Fansided

30 biggest NFL Draft busts of all time

By Mike Phillips

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 24: Ryan Leaf
SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 24: Ryan Leaf /
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13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport
13 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Steve Emtman of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during a game against the Houston Oilers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Oilers won the game, 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Gary Mook /Allsport /

26. Biggest NFL Draft busts of all-time – Indianapolis Colts DE Steve Emtman

Another common theme for NFL Draft busts is college stars who simply never dominated at the next level. Our first example of this kind of bust is Steve Emtman, who was taken with the first overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Emtman was a star defensive end at the University of Washington, helping the Huskies win a national championship in 1991. Many scouts considered Emtman to be the best player on that team and he earned unanimous All-American status after racking up 62 tackles, including 20.5 tackles for loss.

The Colts did see flashes of that player in Emtman’s rookie season when he picked off a pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown to ice a victory over the Miami Dolphins, earning Emtman AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Unfortunately for Emtman, the artificial turn in the RCA Dome didn’t agree with his knees, leading to multiple season-ending knee injuries.

Emtman overcame significant odds to return from all of those knee issues only to see the path of his career altered by a neck injury that led to some serious nerve damage. The Colts released Emtman after the 1994 season and he played just three more years in the NFL before retiring in 1997 at just 27 years old with eight career sacks and 134 NFL tackles across six seasons.

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