We all know the feeling. Your team grabs a quarterback in the NFL draft, the hype is through the roof, and for a brief moment, you let yourself believe they actually got it right. Then the games start. The sacks pile up. The picks come flying. And suddenly that so-called “franchise quarterback” looks more like a practice squad emergency option.
Here’s a look at the most disappointing quarterback draft pick for every NFL team — and trust us, every fan base has at least one name they’re still trying to forget.
Who are the most regrettable quarterback picks for each NFL team?
Arizona Cardinals – Matt Leinart
He came in with Hollywood buzz and a Heisman trophy on the shelf, and Cardinals fans thought they finally had their guy. But once he hit the field, it felt like he was more invested in nightlife than playbooks. He lost the job to Kurt Warner and never got it back. The hype didn’t match the hustle.
Atlanta Falcons – Pat Sullivan
You win a Heisman as a quarterback, you’re expected to at least show up in the NFL. Sullivan couldn’t even make it onto the radar. His arm strength didn’t translate, and neither did anything else. Not much else to say, because there wasn’t much to see.
Baltimore Ravens – Kyle Boller
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He threw 60 yards from his knees in pre-draft workouts. That got everyone talking. But as it turns out, games aren’t won from your knees, and Boller looked panicked standing upright. Baltimore had to rely on defense and punting until they found Flacco.
Buffalo Bills – EJ Manuel
The Bills tried to talk themselves into this one. First-round pick, mobile, good kid. But he never looked comfortable running an NFL offense. He started a handful of games, lost most of them, and was out of the rotation in no time. One of those “maybe he just needed more time” stories that really didn’t need more time.
Carolina Panthers – Jimmy Clausen
He had the smirk, the confidence, and all the pre-draft interviews you could ask for. But when the ball was snapped, he had none of the poise of an NFL quarterback. Carolina realized it quickly and replaced him with Cam Newton immediately. One of the shortest starter tenures you’ll ever see.
Chicago Bears – Cade McNown
Bears fans have been through it with quarterbacks, but Cade McNown’s time in the NFL still stings. He came in with the tools and the mouth. Then he showed he couldn’t read defenses and couldn’t lead the huddle. One of those guys who peaked in college.
Cincinnati Bengals – Akili Smith
The Bengals could’ve taken a king’s ransom of picks. They stuck with Akili instead. It didn’t take long to realize that was a mistake. His college highlights were electric. His NFL tape? Let’s just say it was short.
Cleveland Browns – Tim Couch
The Browns’ first big pick after returning to the league, and they threw Couch into the fire without protection. While it’s fair to say the franchise failed him, too, he never lived up to the billing. Another chapter in Cleveland’s long, painful quarterback saga in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys – Glenn Carano
He was a backup quarterback for most of his NFL career and never came close to starter-level expectations. Not the worst guy ever drafted, but the Cowboys thought they were drafting a future option. He just held a clipboard until they moved on.
Denver Broncos – Paxton Lynch
This one hurt. After the Peyton Manning era, Denver thought they found a raw talent to mold. But Lynch never showed the mental side of the game. Couldn’t grasp the offense, couldn’t win a camp battle, and never took control. A swing and a miss.
Detroit Lions – Andre Ware
College superstar. NFL quarterback mystery. Ware’s run-and-shoot brilliance at Houston didn’t translate to Detroit, and the Lions didn’t give him the system to succeed. He faded fast, and his name still gets a head shake from Lions fans.
Green Bay Packers – Rich Campbell
Top-10 pick, zero results. Never started a game, barely saw the field, and disappeared without leaving much behind. For a franchise built on QB history, this one was a rare early whiff.
Houston Texans – David Carr
Tough to blame Carr completely. He took more hits than anyone should. But no matter how you slice it, he was the face of a new franchise and couldn’t deliver. His internal clock was broken by year two. Good guy, wrong situation.
Indianapolis Colts – Art Schlichter
Sometimes it’s not about bad play, it’s about bad choices. Schlichter couldn’t stay out of trouble. The quarterback had gambling issues that ruined his NFL career before it ever got started. The Colts bet on him, and he bet on everything else.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Blaine Gabbert
You could see the tools, but not an NFL quarterback. Gabbert never got comfortable, never settled down, and seemed to shrink in big moments. Another “looks good in practice, falls apart on Sunday” type.
Kansas City Chiefs – Todd Blackledge
KC took him in the same draft that featured Marino and Kelly. Yep, they passed on both. Blackledge couldn’t throw accurately, couldn’t command the huddle, and couldn’t make the fans believe. One of the great what-ifs in franchise history.
Las Vegas Raiders – JaMarcus Russell
No one fooled the league quite like JaMarcus. All the tools, all the size, all the hype — and none of the work ethic. He was done before he ever got going. Lazy, unprepared, and cashing checks. The ultimate draft disaster.
Los Angeles Chargers – Ryan Leaf
Leaf was almost taken ahead of Peyton Manning. Think about that. Leaf had the arm but not the mentality. He argued with coaches, reporters, and fans. Couldn’t control the ball or his temper. A crash course in what not to do as a young NFL quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams – Sam Bradford
If there were awards for most short passes thrown, Sam Bradford would be in Canton. Injuries derailed his potential, and while he wasn’t awful, he was never anywhere near first-overall expectations. Just a long, expensive shrug.
Miami Dolphins – Rick Norton
Their first big quarterback pick turned into a turnover machine in the NFL. Norton threw picks like confetti and quickly lost any hope of leading the franchise. Just not built for the pros.
Minnesota Vikings – Christian Ponder
Ponder was drafted way too high and played exactly like people feared he would. Ponder was a conservative passer who never made plays when it mattered. Minnesota kept hoping he’d turn the corner, but he never even found the corner.
New England Patriots – Tommy Hodson
Pre-Brady, the Pats had a rough go at quarterback. Hodson is Exhibit A. He had great college stats, but in the NFL, he went 1–10 as a starting quarterback and couldn’t move the offense at all. A ghost of a starter.
New Orleans Saints – Garrett Grayson
Grayson never saw the field. Sean Payton hyped him up as Brees’ possible successor, but he vanished faster than a Saints playoff lead. A complete non-factor.
New York Giants – Dave Brown
The Giants spent a first-round supplemental pick, hoping for the next Simms. They got a QB who defined average. Never elevated the team, and fans never really bought in.
New York Jets – Sam Darnold
Darnold was supposed to be different. Cool, calm, composed. Then came the turnovers. Then came the ghosts. The Jets moved on, and so did he. But the letdown was real.
Philadelphia Eagles – John Reaves
Came in with big stats, left with bigger regrets. He never adapted to NFL speed and was off the field as a quarterback just as quickly as he got on it.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Mark Malone
Tough gig following a legend like Bradshaw, but Malone didn’t make it any easier. He was wildly inconsistent and couldn’t carry the offense. Just kind of there.
San Francisco 49ers – Jim Druckenmiller
Drafted to follow up the Montana/Young legacy. That went out the window in a hurry. Started one game, threw three picks, and was never seen again.
Seattle Seahawks – Dan McGwire
He was tall. That’s it. His height got him drafted, not his game as an NFL quarterback. He was stiff in the pocket and completely ineffective. Easily forgotten.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston
A walking rollercoaster. Winston had games where he looked like a superstar, and games where he threw three picks by halftime. Thirty touchdowns and thirty interceptions in one season? You can’t make that up.
Tennessee Titans – Jake Locker
Locker had toughness, speed, and all the physical gifts. What he didn’t have was accuracy or durability. He walked away from football early, and the Titans didn’t try to stop him.
Washington Commanders – Heath Shuler
Shuler was supposed to be the guy. Turned out he was the wrong guy. Couldn’t make plays, couldn’t take control, and the fans knew it early. Another bust in a city full of quarterback misfires in the NFL.
