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NFL Draft: Every team’s biggest first round bust of last ten years

By George Stockburger

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Robert Griffin III (R) from Baylor holds up a jersey as he stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Griffin was selected #2 overall by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Robert Griffin III (R) from Baylor holds up a jersey as he stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Griffin was selected #2 overall by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: Bjoern Werner of the Florida State Seminoles stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) as they hold up a jersey on stage after Werner was picked #24 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: Bjoern Werner of the Florida State Seminoles stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) as they hold up a jersey on stage after Werner was picked #24 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

team. 46. . 2013, 24th overall. . Björn Werner.

In the first season of the Chuck Pagano/Andrew Luck era the Colts made the playoffs with an 11-5 record, dramatically better than the 2-14 season they came off of with new Peyton Manning. While they lost in the wild card game to Baltimore 24-9, things were looking up for the Colts.

Indianapolis was outscored by 30 points that season and their defense was 26th in yards allowed. Something was needed after the addition of Luck to balance this team out for another playoff run. They finished with 32 sacks, the 10th-fewest in football, so a pass rusher made sense in the 2013 NFL Draft.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 07: Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the New York Jets is tackled by outside linebacker Bjoern Werner #92 of the Indianapolis Colts during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 7, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 07: Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the New York Jets is tackled by outside linebacker Bjoern Werner #92 of the Indianapolis Colts during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 7, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Finding a star pass rusher with the 24th overall pick isn’t easy, but the 2013 class was a strong one all-around with no reason to reach. Indianapolis would reach for the German-native Werner, who was coming off a 13 sack season at Florida State.

To throw salt into the wound, Xavier Rhodes went right after Werner, and 6 of the next 12 picks turned out to be Pro Bowlers, including Zach Ertz, Travis Frederick, and DeAndre Hopkins.

Werner made one start as a rookie and finished the season with 2.5 sacks, but even with playing time the production didn’t amount to much. Indianapolis starter Werner in 15 games his sophomore season, but saw only four sacks and 37 tackles.

Werner moved into a backup role in 2015, appearing in 10 games with as many sacks as starts that season. Indianapolis would cut him at the end of the season and he never made another regular season start again.

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