Memorable Draft Picks of the Past Decaed

October 26, 2020 by Staff

The NFL draft is one of the most exciting times of the year for football fans. Everyone is speculating on which players their favorite team will select, and fans know that the right selection could turn their team into a winning machine. Over the last ten years, we have seen many talented players emerge from the draft, and some spectacular busts to go along with them. Here are some memorable players and equally as memorable mistakes of the last decade.

Great Picks of the Decade

Josh Allen: #7, 2018

When Josh Allen was being reviewed by NFL scouts, there were some clear attributes that made him promising but we weren’t quite sure where he would be in the draft. He had immense raw talent for sure but while some suggested that he was top-10 overall worthy, others said he would be selected in the bottom half of the 1st round. Eventually, fate would have him selected #7 overall by the Buffalo Bills.

With the Buffalo Bills seemingly having their big breakout season, you can safely say by now that Josh Allen was a smart selection for the team. After churning through numerous quarterbacks since the Jim Kelly era, the Bills may have finally found the player they can build an offense around. He is certainly coming along and his strong arm and sturdy frame help him bring favorable NFL betting odds to the Bills. We don’t know where his true potential is yet, but we do know that he has lived up to his expectations and is far from a draft bust.

Patrick Mahomes: #10, 2017

The 2017 draft had a fair number of quarterbacks and numerous future Pro Bowlers. With that in mind, no one can be blamed for overlooking the soon-to-be NFL phenomenon. Mahomes was certainly projected to be good, but no one could imagine his real potential. The Kansas City Chiefs made the selection at #10 and the rest is history.

What’s really interesting is how the story of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen intertwine. In order to make this draft selection, the Chiefs made a deal with the Buffalo Bills. In exchange for the Bills’ 2017 10th overall pick, they gave up their 2017 27th overall pick, a 2017 third-rounder, and Kansas City’s first-round pick in 2018. The Bills then went on to use their 2018 first-round pick to select quarterback Josh Allen. Essentially, the Bills passed up quarterback Mahomes and instead chose Allen as their franchise quarterback. While Mahomes has clearly grown to be an exceptionally valuable selection, Allen is at least having a stunning year in 2020.

Von Miller: #2, 2011

Von Miller played a big role in changing the fortune and history of the Denver Broncos when he was selected as #2 overall in 2011. Of course, NFL scouts expected he would be a dominating player but no one had foreseen that Miller would be a sack specialist, accounting for 106 sacks across 9 seasons. The 8-time Pro Bowler played a huge role in the Broncos’ Super Bowl championship in 2015, winning the MVP award in the process. Miller receives immense respect in the NFL and is one of the best defensive players of all time.

Rob Gronkowski: #42, 2010

When you think of how many teams passed over Gronkowski before he was finally selected by the Patriots at #42, you have to just shake your head. This will likely go down in history as one of the best value picks of all time. As good as the NFL scouts are, no one could have predicted that Gronkowski would end up being one of the best tight ends of all time. When paired with elite quarterback Tom Brady, Gronkowski was a scoring machine and a hard player to defend against. Over his 9-year career with the Patriots, “Gronk” would score 79 touchdowns and win 3 Super Bowl championships. Not bad for a guy that wasn’t even picked up in the first round of the draft.

Draft Busts

Johnny Manziel: #22, 2014

While he wasn’t chosen in the top ten, the hype around “Johnny Football” in the 2014 draft was palpable to say the least. The Cleveland Browns were desperate to find a quarterback they could build around and Manziel looked like he could be a great option. At the college level, Manziel was a strong athlete and the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient. However, he was also known for his hard-partying activities and arrogant attitude. It soon became clear for the Browns that Manziel was unwilling to commit to the team and get serious enough to play at the NFL level. After playing in just 8 games across 2 seasons, it was time for the Browns to admit that Manziel was never going to pan out.

EJ Manuel: #16, 2013

It’s a familiar story. The underperforming team takes a big gamble on a young quarterback prospect that will hopefully turn their luck around. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills, that didn’t quite happen. EJ Manuel was a tall and athletic player that looked promising. However, he was never able to find his groove and work well in the Bills’ offense. He had trouble with accuracy and overall didn’t learn plays well. He was let go from the team after 3 underperforming seasons and then he became a backup for the Raiders and a practice squad member for the Chiefs before quietly exiting the league in 2019.

Kevin White: #7, 2015

White was a standout college athlete in West Virginia and a top prospect heading into the 2015 NFL draft. The Chicago Bears wasted no time scooping him up as the #7 pick overall. Unfortunately for them, this wide receiver would have a series of injuries over his 3-year tenure with the team that would stunt his potential. In fact, White might end his career with just 25 receptions and zero touchdowns.

Justin Gilbert: #8, 2014

In both high school and college, Gilbert played several sports and was notably one of Texas’ top sprinters. This skill is perfect for his cornerback position in the NFL, utilizing his immense speed to shut down opposing receivers. Unfortunately for Gilbert and the Cleveland Browns, this didn’t exactly work out the way they thought. After being projected to be the year’s best cornerback rookie, he fought through both illness and injuries. His time with the Browns was very unproductive and after being shipped to the Steelers in 2016 for one season, he would never be signed again in the NFL.