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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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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 25: running back Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals runs out onto the field before the NFL game against the St. Louis Rams at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 31-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 25: running back Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals runs out onto the field before the NFL game against the St. Louis Rams at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 31-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Beanie Wells. . team. 32. . 2009, 31st overall.

Coming off a tough loss to the Steelers in the Super Bowl the Cardinals had a tough decision to make with their run game. Veteran Edgerrin James requested his release following the death of his girlfriend, leaving the team with second-year back Tim Hightower.

A fifth-round pick the year prior, Hightower had 10 rushing touchdowns for Arizona but just 399 yards on the ground. Arizona needed to supplement an already dynamic passing game led by Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin.

Beanie Wells came out of Ohio State with back to back 1,000-yard seasons, including a 1,600-yard season in 2007 with 15 touchdowns.

Arizona made Wells the third running back taken in 2009 behind Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown. To make matters worse, LeSean McCoy was drafted 53rd overall and Arian Foster went undrafted that year.

GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 16: Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals straight arms Stephen Tulloch #55 of the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. Arizona won 38-10. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 16: Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals straight arms Stephen Tulloch #55 of the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. Arizona won 38-10. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Wells never stayed healthy in the NFL and was literally injured from day one of camp. He rushed for nearly 800 yards with seven touchdowns as a rookie, but started zero games. In his first two seasons he averaged 41 yards a game, but he finally broke out with a 1,000-yard season in 2011 averaging more than 70 yards a game.

Everything fell apart for Wells after his big season, starting with a turf toe injury that limited him to eight games. Arizona released Wells that offseason after commenting he’d be auditioning for other teams in the final game of the season.

Wells would tear his achillies during a workout with Baltimore and never played football again.

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