Fansided

Every NFL team’s biggest draft whiff of all time

By Brad Rowland

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 24: Ryan Leaf
SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 24: Ryan Leaf /
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5 Nov 2000: #21 Tshimanga Biakabutuka of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by #23 Devin Bush of the St. Louis Rams at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Panthers beat the Rams 27-24. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ALLSPORT
5 Nov 2000: #21 Tshimanga Biakabutuka of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by #23 Devin Bush of the St. Louis Rams at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Panthers beat the Rams 27-24. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ALLSPORT /

Carolina Panthers – Tim Biakabutuka (No. 8 pick, 1996)

Injury-related busts aren’t fun for anyone, and this one was no different. Biakabutuka was an awesome talent during his college years at Michigan, including a 313-yard performance against Ohio State that basically earned him a top 10 pick in the draft. However, the Panthers did not get to reap the benefits of his considerable ability, simply because he couldn’t stay on the field.

Biakabutuka wasn’t an awful player at the NFL level, averaging 4.1 yards per carry over six seasons, but he tore his ACL after just four games in his rookie year and was never the same. All told, he appeared in only 50 games (making 35 starts) in those six years, not exactly the return any team expects from a top 10 pick at this position.

To make matters worse, Eddie George went a few picks later in the 1996 draft at the same position. Carolina clearly invested in the wrong running back from the storied Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. There is an argument to be made for some other players for this honor, Kerry Collins for one, but no player returned less value than Biakabutuka for his draft slot, even if it wasn’t his fault.

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