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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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Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

30 worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history: 23. QB, Jim Plunkett

Stats: 

  • 25,882 passing yards
  • 164 touchdowns
  • 198 interceptions
  • 52.5 completion percentage

Jim Plunkett was the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde player. In college, he was all Jekyll, the former Stanford quarterback took care of business on the amateur stage. In 1970, Plunkett led his ball club to a win in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 18 years.

In addition to bringing home that victory, Plunkett was also a Heisman Trophy winner. In doing so, he bet out Joe Theismann and Archie Manning. With scouts drooling all over him, Plunkett made the move and threw his name into the 1971 NFL Draft where he was taken with the first overall pick by the New England Patriots.

There was no need for Plunkett to pay his dues on the sidelines. He proved in college that he could lead a group and was expected to do the same at the next level. The enthusiasm by the Patriots fanbase immediately went by the wayside as Plunkett began stinking up the joint.

He finished his first year with 2,158 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions on an abysmal 48.2 completion percentage.
After realizing that Plunkett simply wasn’t getting any better, both sides decided to part ways. A brief stop in the Bay Area only led to more losing before Plunkett found a home with the Oakland Raiders.

Surrounded by much better players, Plunkett led his newfound team to a Super Bowl win in 1980 and again in 1983. Plunkett proved that he wasn’t simply around for the ride as he won the game’s MVP award in 1980.

With two Super Bowl rings sitting on his mantle, along with an MVP award, it’s difficult to call Plunkett a complete bust. Despite his brief moments of success, he was never considered one of the best players in the league. Nor did he make a Pro Bowl roster. Because of that, and his lack of impressive counting numbers, Plunkett sits safely on this list.

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