The biggest NFL draft day busts

The Bengals struck out a lot with first-round quarterback selections. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks of the 1999 draft, and three were busts – the top pick, Couch, the No. 3 pick, Akili Smith, and the No. 12 pick, Cade McNown, QB. Donovan McNabb (No. 2) and Daunte Culpepper (No. 11) had success. Smith played in 22 games in four seasons, throwing five touchdowns versus 13 interceptions. After the Bengals let him go, Smith tried to latch on with Green Bay and Tampa Bay and failed, and then couldn’t even make it through one season in Canada with the Calgary Stampeders in 2007.  (Tom Uhlman / Associated Press)

Became the first African American quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy but couldn’t cut it in the big leagues. The seventh pick of the 1990 draft played only 14 games in four years, starting six. Unable to hack it in the NFL, Ware also flamed out in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europe. Finished his career with five touchdown passes versus eight interceptions, a mere 1,112 passing yards and a quarterback rating of 63.5.   (John Maniaci / Associated Press)

The second pick of the 1993 draft by Seattle behind Drew Bledsoe (New England), Mirer had a long career but not a good one. In his four seasons with Seattle, Mirer threw 41 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. Mirer has the distinction of being a huge bust for two teams. The Bears traded a first-round pick to Seattle for Mirer in 1997, but he never won the starting job. Mirer posted a 24-44 record as starter in 12 seasons. He never passed for 300 yards in a game, had 50 career touchdown passes versus 76 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 63.5. He played in 18 games over his last seven seasons.   (Vince Compagnone / Los Angeles Times)

Teams were aware of his off-field problems heading into the draft, but the St. Louis Rams were so confident that they traded Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh to make room for the Nebraska running back and selected him with the sixth pick. Phillips had problems acclimating on and off the field, and was released in his second season after a feud with Coach Dick Vermeil. Miami signed Phillips next, but he rushed only 18 times for 44 yards. He later got a shot with San Francisco, but is most remembered for missing a block and allowing a crushing tackle that ended quarterback Steve Young’s career. Contributing to his demise was an off-field rap sheet always longer than his NFL stat sheet.  (James A. Finley / Associated Press)

He was the first pick in the 1999 draft and was Cleveland’s starter for five very average seasons. He threw more interceptions (67) than touchdowns (64), had a 75.1 career quarterback rating and was eventually beaten out for the starting job by journeyman/undrafted Kelly Holcomb. Couch unsuccessfully tried to catch on with Green Bay (2004) and Jacksonville (2007).  (David Maxwell / AFP/Getty Images)

The big question in 1998 was who should be taken with the No. 1 pick, Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. It wasn’t a question for long. Leaf, the second pick out of Washington State, couldn’t handle the NFL mentally or physically. His first season the quarterback out of threw two touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. Game 3 of his rookie season was most disastrous, as he completed one of 15 passes for four yards and fumbled three times. He played in 25 NFL games, was 4-17 as a starter, completed just 48.4 percent of his passes, threw 14 touchdowns versus 36 interceptions, had a paltry quarterback rating of 50.0 and had several “meltdowns” in dealings with the press.  (Vince Compagnone / Los Angeles Times)

If you wanted a quarterback in the 1994 draft, it was Shuler or Trent Dilfer, who was taken by Tampa Bay with the sixth pick (three picks after Shuler was selected by Washington). Shuler seemed the better choice since he played at Tennessee, whereas Dilfer played for tiny Fresno State. Well, at least Dilfer had a long career and was the starter for the Baltimore Ravens when they won the Super Bowl. Shuler, on the other hand, was beaten out for the starting job by 1994 seven-round draft pick Gus Frerotte. Shuler won only one of seven starts as a rookie. Unable to earn playing time, he was traded to New Orleans in 1997 and his career quickly ended. He finished with 15 touchdown passes versus 33 interceptions and a 54.3 quarterback rating.   (Jonathan Daniel / Allsport)