NFL Draft: 10 worst No. 1 overall picks
By John Buhler
28. . Quarterback. Oakland Raiders. JaMarcus Russell. 1. player
Going on a decade, the Oakland Raiders made the worst decision with the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick to date by taking hefty LSU Tigers quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.
In the peak of the dysfunctional behavior exuded by the Raider under late owner Al Davis, Oakland paid Russell $61 million and $32 million of that absurd rookie contract was guaranteed. This was problematic for the league’s poorest franchise, as the Davis Family’s income is entirely contingent on Raider football.
Russell was an inconsistent player, going 7-18 as a starter in three years. He was later cut by the Raiders after three seasons in 2009, was arrested on drug charges, and hasn’t made it back to the NFL since. Russell struggled with his weight both in college and professionally and 65.2 career quarterback rating has kept the 30-year-old quarterback out of the league for the last six years.
Not only did Russell bust horribly with the Raiders, but 17 players in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft made it to Pro Bowls. As of now, there are as many as possibly seven players taken in the first round of that draft that could go on to being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame including wide receiver Calvin Johnson who went No. 2 to the Detroit Lions, left tackle Joe Thomas who went No. 3 to the Cleveland Browns, and running back Adrian Peterson who went No. 7 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Patrick Willis went No. 11 to the 49ers and is likely Canton bound. Marshawn Lynch went No. 12 to the Bills and was an instrumental piece in the Pete Carroll era Seahawks. Darrelle Revis has been the NFL’s premier shutdown cornerback the last decade, going No. 13 to the New York Jets. Tight end Greg Olsen has been Cam Newton’s favorite target on the Carolina Panthers. He went to the Chicago Bears at No. 31.
At that time, Oakland was the most dysfunctional organization in football. Frankly anybody that would have gone No. 1 to the Raiders in 2007 probably would have busted. Regardless of what could have been, Russell is the biggest No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick to bust since the AFL/NFL merger.
For more posts on the NFL Draft, please check out our NFL Draft hub page.