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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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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 30: A.J. Jenkins #17 of the San Francisco 49ers slips out of bounds on a reverse play against the San Diego Chargers in the first quarter of an NFL pre-season football game at Candlestick Park on August 30, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 30: A.J. Jenkins #17 of the San Francisco 49ers slips out of bounds on a reverse play against the San Diego Chargers in the first quarter of an NFL pre-season football game at Candlestick Park on August 30, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

42. . 2012, 30th overall. . AJ Jenkins. . team

San Francisco has had a rough go of it in the NFL Draft, especially in the first round. AJ Jenkins and Aldon Smith stood out as the worst first round picks of the last decade for multiple reasons, and either would make sense for those reasons.

Jenkins goes down as the worst pick for San Francisco because although Smith ran himself out of the league, he at least contributed.

Michael Crabtree led the team with 72 catches and 874 yards, but their next best wide receivers had less than 250 yards and 35 catches each. Another weapon was needed for Alex Smith, who was still the starter after a 13-3 season despite the arrival of Colin Kaepernick.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 04: Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 04: Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Jenkins finished his senior season at Illinois with nearly 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns, establishing himself as one of college football’s best receivers.

Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, and Kendall Wright preceded Jenkins in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and unfortunately, none of them lived up to their full potential.

Jenkins appeared in three games his rookie year but was targeted once the entire season.

San Francisco traded Jenkins to Kansas City for Jonathan Baldwin, another first round wide receiver who turned out to be a bust, the following offseason. Jenkins had 17 catches in two years with the Chiefs, and hasn’t played a game since 2014.

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