NFL Draft Bust Vault: WR Peter Warrick, Cincinnati Bengals

Aug 28, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A detailed view of a Cincinnati Bengals helmet on the field during warms ups prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

With the ball in his hands, there was a buzz in the atmosphere. In the open field, cutting on a dime, scoring touchdowns left and right. Sending Seminoles fans and viewers into a frenzy. Peter Warrick scared defenders. A two-time first team All-American, three-time first team All-ACC, two-time Biletnikoff finalist, and the Sugar Bowl MVP.

When you’re drafted fourth overall, expectations shoot through the roof. Particularly if you’re armed with the type of game-changing abilities that Warrick possessed. Finishing sixth in the 1999 Heisman voting, Warrick was selected by the Bengals fourth overall in the 2000 draft to provide some type of spark for a lackluster offense. Based on having little to no assets at the WR position, Warrick was asked to be ‘the guy’ from day one and had an ‘ok’ season for the Bengals with 51 catches for 592 yards and four touchdowns.

He followed that season with 70 catches for 667 yards and only one touchdown in his second year. Warrick didn’t even get his first 100-yard game of his career until week 16 of the 2001 season. To even take that a step forward, Warrick only contributed three 100-yard games in his entire career. Just. Three.

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From the start of the 2001 season leading into the 2002 season (20 games) Warrick only scored once. As the games turned into full seasons, the clock continued to tick on Warrick’s career. Longtime Bengals WR Chad Johnson was selected in the second round of the 2001 draft and quickly became the main option over Warrick for the Bengals. Once the 2004 season arrived, Warrick’s status as a Bengals receiver was on thin ice. Before you knew it, the injury bug hit and Warrick was released before the 2005 season with only 264 catches and 2,811 yards in just a little over four seasons of duty in Cincinnati.

Warrick then spent one season (2005) in Seattle where he only totaled 11 catches, was the team’s primary returner but only returned six punts for 29 yards. One and done in Seattle, retirement from the NFL soon followed.

It’s worth noting that while we discuss the biggest WR busts which includes Warrick, it should be made aware who the quarterbacks were during the receivers tenure. In the case of Warrick, he had the likes of Jon Kitna, Gus Fuerotte, Scott Mitchell, and the one and only, Akili Smith. So while Warrick is labeled, he definitely had to catch passes from a below average set of QBs.

Plus, Warrick is considered a bigger bust compared to some due to his draft status, not his numbers. Other notable WR busts such as Troy Williamson (2005), David Terrell (2002), Reggie Williams (2004), Charles Rogers (2003) all had worst career stats than Warrick and only one, Rogers, were drafted in a higher draft slot than Warrick. So given the team circumstances and worse production from other WR busts, Warrick may not be considered a MONUMENTAL bust, but a bust nonetheless.

At the end of the day, the perception of Warrick being overvalued lingers consistently in it’s own rightful manner.

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