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Mel Kiper Jr.’s 8 Biggest NFL Draft Busts of All Time

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

1. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders
JaMarcus Russell's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2007
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 1st pick
- NFL Team: Oakland Raiders
One of the biggest busts of all time, JaMarcus Russell was very squarely on Mel Kiper's radar in 2007. Kiper likened Russell to Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and said he could be one of the top QBs in the NFL in three years. Well, something happened in three years; Russell's entire NFL career, as the LSU standout, was out of the league by 2009. Things could have looked much different for the Raiders had they selected Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson in '07.

JaMarcus Russell's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 31
- Touchdowns: 18
- INTs: 23
- Passer Rating: 65.2
Mel Kiper's Biggest NFL Busts
Mel Kiper is no stranger to swings and misses when it comes to evaluating college football talent and their transition to the NFL.

During the 2025 NFL Draft, Kiper repeatedly sang the praises of Shedeur Sanders despite his slide to the fifth round, where he was finally picked by the Cleveland Browns. Will Sanders be on this list in a few years? It's possible, but in the meantime, let's look at some of the players heralded by Kiper who went on to struggle greatly at the next level.
8. Andre Wadsworth, Arizona Cardinals
Andre Wadsworth's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 1998
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 3rd pick
- NFL Team: Arizona Cardinals
Andre Wadsworth's NFL career lasted just three NFL seasons, yet he was ranked No. 1 overall on Mel Kiper's 1998 prospect list. Kiper put Wadsworth ahead of future Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and 1997 Heisman winner Charles Woodson. While Manning went first overall, the Arizona Cardinals passed on Woodson to take Wadsworth, changing the direction of the franchise for years to come.

Andre Wadsworth's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 36
- Tackles: 94
- Sacks: 8.0 sacks
- INTs: 1
7. Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Curry's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2009
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 4th pick
- NFL Team: Seattle Seahawks
Although Kiper wasn't the only one high on Aaron Curry, the veteran analyst ranked the Wake Forest product as the top prospect coming out in 2009. Seattle seemed to agree, selecting Curry over LeSean McCoy and Clay Matthews. While Matthew Stafford went No. 1 overall to the Detroit Lions, Kiper ranked him behind Curry, who was traded during his third season.

Aaron Curry's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 48
- Tackles: 203
- Sacks: 5.5 sacks
- Forced Fumbles: 4
6. David Carr, Houston Texans
David Carr's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2002
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 1st pick
- NFL Team: Houston Texans
David Carr may not have landed on this list had he been drafted by a team other than the expansion Houston Texans in 2002. Houston had an offensive line held together by duct tape and superglue that gave up 73 sacks in Carr's rookie campaign. Carr lasted five years as the starter for the Texans but never put together a winning season. The biggest reason Carr is here is that Mel Kiper put him in the same rarified air as Hall of Famer Troy Aikman.

David Carr's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 94
- Touchdowns: 65
- INTs: 71
- Passer Rating: 74.9
5. Mike Williams, Detroit Lions
Mike Williams's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2005
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 10th pick
- NFL Team: Detroit Lions
Anointing a college player a future Hall of Famer before they've even stepped on an NFL field is quite the Hail Mary, but Mel Kiper apparently likes airing it out. Kiper made the bold proclamation after the Lions took Mike Williams early in the first round. The outspoken pundit had Williams atop his prospect rankings that year, ahead of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and four-time First-team All-Pro DeMarcus Ware.

Mike Williams's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 56
- Receptions: 127
- Receiving Yards: 1,526
- Touchdowns: 5
4. Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati Bengals
Ki-Jana Carter's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 1995
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 1st pick
- NFL Team: Cincinnati Bengals
There was no one more bullish on Ki-Jana Carter ahead of the 1995 NFL Draft than Mr. Kiper, except maybe the Cincinnati Bengals. Kiper claimed Carter would be the next Bo Jackson as he was selected No. 1 overall. The Penn State standout may have proven Mel right had he not torn his ACL in the preseason of his rookie campaign.

Carter went ahead of Titans great Steve McNair, Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, and wideout Joey Galloway, who ended up playing 16 seasons.

Ki-Jana Carter's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 59
- Rushing Yards: 1,144
- Y/A: 3.6
- Touchdowns: 20
3. Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers
Jimmy Clausen's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2010
- Round: 2nd round
- Pick Overall: 48th pick
- NFL Team: Carolina Panthers
If you're still wondering why Mel Kiper is still a working NFL Draft analyst, you are not alone. In 2010, Kiper said he would retire if Jimmy Clausen didn't become a star. Instead of becoming a star, Clausen became a black hole, lasting just one season in Carolina, where he went 1-9 in ten starts. Ranked No. 4 on Kiper's big board, Clausen was out of the league after three woeful seasons.

Jimmy Clausen's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 22
- Touchdowns: 7
- INTs: 14
- Passer Rating: 61.9
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2. Andre Ware, Detroit Lions
Andre Ware's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 1990
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 7th pick
- NFL Team: Detroit Lions
No stranger to draft busts, the Detroit Lions seemed to agree with Mel Kiper's opinion that Andre Ware would be "an excellent NFL quarterback." If excellent means starting just six games in the National Football League, then Kiper was bang on. Ware lasted just 14 games, completing 83 passes over four years in Detroit before trying his luck but not succeeding in the CFL. Making matters worse, Emmitt Smith was still available when the Lions took Ware.

Andre Ware's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 14
- Touchdowns: 5
- INTs: 8
- Passer Rating: 63.6
1. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders
JaMarcus Russell's NFL Draft Profile
- Year Draft: 2007
- Round: 1st round
- Pick Overall: 1st pick
- NFL Team: Oakland Raiders
One of the biggest busts of all time, JaMarcus Russell was very squarely on Mel Kiper's radar in 2007. Kiper likened Russell to Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and said he could be one of the top QBs in the NFL in three years. Well, something happened in three years; Russell's entire NFL career, as the LSU standout, was out of the league by 2009. Things could have looked much different for the Raiders had they selected Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson in '07.

JaMarcus Russell's Career NFL Stats
- Games played: 31
- Touchdowns: 18
- INTs: 23
- Passer Rating: 65.2
Mel Kiper's Biggest NFL Busts
Mel Kiper is no stranger to swings and misses when it comes to evaluating college football talent and their transition to the NFL.

During the 2025 NFL Draft, Kiper repeatedly sang the praises of Shedeur Sanders despite his slide to the fifth round, where he was finally picked by the Cleveland Browns. Will Sanders be on this list in a few years? It's possible, but in the meantime, let's look at some of the players heralded by Kiper who went on to struggle greatly at the next level.