The National Football League (NFL) draft is an annual event that's much anticipated by fans and franchises alike. It's a crucial opportunity for teams to scout and select the best college football players to join their rosters. However, despite the hype and the depth of talent available, not every team ends up with a successful draft class every year. In fact, some NFL teams have had drafts that have yielded disappointingly few successful players, missing out on opportunities to improve their rosters.
There are various reasons why a team might miss out on potential talent. These can range from misjudging a player's abilities, being beaten to the punch by another team, or simply not having a pick due to previous trades or forfeitures. Regardless of the cause, a missed draft pick can have significant consequences for a team's performance and its fans' morale. Let's delve into two of the most glaring examples of NFL teams that missed out on draft picks.
New England Patriots (2008) - Mississippi Valley Statehrink territory
In the 2008 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots, under coach Bill Belichick, found themselves in an unusual situation. They didn't have a single pick in the first two rounds, a rare occurrence for a team that's usually known for its savvy drafting. This was due to several trades in previous years, including a blockbuster deal that sent star wide receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders.
While the Patriots managed to acquire some talent in later rounds, missing out on the first two rounds, where most of the top prospects are taken, was a significant setback. They didn't end up selecting a player until the third round, when they chose cornerback Terrence Wheatley from Colorado. Despite showing promise, Wheatley's career was ultimately short and unspectacular. The team's lack of early-round picks that year is often cited as a reason why they failed to repeat their Super Bowl success of the previous years.
Missing Out on the Right Tackle
The Patriots' lack of early picks was acutely felt in 2008, as they needed to address their struggling offensive line. While they did manage to draft guard Nick Kaczur in the third round, a promising tackle slipped through their fingers. Ryan Clady, who was widely regarded as the best tackle in the draft, was selected 12th overall by the Denver Broncos. Clady went on to become a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, proving to be an elite left tackle for years to come. The Patriots, meanwhile, struggled to find a consistent solution at the tackle position after Matt Light's retirement.
Despite the Patriots' reputation for maximizing value in later rounds, missing out on a top tackle like Clady alleviated the pressure from Tom Brady and hindered the team's ability to protect their key asset. This demonstrates how even a single missed pick can have a disproportionately large impact on a team's fortunes.
Lack of Competition in the AFC
Coincidentally, the Patriots' inactivity in the 2008 draft led to a shift in power within the AFC. While New England was rested, many of their competitors for conference supremacy were actively engaged in the draft. The Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Pittsburgh Steelers all made significant picks that year, improving their rosters and providing stiffer competition for the Patriots.
This lack of competition might not have been caused directly by the Patriots' missed picks, but it highlighted the importance of continuous roster improvement. The 2008 draft served as a reminder that NFL teams can never afford to stand still, as rivals will always be looking to catch up and overtake.
Cleveland Browns (2016-2018) - A tale of three drafts
The Cleveland Browns, historically one of the NFL's most inept franchises when it comes to drafting, provide another example of missed opportunities. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the Browns had some of the league's most valuable draft capital - they possessed numerous first-round picks, including a string of high selections due to a series of trades and a fortunate record of losses. Yet, their inability to turn these picks into successful players has become the stuff of draft lore and half a decade's worth of fan frustration.
Instead of using their abundance of picks to build a competitive roster, the Browns wasted opportunity after opportunity. To fully understand the magnitude of their drafting failure, let's look at two of their most egregious mistakes from these years.
Johnny Manziel (2014) - A Blunder Before the Blunder Years
While not part of the Browns' disastrous 2016-2018 drafts, the Cleveland Browns' decision to select quarterback Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft set the stage for their subsequent drafting woes. Despite Manziel's notorious off-field issues and questionable decision-making on the field, the Browns still chose him as the face of their franchise over more established, less flashy prospects like Derek Carr and Aaron Lynch.
Manziel's tenure in Cleveland was short-lived and disastrous. He played in just 14 games and threw more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (6). His subsequent career in the CFL and Alliance of American Football ended in failure, injury, and occasional controversy. Manziel's selection is now widely regarded as one of the most egregious drafting mistakes in NFL history, a foreboding sign of the incompetence to come in Cleveland's drafting.
The 2017 Draft - From Hope to Despair
The Browns entered the 2017 draft with a whopping 12 picks, including two in the first round. Fans were hopeful that this bounty of picks would lead to a long-awaited turnaround. The first pick, defensive end Myles Garrett, seemed promising. But as the draft progressed, the Browns continued to opt for frighteningly questionable choices.
The Browns' selection of quarterback Cody Kessler in the third round raised eyebrows, but their real catastrophe emerged when they drafted defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and wide receiver Ricardo Louis in the second round. Both were considered reaches at the time and haven't lived up to the hype. This string of questionable picks began to demonstrate the Browns' drafting ineptitude that would continue through the following years.
The Browns' botched draft picks, from Manziel to the 2017 debacle, set the tone for the franchise's continued struggles. Their inability to accurately evaluate talent and make successful selections cost them dearly, both in terms of wins and in the faith of their fickle fans. However, the Browns' recent hiring of coach Kevin Stefanski and the emergence of quarterback Baker Mayfield have raised hopes that this trend might finally be reversing.
In the world of NFL drafts, success is never guaranteed or easy to predict. But with proper evaluation, effective strategy, and a bit of luck, even a high-profile draft bust can become a contributing member of a team's roster. As the Browns' and Patriots' stories demonstrate, missing out on a single pick, let alone multiple ones, can have dire consequences. Yet, with every draft comes new hope, a clean slate, and another chance to strike gold in the search for the next great NFL star.