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
9 of 33
Next
Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Biggest NFL Draft bust from Cleveland Browns history: Johnny Manziel, QB

Stats: 

  • 1,675 passing yards
  • 7 touchdowns
  • 7 interceptions
  • 57 completion percentage

The list for the biggest bust in the history of the Cleveland Browns is a ridiculously long one. Both the organization and the fans had high hopes for just about everyone they drafted but there’s a special place in the heart of those fans for quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Throughout the entirety of the organization’s existence, never have they had a player who exuded so much swag and confidence the way Manziel did. In his college years at Texas A&M, there was nothing Manziel couldn’t do. Whether his team needed him to throw touchdowns all over the field or rush into the end zone to win the game, none of it was a problem for him.

As a redshirt freshman, Manziel ran through the completion, he threw for 3,706 yards to go along with 26 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He was also prolific at running the ball, racking up 1,410 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He easily ran away with the Heisman trophy and had an equally strong second year.

The Browns snatched him with the 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Shortly after being drafted, Manziel reportedly texted his quarterback coach, Dowell Loggains and said he intends to “wreck the league.” That of course, proved to be harder than he anticipated as he struggled from the very beginning. In his first start, Manziel completed only 10 of his 18 passes for 80 yards as the Browns were smacked around by a score of 30-0. The blowouts continued in his first year and throughout much of his second year as well.

Manziel was cut following the 2016 season and elected to play in the Canadian Football League. He was dreadful as he was a turnover machine. Manziel began bouncing around professional leagues from there, joining the Alliance of American Football and later, Fan Controlled Football. The bravado Manziel once displayed was long gone and the hope he gave the Cleveland Browns franchise fell by the wayside as he simply couldn’t live up to his own hype.

Home/NFL