular season game and was cut the next season.
If you wonder why the Skins were so bad in the mid-90s to the early 2000s, here's your answer:
1991 Bobby Wilson, DT, Michigan State
1992 Desmond Howard, WR, Michigan
1993 Tom Carter, CB, Notre Dame
1994 Heath Shuler, QB, Tennessee
1995 Michael Westbrook, WR, Colorado
1996 Andre Johnson, T, Penn State
1997 Kenard Lang, DE, Miami
You're probably right. But that was a dream of mine. Guess I need to wake up.
I just question Brooks' leadership skills. Especially on a team with Randy Moss, he has to step it up a little. Correction, a lot. I know that Young isn't ready, by any means. I just read today that he has only taken 28 snaps behind center his collegiate career. Way too low for me.
I think you guys should pick a defensive guy, specifically becase people speak so highly of the QB you guys drafted last year. But we shall see
OK hillie, can't believe I missed the Eagles biggest 1st round bust:
Freddie Mitchell, 2001
If you asked him, he might tell you that he is the greatest receiver of all time. But you asked me instead, and I say he was a waste of time. Talented, yes...but a little too much T.O. attitude.
Can't believe Priest Holmes was undrafted...I'm sure there will be similar steals this year...and every year.
Thumper, forgive me for my ignorance, but are you being sarcastic? Howard had some good years in GB as a kick returner. I know what you're thinking, okay, KICK RETURNER, but a SB MVP isn't a bust in my book.
Just wanna make sure we're on the same page or not
Shooter, how could we forget FredEx. I'm still fuming over those SB comments he made. What a clown.
They say this is one of the most deepest drafts in years (do they say that every year?). So there is bound to be a player that isn't drafted that's ready to be the next big star. I see Marcus Vick not beign drafted. Not a star, just not being drafted
As a Lions fan, I have you all beat....by a MILE!!! Top these choices, I dare you!!!
2005 - Mike Williams #10 overall (over Shawne Merriman). Third straight WR in top 10 picks. Let's see..slow, not a good route runner and was late to virtually every meeting. Great choice!!
2003 - Charles Rogers #2 overall. Too little space here to type everything I'd like to say..gets hurt, fails drug tests, gets suspended.(even he's surprised he's still on the team.)
2002 - Joey Harrington #3 overall (Heath Shuler clone). Good luck Miami.
Shall I go on?? OK!!
1998 - Terry Fair (over Randy Moss)
1997 - Bryant Westbrook #5 overall.
Michael Huff if you're reading this, please don't come to the Lions. Not because I don't want you, I think you are a fine DB/safety...I would like to see you succeed.
Seahawks....RICK MIRER (no one even comes close to this clown)....Second place....Brian Bosworth. OK he was a supplemental pick, but still a piece of #### never the less!
Has anyone checked in for Cleveland? Can we just say every pick for the last how many years running on them?
DJ - I mentioned Russell, but the guy is dead so I showed restraint. Gibson is terrible but I think he was taken #28? That season I told everyone who would listen we should have taken this feisty little QB from Purdue who had a gritty style of play. Yes, Drew Brees. As for P-Buc, at least the team recovered some of their loss by pawning him off on Houston. Plus, the guy did score touchdowns so I don't put him anywhere close to some of the busts mentioned. Darrell Russell also went to the Pro Bowl as I recall and anyone who even gets there once is permanently off the bust list.
Hill - That group of 'Canes was awesome in college, but in retrospect it sure looks like Ed Reed made his corners (Buchanon & Rumph, who was taken by the 49ers) look good.
FredEx was bust. BUT he was the recipient of two of the most memorable plays in Eagles history- 4th and 26 and McNabb's 20+ second scramble vs the 'Boys on Monday Night Football. That's gotta count for something. My vote for biggest Eagles draft bust goes to Mike Mamula with Jerome McDougle coming in a close second.
Very good post. As a 49ers fan, I think that soon it will be Alex Smith. They really didn't need a QB, Rattay was decent. Smith wasn't worthy of a 1 pick, and if he was in this years draft, he would be out of the first round probably. They should have picked one of the 3 RBs, but they are dumb. Here's to 5 more years of crappy 49er teams.
norcal- does anyone EVER check in for cleveland? i'm waiting until game 3 of the season, and the browns are 2-1, and watch all the closet browns fans start coming out in droves. i havent heard much of anything from browns fans since they signed willie mcginest.
hill- 8 hours of therapy, and i come back and put myself through the same punishment again...my the#### will love me now i'm sure. then again, seeing the sufferings from everyone else, i feel a little better. although i still dont think anyone compares to tony mandarich when it comes to the word "bust."
Nice idea for draft week Hill, planning a little something myself.
As for my teams biggest draft day blunder, I wouldn't say it was so much as a big bust than a ridiculously bad plan. My example is one of the most notorious football deals in the history of the league, the Atlanta Falcons 1992 Draft Strategy.
They did great when they took Bob Whitfield with the number 8 pick, but executed one of the worst blunders by acquiring the 19th overall pick from the Green Bay Packers by trading them Brett Favre.
What did the Falcons get in exchange for a QB who will go down in NFL history as one of the all time greats, try Favre's teammate in college, running back Tony Smith. Who? Well that's because if you blinked you would have missed his playing time on the field for Atlanta and in the NFL.
To make matters worse, look at the players drafted shortly after Tony: Rod Smith, Jimmy Smith, Darren Woodson, and Levon Kirkland. Oh the agony!
