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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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Vernon Gholston
Vernon Gholston (Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images) /

Biggest NFL Draft bust from New York Jets history: Vernon Gholston, DE

Stats:

  • 0 sacks
  • 42 tackles

Vernon Gholston checked all the boxes. He was a big physical defensive end that was productive as can be in college. While attending Ohio State University in the mid-2000s, Gholston played against top competition and shined.

After a redshirt year in 2005, there was simply no stopping Gholston. He put up 49 tackles, 15 accounted for loss, to go along with 8.5 sacks and an interception. He was awarded with a Second-Team All-Big ten selection for his good play. If quarterbacks thought he was a menace before, they grew despondent after he came back the following year as an improved player. Graham registered 37 combined tackles and made the lives of QBs a living hell as he racked up 14 sacks.

In two years with Ohio State University, Gholston scored 22.5 sacks. For the New York Jets, that’s all they needed to see as they grabbed him with the sixth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Yet, the moment he left college, it appeared as though he forgot how to play football. After three full seasons with the Jets, Gholston failed to register a single sack. Needless to say, he was released. He attempted to hang onto his NFL career, signing with the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams but he was released by both clubs before playing a single game. Gholston would never play in the NFL again.

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