NFL Draft Bust Vault: QB Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville Jaguars

His collegiate career was summed up with one particular moment during his senior season. Breaking his shin yet still returning to back to the game to compete, while also providing inspiration. Former Marshall University QB Byron Leftwich catapulted into the eyes on millions across the country and became known as that guy that was carried by two of his offensive linemen to the line of scrimmage after completing a deep pass. Gutsy to say the least.

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Then came the 2003 NFL Draft. Before you knew it, after a draft day head-scratcher between the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings, Leftwich became the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars at 7th overall. During the pre-draft process, it was clearly obvious that the quarterback possessed a funky delivery on his throws, as if he was a pitcher on the pitching mound. That long, slow wind-up was overlooked by the Jags and they drafted him with hopes of succeeding then-starter Mark Brunell. That opportunity came in week four of the 2003 season with an injury to Brunell and the team off to a 0-3 start. He guided the team to a 5-8 record the rest of the season but it left optimism amongst the fans, coaching staff, and front office.

“During the pre-draft process, it was clearly obvious that the quarterback possessed a funky delivery on his throws”

Year two was a slight improvement in terms of record (8-6 as a starter) and stats (2,941 yards and 15 TDs). Leftwich didn’t reach the playoffs until year three in the NFL and was quickly ousted by Brady and the Patriots, 28-3. Year four began quickly and ended early with a season ending ankle injury. Leftwich lost not only his job to backup David Garrard but his roster spot as well as then coach Jack Del Rio released Leftwich prior to the 2007 season.

One season in Atlanta (2007), Pittsburgh (2008), and Tampa Bay (2009) were just small cups of coffee and he closed out his career with three seasons (2010, 2011, 2012) as a backup.

What to make of Leftwich? With a career record of 24-26 as a starter, 10,532 passing yards (ranked 171st in NFL history) and 58 touchdowns (182nd in NFL history), it’s safe to say that the draft placement and the production don’t mesh quite well. Yet, when you look back at his collegiate career, is it possible to feel that a bowl game shootout (2001 GMAC Bowl) and an epic, defining moment being carried by his linemen, pretty much carried him all the way to seventh overall in the draft? While some may look at his numbers and say that his career wasn’t as disastrous as other QB busts, a seventh overall selection with only one playoff game as a starter, 50 regular season starts in a 10-year career, and four different franchises that gave up on him, he underachieved in a major way.

Yet his clear delivery was a major red flag in so many ways. Despite it working in college against MAC conference opponents, the long, drawn out wind-up was destined to fail at the NFL level. A vivid case of investing too much into  “what if” instead of a sure thing.