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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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Jimmy Clausen
Jimmy Clausen (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Biggest NFL Draft bust from Carolina Panthers history: Jimmy Clausen, QB

Stats: 

  • 2,520 passing yards
  • 7 touchdowns
  • 14 interceptions

Cam Newton was the face of the Carolina Panthers franchise for years. He ran over defenders when he tucked the ball, threw for eye-catching numbers and cruised his way to an MVP award in 2015. Calling him the best player in franchise history isn’t conjecture, it’s merely a fact. But before Superman was given his cape, the Panthers attempted to give it to someone else.

Coming out of Notre Dame, quarterback Jimmy Clausen was highly touted. In 2008, he threw for 3,172 yards and 25 touchdowns to go along with 17 interceptions on 60.9 completion percentage. He took things to another level the following year, throwing for 3,722 yards, 28 touchdowns and only four picks. He did that while completing a ridiculous 68 percent of his passes.

Originally believed to be a top ten pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Clausen fell to the second round and 48th overall. The Panthers were confident that they had their man but quickly realized that he wasn’t the answer following an awful rookie season in which he completed only 52.5 percent of his passes to along with three touchdowns and nine interceptions. If the numbers weren’t bad enough, wide receiver Steve Smith knew he stunk and wasn’t afraid to let him know it, although he would deny having any issues with Clausen.

The franchise quickly moved on from him and grabbed the aforementioned Cam Newton and the rest is history.

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