Worst NFL Draft Picks of the Past 10 Years

Browns selections dominate our list, which features multiple quarterbacks and an offensive lineman as our top choice.

Manziel played onlly two seasons in the NFL, starting eight games. / John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Every year, stars are born on NFL draft night.

And every year, there are busts, cautionary tales to be remembered for years to come. In some cases, the bad picks cost NFL general managers their jobs.

Over the past decade, there have been plenty of regrettable choices. But the 10 below are the worst of the worst, despite the best of intentions. In some cases, it was a player not being able to stay healthy. In others, it was a lack of maturity. But all share the common thread of being wholly underwhelming.

Let’s start with the Cleveland Browns, who not surprisingly, make many appearances.

10. Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns

• Draft slot: 2016, Round 1, Pick 15

Coleman was drafted in a terrible year for first-round receivers. He was the first off the board, followed by Will Fuller V, Josh Doctson and Laquon Treadwell. Coleman lasted only two years in Cleveland before going to the New York Giants, where he played one year before he was out of the league. For his career, Coleman caught 61 passes for 789 yards and five scores.

9. Greg Robinson, OT, St. Louis Rams

• Draft slot: 2014, Round 1, Pick 2

Robinson was supposed to be the next Orlando Pace for the Rams. Instead, he goes down as one of their worst picks in franchise history. Robinson played three years with the Rams, starting 42 games, before being dealt to the Detroit Lions. After six games in Detroit, he latched on for two years in Cleveland before being out of football. 

8. Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns

Draft slot: 2014, Round 1, Pick 22

Manziel is one of the most famous draft picks of the 21st century, and for all of the wrong reasons. Thought by many to be a mid-round talent, Manziel was selected by Cleveland in the first round and started late during his rookie year. Due to a lack of maturity, Manziel played only two seasons in the NFL, starting eight games. He threw seven career touchdowns against seven interceptions.

7. Justin Gilbert, CB, Cleveland Browns

• Draft pick: 2014, Round 1, Pick 8

Oh, look, another Browns player. Cleveland expected Gilbert to be an elite shutdown corner, and like Coleman and Manziel, was out of the Browns organization after only two seasons. He was a complete disaster, playing just 422 defensive snaps in his career between Cleveland and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

6. Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets

Wilson has 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions while completing 57 percent of passes with the Jets. / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

• Draft slot: 2021, Round 1, Pick 2

Wilson avoids the top five only because he was picked by the Jets, and nobody bothered to help him develop. He remains with New York but it appears likely he’s played his last down with the Jets. If that’s so, the former BYU standout threw 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions while completing 57 percent of passes.

5. John Ross, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Draft pick: 2017, Round 1, Pick 9

Coming out of the University of Washington, the major concern around Ross was whether he could stay healthy. In the NFL, he played five seasons with the Bengals and Giants, and managed to be active for only 37 games. All told, Ross caught 62 passes for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns before he was out of the league.

4. Josh Rosen, QB, Arizona Cardinals

• Draft slot: 2018, Round 1, Pick 10

Rosen entered the NFL with plenty of bravado and bluster. None of it was warranted. A major prospect entering college, similar fanfare followed him to the desert. Unfortunately, so did Kyler Murray, who replaced Rosen after one year and 13 starts with the Cardinals. Rosen then played for two other teams, finishing his career with 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

3. Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers

• Draft slot: 2021, Round 1, Pick 3

After reaching Super Bowl LIV, the 49ers went all in to upgrade at quarterback. San Francisco traded three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins for the right to select Lance, who between injuries and ineffectiveness never worked out. In three years with the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, Lance has started only four games, throwing five touchdowns.

2. Kevin White, WR, Chicago Bears

• Draft slot: 2015, Round 1, Pick 7

Coming out of West Virginia, White was a premier talent who was supposed to elevate Chicago’s offense. Instead, he infuriated Bears fans by often not being available due to a litany of injuries. White started just eight games in his six-year career while dressing for 30, accumulating 28 catches for 397 yards and zero touchdowns.

1. Isaiah Wilson, OT, Tennessee Titans

Wilson played just one game for the Titans. / Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

• Draft slot: 2020, Round 1, Pick 30

Nobody has been a bigger disappointment than Wilson. Entering the NFL after dominating at Georgia, Wilson played just one game for the Titans before being out of football. The problems were many, including a DUI, a high-speed police chase, multiple suspensions, failing to report on time and more.