10 Hyped NFL Players Whose Careers Declined Quickly

It’s always tricky judging NFL stardom at the beginning. It should never be forgotten that Tom Brady entered with zero expectations in the sixth round to become a legend. Other guys slip in lower rungs but still do great, while other players can be solid, just not as spectacular as hoped. Then there are the guys who come in with huge expectations, from Heisman Trophies to media hype but completely fail to live up to them.

In some cases, they can have decent if not great, rookie seasons in the NFL but then fall apart. Too many college guys can’t handle the stress of the pros, while others are hampered by injuries to addictions. There are scores of examples, yet these stand out as ten majorly hyped NFL players who fell apart fast and show it’s hard to live up to the huge expectations of the league.

10 Brian Bosworth

Fans today don’t understand the hype surrounding “The Boz.” Despite stories of wild times at Oklahoma, Bosworth won two Dick Butkus Awards and was known as a hard-hitting defensive player. He signed what was at the time the biggest rookie contract in NFL history and the Seahawks welcomed the media attention he brought.

However, Bosworth became more famous for his endorsement deals, media appearances and trash-talking than anything on the field. As it happened, a nasty injury cut his career short at just two seasons, pushing him into acting as the Boz didn’t quite live up to his star potential.

9 Robert Griffin III

There’s a separate list to be made of stars whose careers were wrecked by injury. RG III has to rank near the top of that list. Griffin entered the 2012 draft with high expectations, a Heisman Trophy winner, and Washington was lucky to land him. He proved to be worth it, with a fantastic rookie season that had many thinking he was an MVP candidate.

Then came that awful leg injury that robbed him of much of his burst. He still had a good 2013 year, but then it went downhill with poor play, leading to his release and bouncing around. It’s a shame that nasty injury cut a very promising career short.

8 JaMarcus Russell

Many teams have suffered from a number one draft pick that falls apart fast, but few can top JaMarcus Russell. After winning a BCS title in LSU and the Manning Award, Russell was seen as one of the best prospects in 2007, so no wonder the Raiders moved to get him as the first pick.

Then he held out for a contract extension, marked with poor play to the point that in 2009, he ranked lowest among QBs in about every category. Throw in showing up to training camp overweight and a bad attitude and Russell was persona non grata in the NFL in record time.

7 Trent Richardson

Winning two BCS titles with Alabama, Trent Richardson was called the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson, with plenty of teams vying for him. The Browns traded up for him and Richardson started well, hampered by playing for a bad team but still had decent numbers with the promise of more.

He was traded to the Colts the next season and suddenly, his numbers plummeted. He fumbled on his first playoff carry and was suspended for missing a game against the Patriots the next year. It’s incredible how Richardson is one guy who suffered more after playing for the Browns.

6 Bo Jackson

It was impossible to go anywhere in the late 1980s and not see Bo Jackson’s face. His tenure at Auburn earned him a Heisman Trophy, but his would-be drafting by the Bucs went badly. So Jackson went to MLB, playing for the Royals and Orioles while quickly becoming a favorite for TV and magazine ads.

Incredibly, he still played in the NFL for the Raiders, posting some decent numbers, although obviously balancing two sports at once hampered his abilities. A freak injury in 1991 cut his career short, and while he’s commended for being a two-sport star, people know Bo better by the ads than anything he did in the field.

5 Vince Young

The “Madden Curse” may not be as famous as others, but it sure seemed to count for Vince Young. After guiding Texas to the National Championship in 2005, Young entered the draft with huge expectations and the Titans easily got him.

His first year was sensational, winning Rookie of the Year honors and landing the cover of Madden ‘08. However, an injury the next year began a downslide for Young and while his initial comeback was good, his skills declined. Further injuries added up, so in just six years, Young was out of the NFL, a sizable letdown from his much-hyped entry.

4 Justin Blackmon

The Jaguars have experienced some terrible draft choice disappointments, but Justin Blackmon is something else. A two-time All-American for Oklahoma State, Blackmon was coming off MVP of the 2012 Fiesta Bowl and considered the best wide receiver in the 2012 Draft class. The Jaguars snatched him up at #5 and figured he would instantly spark their offense.

At first, it looked great, Blackmon finishing his rookie season with 64 receptions and 865 yards receiving. But then came the legal issues, the multiple arrests and suspensions that ruined his play. He was cut the next year and never played pro again, another sad case of a guy with great potential but never lived up to it.

3 Johnny Manziel

Before the 2014 NFL Draft, Johnny Manziel was expected to go high. This was a Heisman winner and scores of other awards for his stunning college play and should have been in the top 5. But then buzz built on his attitude, some partying ways and bad attitude while the Browns grabbed him at #21.

Manziel then set a record for how fast a rookie can self-destruct in the NFL, his first season a mess amid news of his partying more than practicing. He was demoted when he was videotaped partying on a bye week and refusing to accept help. After less than two years, the Browns ate the contract to dump Manziel with no NFL team willing to take a chance on him.

2 Ryan Leaf

It’s still laughable to remember that in 1998, some actually thought Ryan Leaf should have gone #1 over Peyton Manning. A Heisman finalist, Leaf had great skills and some good play as a college star, so the Chargers figured he would be fantastic. As soon as he skipped a mandatory rookie symposium, Leaf was on a downhill slide.

He was a disaster, ending his first season with a QB rating of 39%, marked by bad health and a worse attitude. His entire NFL career lasted three terrible seasons, his post-playing days a mess and Leaf ranking high on lists of the biggest busts of all time.

1 Tony Mandarich

Tony Mandarich did etch himself into football immortality. He’s arguably the all-time greatest recipient of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx. After a sensational college career, Mandarich graced the magazine’s cover as “The Incredible Bulk” and called him the best offensive line prospect of all time.

The Packers drafted him second behind Troy Aikman and for the record, four of the top five picks of that year are now in the Hall of Fame. Mandarich? After three lackluster years, the Packers cut him loose for a lousy career that had SI doing a new cover on “The Incredible Bust.” Decades later, he still remains one of the heaviest hyped flops in the history of any sport.

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