NFL Draft Vault: Ryan Leaf, QB , San Diego Chargers

By Eric Robinson | Mar 23, 2016

Sep 20, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A general view of San Diego Chargers wide receiver Steve Johnson (not pictured) helmet during the game of the San Diego Chargers against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

To say he was in contention with a legend such as Peyton Manning is interesting in its own right. Could you imagine what would have transpired with the Indianapolis Colts franchise if then-GM Bill Polian made the fatal mistake? Of putting his hope into the hands of Ryan Leaf.

Then-Chargers GM Bobby Beathard decided to execute a historic trade just to move from third overall to second overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. Making that trade cost the Chargers two reasonably useful players in WR Eric Metcalf and CB Corey Chavous but it also granted them possibly the biggest draft bust in NFL history.

21 games, starting 18 of them. That’s all it took. All it took to realize how enormous of a mistake it was to place so much trust and faith into Leaf.

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However, Leaf planted the seeds to his ineptitude before even being drafted and also watered the seeds after getting drafted as well. Coming off as arrogant and immature to the Colts scouts and front office in pre-draft interviews. Gaining 20 unhealthy pounds between the end of his junior season and draft day. Partying all night in Las Vegas the night after the draft.

The pages turn to him intentionally skipping on the rookie symposium on its final day. Things that you don’t expect a franchise quarterback with so much responsibility to engage in. The rookie season of Leaf rolled right along and to little surprise, experience early struggles. Including a week three massacre in which Leaf went 1-for-15 for four yards, with two interceptions and three lost fumbles.

The following week against the Giants, Leaf tossed four interceptions and found himself benched.

His rookie season ended with only 1,289 yards, two touchdowns and a whopping 15 interceptions. What was even more disturbing was Leaf placing the blame and his poor play entirely on his teammates. If that wasn’t a slap in the face of his supporting cast, I’m not sure what is.

His 1999 season ended quite early with a shoulder injury in training camp that put him out for the season. However, that didn’t mean Leaf stayed out of the headlines as he encountered arguments with a random fan and Beathard throughout the season. The road for Leaf at this point was not only filled with potholes but was also headed for a foggy path.

“However, Leaf planted the seeds to his ineptitude before even being drafted and also watered the seeds after getting drafted as well.”

In 2000, his final season with the Chargers, Leaf went an atrocious 1-8 record as a starter with 1,883 yards, 11 touchdowns, with an eyesore 18 interceptions.

Leaf was cut by the Chargers after the season and then claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Leaf didn’t even make it to the beginning of the 2001 season. He was then claimed by the Dallas Cowboys but barely played and was released in May 2002.

The Seahawks tried to give him another shot in the summer of 2002 but again, Leaf didn’t even make it to the start of regular season.

At the age of 26, Ryan Leaf retired.

Leaf has encountered legal troubles of the last several seasons and recently in 2014, Leaf was incarcerated in a correctional facility in Montana. Which at this juncture, may not have been a total surprise to many people.

What makes Leaf’s career anointed as one of the biggest busts in NFL history has several different components. From inefficiency on the football field, to his ongoing lackadaisical attitude, to his failure to truly win over his teammates and front office personnel, to his off-the-field stumbles, but all of that is capped off with his lofty draft status.

For those that are not familiar with the NFL draft and it’s selection criteria, when you’re selected as high as Leaf was (2nd overall), a great deal of accountability comes along with. Not just for a team but for a city as well. There are just certain things a quarterback is not supposed to do, especially when those amount of expectations are placed upon the shoulders of a player.

Having poor work-ethic is one of them and will never work. Leaf has admitted himself that he wasn’t ready for the NFL. By saying that, I’m convinced he made that statement with the mental aspect of the game in mind.

Maybe if Leaf constructed his mind to brace himself for potential pitfalls, things may have played out differently. Yet, what may have ultimately done him in was his lack of not only accepting the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback but challenging it head-on.