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

The hype going into the 2013 draft about its interior offensive line prospects was incredible. Right at the heart of it all was D.J. Fluker. Here was this mammoth powerhouse from Alabama who just got done paving the way for a college-best rushing attack and winning a national championship. He was ready-made for the NFL and was destined to have a long, maybe even Hall of Fame career.

Unfortunately, the San Diego Chargers ran into a harsh reality when drafting Alabama players. Sometimes the prospects who thrived the most for that team are those who are already maxed out as talents. It became clear early on that Fluker’s dominance in Alabama was likely his high point as a football player. His time as a starter for the Chargers was mixed at best.

His run blocking was inconsistent and he seemed too often to be a liability in pass protection. Health problems then began to creep up and the team finally decided to cut their losses after four seasons. Fluker continued that same trend for a season in New York and is now trying to salvage the time he has left with the Seattle Seahawks.

For a guy viewed as perhaps the next John Hannah, this turn of events can be nothing but a colossal disappointment. It also caused a ripple effect as several future Alabama blockers saw their draft stocks sink a bit due to his failures.