NFL Draft: Every team’s biggest first round bust of last ten years
Vernon Gholston. . team. 30. . 2008, 6th overall.
The New York Jets needed help coming out of their 4-12 season, during which their defense gave up 355 points, 19th in the NFL. They played both Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens at quarterback, but the 2008 Draft wasn’t littered with star quarterbacks throughout the first round. Matt Ryan was off the board third overall, and there were questions surrounding Joe Flacco coming out of Delaware.
New York instead went with a pass rusher out of Ohio State, Vernon Gholston. A two-year starter for the Buckeyes with three Big Ten championships under his belt, Gholston had a breakout year with 14 sacks in 2007. He finished his collegiate career with 22.5 sacks, 87 tackles, a pick, and a fumble recovery touchdown before declaring for the 2008 NFL Draft.
Taken sixth-overall and the second defensive end behind Chris Long, expectations were high for Gholston. New York had just 28 sacks the year before, and Shaun Ellis just turned 30-years-old.
Rex Ryan didn’t start Gholston much outside of special teams as a rookie, but he made just one tackle in 15 games. He made three starts the year after, but showed up with zero sacks and 10 tackles in 14 games.
Gholston’s third season with New York also came as a disappointment with only five tackles in 16 games with two starts at defensive end.
With zero sacks from the sixth-overall pick after three years the Jets cut ties with Gholston, who never played another regular season game again. Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington each gave Gholston chances, but he failed to step up and live up to expectations in the NFL.