30 biggest draft busts in NFL history

27. Keith McCants, LB/DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

McCants stuck around the NFL for seven seasons, but never made the impact most people envisioned he would.

Originally a linebacker, McCants was one of the top defensive players in the nation and a tackling machine for Alabama in 1988 and 1989. McCants racked up 119 tackles and four sacks in 1989, when he was named a unanimous All-American and finished second in the voting for the Butkus Award.

Tampa Bay saw enough to select McCants fourth overall in the 1990 NFL draft. While McCants was vey highly regarded after the combine, the first three teams in the draft held off due to concerns over his injured knees.

Those concerns were well founded; McCants could not match his college production while battling leg injuries. He started just four games as a rookie, posting 44 tackles and two sacks.

The Buccaneers decided to convert McCants to defensive end the next season. He was an okay role player, getting 10 sacks over the next two years, but the speed and tackling ability he showed at Alabama couldn’t be utilized as well at defensive end.

Tampa Bay cut McCants prior to the 1993 season. He bounced around the league for another three years, starting just four games.

Next: 26. Curtis Enis, RB, Chicago Bears