NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 33
Next
Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

Biggest NFL Draft bust from New Orleans Saints history: Reggie Bush, RB

Stats: 

  • 5,490 rushing yards
  • 36 touchdowns

Reggie Bush was almost like a folk hero during his time in USC. A legitimate argument can be made that Bush was quite possibly the most talented player in college football history.

His trophy mantle is filled with a litany of awards during his three years on campus. He took home the Doak Walker and Walter Camp awards. He was the Sporting News Player of the Year, a two-time National Champion, two-time All-American, two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, and a Heisman Trophy winner. Although some of those awards were vacated due to a scandal, history won’t forget what he was able to accomplish no matter what.

Bush was immediately taken with the second pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. There was true excitement in the franchise. The organization already had one of the greatest QBs of all time in Drew Brees, so the transition for Bush was expected to be an easy one. Those thoughts though, were untrue.

Bush struggled with the physicality of the league. In college, it was easy for him to dance around defenders and make them miss tackles as he pranced his way to the end zone. At the next level, however, the bigger and stronger players would hear none of it as they rag-dolled him all over the field.

During his five seasons with New Orleans, Bush never came close to rushing for a thousand yards with his highest rushing total coming at 581. Outside of his first year in which his receiving yards totaled an impressive 742, Bush never came near that number again. He didn’t come close to reaching a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team either.

Admittedly, Bush was a part of the 2009 Super Bowl winning Saints team but he was more so just a guy as opposed to an impactful or even an average player. During the title run Bush totaled 117 yards on the ground and 95 through the air in three games. He may have been a fan favorite and one of the best ever in college but in the pros, Bush was about as awful as you could get, considering the hype.

Home/NFL