As a senior for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 1971, defensive end Walt Patulski was a sensational pass rusher. His agility and lateral quickness helped him earn the 1971 Lombardi Award, 1971 All-American honors, and finish ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting that December.
Coming out of Notre Dame, scouts believed that Patulski was the best pass rushing product they had seen in years. At 6’6″, 250 pounds, Patulski could run a blazing 4.90 40-yard dash. Being that he grew up in nearby Syracuse, it made perfect sense for Buffalo to take the Golden Domer with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft.
While the quarterback didn’t become an official NFL stat until 1982, it seemed that Patulski had a progressively worse season after his rookie year with the Bills in 1972. He never broke 10 sacks in a season and was later traded to the then NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals in 1976.
Patulski would play two years in St. Louis before a career-ending knee injury stopped the once-explosive Notre Dame defensive end from ever playing football again. He retired after the 1977 season as one of the biggest busts of all-time. Lack of productivity and a shortened career combined with the fact he went No. 1 overall makes Patulski one of the worst ever top picks in an NFL Draft.
Next: 1. LB Tom Cousineau, 1979, No. 1 overall