What Was the Worst Draft Class in NFL History?

The 2024 NFL Draft is going to begin soon! Fans are awaiting to see which top prospects of this year are set to join their favorite teams. This year’s NFL Draft will be kicking off on Thursday, 25th April 2024, and will continue till Saturday, 27th April 2024.

However, ahead of this upcoming schedule, the NFL’s past draft seasons are also being recalled by fans. While many wonder which years have been the golden years for the NFL’s Draft classes, some wonder about the arguably worst classes of the league. So, let’s dive into the top 3 worst draft classes in NFL history.

The top 3 worst NFL Drafts!

Although it totally depends on how a fan considers the years to be the worst or best, according to some outlets, from 1990 to 2014, there are five worst drafts based on the awards received and the outcomes of the players’ performance.

1992: The 1992 NFL Draft didn’t produce any Pro Football Hall of Famers or MVP winners. The Colts, who had the first two picks, didn’t fare well with their choices. Injuries plagued Steve Emtman, the first overall pick, and he only played nine games in three years. Quentin Coryatt, the second pick, dropped a potential game-changing interception in a big game. Overall, the draft class wasn’t very strong.

The quarterbacks drafted were reportedly bad, with first round picks like David Klinger and Tommy Maddox not making much of an impact in the season. However, there were a few late-round gems, like Jeff Blake and Brad Johnson, who had successful careers. In summary, the 1992 draft wasn’t memorable for producing star players or Hall of Famers. It’s known for its lackluster talent pool and some questionable draft decisions, like the Packers trading a first-round pick for a third-string quarterback.

2013: The 2013 Draft class is often considered one of the worst in history. Although it hasn’t reached the same level of infamy as the 1992 draft, which produced no Hall of Famers. The top two picks in 2013, Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel, haven’t solidified themselves as dependable starting offensive tackles in the NFL. Dion Jordan, the third overall pick, faced suspensions because of some violations.

Besides this, even the quarterbacks drafted this year struggled to make a significant impact. EJ Manuel, chosen by the Bills in the first round, is now in a quarterback competition, while Geno Smith, picked by the New York Jets in the second round, needs to impress his coaching staff to secure his place on the team.

2009: In the 2009 NFL Draft, quarterback Matthew Stafford was the clear top pick for the Lions. However, the player chosen next offensive tackle Jason Smith, is no longer playing in the league. This pattern continued throughout the first round, with some hits and misses. Linebacker Aaron Curry, drafted fourth overall, quickly became known as a “draft bust” and retired early. However, the Packers made a smart move by trading back into the first round to select linebacker Clay Matthews, who became one of the NFL’s top pass rushers.

In the second round, LeSean McCoy was a standout pick and earned the title of 2013 NFC Offensive Player of the year. While Stafford succeeded as the top pick, other QBs drafted in the first round, like Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman, had mixed results. Sanchez had a decent career as a starter for the Jets and briefly played for the Eagles, but Freeman has struggled to remain in the league, currently playing for the Dolphins.

Apart from these years, the 1999 and 2002 Draft classes are also considered as not so good drafts in NFL history, as they didn’t produce any Pro Bowl Hall of Famers. Some also bring 1991 and 2000 draft classes as average years in the conversation as well.

Read more: 2024 NFL Draft: College Teams With the Most and Least Picks