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The worst draft pick for every NFL team since 2000
The Raiders took JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007. MediaNews Group/Contra Costa Times via Getty Images

The worst draft pick for every NFL team since 2000

Each and every year, there are NFL teams that have high hopes for their draft picks only to see those players flame out in one fashion or another. Unfortunately, there are no do-overs or mulligans when it comes to the NFL Draft. Here, we lay out the worst draft pick for each NFL team since 2000.

 
1 of 32

Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, 2018

Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, 2018
Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports Images

Rosen replaced Matt Leinart as the worst quarterback by the Cardinals this century. Selected 10th overall in 2018 out of UCLA, Rosen looked like a deer in the headlights during his rookie season, going 3-10 as the starter. The Cardinals didn't even give him a second chance, trading Rosen to Miami the following offseason and drafting Kyler Murray first overall in 2019. Rosen started only three games with the Dolphins in 2019 and was similarly ineffective.

 
2 of 32

Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, 2009

Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, 2009
Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images

The 24th overall pick out of Ole Miss, Jerry suffered a knee injury early in his rookie season that limited him to only two games that year. He played only four more seasons in the NFL, retiring with 5.5 sacks.

 
3 of 32

Baltimore Ravens: Mark Clayton, WR, 2005

Baltimore Ravens: Mark Clayton, WR, 2005
Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Clayton peaked with 67 receptions for 939 yards during his second season before seeing a steep decline. He finished his seven-year career with 3,448 receiving yards, not exactly great value as the 22nd overall pick in 2005.

 
4 of 32

Buffalo Bills: EJ Manuel, QB, 2013

Buffalo Bills: EJ Manuel, QB, 2013
Zuma Press / Icon Sportswire

Desperate for a quarterback, the Bills' selection of Manuel 16th overall out of Florida State was considered an overdraft at the time. It's been a disaster since then, with Manuel starting only 17 games over four seasons and posting a 77.5 passer rating. Tyrod Taylor beat out Manuel for the starting job in Year 3.

 
5 of 32

Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen, QB, 2010

Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen, QB, 2010
Larry French / Getty Images

While a second-round pick, Clausen's career was terribly disappointing. He started 10 games in his rookie season, going 1-9 and helping the Panthers get the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 to draft Cam Newton. Clausen did not earn a roster spot in 2016 and finished 1-13 as a starter with an embarrassing 61.9 passer rating.

 
6 of 32

Chicago Bears: David Terrell, WR, 2001

Chicago Bears: David Terrell, WR, 2001
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Drafted eighth overall in 2001, Terrell lasted only five seasons. He started just 29 games during that time and retired with only 1,602 receiving yards.

 
7 of 32

Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Perry, RB, 2004

Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Perry, RB, 2004
Joe Robbins / Getty Images

Even after Rudi Johnson's emergence, the Bengals selected Perry in the first round in 2004. He could never unseat Johnson, starting only nine games during his four seasons on the field. He retired with only 177 rush attempts and 3.4 yards per carry.

 
8 of 32

Cleveland Browns: Courtney Brown, DE, 2000

Cleveland Browns: Courtney Brown, DE, 2000
M. David Leeds / Getty Images

One of the least productive first overall picks ever, Brown had only 19 sacks over his six-year career. The Browns have had plenty of other duds over the last 17 years, too, including William Green (2002), Brady Quinn (2007), Trent Richardson (2012), Brandon Weeden (2012), Johnny Manziel (2014), and Corey Coleman (2016).

 
9 of 32

Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones, RB, 2008

Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones, RB, 2008
Brian Bahr / Getty Images

A backup running back at Arkansas, the speedy Jones was a playmaker but played only six NFL seasons and started 25 games after being drafted 22nd overall in 2008. He peaked in his second season with 5.9 yards per carry.

 
10 of 32

Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow, QB, 2010

Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow, QB, 2010
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

The Broncos traded up in 2010 to acquire one of the best college quarterbacks of all time 25th overall. Tebow did help the Broncos to the playoffs in 2011 despite completing a pitiful 46.5 percent of his passes. He lasted three seasons, but delusional fans of bad NFL teams still call for their teams to sign him each offseason. However, Tebow hasn't been able to catch on anywhere else besides one forgettable season with the Jets, and now he's attempting a professional baseball career.

 
11 of 32

Detroit Lions: Joey Harrington, QB, 2002

Detroit Lions: Joey Harrington, QB, 2002
Craig Jones / Getty Images

Matt Millen's pitiful string of first-round picks started in 2002 with Harrington third overall. The Oregon alumnus set the organization back several years, going 18-37 as a starter over four seasons with a 68.1 passer rating. He played two more seasons before his career ended. Of course, Millen comically took wide receivers in the first round in the following three years, all of which (Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams) turned out to be disappointments.

 
12 of 32

Green Bay Packers: Justin Harrell, DT, 2007

Green Bay Packers: Justin Harrell, DT, 2007
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Selected 16th overall in 2007, Harrell barely played in three seasons due to injuries. His career ended after three seasons and only 14 games.

 
13 of 32

Houston Texans: David Carr, QB, 2002

Houston Texans: David Carr, QB, 2002
Al Bello / Getty Images

The Texans' first draft pick ever was certainly their worst. Carr was a massive bust after going first overall in 2002. He started 75 games over five seasons in Houston, going 22-53 with a 75.5 passer rating before spending six more seasons as an NFL backup.

 
14 of 32

Indianapolis Colts: Bjoern Werner, LB, 2013

Indianapolis Colts: Bjoern Werner, LB, 2013
Al Bello / Getty Images

Werner was drafted 24th overall in 2013 to address Indy's pass rush, but he did nothing of the sort. He had only three sacks in 15 starts during 2014 and didn't find another start before getting waived following the 2015 season. 

 
15 of 32

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert, QB, 2011

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert, QB, 2011
Zuma Press / Icon Sportswire

Gabbert had a strong arm but simply didn't have the skills to play quarterback for a bad team like the Jaguars. Drafted 10th overall in 2011, Gabbert was awful during his 27 starts over three seasons in Jacksonville. He went 5-22 as a starter with a 71.9 passer rating. He's hung around the league as a backup since then.

 
16 of 32

Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, 2011

Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, 2011
Jeff Moffett / Icon Sportswire

Drafted 26th overall in 2011, Baldwin was injured in his first training camp when veteran running back Thomas Jones decided that he needed an attitude adjustment. Baldwin never got the message, playing sparingly for the Chiefs over two seasons before getting traded to San Francisco for fellow first-round bust A.J. Jenkins. Baldwin was cut after three seasons with only 607 receiving yards.

 
17 of 32

Los Angeles Rams: Jason Smith, OT, 2009

Los Angeles Rams: Jason Smith, OT, 2009
James Escher / Icon Sportswire

Selected second overall in 2009, Smith was a complete bust for the Rams. He played only 29 games over four seasons and played more than eight games only once for the Rams over his three seasons with the team.

 
18 of 32

Miami Dolphins: Dion Jordan, DE, 2013

Miami Dolphins: Dion Jordan, DE, 2013
Al Bello / Getty Images

Jordan deserves credit for making something of his career, but the early returns with Miami were atrocious. Drafted third overall in 2013, Jordan started only one game in his first two seasons and was suspended for all of 2015 after violating the league's substance abuse policy. He has been able to play 24 games over the last three seasons with Seattle and Oakland.

 
19 of 32

Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB, 2011

Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB, 2011
Hannah Foslien / Getty Images

The surprising 12th overall pick in 2011, Ponder's Vikings went 10-6 in 2012 despite him. He was never more than a game manager in four seasons, starting 36 games with a 14-21-1 record.

 
20 of 32

New England Patriots: Dominique Easley, DT, 2014

New England Patriots: Dominique Easley, DT, 2014
Leslie Plaza Johnson / Icon Sportswire

Even during New England's dynasty, not every draft pick has been great. Easley was cut less than two years after he was drafted 29th in 2014 due to injuries and off-field concerns. He played only 22 games in two seasons before latching on with the Rams in 2016.

 
21 of 32

New Orleans Saints: Johnathan Sullivan, DT, 2003

New Orleans Saints: Johnathan Sullivan, DT, 2003
NFL Photos / Getty Images

Selected sixth overall in 2003, Sullivan started only 16 games over three seasons with the Saints. He had just 1.5 sacks.

 
22 of 32

New York Giants: David Wilson, RB, 2012

New York Giants: David Wilson, RB, 2012
Rich Kane / Icon Sportswire

Drafted at the end of the first round in 2012, Wilson showed some flashes in two seasons before suffering a career-ending neck injury. He had only 504 rushing yards in two seasons.

 
23 of 32

New York Jets: Dee Milliner, CB, 2013

New York Jets: Dee Milliner, CB, 2013
Richard C. Lewis / Icon Sportswire

Milliner was drafted ninth overall and was benched in only his second season. He played only eight games in 2014 and 2015 due to injuries.

 
24 of 32

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, 2007

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, 2007
Richard Schultz / Getty Images

Of the many terrible picks the Raiders have made over the last 20 years, there's no debating that this one is the worst. Russell's stock skyrocketed after a bowl game performance, and Al Davis couldn't overlook his incredible arm with the first overall pick. He lasted only three seasons in the NFL and had conditioning issues. Russell went 7-18 as a starter and had a 52.1 percent completion rate and 65.2 passer rating for his career.

 
25 of 32

Philadelphia Eagles: Freddie Mitchell, WR, 2001

Philadelphia Eagles: Freddie Mitchell, WR, 2001
Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

The Eagles were desperate to find a No. 1 receiving option for Donovan McNabb, but Mitchell wasn't the answer. The 25th overall pick played only four seasons, with 17 starts. He never had more than 498 receiving yards in a season.

 
26 of 32

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ziggy Hood, DT, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ziggy Hood, DT, 2009
Zuma Press / Icon Sportswire

The Steelers have consistently hit on their first-round picks, and the Hood pick 32nd overall in 2009 was hardly disastrous. Hood has simply been the least successful of the team's first-rounders over the last 20 years, starting 46 games over five seasons in Pittsburgh with 12.5 sacks. He did play 10 seasons in the NFL.

 
27 of 32

San Diego Chargers: Craig Davis, WR, 2007

San Diego Chargers: Craig Davis, WR, 2007
Donald Miralle / Getty Images

The Chargers never really got anything out of Davis after taking him 30th overall in 2007. He started only two games over four seasons and had just 51 receptions for 558 yards for his career.

 
28 of 32

San Francisco 49ers: A.J. Jenkins, WR, 2012

San Francisco 49ers: A.J. Jenkins, WR, 2012
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

The 49ers traded their 2012 first-round pick after only one season in which he saw three games of action. He played sparingly in two seasons with the Chiefs following the trade, finishing with only 17 receptions for 223 yards.

 
29 of 32

Seattle Seahawks: Malik McDowell, DT, 2017

Seattle Seahawks: Malik McDowell, DT, 2017
Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire

McDowell's story is one of the saddest in recent NFL memory. The 35th overall pick in 2017, McDowell was involved in a serious ATV accident prior to his first training camp. He failed to appear in a game due to the injury and was arrested twice within the next year. Seattle waived McDowell, and he was arrested twice more in 2019.

 
30 of 32

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, QB, 2009

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, QB, 2009
Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire

The Bucs hoped and wished Freeman would be their long-term quarterback, sticking with him over four seasons after he went 17th overall in 2009. He was 24-35 with a 78.8 passer rating over those four years and tried to survive as a backup, but he was out of the league in 2016.

 
31 of 32

Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, 2011

Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, 2011
Todd Kirkland / Icon Sportswire

Locker lasted four seasons in Tennessee after going eighth overall in 2011 and faced injury issues for much of his time. He went 9-14 as a starter and retired following his fourth season.

 
32 of 32

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, 2012

Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, 2012
Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire

Griffin looked like a franchise quarterback after his rookie season, making the Pro Bowl and leading Washington to the playoffs with an amazing 102.4 passer rating. However, he hasn't been the same following a knee injury suffered in the playoffs that year, which has limited his mobility. He started 20 more games for Washington, going 5-15, and the Redskins cut Griffin after the 2015 season. Even more damaging for Washington was the massive trade to acquire him, sending the Rams three first-round picks and one second-rounder.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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