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NFL Draft: 30 worst No. 1 overall picks in league history

By Hans Themistode

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans talks with teammates during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Colts defeated the Titans 34-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

30 worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history: 26. QB, Drew Bledsoe

Stats: 

  • 44,611 passing yards
  • 251 touchdowns
  • 201 interceptions
  • 57.2 completion percentage

Admittedly, quarterback Drew Bledsoe is a borderline candidate as a bust. Throughout the entirety of his football career, Bledsoe was actually pretty good. Yet, introducing the world to the greatest player of all time is what he is mostly known for and is the primary reason why he lands on this list.

While at Washington State University, Bledsoe put up excellent numbers. He finished his three year career with 9,373 passing yards and 66 touchdowns. The work he put in during his collegiate career made him a no-brainer choice for the New England Patriots as the number one overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft.

By all accounts, Bledsoe was really good. He was a Pro Bowler by his second year in the league after throwing for 4,555 yards and 25 touchdowns. Interceptions were an issue though, as he threw for 27 but still, Bledsoe was a good player to start his career.

Not only did Bledsoe put up eye-popping stats, but he also led the Patriots to multiple runs in the playoffs. So why exactly does Bledsoe land here? Well, in the 2001 season, Bledsoe found himself hurt and out of the lineup. Replacing him, was nonother than Tom Brady. The rest of the story is history as Bledsoe moved on to the Buffalo Bills where he would put together a few stellar seasons. Still, the ghost of Tom Brady followed Bledsoe wherever he went. While he never developed into the player many expected him to, New England Patriot fans will forever be grateful for ushering in the era of the greatest quarterback the NFL has ever seen, even if it was by accident.

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