For the rest of the month, we're going to dedicate blog posts to the entire 2000 decade. Yup, the best in sports for the entire 2000 decade. And by best, tSS means the worst. Today, we begin with the Top 10 Wide Receiver Draft Busts of the 2000 Decade.
Remember these glorious names during the drafts? Rod Gardner, Koren Robinson, Sylvester Morris, R. Jay Soward, Matt Jones. Drafting a wide receiver in the 2000's was so risky that in the 2008 Draft, no wide receivers were drafted in the first time. It is the only time in NFL Draft history that a wide receiver had not been taken in the first round. So, let's go back in time and recap the Top 10 wide receiver draft busts of the 2000's.
10. Freddie Mitchell [2001 Draft: Round 1, Pick 25 (UCLA)] - 90 rec, 1,263 yds, 5 TDs
4th and 26. Everyone know who you're referring to if you ever say 4th and 26. It's the play that immortalized "The People's Champ". Oh, and all of his trash talking and big mouth of his. Freddie Mitchell always wanted the spotlight, even when he faked being "dumb" on a Jay Leno segment just for publicity. A Philadelphia team desperate for a receiver took him and passed on Pro-Bowlers Reggie Wayne and Chad Ochocinco. After controversies with the team during the Super Bowl run, the Eagles cut him. Nobody's heard of him since.
9. Darrius Heyward-Bey [2009 Draft: Round 1, Pick 7 (Maryland)] - 9 rec, 124 yds, TD
Yes, I'm going to say it already. DHB is a bust. Many will disagree with me, but let me explain the logic here. Some people will say you can't judge a guy off of his first year, but his fellow rookie teammate, Louis Murphy, is having a better season than him (19 rec, 283 yds, 2 TD). Given, Oakland doesn't have a threat of a passing attack, but this way supposed to be Al Davis' polished trophy that he boldly took over Michael Crabtree. While DHB drops passes, Crabtree is already having a better season (22 rec, 292 yds, TD) despite holding out for a portion of the season. In fact, in Crabtree's first game he exceeded the amount of catches DHB had for the entire season (at that point). But, Al Davis still believes in the motto "speed kills". Well, so does stone hands.
8. Travis Taylor [2000 Draft: Round 1, Pick 10 (Florida)] - 312 rec, 4,017 yds, 22 TD
Just a terrible year for wide receivers in general, but Travis Taylor was expected to be an offensive spark plug that the Ravens were missing at receiver. Well, he certainly was offensive as he went to a Goodwill charity event as Kobe Bryant and his wife as the alleged rape victim. Then, after being released by the Ravens, he was apart of the Minnesota Boat Party Scandal. But, as a receiver, his better days were in his junior year with the Ravens. However, while his career wasn't marvelous, it wasn't absolutely terrible. He just never lived up to being a Top 10 pick however.
7. Ted Ginn Jr. [2007 Draft: Round 1, Pick 9 (Ohio St.)]- 113 rec, 1460 yds, 5 TDs
"You're going to be thrilled every time you watch him as a punt returner, because he's going to be a great returner for us." "Ted Ginn is someone that you're going to be proud of." "Ted Ginn and his family will give us everything they have, I promise you that."
Umm, thanks Cam Cameron. I think the Dolphins were more thrilled when you were fired after that abysmal 1-15 season. When the only thing you can say about your top drafted wide receiver is how great of a punt returner he will be and that his family will give the team everything, you know you screwed up. They've been proud of his ability to drop the football. They were supposed to take Brady Quinn, but even looking at wide receivers, there's Dwayne Bowe, Steve Smith, Sidney Rice, and even his Buckeye teammate Anthony Gonzalez. The more embarrassing thing is that Dolphin teammate, 2008 undrafted wide out Davone Bess, is a better receiver than him. Well, at least he'll be living out Cameron's blessing and will probably be a decent returner all his life. What a waste of a Top 10 pick.
6. Michael Clayton [2004 Draft: Round 1, Pick 15 (LSU)] - 219 rec, 2,910 yds, 9 TDs
After his rookie campaign, it seemed as if Michael Clayton would develop into one of the best receivers in the NFL and the steal of the 2004 NFL Draft after an 80-1200-7 season. If you took his statistics and play from the rest of his career, his rookie season still looks better. Instead of being a legitimate receiver, he continue to drop passes, be ineffective, and get injured. But, like Clayton says, "Regardless of what they say, the check is in the bank. That's not changing." True. But, that's why you're #6 because you're being paid far more than what you're worth.
5. David Terrell [2001 Draft: Round 1, Pick 8 (Michigan)] - 128 rec, 1,602 yds, 9 TDs
The Bears were dearly in need of a wide receiver... wait, they're always in need of a wide receiver. They tried to solve the problem with David Terrell, the huge, physical 6'3" 220 from Michigan who was highly-touted. Instead, they got a huge dud. Never really amounted to anything in the NFL and had an abysmal 1,600 yard career. Really difficult to overlook considering that he was the first receiver taken with Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Chad Ochocinco, and Chris Chambers. The Bears still lack that #1 receiver.
4. Troy Williamson [2005 Draft: Round 1, Pick 7 (South Carolina)] - 84 rec, 1,097 yds, 4 TDs
See the ball. Drop the ball. Well, there's even question as to if he could see the ball considering that he claimed to have bad vision. That sums up Troy Williamson. And most notably, he would drop wide open passes. Couldn't judge the ball and would even be seen getting clonked on the head with the ball from time to time. Just a terrible, terrible choice as the second wide receiver available when there's the beast from USC Mike Williams available. Oh, wait...
3. Charles Rogers [2003 Draft: Round 1, Pick 2 (MSU)] - 36 rec, 440 yds, 4 TDs
Syke. We're going to Charles Rogers at 3. No worries though, Mike Williams is on this list. The highly coveted receiver from Michigan State was supposed to be the next Randy Moss. Made huge headlines when he ran a lightning fast 4.2-40 to go with his 6'3" frame. He looked great in his first five games: 22 rec, 243 yards, 3 TDs. It seemed as if Rogers was the right pick... until injuries, drug abuse, and personal issues would cut his career short. Charles would finish his career with more children (5) than TDs (4). Oh, and he was only drafted right before Andre Johnson. Great call there, Lions.
2. Mike Williams [2005 Draft: Round 1, Pick 10 (USC)] - 44 rec, 539 yds, 2 TDs
So, the Lions learned their lesson and... drafted another highly-coveted wide receiver with their first pick. Ugh. Mike Williams was a huge hit at USC. Pac-10 Freshmen of the Year, CBS' Player of the Year in '03, a Biletnikoff Finalist in both of his years, and 30 TDs in his two year stay at USC. 6'5", 240... you just have to draft him. However, he made a mistake and pulled a Maurice Clarett and made himself ineligible for one more year at USC. (Pssssst. This should have been a sign, Detroit.) However, he still entered the draft and the Lions took him at 10. And, of course, Williams finished as a dud as he kept dropping pass after pass. Finished with more teams played for (Detroit, Oakland, Tennessee) than TDs (2).
So, with the two big name Lions' receivers up here, I bet you're wondering who in God's name could be #1. Well, the selection may surprise and could be argued as not the biggest bust, but considering his accomplishments in college and the hype around him, there's no doubt in my mind that the #1 wide receiver bust of the 2000 decade is...
1. Peter Warrick [2001 Draft: Round 1, Pick 4 (FSU)] - 275 rec, 2,991 yds, 18 TDs
Two-time Biletnikoff finalist, Two-Time Concensus All-American, Three-Time All-ACC, MVP of the Sugar Bowl. He was the dream receiver and an electrifying player than everyone loved. While he had moderate success with Cincinnati, he never achieved the level of greatness expected of him. Never had a 1,000-yard season, never scored 10 TDs in a season, never had an 80 reception season. While it seemed as if he was finally breaking out in 2003, he suffered an injury in 2004 that pretty much ended his NFL career. He tried out for the Seahawks and was primarily a kick-returner for the Super Bowl team, but after that year, he never played for another NFL team. Considered one of the best college players of all-time (a Top 25 on some lists), Peter Warrick never acheived great NFL success and is now long forgotten.
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