The biggest draft day misfires from the top five teams in the 2025 NFL Draft

The teams selecting the first five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft are in a position to acquire exciting new players that could potentially turn around their franchises. However, the teams picking in the top five are there for a reason — they haven't drafted well in the past.

Whether it's because of poor scouting, unforeseen injuries or missing out on a bona fide star, these are the biggest draft day misfires from the teams looking to course correct with the first five picks in Green Bay this Thursday.

Tennessee Titans: QB Jake Locker

The former Washington Huskies star was considered by many to be a top quarterback in 2011, even after he finished his college career at 16-24. This didn't deter the Titans from selecting Locker at No. 8, but maybe it should have. After just one unimpressive year as a starter in 2012, Locker's career was derailed by a series of injuries in 2013 and 2014, leading to his unceremonious retirement in 2015. 

The Titans have continued to ride the QB carousel since then, but now possess the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. With the likely selection of quarterback Cam Ward, this will be Tennessee's latest attempt to find a franchise signal-caller.

Cleveland Browns: QB Johnny Manziel

Manziel won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman in 2012 and became a controversial mainstream star even before being drafted in 2014. The Browns were hoping that the dual-threat athlete could be a spark for the much-maligned franchise and generate star power they were sorely missing. 

All they got from Manziel was 1,675 yards passing, seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 14 games played. More off-the-field headaches then led to the Browns cutting Manziel after two unremarkable seasons in Cleveland.

New York Giants: OT Ereck Flowers

It'd be easy to say that ex-Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is the team's biggest draft day blunder. Still, it's Miami offensive lineman Ereck Flowers who gets that distinction as a symbol of New York's failure to rebuild the trenches. 

Flowers was supposed to be an anchor at left tackle, but it only took one season to realize he couldn't protect the aging Eli Manning's blindside. The Giants subsequently tried him on the right side, where he still failed until they cut Flowers in 2018.

New England Patriots: RB Sony Michel

In the waning days of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick-led dynasty in New England, the Patriots found themselves at a crossroads. In the 2018 draft, the Patriots were one of many teams that passed on University of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. Belichick opted for the University of Georgia running back and didn't consider life after Brady.

Michel was still important in the Patriots' 2018 Super Bowl LIII run, with 71 carries for 336 yards and six touchdowns in three postseason games. But he never had a similar impact in the regular season afterward. Brady then left the team in 2020, and the Patriots have been in a downward spiral while Jackson has won two MVP awards and kept the Baltimore Ravens in championship contention.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon

The biggest what-if for the Jaguars will always be, what if Justin Blackmon became their franchise's No. 1 receiver?

In three seasons at Oklahoma State, Blackmon recorded 3,564 receiving yards and caught 40 touchdown passes, which led to him being picked fifth overall in 2012. However, he was suspended in 2013 for substance abuse and subsequently left the league. With the No. 5 pick in this year's draft, the Jaguars are hoping history won't repeat itself with another troubled blue-chip prospect.