10 NFL QB Busts That Got Completely Screwed (And Weren’t Actually Their Fault)
Some NFL QBs were able to shed the “bust” label after making the most of another opportunity. Think of guys like Jim Plunkett and Steve Young. Or, more recently, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Daniel Jones. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about every other once-highly-touted quarterback that struggled early in their career. Some notable QB draft busts like Johnny Manziel and Ryan Leaf only have themselves to blame for failing to live up to the hype. But other so-called NFL quarterback draft “busts” have had the finger unfairly pointed at them long enough. Here are 10 such players who shouldn’t be blamed for the situation they were put in. Which QB did not have control over their career and ended up as a bust? David CarrDec 17, 2006; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker (95) Tully Banta-Cain tackles Houston Texans quarterback (8) David Carr in the 1st half against the at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © David Butler II Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first… The Houston Texans entered the NFL as an expansion franchise in 2002. As such, the NFL awarded them the No. 1 pick in that year’s draft. So, of course, they addressed the league’s most important position by selecting Fresno State quarterback David Carr. The next pick was future Hall of Fame defensive end Julius Peppers, who went second overall to the Carolina Panthers. Sorry to remind you, Texans fans. Anyway, Houston fans know how this went down. He went 22-53-0 over five seasons as Houston’s starting quarterback, with 59 touchdowns against 65 interceptions. But please don’t get carried away and assume it was all Carr’s fault. He was sacked 76 times in his rookie year, an NFL record. Their defense was consistently among the NFL’s worst. Dom Capers wasn’t qualified to be a head coach, either. Carr spent his final years in the NFL as a journeyman backup, winning a Super Bowl 46 ring with the New York Giants as Eli Manning’s understudy. And by the way, the Texans wouldn’t get a true star-level QB until Deshaun Watson in 2017. Goes to show how bad this franchise was at evaluating the QB position, so please don’t blame Carr for his career shortcomings and becoming a bust. Robert Griffin IIIAug 18, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) is pressured by Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports After the Indianapolis Colts drafted Andrew Luck first overall in 2012, Washington happily took Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 selection. Washington had traded up via the St. Louis Rams to obtain that pick, as the NFC West club already had 2010 first-overall pick Sam Bradford in the fold. Griffin, you may recall, was lights-out in his rookie season. He threw for 20 touchdowns, only five interceptions, to go along with 815 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He led Washington to a surprise NFC East crown, its first division title since 1999. We all know what happened from there, though. Washington had Griffin play on a bad knee in their playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which required surgery. He would never be healthy the rest of the way. From Dan Snyder’s incompetence to Bruce Allen’s horrific roster construction to Mike Shanahan showing zero regard for Griffin’s health, you can’t put any of the blame on RG3. Also, how many QBs have actually played well for more than one season in Washington again? That’s what we thought. If his body hadn’t taken so many beatings, Griffin might have been a star after leaving Washington in 2016. Unfortunately, too little, too late. Josh RosenCardinals quarterback Josh Rosen was in a car accident over the weekend. Cardinals Rams The special 2018 NFL QB draft class featured Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and Sam Darnold. Two future Hall of Famers, slash MVP winners, and one Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Not half-bad. It’s hard to remember now, but the hype was also super high on UCLA product Josh Rosen. The Arizona Cardinals actually traded up via the Oakland Raiders to select Rosen with the No. 10 selection — making him the fourth QB taken in the top-10. Unfortunately for Rosen, he couldn’t have landed in a worse position as a rookie. The Cardinals had inexplicably signed the oft-injured Sam Bradford in free agency, making Rosen the backup. Arizona had also hired first-time head coach Steve Wilks to replace the retired Bruce Arians. Wilks, respectfully, wasn’t cut out for the head coaching gig. Rosen took over as the starting QB after three awful starts from Bradford. His best receiver was a fading Larry Fitzgerald. The o-line allowed Rosen to take 45 sacks in 14 games. The defense was a laughingstock, too. Wilks was fired after Arizona finished 3-13, the worst mark in football. New head coach Kliff Kingsbury wanted Kyler Murray, so Arizona took him with the No. 1 pick in 2019 and shipped Rosen to the Miami Dolphins. Rosen was stuck on a 2019 Dolphins squad that tried pulling off the most obvious tank job of NFL history. So, of course, he didn’t get anything going there. He spent one season as Matt Ryan’s backup on the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, then was soon out of the league altogether. Not sure about you, but we find it hard to assign blame to Rosen as a QB bust. Quite frankly, we’re not sure if Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or even Tom Brady would have been able to do much on those abhorrent 2018 Cardinals or 2019 Dolphins squads. Unlike fellow 2018 draftees like Darnold and Mayfield, Rosen never got an extended look on a third team to revive his career. Teams gave up on Rosen without giving him a real opportunity. Trey LanceDec 19, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) during warmups before the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports The San Francisco 49ers gave up a king’s ransom to the Miami Dolphins in order to trade up into the No. 3 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. After Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson went to the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, respectively, Lance went to the 49ers. It should have been the ideal landing spot for Lance. He was playing in Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly system. The 49ers didn’t have to rush Lance, either, with Jimmy Garoppolo remaining the starting QB for 2021. After the 2021 season, the 49ers named Lance their starting QB. Unfortunately, he suffered a brutal season-ending ankle injury. So the 49ers had to go back to Jimmy G, who suffered his own season-ending injury late in the year. The 49ers had to turn to rookie and 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy. And the rest is history. Just when it looked like Lance would get his shot elsewhere…the 49ers traded him to the Dallas Cowboys…to back up Dak Prescott. Yippee… Lance got to play one game for Dallas in 2024 with the Cowboys’ playoff hopes over. Then he became Justin Herbert’s backup on the Los Angeles Chargers. So the 49ers ditched Lance after a season-ending injury. Then none of the other teams gave him a shot to take over as a starter. Don’t assign the blame to Lance becoming a QB bust. He never ever got a fair chance. Heath ShulerHeath Shuler (Photo by Imagn Images) With their Super Bowl dynasty in the rearview mirror, Washington restarted at quarterback and selected the Tennessee product with the No. 3 pick in 1994. Despite being stuck on a pathetic team that finished 3-13, Shuler showed promise as a rookie with 10 touchdown passes, albeit against 12 interceptions. Unfortunately, his supporting cast included the league’s worst scoring defense and a lousy running game that didn’t produce a single 700-yard rusher. Shuler started five games in his 1995 sophomore year, but lost the starting job to Gus Frerotte (FRAIR-AWT). After watching 1996 from the bench, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints, also among football’s worst teams at the time. After a rough first year in NOLA, Shuler dealt with a serious left foot injury and could never get back to 100 percent. He retired soon after and entered a career in politics, which proved to be far more successful than his NFL career. Being stuck on two terrible teams and having your career wiped out by an injury? We ain’t blaming Shuler, considering how terrible Washington has been at developing QBs. Blaine GabbertJACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars scrambles for yardage during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Field on September 29, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) If you’re a Jacksonville Jaguars fan and somebody told you at the 2011 NFL Draft that Gabbert would win two Super Bowls? They would have jumped out of their shoes. Except, hehe, Gabbert won his rings as a backup QB on the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 2023 Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. The Jags traded up to select Gabbert with the No. 10 pick in 2011, memorably one spot before the Texans took JJ Watt. Ouch. Now, Gabbert went just 5-22 over his three years with the Jags, with 22 touchdowns against 24 interceptions. But uhhh…it didn’t help giving him a bottom-five defense and four different coaches in that period. Jags fans, you remember just how pathetic those teams were, right? Not saying he was GREAT, but Gabbert did show some flashes during his subsequent and brief stints with the 49ers and Cardinals. Why was he unwatchable with the Jags and became a QB bust? Because they made everybody look bad in those days. Joey HarringtonJan 1, 2006; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback (3) Joey Harrington throws the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2005 Tom Szczerbowski Two picks after the Texans went with David Carr first overall in 2002, the Detroit Lions used the No. 3 selection on Oregon signal-caller Joey Harrington. Unfortunately, Harrington suffered the same fate as Carr. Over Harrington’s four seasons as the Lions’ starting QB? They had FIVE Pro Bowlers. Then-GM Matt Millen is quite honestly the worst executive in NFL history. And yeah, Marty Mornhinweg and Steve Mariucci were totally over their heads as the coaches during Harrington’s tenure in Motown. Harrington had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers to work with in James Stewart and Kevin Jones. But the defense was always a bottom-tier unit, and don’t get us started with his anemic group of pass-catchers. And don’t blame Harrington for failing to revive his career with the Miami Dolphins in 2006. How many QBs have done well in South Beach since Dan Marino retired again? Mitch TrubiskySep 17, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) warms up before the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Chicago Bears fans don’t like to be reminded that their team drafted Trubisky second overall in 2017, infamously passing up on Patrick Mahomes. We warn Bears fans to point the finger elsewhere. Trubisky was a victim of coaching malpractice over his four seasons in Chicago. They never gave him a good offensive line, thus becoming a QB bust. And no, Matt Nagy was not qualified as a head coach. Remember how well Justin Fields and Andy Dalton did with him? Neither do we. You might point out Trubisky’s lackluster production with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, well, did anyone in Pittsburgh have success with then-OC Matt Canada? Actually, when’s the last time the Steelers had Pro Bowl-caliber production at QB? Can’t help but think things would have gone much better for Trubisky if he landed on a team like the San Francisco 49ers, who traded down from the No. 2 spot. Even the New York Jets, or the Cincinnati Bengals, two other QB-needy teams at the time, would have gotten more out of Trubisky. Tim CouchOct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch reacts after breaking a guitar before the game between the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images After a three-year hiatus, the Cleveland Browns were officially reactivated by the NFL in 1999. The league awarded them the top pick that year, giving the front office the opportunity to take one of five big-name QB prospects: Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper, or Cade McNown. All five would be top-12 picks. The Browns went with Tim Couch, which was good news for future Pro Bowlers McNabb and Culpepper…but bad news for Mr. Couch himself. Angry Browns fans like to blame Couch for his disappointing career. Never mind that his offensive line was garbage, or that he only had a single 1,000-yard receiver and ZERO 1K rushers. Or that the coaching staff was terrible. Couch left the Browns in 1999, but unfortunately, never landed a roster spot again despite numerous tryouts. And as everybody knows, Cleveland has been the NFL’s ultimate quarterback graveyard. Blame Couch all you want, but this franchise has ruined so many careers. It wasn’t the fault of Couch. He was the first victim of the Cleveland Browns’ dysfunction and malpractice. Sam BradfordSep 19, 2010; Oakland, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Rams 16-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports Rams fans don’t have fond memories of the Bradford era. And yes, he also failed to make the most of his other opportunities with the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, or Arizona Cardinals. But again, it’s unfair to blame the guy. The Rams took Bradford first overall in 2010 and then forgot all the important rules of building around a franchise QB. He had a horrible offensive line and zero playmaking pass-catchers. Oh yeah, Jeff Fisher as his head coach after Steve Spagnuolo was let go. As great as ‘Spags’ is as a defensive coordinator, he was never cut out for head coaching. Bradford suffered numerous injuries because the Rams gave him an atrocious offensive line. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2013 and 2014. All told, he only played 49 games in five years with the Rams. His one season with the Eagles drew mixed results. In 2016, he actually looked good with Minnesota with a 71.6 completion percentage, 20 touchdowns, and five picks. Unfortunately, another injury in 2017 saw him lose his starting job to Case Keenum. Bradford’s career never recovered. Bottom line: The Rams destroyed Bradford. Fisher was a QB-killing coach. The front office had no idea how to build a team until Les Snead arrived and subsequently hired Sean McVay. If Bradford had landed elsewhere in the 2010 NFL Draft, there’s no telling how different his career might have been.
