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The worst NFL draft pick of all time by every team

By Erik Lambert

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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14 Sep 1997: Running back Lawrence Phillips #21 of the St Louis Rams in action during a game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won the game 35-14. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
14 Sep 1997: Running back Lawrence Phillips #21 of the St Louis Rams in action during a game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won the game 35-14. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /

18. Los Angeles Rams

. RB. Nebraska. Lawrence Phillips . 18. player. 51

This wasn’t a misjudgment of talent. Phillips was a really good running back coming out of Nebraska. He dominated in 1994 with over 1,700 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. St. Louis felt he could be the guy to replace the departed Jerome Bettis as their featured running back. It wasn’t the talent though that earned them a ton of scrutiny for making him the 6th overall pick in the 1996 draft. It was their blatant disregard for his off-the-field history.

Phillips had an established reputation for being a major malcontent. One who wasn’t afraid to physically beat women as he proved during his time at Nebraska when he physically assaulted basketball player Kate McEwen, smashing her head into a mailbox. Despite performing well on the field, the problems away from it didn’t stop. He spent 23 days in jail during his Rams career and was reportedly intoxicated numerous times at practice.

After he was released in 1997, he spent time in Miami and San Francisco before heading to the CFL. Finally, in 2005, his demons caught up to him as Phillips was arrested for numerous assault charges. When the court proceedings were finished, he’d been sentenced to 31 years in prison. He died while incarcerated in 2016 at the age of 40.

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