Top 5 Redskins Draft Busts

[Ruhskins]

I think when you put Patrick Ramsey you should put Spurrier in parenthesis.

[John Denny]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

A 3 time Pro Bowler a bust?

Things kinda fell apart for him at the end with injuries. I don't know, I have a hard time calling him a bust.

He never lived up to the hype IMO. He missed far too many tackles and jumped off sides at least two times a game. He did however, end Aikman's career so that has got to bump him out of the top-5.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

#1 - Heath Shuler
#2 - Andre Johnson
#3 - Desmond Howard
#4 - Michael Westbrook
#5 - Rod Gardner

honorable mention: Patrick Ramsey

Who's on your list?

Howard, Shuler, and Westbrook were all selected in the top 5 within 4 years. It is nearly impossible to blow three top-5 picks in 4 years (unless you're Detroit). That FO ineptitude haunted this franchise for the remainder of the 90's.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by John Denny

He never lived up to the hype IMO. He missed far too many tackles and jumped off sides at least two times a game. He did however, end Aikman's career so that has got to bump him out of the top-5.

He definitely didn't live up to the hype, but a bust doesn't go to multiple Pro Bowls.

I think we need to check the definition of bust before tossing LaVar's name out there.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

You folks need to go back to the annals of Redskin drafts to find out about Ray McDonald (University of Idaho)and Gary Beban (UCLA Heisman Trophy winner). Both were first round picks. Great college careers; lots of credentials; great workout numbers. Neither one ever amounted to a pinch of poop in the NFL.

You want busts? These two were the Dolly Parton of busts...

Outstanding job! People talked about Beban coming out of school like he was the second coming of Jesus. For the Redskins he was an utter flop. He was the most bustitudinous of them all.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

You folks need to go back to the annals of Redskin drafts to find out about Ray McDonald (University of Idaho)and Gary Beban (UCLA Heisman Trophy winner). Both were first round picks. Great college careers; lots of credentials; great workout numbers. Neither one ever amounted to a pinch of poop in the NFL.

You want busts? These two were the Dolly Parton of busts...

I'll have to take your word on those guys, way before my time

[skins89moss]

[QUOTE=SouperMeister;548995]Howard, Shuler, and Westbrook were all selected in the top 5 within 4 years. It is nearly impossible to blow three top-5 picks in 4 years (unless you're Detroit). That FO ineptitude haunted this franchise for the remainder of the 90's.[/QUOTE
Oh yea this is right on the money. This is the reason we have not sniffed a Super Bowl since 1991. Are drafts picks at the top have not panned out. They save you live and die by the drafts. So of course we now try to buy our way to the Super Bowl with free agenecy spending. How has this practice worked?

[jamf]

What do you guys classify as a bust?
Is a player a bust because he cannot fulfill the expectations or is the "Draft Pick" a bust because the GM/Owner/Coach drafted the wrong guy?

Heath Shuler is a classic bust in my book. Over hyped talent who just did not have the ability to play in the NFL. The NFL missed on this guy.



I don't want to call Westbrook a bust because when he was healthy, he could play. There is no way of knowing he was going to be so fragile. Can you classify a guy as a bust if injuries shortened his career? If you say yes, Would you classify Robert Edwards( Patriots rookie RB who tore up his knee at the probowl challenge) as a bust?

I don't think Howard is a bust. He is what he is. He is great with the ball in his hands in the open field. The Redskins did not do their homework and made the assumption he could get away from press coverage. He is a very good return man. He had the type of career any of us would love to have. It's the Redskins fault they fell in love with him.



My list:
Shuler
Andre Johnson
Bobby Wilson
Patrick Ramsey
Taylor Jacobs ( we passed up on Anquan Boldin for this loser...)

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

He definitely didn't live up to the hype, but a bust doesn't go to multiple Pro Bowls.

I think we need to check the definition of bust before tossing LaVar's name out there.

*cough* Michael Vick *cough*

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by jamf

What do you guys classify as a bust?
Is a player a bust because he cannot fulfill the expectations or is the "Draft Pick" a bust because the GM/Owner/Coach drafted the wrong guy?

Heath Shuler is a classic bust in my book. Over hyped talent who just did not have the ability to play in the NFL. The NFL missed on this guy.

I don't want to call Westbrook a bust because when he was healthy, he could play. There is no way of knowing he was going to be so fragile. Can you classify a guy as a bust if injuries shortened his career? If you say yes, Would you classify Robert Edwards( Patriots rookie RB who tore up his knee at the probowl challenge) as a bust?

I don't think Howard is a bust. He is what he is. He is great with the ball in his hands in the open field. The Redskins did not do their homework and made the assumption he could get away from press coverage. He is a very good return man. He had the type of career any of us would love to have. It's the Redskins fault they fell in love with him.

My list:
Shuler
Andre Johnson
Bobby Wilson
Patrick Ramsey
Taylor Jacobs ( we passed up on Anquan Boldin for this loser...)

Ouch!

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's interesting how few times (3 I think) we even had a first round pick during the Beathard years.

The great Beathard bust that comes to mind is Walter Murray. Also Bob Slater. But Beathard had the amazing knack for finding solid NFL career guys in the bottom of the draft (which was of course 12 rounds then) and in rookie FA. For example:

1979
Round 11: Monte Coleman
Round 7: Rich Milot
Round 4: Don Warren

1981
Round 12: Clint Didier
Round 9: Darryl Grant
Round 8: Charlie Brown
Round 6: Karry Kubin
Round 5: Dexter Manley

1982
Round 9: Ken Coffey

1983
Round 7: Kelvin Bryant

1984
Round 10: Keith Griffin

1985
Round 12: Dean Hamel
Round 11: Raleigh Meckenzie
Round 10: Terry Orr
Round 8: Barry Wilburn

1986
Round 8: Kurt Gouveia
Round 6 Mark Rypien

These are just players who contributed fairly significantly. More made the rosters of the Redskins or other teams for multiple seasons but are not names that jump out at you.

Also if you look at Beathards drafts from 79 to 82 and then you add in a few huge stars that had been added during the George Allen days (Theismann, Riggins, Moseley, Butz) and you realize how three or four consecutive solid drafts build a team. They don't have to have superstars but their relative strength from the top to the bottom will determine to a large extent how good your team will be.

[GTripp0012]

Players who go to pro bowl(s) can definitely still bust. However, Lavar was a legitimately great linebacker before injuries and a general non-willingness to put in the work to return from them killed his career.

He certainly wasn't destined for greatness, but he had talent and played with good football sense.