NFL Injuries: Which NFL stars deserve career re-do?
15. player. 51. . OT. Rams. Jason Smith
Jason Smith was expected to be one of the league’s top offensive tackles just a few years after he was drafted No. 2 overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2009, but his career couldn’t have played out any worse.
Smith made Baylor history by becoming the first first-round selection from the school in 13 years. He had big expectations and the All-American left tackle had a tough time living up to those. He signed a six-year, $61 million in July of 2009 and just over $30 million was guaranteed. Looking back, the Rams probably wish they had a do-over.
The rookie played both right and left tackle in eight games, starting five. In November, he suffered a serious concussion that would force him out for the rest of the regular season and the next year he’d have a tough time fighting for his job back. He started and played in 15 games in 2010.
The 2011 season is the last in which he ever started a single game. He only stayed healthy enough to play and start in six games. The Rams then traded Smith to the New York Jets in 2012 where he appeared in all 16 games, starting none, and then was released in the offseason.
Unfortunately for the big tackle, he was never really back from his head injury and the one he suffered as a rookie seemed to set his career back drastically. If that had never happened, we might be talking about a Pro Bowl left tackle.
Next: 14. Jake Locker