The worst NFL draft pick of all time by every team
By Erik Lambert
21. New England Patriots
Phil Olsen . 21. player. 47. . DT. Utah State
Just a sad story more than anything. The Patriots had hoped that Olsen would end up being just like his big brother Merlin Olsen, who’d been dominating guards and centers for the Rams for years by 1970. Phil showcased dominant traits during his time at Utah State. Enough to get him selected 4th overall that year. Tragically before he even put on a Patriots uniform, disaster struck when he suffered a bad knee injury during a college All-Star game.
Rather than see if they could salvage something from him, the team bailed on the experiment in 1971, trading him for a 1st round pick from the Rams who wanted to team him with his brother. That pick was soon traded to the Giants in exchange for defensive tackle Fred Dryer. He refused to sign a new contract with them and so they traded him to the Rams as well for another 1st round pick in 1973. That became fullback Sam Cunningham who had a productive career with the organization.
So it took a few years but they finally got something out of it all, but nowhere near what they’d hope for.