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NFL Draft: The Biggest Quarterback Busts of the Past Decade

By Erik Lambert

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 08: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is sacked by Dontari Poe #92 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at EverBank Field on September 8, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 08: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is sacked by Dontari Poe #92 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at EverBank Field on September 8, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 24: Christian Ponder #7 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2013 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo Tom Lynn /Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 24: Christian Ponder #7 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2013 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo Tom Lynn /Getty Images) /

Quarterbacks garner more attention in the NFL draft than ever before. That’s because they’re the golden ticket. Land a good one and you’re set for 10 years.

The thing is this isn’t a free giveaway. For every quality player who emerged at that position, there’s been several who became total failures. It was never the same reasons. For some it was injuries. For others it was bad coaching, bad systems or bad off-the-field problems. Then again a lot of them simply weren’t cut out for the unforgiving speed the pro level offers.

This leads to an interesting question. As yet another prominent group of young passers prepare to take the test, who’ve been those that offered the greatest lessons with their failures over the past decade? Here are the eight names that stuck out the most. Needless to say most are 1st round picks, but let’s get started with one who went a little later.

#8:  Pat White (44th overall, 2009)

The Miami Dolphins have had a rough history drafting quarterbacks since Dan Marino retired. Their true low point may have been their baffling decision to take Pat White in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft. While he was a great dual-threat quarterback for West Virginia in college, it was obvious he wasn’t a natural passer.

It’s clear the team fell a little too much in love with their Wildcat offense which had taken the league by storm the year before. They must’ve had visions of White taking that scheme to new heights. He threw five passes in his career and completed none.

#7:  Christian Ponder (12th overall, 2011)

The numbers were terrible for the most part as Christian Ponder spent most of his career handing off to Adrian Peterson. He never even reached 3,000 yards passing as a starter. However, Ponder at least helped the Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs in 2012. Had he not gotten hurt shortly before the postseason, would the team have been better? That’s debatable but the fact is the Vikings didn’t get near the return they should’ve for the 12th overall pick.

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