Fansided
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
31 of 33
Next
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after throwing an incomplete pass in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after throwing an incomplete pass in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

. 2009, 17th overall. . Josh Freeman. . team. 48

Eleven quarterbacks were drafted in 2009, but only first overall pick Matthew Stafford materialized into a franchise quarterback. Mixed in with Stafford were a flew of backups and busts, including 17th-overall pick Josh Freeman.

In the final year of Jon Gruden the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started 38-year-old Jeff Garcia and 33-year-old Brian Griese. They lost their final four games of the year, ending the season 9-7 entering the NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay had retained Luke McCown after acquiring him from Cleveland in 2005 and had Josh Johnson and Griese on the roster in the offseason. New head coach Raheem Morris needed a quarterback, and the Buccaneers jumped Denver to the 17th overall pick in a trade with Cleveland.

Tampa Bay took Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman, a three-year starter who threw only 10 more touchdowns than interceptions in college and a 59.1 career completion percentage.

The Buccaneers started Freeman in nine games in rookie season with Johnson and Byron Leftwich getting the other seven. At 21-years-old Freeman was the youngest quarterback in (a young) franchise history to start and win a game.

More from NFL Draft

Freeman started all but one game his next three seasons, but the Bucs went 21-26 under his watch. After starting the season 0-3 Tampa Bay turned the keys over to rookie Mike Glennon, a third-round pick out of NC State. Freeman was released in October and signed with Minnesota, starting three games before being cut.

Freeman would play in one more NFL game two years later for Indianapolis after playing a part of the 2015 season in the FXFL. He’s since retired and been part of the Buccaneers ever-turning quarterback carousel.

Home/NFL Draft