7. Biggest NFL Draft busts of all-time – Detroit Lions WR Charles Rogers
Many people remember Calvin Johnson as the Detroit Lions’ standout wide receiver pick in the top ten of the NFL Draft but he was their third attempt at addressing the position. Roy Williams, who went seventh overall in 2004, was a solid player but Charles Rogers was an all-time whiff.
The fit seemed like a perfect one for Rogers, a native of Saginaw, Michigan who starred collegiately at Michigan State. Regarded as a can’t miss prospect at wide receiver, the Lions happily took Rogers with the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, one slot ahead of Andre Johnson.
That decision came back to haunt the Lions as Rogers broke his clavicle in both 2003 and 2004, ending his seasons early. Detroit let Rogers go home after his injury in 2004, leading to him picking up a third violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, leading to a suspension to begin 2005.
Rogers was never the same player and was cut by the Lions in 2006 after new head coach Rod Marinelli had concerns about his work ethic. No other team took a chance on Rogers, who battled opioid addiction for the remainder of his life and died of liver failure in 2019.