NFL

With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the books, it’s a good time to peer into the crystal ball and look at which draft selections will go down as disappointments. Whether it’s because of their limited skill set or the team they landed with, a handful of highly-touted 2026 rookies aren’t in a position to reach their potential whatsoever. With that, let’s dive into the ten 2026 NFL Draft picks who are sure to go down as big-time busts. Which players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft end up as a bust? Rueben Bain Jr.Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) warms up prior to the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images For a while, the Miami Hurricanes edge rusher was expected to be a top-five pick. But NFL teams got scared when his arm length was measured at just 30 ⅞ inches. According to ESPN, Bain’s arm length is the shortest for an edge rusher drafted in the first round since 2003. So you already had the concerns about his physicality and build. That was only the start of it. Shortly before the draft began, news emerged that Bain had been involved in a serious car accident in 2024 that killed one of the passengers in his car after he rear-ended another vehicle. His friend, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, spent three months in a coma before tragically dying. Nonetheless, these concerns didn’t stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from using the No. 15 pick on Bain. After the selection, Bucs GM Jason Licht emphasized that the Bucs had been aware of the fatal car accident involving Bain for a while. Still, it’s not too early to already think the Bucs will regret this pick. These guys just LOVE using early picks on pass rushers. Can someone tell us how Logan Hall, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and Calijah Kancey panned out again? Fair or not, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots have found success in taking chances on players with off-the-field legal issues or character concerns and turning them into stars. The Buccaneers? Not so much. Bain’s short arm length will be a serious problem for him to work around in the NFL. And given that Tampa already had enough pass-rushers before the draft, this pick is a red flag in every aspect. Good luck with it, Tampa. You’re gonna need it. Kenyon SadiqKenyon Sadiq (Image Credits: Imagn) The Oregon product was the consensus top tight end coming into this year’s draft. But there are only so many great tight ends in the NFL these days, so that’s not really saying much. There were several obvious knocks against Sadiq entering the NFL draft. Among them, he’s considered relatively small for a tight end at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. His production at Oregon wasn’t off-the-charts, either. Sadiq had his most productive year in 2025, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Ho hum. Drops were especially alarming for Sadiq at Oregon. So, when the New York Jets drafted him 16th overall? Yeah, the joke just wrote itself. The Jets can’t find a quarterback to save their lives. Now we’re supposed to think that they’ll magically unlock the potential of Sadiq? Good luck with that. Geno Smith isn’t saving this franchise. Also, how many targets can Sadiq expect in an offense featuring Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Omar Cooper Jr.? We were excited about Sadiq’s potential, but quite frankly, the Jets are the worst landing spot for him. Go ahead and chalk him up as one of the latest Jets draft busts. Caleb BanksFeb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks (DL02) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Minnesota Vikings raised some eyebrows here by using the No. 18 pick on Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. It felt like a reach given how much his stock had fallen in the weeks leading up to the draft, due to a serious foot injury that required surgery. One of our other issues here is that Banks is going to a Minnesota Vikings team that’s not exactly renowned for getting the most out of interior defensive linemen. Last year, they signed veteran defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to big-money deals. Both were released at the start of the offseason. So now you’re talking about a player who had up-and-down production in college, who had a serious foot injury, going to a team that hardly gets the most out of its interior defensive linemen. Plus, yanno, recent Minnesota first-round picks like JJ McCarthy, Dallas Turner, and Jordan Addison haven’t exactly lit it up yet. Banks would have been a better fit on a team with stronger roster development, like the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, or Green Bay Packers. The Vikings are sure to thrust him into a starting role come Week 1, something Banks certainly isn’t ready for. Malachi LawrenceFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys struck gold when they moved up one spot to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. But their second first-round pick, Malachi Lawrence, certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Dallas’ makeover on defense since the Micah Parsons trade certainly looks a lot better on paper. Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary, and now Caleb Downs. But Malachi Lawrence? Yeah, about that…. Dallas could have easily traded down and nabbed Lawrence in round two. Instead, they reached from a completely unpolished prospect with limited physical abilities and “meh” production over his tenure at UCF. Remember what happened last time Dallas reached in round one for a defensive lineman? Yeah, Mazi Smith didn’t pan out. So don’t hate on us for already questioning this pick and projecting a disappointing tenure in Dallas. De'Zhaun StriblingJan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The San Francisco 49ers traded down from the No. 27 spot with the Miami Dolphins. The ‘Phins took San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. The 49ers obtained the No. 30 pick and then traded it to the New York Jets, who selected Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. Finally, the 49ers opened up round two by selecting De’Zhaun Stribling, the big-bodied wide receiver out of Ole Miss. We’re sure optimistic San Francisco fans love this pick, but it’s truly a head-scratcher for us. Stribling has talent, yes. But what exactly is he going to do on a star-studded 49ers offense headlined by Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, newcomer Mike Evans, and 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall? This isn’t so much a question about Stribling’s skill set as it is about his fit in the 49ers offense. Kyle Shanahan’s system leans heavily on the ground game and screen passes. Stribling is a serious threat and contested catch specialist who “checks notes” reminds us entirely of Mike Evans. Stribling has the tools to be a star in this league, but the 49ers aren’t the team for him to maximize his ceiling. Just imagine if he landed on another contender with less offensive weaponry, like the Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, or Seattle Seahawks. Max IheanachorMax Iheanachor (Image Credits: Imagn) Just when the Pittsburgh Steelers were planning to take USC wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 21 overall? Their Pennsylvania state rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, jumped up one spot via trade to take Lemon at No. 20 in the NFL Draft. The Steelers, clearly rattled and panicky, reached for Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and took him with the No. 21 pick. Taking a lineman was the first shocker here. The second aspect of this shocker? It was such a giant reach, with more polished linemen on the board. The Steelers used 2023 and 2024 first-round picks on offensive linemen Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, respectively. O-line was far from a pressing need, and yet they reached for Iheanachor anyway. Make it make sense! Jones hasn’t come as advertised, and the jury’s still out on Fautanu. Pittsburgh’s inability to draft and develop first-round picks in recent years has been well-documented, so don’t blame us for feeling like Iheanachor is a disaster pick waiting to happen. And for all the love he gets as a steady pass-blocker? His run-blocking was lackluster at best, and he committed eight penalties in his final season of college ball, per Pro Football Focus. Chris JohnsonChris Johnson (Image Credits: Imagn) More highly-regarded cornerbacks like Colton Hood and Avieon Terrell were on the board when the Miami Dolphins took Chris Johnson with the No. 27 pick. Not only did we dislike this pick in terms of value, but the fit itself couldn’t be much worse for Johnson. If you go back to 2020 — ahem, Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert — the Dolphins have been horrific when it comes to day-one picks. So pardon us for already thinking Johnson is going to be a bust simply because he’s stuck on a team that clearly doesn’t know how to develop talent. But it was also a big-time reach for the Dolphins. Again, how do you leave Hood and Terrell on the board? Johnson’s knocks included his lack of speed and the fact that he’s undersized at 6-feet-tall and 193 pounds. And since the Dolphins have one of the worst defensive units in the league, we’re skeptical this is the place for him to maximize his potential. Keylan RutledgeJan 29, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (77) of Georgia Tech takes a breather during National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images Nobody was surprised when the Houston Texans addressed the offensive line in round one. But trading up via the Buffalo Bills to reach for Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge? Yep, that one leaves a lot of raised eyebrows. The Texans had plenty of more polished offensive linemen to choose from. And respectfully, this organization has been abhorrent when it comes to developing offensive linemen. Rutledge struggled with penalty issues in his final season at Georgia Tech. His over-aggression was one of Rutledge’s main issues in college, and he won’t have much support on a lousy Texans squad. Ty SimpsonTy Simpson (Image Credits: Imagn) Simpson entered the 2026 NFL Draft as the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this year’s class…behind only Fernando Mendoza, who went first-overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Los Angeles Rams landed the No. 13 pick from the Atlanta Falcons, who had given up their 2026 first-rounder a year earlier to snag James Pearce Jr. With their 2026 first-rounder, the Rams snagged the Alabama quarterback. Rams head coach Sean McVay didn’t seem all too thrilled with the pick from GM Les Snead. And that was telling, because McVay and Snead usually see eye-to-eye and have a tremendously successful coach-GM relationship. As Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Jordan Love would happily tell you, it’s not the worst idea to find a succession plan in the first round if your starting QB is on borrowed time. But there’s just a lot about this Simpson pick that doesn’t make sense. Yes, Matthew Stafford is about to enter his age-38 season. He also hasn’t displayed any signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his MVP Award-winning 2025 campaign. With the way Stafford is playing, shouldn’t the Rams have prioritized drafting a player who could help them win now? It’s not like Simpson is a sure thing to succeed. He comes from the Alabama QB factory. Weren’t Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones supposed to be the real deal? Bryce Young doesn’t look like a superstar now, does he? In his final college season, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Good? Yes. But also, any Alabama starting quarterback should be putting up such numbers. Simpson could be waiting two to three years to succeed Stafford in LA. And with his limited skill set and ceiling? Being a top-15 pick just seems like poor value on the Rams’ end. Add it all up, and it just already feels like he could go down as a mega bust in La La Land. Remember, Stetson Bennett was once viewed as Stafford’s successor in LA. And, well, we know where that went. K.C. ConcepcionKC Concepcion (Image Credits: Imagn) The Texas A&M product was widely projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick. Sure enough, the Cleveland Browns drafted him at No. 24 overall. For us, this isn’t so much a Concepcion issue as a Cleveland issue. His talent and skill set are undeniable. Unfortunately for Concepcion, he landed on one of the few teams that has no idea how to draft and develop skill position guys. We kept drawing up scenarios of Concepcion landing on an established contender like the Philadelphia Eagles or Buffalo Bills. Instead, Concepcion is stuck on a team that, ahem, has Shedeur Sanders and Dillon ‘freaking’ Gabriel as its quarterbacks. Yay. This guy had to go to an actual contender to maximize his potential, not a consistent bottom-feeder like the Browns.  Also, Concepcion will be competing with Jerry Jeudy, Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr. and fellow rookie wideout Denzel Boston for targets. Now, try telling us why the Browns are a good fit for him?