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NFL Draft: Biggest bust from each franchise’s history

By Hans Themistode

LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1988:Aundray Bruce of the Atlanta Falcons against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum circa 1988 in Los Angeles,California on November 20th 1988. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1988:Aundray Bruce of the Atlanta Falcons against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum circa 1988 in Los Angeles,California on November 20th 1988. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Bobby Carpenter
Bobby Carpenter (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Biggest NFL Draft bust from Dallas Cowboys history: Bobby Carpenter, LB

Stats: 

  • 3.5 sacks
  • 170 tackles

The Dallas Cowboys have been lauded for their work in the draft before. Whether they hoist the Lombardi at the end of the year or not, they normally draft players who come in and contribute to winning as soon as possible.

With that being said, they do have their share of swing and misses in the NFL Draft, none bigger than their decision to take linebacker Bobby Carpenter with the 18th overall pick in 2006. The Cowboys grew infatuated with Carpenter the more they sat back and analyzed the tape. The outside linebacker touched every part of the stat sheet during his time at Ohio State University.

In Carpenter’s final year, he wrapped up ball handlers 49 times and registered eight sacks. The year prior was much of the same but Carpenter added a handful of interceptions as well. He appeared to be the type of general on the defensive side of the ball that the Cowboys were missing.

Yet, once they got their hands on him, they quickly realized that what they saw on tape didn’t match up to his physical attributes. Carpenter posted horrendous stats as a rookie. 1.5 sacks and 22 tackles didn’t leap off the page. In his next two seasons, Carpenter failed to record a single sack. He was eventually traded to the St. Louis Rams after four years of inept play. Carpenter would bounce around the league for a little while, bringing little to no production wherever he went.

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