Talented football players enter the NFL, expected to perform at the highest level, or be phased out of the league entirely, due to other players outperforming them, off-the-field issues, or not being able to adjust to the professional level. Here at TPS, we’re going to explore 25 of the biggest wasted talents the NFL has ever seen.
Here are 25 of the Biggest Wasted Talents in NFL History.
Who are the biggest wasted talents in the NFL?
Josh Gordon
Gordon was a phenomenal wide receiver at Baylor and in his early years with the Browns, but his career was thrown away due to multiple drug suspensions. Gordon was suspended for the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons due to his off-the-field troubles, and wouldn’t see action until 2017. Gordon was traded to the Patriots in 2018, but a knee injury ended his time with them. Gordon bounced around the league with the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Titans.
Still, he was suspended for the entire 2020 season because of, wait for it, violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Gordon hasn’t played in the NFL since 2022.
Johnny Manziel
Manziel was amazing during his time at Texas A&M, becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy and earning the nickname “Johnny Football.” However, off the field, Manziel was more focused on partying. Despite that, the Browns drafted Manziel with the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
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Manziel immediately flopped at the professional level by not adjusting to the level of NFL play, reportedly showing up drunk to practices, and continuing his partying lifestyle off the field. The Browns released Manziel in 2016, and he hasn’t played in the NFL since.
Albert Haynesworth
Haynesworth was a Pro Bowl defensive tackle with the Titans. Then, Washington decided to sign Haynesworth to a massive seven-year, $100 million deal with them. Unfortunately, Haynesworth was known to be lazy, give up on plays during games, and get into arguments with his coaches. Haynesworth was traded to the Patriots in 2011, but did next to nothing with them, was released, and was picked up by the Buccaneers, and was out of the NFL after that.
To make matters worse, Haynesworth was less than professional on the field for his infamous foot-stomping incident with the Titans back in 2006. All of that combined made Haynesworth one of the most wasted talents of all time.
Vince Young
Young was a phenom at Texas. Impressed by that feat, the Titans drafted him with high expectations that he would turn them into contenders. Young won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006. Everything fell apart for him in 2007, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. Young lost his job in 2008 due to a knee injury and was released after the 2010 season.
He signed with the Eagles in 2011, proclaiming them to be “the Dream Team” of football, which never happened. Young attempted a comeback with the Browns, Bills, Packers, and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2017, but that went nowhere.
Michael Vick
Vick was one of the most electric quarterbacks to watch in the early 2000s. Vick wowed Falcons fans during his time with the team. Then, it was reported that Vick was involved in illegal dog fights. Vick was suspended by the NFL and spent a couple of years in prison. The Eagles gave Vick a second chance and had a spectacular 2010 season, but he wasn’t the same.
Vick spent time with the Jets and Steelers before retiring in 2016. Vick would’ve been one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league if he hadn’t been involved in the dogfights. Vick cleaned up his act and is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans.
Ricky Williams
Williams had some decent moments with the Saints, but truly shone with the Dolphins. Then, Williams abruptly retired from the NFL after he was suspended for failing drug tests. Williams returned to action in 2005, but was suspended for violating the league’s drug policy.
Williams spent the 2006 season with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, then returned to the NFL in 2007 and spent four more seasons with the Dolphins before ending his career with the Ravens in 2011. Williams is currently the co-founder of Real Wellness, a company using cannabis as a form of alternative medicine.
Randy Gregory
The Cowboys took a risk drafting Gregory, who had failed a drug test during the scouting combine. Injuries derailed his rookie season. Gregory battled substance abuse during the 2016 season, was suspended for four games, and was suspended for 10 games due to another failed drug test. Gregory reportedly entered rehab but went on to fail more drug tests, resulting in a suspension by the NFL in 2017.
Gregory played in 2018 but suffered a concussion in week one. In 2019, Gregory was suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He played for the Cowboys for two more seasons and had stints with the Broncos, 49ers, and Buccaneers. Gregory could’ve been a great linebacker if it weren’t for his troubles off the field.
Adam “PacMan” Jones
Jones had a lot of promise in his game. However, Jones had a lot of demons off the field, as he was involved in fights, disorderly conduct, was allegedly involved in an altercation at a Las Vegas nightclub, and other incidents. Due to these incidents, the NFL suspended Jones for the 2007 season.
Jones was traded to the Cowboys in 2008, but was released in 2009 due to being a suspect in a June 2007 shooting outside of a strip club in Atlanta. Jones revived his career with the Bengals and then spent the 2018 season with the Broncos. Jones could’ve been one of the best cornerbacks if it weren’t for his troubles off the field.
Ki-Jana Carter
Carter had an amazing collegiate career at Penn State. Then the Bengals drafted him with the first pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, and injuries affected his career in the NFL. He never suited up for the 1995 season or the 1998 season because of injuries.
Carter played in three games in 1999, but suffered a dislocated right kneecap. Carter then had stints with Washington, the Packers, and the Saints. It’s a shame injuries derailed Carter’s career.
Vernon Gholston
Gholston had an impressive collegiate career with Ohio State, where he helped them reach the 2006 and 2007 BCS National Championship games. The Jets drafted him with the sixth pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, but he wasn’t able to adjust to the professional level.
Gholston lasted three seasons with the Jets and was released after the 2010 season. Gholston had stints with the Bears and Rams, but never made their final rosters.
Marcus Lattimore
Lattimore was amazing at South Carolina. Lattimore suffered a knee injury in an October game against Tennessee. The 49ers took a chance on Lattimore in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but he wasn’t able to play a single snap due to injuries affecting him.
Lattimore retired from the NFL during the 2014 offseason. If it wasn’t for the knee injury in college, Lattimore would’ve been a productive running back in the NFL.
Charles Rogers
Rogers was a superstar for Michigan State, who was drafted by his home state Lions in 2003. Unfortunately, Rogers’ career was derailed by a combination of injuries and addiction issues. Rogers played for the Lions from 2003 until 2005 and was released by the team after the season due to a lack of work ethic. Rogers tragically passed away on November 11, 2019, because of liver failure.
Mike Williams
Williams was drafted by the Lions in 2005, even though he sat out the 2004 USC Trojans season. Williams didn’t have much of an impact during his time in the Pros. He had stints with the Raiders and the Titans in 2007, and played with the Seahawks from 2010 to 2011 after sitting out a couple of seasons.
Williams attempted a comeback with the Toronto Argonauts in 2013, but never made the final roster. Sometimes we ask ourselves, what if Williams didn’t declare for the NFL Draft after his sophomore season at USC? Would he have been more prepared for the professional level?
JaMarcus Russell
Russell was an average quarterback during his time at LSU until his 2006 season, when he upped his game, throwing 28 touchdowns against eight interceptions. The Raiders drafted Russell with the first pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, and it all went downhill from there.
Russell struggled, was very inconsistent, had a bad work ethic, and didn’t study film. Russell was out of the NFL after the 2009 season and is considered one of the biggest draft busts and a waste of talent in the league.
Tony Mandarich
Mandarich was regarded as one of the best offensive linemen to come out of college. The Packers drafted Mandarich with the high expectations that he would improve their offensive line in the late 1980s. Unfortunately, Mandarich had attitude issues, lackluster play, and admitted to using steroids during his career. Mandarich not only goes down as a massive draft bust, but was also wasted talent.
Braylon Edwards
Edwards was amazing at Michigan with three 1,000-receiving-yard seasons. The Browns drafted him with hopes that he could replicate that success for them. However, Edwards reached 1,000 receiving yards only once in the NFL, back in 2007. He was traded to the Jets in 2009, where he achieved some success.
Nevertheless, Edwards’ career was marred by being underutilized, a tendency to drop easy passes, and a lack of consistency. Had the Browns been a better organization, Edwards might have emerged as a superstar.
Maurice Clarett
Clarett was a standout running back at Ohio State, helping them win the 2002 BCS National Championship game. Unfortunately, Clarett tried to challenge the NCAA’s eligibility rules and had academic scandals. Clarett was drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, but had an unimpressive training camp, had incidents with his coaches, and never played in a preseason game.
Clarett was released by the team before the regular season. Clarett also had lots of legal issues off the field after his release. Clarett had a brief stint with the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL, but will always be remembered for wasting his career away due to off-the-field troubles.
Art Schlichter
Schlichter had a promising career at Ohio State. The Colts drafted him, hoping he would enhance their offense in the 1980s. However, Schlichter’s career was marred by poor performance and a significant gambling problem. He faced legal issues that limited him to playing just 13 games in the NFL. Schlichter went on to play in the Arena League, where he helped the Detroit Drive win the Arena Bowl and was named MVP of that game.
Greg Hardy
Hardy once had a promising start to his NFL career with the Panthers, making a Pro Bowl nod with the team in 2013. However, Hardy had a ton of off-the-field issues throughout his career, including a domestic violence case, which further derailed his reputation. Hardy was out of the NFL by 2016 and had a brief stint with the Richmond Roughriders in 2018, and a brief career in the UFC from 2019 until 2022.
Aldon Smith
Smith had a very promising career in the NFL with the 49ers, where he made the 2012 Pro Bowl and helped the team reach Super Bowl 47. However, Smith’s career is largely remembered for his off-the-field issues, including substance abuse issues, DUIs, and a domestic violence incident. Smith had brief stints with the Raiders, Cowboys, and Seahawks and was out of the NFL by 2022.
Todd Marinovich
Marinovich had his father training him from a young age to be an exceptional athlete. Marinovich had a drug problem during his time at USC. The Raiders made Marinovich their quarterback in the 1990s, but he flopped at the professional level due to continued struggles, and off-the-field troubles, followed as well. Would Marinovich have been a good quarterback if it weren’t for the off-the-field issues?
Ryan Leaf
When the Chargers drafted Leaf, he was expected to take them to the next level. However, immaturity, poor work ethic, a lack of focus, and getting into arguments with the media, teammates, and coaches, and injuries derailed Leaf’s career. Leaf would get one more shot in the NFL with the Cowboys, but did next to nothing with them, and was out of the league by 2002. Leaf is one of the biggest draft busts of all time.
Rae Carruth
Carruth once had a promising rookie season with the Carolina Panthers, but everything went downhill for him due to a combination of injuries and legal issues, where he was convicted of conspiracy to murder in connection with shooting his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams. A very tragic and heartbreaking story that forever destroyed Carruth’s career. Carruth’s son was saved, and he eventually graduated from high school in 2021.
Lawrence Phillips
Phillips had a promising career at Nebraska and was drafted by the Rams, hoping he would replicate Jerome Bettis’ production. However, Phillips’ career was plagued with legal issues off the field and inconsistencies on the field. Phillips had stints with the Dolphins, NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons, and the 49ers, and saw action in the CFL. Phillips’ legal troubles worsened after his playing career, as he was convicted of murder in 2015, and he died in prison in 2016.
Aaron Hernandez
Hernandez had a very promising career with the Patriots, being one of Tom Brady’s favorite passing targets in 2011 and 2012, and formed a strong tight end duo with Rob Gronkowski. However, Hernandez had a lot of legal issues surrounding him off the field, including the murder of Odin Lloyd, which resulted in Hernandez being released by the Patriots, found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015, and taking his own life in 2017.
