The best way for a losing sports franchise to rebuild itself back into a contender is through the rookie draft. Although salary cap restrictions and the option to hold out for big name free agents has made it tougher to build and maintain a winning program in North America’s four major sports. However, just because a team has the first overall selection doesn’t guarantee anything. With that being said here is my list of the top 10 first overall draft pick busts:
1. Aundray Bruce (NFL) – the biggest problem here was the calibre of players the Falcons missed out on by selecting this underachieving linebacker in the 1988 NFL draft. The Falcons missed out on players like Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe, Michael Irvin, Randall McDaniel, Chris Spielman, Thurman Thomas and Dermontti Dawson. In an 11-year career, Bruce started in 42 games, with most of those starts coming while he was a Falcon.
2. Ki-Jana Carter (NFL) – Some of the best players from the 1990s came out of this draft class like Steve McNair, Warren Sapp, Hugh Douglas, Ty Law and Derrick Brooks. In his third carry as the Bengals running back, Carter tore his ACL in his left knee forcing him to miss his entire 1995 rookie season. Though Carter came back to play the next two seasons, he never was the same. New injuries would have Carter finish his career with just 1,127 yards and 20 touchdowns.
3. Michael Olowokandi (NBA) – The Los Angeles Clippers were looking for a franchise player with their first overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Instead they got a mediocre man who never panned out as the dominant centre he was supposed to be. In 10 seasons with the Clippers, Timberwolves and Celtics, Olowokandi only averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Clippers missed out on all-stars like Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce by selecting Olowokandi.
4. Alexander Daigle (NHL) – He was supposed to be the next Mario Lemieux after ripping up the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 247 points in 119 games. At the time, the man drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 1993 received the largest starting salary in league history (five years, $12.25 million). He would bounce around the NHL and AHL and into a Los Angeles beer league before finishing his career with HC Davos of the Swiss-A league. What Daigle will probably be remembered for most is a quote he made when drafted in 1993, “I am glad I got drafted first, because no one remembers number two!” The number two pick in the 1993 draft: Chris Pronger.
5. Kwame Brown (NBA) – He was the first player ever to be selected out of high school with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. In 2001, the Washington Wizards passed on many players who have ended up becoming quality NBA’ers like Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson, Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson and Tony Parker. Instead they selected this young power forward in what was Michael Jordan’s first draft pick as the Wizards’ President of Basketball Operations. But unlike MJ, Brown did not live up to the hype. He has bounced around the league averaging only 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
6. Tim Couch (NFL) – While the Heisman Trophy finalist wasn’t completely terrible, you have to wonder what would have happened if the Browns had selected one of the guys who proceeded him in the next 12 selections. Players like Donovan McNabb, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey or Joey Porter. In five years with the Browns, Couch notched threw for 11,131 yards with 64 touchdowns and 67 interceptions.
7. Jamarcus Russell (NFL) – I don’t mean to disrespect this guy, but when someone is given a guaranteed contract of $30 million just to underperform as the number one draft pick, it’s pathetic. This pick from LSU was quite the opposite of what the silver and black were trying to find: a franchise player. Instead they missed out on guys like Calvin Johnston, Patrick Willis and Darelle Revis, who have all became franchise players for their teams.
8. Patrick Stefan (NHL) – A lot of scouts referred to Stefan as the brightest young prospect developed in the Czech Republic since Jaromir Jagr. Stefan definitely did not become the impact player the Thrashers were hoping for with the team’s first-ever pick in franchise history in 1991. He is probably remembered best for one of the biggest blunders in NHL history. On January 4, 2007, late in the third period against the Edmonton Oilers, the Oilers had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Stefan broke lose for a breakaway and he missed the net with 12 seconds left in the game.
The Oilers picked up the puck and went across the ice with Ales Hemsky scoring for the Oilers and tying the game with a second left, forcing overtime. Stefan would go on in his career to score 188 points in 455 games, making him statistically the worst first pick in NHL history. By selecting Stefan the Thrashers missed out on players like Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Miller and Barret Jackman.
9. Brian Lawton (NHL) – The first ever American-born player in the NHL draft to be selected first overall was selected by the Minnesota North Stars in 1983. His best point total of his career was 44 and Lawton only accumulated 266 points out of a 483-game NHL career. The other key reason he’s considered a bust is that the 1983 draft class was exceptional, including players like Pat LaFontaine, Steve Yzerman, Tom Barrasso and Cam Neely.
10. Brien Taylor (MLB) – Taylor signed a record-setting bonus of $1.55 million with the Yankees but the prospect damaged his throwing shoulder in a fight defending his brother and never ended up pitching a single game in the majors, but at least his brother is all right. By making this pick the Yankees missed on Manny Ramirez and Derek Lowe.