Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 worst NFL draft picks of all-time

Quarterback Byron Leftwich along with wide receiver Randy Moss and quarterback Chad Pennington were some of the star players that helped put the Marshall Thundering Herd’s football program on the map. Leftwich in college was best known for continue to fight in a game against Akron despite breaking his tibia, having to have his offensive linemen carry him to the line of scrimmage after plays.

Jacksonville believed that the team lucked into its next great franchise quarterback that could replace the venerable southpaw Mark Brunell. The Jaguars were able to draft Leftwich No. 7 overall as the Minnesota Vikings that year botched the allotted time slot they had with that selection.

While Leftwich did play well initially as the starting quarterback for the Jaguars once Brunell succumbed to injury in 2003, he never asserted himself as the sure thing under center for the Jaguars during his four NFL seasons in North Florida.

Leftwich would need season-ending surgery to fix his broken ankle in 2006, giving way to his backup in David Garrard to take over quarterbacking duties. Garrard ignited a spark in the Jaguars’ offense that Leftwich could never seem to unlock.

Leftwich would bounce around the NFL for the next six seasons on the Atlanta Falcons, the Oakland Raiders, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. His inability to secure the starting quarterback job outright, as well as his dismal career as an NFL backup elsewhere makes Leftwich one of the worst first round picks made by the Jaguars to date.

Next: 3. WR Matt Jones, 2005, No. 21 overall