The NFL Draft is a great opportunity for a team to create a long-standing future, or compliment an already good team with new pieces, but it doesn't always work out.
The hardest position to draft, there are many quarterbacks which teams hit on, but a flurry of others that never lived up to their draft status.
5. Andre Ware, Detroit Lions
Andre Ware was a Heisman Trophy winner who threw for 46 touchdowns in his senior season with the Houston Cougars. Ware was taken with the seventh pick in the 1990 NFL Draft with the hopes of being the franchise quarterback to go with Hall of Famer running back Barry Sanders.
But Andre Ware never made the transition to the NFL, only throwing 1,112 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons with the Lions. Some players were taken before Ware were Hall of Famers defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and linebacker Junior Seau.
4. Akili Smith, Cincinnati Bengals
So much is made about athleticism in the NFL, which was the primary case for Akili Smith of the Cincinnati Bengals. Taken with the third pick in the 1999 NFL Draft out of Oregon, Smith threw for 32 touchdowns in his senior season.
Smith was expected to add a new dimension to the Bengals offense but instead started his tenure with the Bengals disputing a contract that kept him away from the practice field.
From 1999-2002, Smith went 3-14 with five touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Akili Smith was benched during his second season with the Bengals.
Cincinnati had the opportunity to trade their third pick during the draft process but stayed put with Smith. Some players taken after Smith included running back Edgerrin James, running back Ricky Williams, wide receiver Torry Holt, cornerback Champ Bailey, and quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
3. Heath Shuler, Washington Redskins
Heath Shuler generated a lot of buzz going into the 1994 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, where he threw for 2354 yards and 25 touchdowns during his senior campaign. Washington elected to take Shuler with the third overall pick.
Shuler only lasted three seasons with the Redskins before being sent off to the New Orleans Saints. During his time in Washington, Shuler went 4-9, with 2,403 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.
Some players Washington could have taken over Heath Shuler include defensive end Willie McGinest and quarterback Trent Dilfer.
2. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders
JaMarcus Russell was praised by many as the next generation of quarterback in the NFL, with a special combination of size, strength, and speed: he the definition of a prototype quarterback.
Oakland thought Russell was so intriguing that they took him with the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. But it was the complete opposite for Russell and the Raiders.
JaMarcus Russell sat most of his rookie season after holding out during contract talks prior to week one. Russell was criticized for having a bad work ethic and inability to learn the playbook. He was out of the league by 2010 with 7-18 record and 23 interceptions to his name.
Oakland could have elected for wide receiver Calvin Johnson, left tackle Joe Thomas, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Patrick Willis and running back Marshawn Lynch instead of Russell.
1.Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers
Forever known as the quarterback taken after Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf was thought to be the bigger risk quarterback pick with his arm strength and other skills that could be built upon.
Instead, Leaf was out of the league by 2002 with poor play and a horrible attitude toward teammates and reporters. Leaf went 4-17 with the Chargers, throwing for 3666 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions.
San Diego could have taken anything and they would have been better than Ryan Leaf.
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