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Best examples of failed 1st rounders who revived their careers?


Rubes

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4 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Drew Brees?

 

Good call - he's kind of an Alex Smith type case though.  His first year was a mess, changed coaches to Marty Schottenheimer and Cam Cameron as OC.  Still embrangled in this weird dynamic with Doug Flutie the next two years, to the point where the Chargers thought he couldn't play and used the #1 pick on a QB.

 

Then, HEY PRESTO, in his 4th year Brees wins Comeback Player of the Year, gets votes for OPOY, goes to the Probowl, team goes 11-4 and next year 9-7 while #1 overall pick sits on the bench and Whatcha Gonna Do Chargers?

 

So they let him go in FA to NO and the rest is history.

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28 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

2nd rounder. So was Geno Smith.

There are just some things we shouldn't mention on here. Geno Smith. Daron Lee. 43 is the Mike. Nathan Peterman. 

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And I can easily win this thread with two players

 

Eli Manning

Phillip Rivers 

 

Both never even got to play a game for the team that drafted them and went on to HOF careers after being traded. 

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Amari Cooper stared hot and then had 2 terrible seasons before becoming a star with Dallas.
Garrison Hearst took 3 years to get going
Thomas Jones didn't flash until the very last few games of his 4th season and then became a star with the bears in year 5th.

Vinny Testaverde is maybe the NFL's greatest longevity success story in spite of results. Does that count?

 

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2 minutes ago, boyst said:

There are just some things we shouldn't mention on here. Geno Smith. Daron Lee. 43 is the Mike. Nathan Peterman. 

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And I can easily win this thread with two players

 

Eli Manning

Phillip Rivers 

 

Both never even got to play a game for the team that drafted them and went on to HOF careers after being traded. 

 

Yeah, I don't think either really counts. Nice try though.

 

 

 

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Robert Gallery.

 

Considered a generational OT prospect, rated a perfect 9.0 pre-draft. Was horrendous at LT & really bad as a RT. Still terrible 2 years later, was labeled as a monumental bust. Moved to OG & was solid, played another 6 years.

 

I remember all the pre-draft concern about his 32.25" arm length, well under the 34" usually wanted in a LT. They were right...

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Just now, 947 said:

Robert Gallery.

 

Considered a generational OT prospect, rated a perfect 9.0 pre-draft. Was horrendous at LT & really bad as a RT. Still terrible 2 years later, was labeled as a monumental bust. Moved to OG & was solid, played another 6 years.

 

I remember all the pre-draft concern about his 32.25" arm length, well under the 34" usually wanted in a LT. They were right...

 

Not a bad choice, but I don't think a solid career as a G makes up for being a huge disappointment as a first round pick at T.

 

Just now, Joe Mama said:

Len Dawson

 

Dude.

 

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3 minutes ago, 947 said:

Robert Gallery.

 

Considered a generational OT prospect, rated a perfect 9.0 pre-draft. Was horrendous at LT & really bad as a RT. Still terrible 2 years later, was labeled as a monumental bust. Moved to OG & was solid, played another 6 years.

 

I remember all the pre-draft concern about his 32.25" arm length, well under the 34" usually wanted in a LT. They were right...

I’d still classify gallery as a disappointment. He redeemed himself from being horrendous to serviceable. Low bar for a #2 pick

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Josh Allen.

 

I'm only kidding a little bit. The media was dunking on him after his first couple of years. Many predicted he would be a bust and they focused on his relatively poor stats to point to.

 

Then he had his breakout year in 2020.

 

For those paying attention, Josh Allen had amazing flashes all through his first couple of years, even though his stats weren't always reflective of his clear talent.

 

This prediction from Mel Kiper is always fun. He gets laughed out of the room for predicting Josh Allen would be the best QB in the AFC East in 5 years (after his rookie season):

 

 

 

Edited by MJS
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27 minutes ago, boyst said:

There are just some things we shouldn't mention on here. Geno Smith. Daron Lee. 43 is the Mike. Nathan Peterman. 

--------

And I can easily win this thread with two players

 

Eli Manning

Phillip Rivers 

 

Both never even got to play a game for the team that drafted them and went on to HOF careers after being traded. 

Then you can add John Elway. In that vein I would include Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker and every other player who found success in the NFL after a career in the USFL. 

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There's some guys off the top of my head that were once labeled busts but were solid NFL players who never quite lived up to their draft hype.

 

Cordarrelle Patterson, Alex Smith, Solomon Thomas, Reggie Bush, Shaq Lawson

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Ted Washington? Not sure if he was labeled a bust or not but my memory is that he wasn't all that highly thought of until he came to the Bills.

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