Worst draft classes for a team

[sheajets]

6. IK Enemkpali - DT

That's the guy who punched QB Geno Smith in the face in August 2015 over 600 dollars that Smith allegedly owed him. Naturally, the Bills and Sexy Rexy signed him after that, and put him on their practice squad after cutting him (he was activated that year and played in 11 games).

The next year, this guy got into a fight with OL Cyrus Kouandjio, then tore his knee and missed the 2016 season. The next year, the Raiders waived him at the end of camp. A short and volatile career.

6. Tajh Boyd - QB

I remember Boyd being considered a high pick by some mocks in the summer and fall of 2013 (also, at that time, Bridgewater was considered to be the #1 pick by a lot of people). That guy dropped far.

Yep. Though the punch did in fact clear the way for Ryan Fitzpatrick (who maybe should've had or would've won the starting job anyway) Fitz would have the best year of any Jets QB since...maybe Favre 2008. And even that was maybe average. The bar is very low

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

1967 Falcons, coming off an expansion year, had NO ONE from their draft make the team.

Shortly before the draft the Falcons traded their #1 pick (number 3 overall) to the 49ers for three players. The best of these players was WR Bernie Casey. I am guessing that Casey made it clear he wouldn't report, so Casey was traded in July to the Rams for Tom Moore. Moore was the former Packer RB who was on the downside due to injuries, though he had led the NFL in receptions in 1966. Moore was less effective for the Falcons in 1967, rushing 50 times for 104 yards. The 49ers basically traded their pick for three scrubs. The 49ers picked Steve Spurrier, who was not that great but still better than what the Falcons wound up with.

#2 draft choice was Leo Carroll, a DE who went on IR for a year, then was traded to the Packers for Bob Long. Who lasted one season. A couple of other players, Jimmy Jordan and Bobby Moten, played very briefly in the NFL, but only after being cut by the Falcons. And, that's it. No one else made the NFL at all. Included in this draft were Randy Matson, who decided to remain a shot putter, and "Billy" Buckner, not the baseball player and a 17th round draft choice who never made it.

Other horrible draft was 1975 Chiefs. Only one player, Morris LaGrand, ever played in the NFL. This was another case where some DCs were traded. #1 choice went to Houston along with Curley Culp for John Matuszak. This was not a good trade for the Chiefs. #4 went to the Broncos along with Jim Marsalis for Tom Graham and Tom Drougas. Neither Graham nor Drougas ever started for the Chiefs and were released by them in 1975 camp, though both caught on with other teams. So more mishandling there. #5 DC went to the Rams for some reason, maybe more payment for Willie Ellison. #2 and #3 never made the team or the NFL, an awful performance for an aging, declining team with a new coach.

And the Oilers picked Robert Brazile with the choice they got from Kansas City. So, basically two HOFs for John Matuszak.

It wasn't that uncommon for only a handful of rookies to make a team back when rosters were 33-35 players. Especially when they were having 30-round drafts.

And Tahj Boyd was fantastic in college. He was QB during a time when Clemson came back to being one of the best programs in the country again. I think he was a three-year starter in a period that put Clemson back in the Top 10, if not the Top 5. I think he's overlooked as a college QB because Watson and Lawrence won championships after him.

[CSKreager]

1967 Falcons, coming off an expansion year, had NO ONE from their draft make the team.

Shortly before the draft the Falcons traded their #1 pick (number 3 overall) to the 49ers for three players. The best of these players was WR Bernie Casey. I am guessing that Casey made it clear he wouldn't report, so Casey was traded in July to the Rams for Tom Moore. Moore was the former Packer RB who was on the downside due to injuries, though he had led the NFL in receptions in 1966. Moore was less effective for the Falcons in 1967, rushing 50 times for 104 yards. The 49ers basically traded their pick for three scrubs. The 49ers picked Steve Spurrier, who was not that great but still better than what the Falcons wound up with.

Spurrier’s 1972 season (18 TD passes, 2nd in the entire league, filling in for an injured Brodie) alone made that deal a win for SF

[7DnBrnc53]

Though he contributed to championship teams and made the HOF, Bobby Beathard had some horrible drafts for the Chargers, before he left in 2000. Gil Brandt made the HOF for Dallas but had bad drafts during the 80s. If these guys can make it, why not Jack Vainisi or Don Klosterman?

On his way out the door, Beathard passed on Tom Brady despite the interest of HC Mike Riley.

Before the 2000 draft, Brady asked Riley which two QB's he liked to be considered in the late rounds. Riley chose Brady and Stanford's Todd Husak.

On draft day, Riley chose Brady out of those two (Riley has had a thing for Brady since 1995, when he was with USC's recruiting). Beathard went to watch film of Brady, and came back and said that he wasn't good enough. The rest was history.

[rewing84]

Though he contributed to championship teams and made the HOF, Bobby Beathard had some horrible drafts for the Chargers, before he left in 2000. Gil Brandt made the HOF for Dallas but had bad drafts during the 80s. If these guys can make it, why not Jack Vainisi or Don Klosterman?

First Round Recap for Dallas

1980- Traded 1st round to Baltimore for John Dutton Turned out to work out wonders for Dallas

1981 Howard Richards had three solid years but the next two seasons and part of a third he dealt with injuries stunting his progress

1982 - Rod Hill Didnt work out well for Dallas However had 5 good years later on in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers -

1983 Jim Jeffcoat - Solid Player Played 12 Years with the Cowboys won two Super Bowls with them

1984- Billy Cannon JR LB: Did not work out at all with the Cowboys

1985- Kevin Brooks LB- Like HIll and Cannon did not work out at all

1986 Mike Sherrard : Not a good receiver based on his numbers he produced in the nfl 2 picks after him was Will Wolford

1987- Danny Noonan- ok plyer but would have been better drafting Haywood Jeffries Harris Barton Bruce Armstrong

1988- Michael Irvin- Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Need i say More

1989 Troy Aikman- Hall of Famer

[conace21]

Though he contributed to championship teams and made the HOF, Bobby Beathard had some horrible drafts for the Chargers, before he left in 2000. Gil Brandt made the HOF for Dallas but had bad drafts during the 80s. If these guys can make it, why not Jack Vainisi or Don Klosterman?

First Round Recap for Dallas

1980- Traded 1st round to Baltimore for John Dutton Turned out to work out wonders for Dallas

1981 Howard Richards had three solid years but the next two seasons and part of a third he dealt with injuries stunting his progress

1982 - Rod Hill Didnt work out well for Dallas However had 5 good years later on in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers -

1983 Jim Jeffcoat - Solid Player Played 12 Years with the Cowboys won two Super Bowls with them

1984- Billy Cannon JR LB: Did not work out at all with the Cowboys

1985- Kevin Brooks LB- Like HIll and Cannon did not work out at all

1986 Mike Sherrard : Not a good receiver based on his numbers he produced in the nfl 2 picks after him was Will Wolford

1987- Danny Noonan- ok plyer but would have been better drafting Haywood Jeffries Harris Barton Bruce Armstrong

1988- Michael Irvin- Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Need i say More

1989 Troy Aikman- Hall of Famer

I think some additional context is needed.

Billy Cannon suffered a neck injury only 8 games into his pro career. He couldnt pass a physical the following year and chose to retire rather than risk paralysis.

Mike Sherrard had a fine rookie season in 1986, but in the 1987 training camp, he broke his right leg while running a route. The next year, he broke the same leg again while jogging in the offseason. The Cowboys left him unprotected as a Plan B free agent, and SF signed him. He spent the entire 1989 regular season on the PUP list, but was activated for the playoffs.

[rewing84]

Couldn't agree more appreciate the context on cannon and sheeran

[Halas Hall]

Brant's drafts definitely went south after the draft was moved to April in 1976.

Here are the second rounders:

1976: RB Jim Jensen (solid player) and OG Jim Eidson

1977: Quarterback Glenn Carano

1978: FB Todd Christensen - Hall of the Very Good

1979: DB Aaron Mitchell

1980: No pick - trade for John Dutton

1981: WR Doug Donley

1982: LB Jeff Rohrer

1983 - LB Mike Walter - good player with 49ers

1984 - DB Victor Scott

1985 - LB Jesse Penn

1986 - RB Darryl Clack

1987 - DB Ron Francis

1988 - LB Ken Norton - good player

One sees what Jimmy Johnson meant in the Spring of 1989 when he said, "This is the Dallas Cowboys?" It is a testament to Landry they were able to win the division in 1985 and Gil Brant should not be in the Hall of Fame.

[Brian wolf]

Dutton gave the Cowboys some solid play but "didn't work wonders for Dallas", Robert. The Cowboys needed corners and linebackers in the worst way and should have addressed it with that first round pick. They also needed to draft offensive linemen in the 80s but didn't do a great job of that either. By 1984, the veterans were trying to hang on but Danny White was taking a beating and suffered injury in 1986 that basically ended his career.

The Cowboys were so bad in 88 and 89 that Irvin and Aikman were no-brainers. Cowboys fans can only imagine how good Irvin could have been without the early injuries but his work ethic and team play enabled him to become a great player anyway.

Sherrard could have been a great pick as well but injuries affected his career. Brandt made great picks throughout his career but a lot of bad choices as well. Players like Christensen and Walter weren't coached up effectively and some players simply had bad luck at the start of their careers. Later round picks and free agents actually helped the team more than the earlier round picks but this team should/could have won at least another SB or two, had they drafted better. The team needed more speed on both sides of the ball and simply didn't get it ...

[7DnBrnc53]

Glenn Carano had to be a surprising one since they had Danny White and Roger already on the team. He must have been the best on their board at the time, but it prevented them from taking someone else that was the best on their board in Round 3 a few years later.

Also, their 1986 second rounder, Darryl Clack, didn't make sense at the time. They had Tony Dorsett and Timmy Newsome, and they drafted Herschel a year earlier.