The Worst NFL Drafts From All 32 Teams Since the Year 2000
By Erik Lambert
Houston Texans – 2005
It’s not easy being an expansion franchise. If the team doesn’t get off to a good start draft-wise, it can turn into a horrid nightmare real quick. It actually wasn’t all back the first three years. They’d made some intriguing moves and looked like they might be positioned to get into the playoff picture after going 7-9 in 2004. That momentum was abruptly killed though by their largely disastrous 2005 draft. Aside from one great year returning kicks by 4th rounder Jerome Mathis, it did next to nothing.
Little surprise the team collapsed into a 2-14 heap that same season. The leading cause was 1st round pick Travis Johnson. Another case of a college darling getting exposed when playing with the big boys. Johnson was totally ineffective at defensive tackle, managing a scant two sacks during his time in Houston. Running back Vernand Morency, their 3rd rounder, never really got a fair shot despite averaging over four yards per carry.