Earlier this week, we went through the top half of the first round of the 2005 draft and declared whether each player was a bust or not a bust. The full list, including the back half, appears below.
1. Alex Smith, quarterback, 49ers: When the first overall pick is competing three years later with Shaun Hill and J.T. O’Sullivan for the starting job, that’s by definition a BUST.
2. Ronnie Brown, running back, Dolphins: After a so-so first year, Brown has been solid. A torn ACL derailed his opportunity to have a strong third year. Though he hasn’t lived up to the billing of the No. 2 overall pick, we’re not yet ready to call him a bust. (But we could be after 2008.)
3. Braylon Edwards, receiver, Browns: Edward is becoming one of the best receivers in the league. Clearly, not a bust.
4. Cedric Benson, running back, Bears: He’s been a disappointment on the field, and his arrest conjures memories of past incidents in college. Without question, he’s a BUST.
5. Cadillac Williams, running back, Buccaneers: Williams made a huge splash as a rookie, but can’t stay healthy. After rupturing a patellar tendon in 2007, he might not play again. If he does, he might never be the same. Based on his top-five selection, he’s a BUST.
6. Pacman Jones, cornerback, Titans: Do we even have to type the word?
7. Troy Williamson, receiver, Vikings: We once tried to throw Williamson a compliment, but he dropped that, too. BUST.
8. Antrel Rolle, cornerback, Cardinals: When a cornerback might be shifted to safety at only age 25, it’s not because he’s a great cornerback. BUST.
9. Carlos Rogers, cornerback, Redskins: He’s on the path to being declared a bust. We’ll give him one more year.
10. Mike Williams, receiver, Lions: Maybe he wouldn’t have been a BUST if the Lions had made him an offensive lineman.
11. DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys: A 2006 Pro Bowl + a 2007 Pro Bowl = not a bust.
12. Shawne Merriman, linebacker, Chargers: He could still be a bust if he gets suspended again for steroids (or blown up on a regular basis by a pint-sized running back); for now, though, Merriman is clearly not a bust.
13. Jammal Brown, tackle, Saints: The Pro Bowler in 2006 slipped a bit last year, and the Saints were rumored to be shopping him. Still, he’s not a bust.
14. Thomas Davis, safety/linebacker, Panthers: He’s not spectacular, but he started 16 games in 2007. Not a bust.
15. Derrick Johnson, linebacker, Chiefs: Johnson made a splash as a rookie and hasn’t taken it quite to the next level in two years since, but he’s not a bust.
16. Travis Johnson, defensive tackle, Texans: When the biggest hit of your career is one that you unknowingly put on a quarterback’s head with your knee, you might be a redneck. And a BUST.
17. David Pollack, linebacker, Bengals: Though he was on his way to becoming a great player, a neck injury ended his career early in his second season. Unfortunately, he must be declared a BUST.
18. Erasmus James, defensive end, Vikings: Knee problems have slowed his development, but barring injury to Jared Allen and Ray Edwards (and maybe Brian Robison), James won’t be a starter in his fourth season. BUST.
19. Alex Barron, offensive tackle, Rams: The Rams wouldn’t have been dreaming of Jake Long sliding to No. 2 if they thought that Barron was the long-term solution on the left side, or the right. BUST.
20. Marcus Spears, defensive end, Cowboys: Yeah, he has been a three-year starter. But he was rumored to be on the trading block earlier this year, and his impact hasn’t reflected his stature as one of the top 20 players in the draft. BUST.
21. Matt Jones, receiver, Jaguars: This much-hyped quarterback-turned-receiver isn’t very good, and doesn’t seem to care. The Jags would have been wise to let him play quarterback — for another team. BUST.
22. Mark Clayton, receiver, Ravens: The thinking in NFL circles is that a player destined to be a high-end receiver performs like one by his third NFL season. For his third season, Clayton had 49 catches for 531 yards, and no touchdowns. BUST.
23. Fabian Washington, cornerback, Raiders: Being traded for a fourth-round pick after only three seasons automatically qualifies him for BUST status.
24. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers: He has looked good when he’s gotten a chance to play, but the jury is out on whether he’s a bust. Get back to us in a year.
25. Jason Campbell, quarterback, Redskins: Campbell is on his way to becoming a solid starter, and could evolve into one of the better signal-callers in the conference. Not a bust.
26. Chris Spencer, center, Seahawks: If he’d been taken higher, Spencer might qualify for strong consideration as a bust. But he started every game in 2007, and the Seahawks have gotten decent value out of him. Close, but not a bust.
27. Roddy White, receiver, Falcons: White was on his way to being a bust after his first two years. He broke out in 2007, which coincidentally was his first season without catching one-hoppers from Mike Vick. Not a bust.
28. Luis Castillo, defensive tackle, Chargers: Solid defensive linemen despite some injuries. Not a bust.
29. Marlin Jackson, defensive back, Colts: Steady but unspectacular Tampa Two corner. He might be another Jason David in a defense that requires him to cover wideouts down the field. But his performance allowed the Colts let guys like David walk away. Not a bust.
30. Heath Miller, tight end, Virginia: The Steelers arguably reached on a guy who wasn’t healthy in the months leading up to the draft. They ended up with a solid tight end. Not a bust.
31. Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, Eagles: The Philly chapter of PFT Planet will revolt if we were to call Patterson a bust. Not a bust.
32. Logan Mankins, offensive lineman, Patriots: Solid contributor on the offensive line. Besides, we can’t call anyone who paid $7,500 for the privilege of punching a guy in the crotch a bust.









May 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
You guys are a Bust! Cadillac Williams was the Rookie of the year his first year out, then the next year the whole team goes through an injury plagued season for which his stats suffered, and finally this year, he gets injured while having what most NFL analysts were calling an excellent year! Where do you base your findings? Something you get out of a crackerjack box? Hacks!
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Rating: 1.3 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Clayton didn’t have that bad of a year in ‘06, especially with Baltimore’s offense. Give this guy a solid QB and an offensive minded coach and you have a nice number one wideout.
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Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I don’t see Marcus Spears as a bust. But I guess that depends on your interpretation for the production you expect out of the twentieth slot.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Patterson is not a bust!!
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I’m just glad the Bengals aren’t the only team with a mega-shitty ‘05 draft. Good to know misery lover company. I will now await a post that will, I’m sure, read “Bunglezz wil9 always suclk. Whenz da’ next aresst coming, HAHA! Go Stillerz”
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
By the standard that every First Round player must become one of the best players on his team, you’re going to have 15 out of 32 busts.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Thanks for the link to the Mankins story (had to search the page to get to an article waaaaayyy down the page) which brought me down memory lane to 2006… The more things change, the more they stay the same. I noticed the story titled “CONGRESS “INTRIGUED” BY NFLN” and the fact that Arlen Specter was attacking them back when. You’ve made reference to him recently with his Comcast support being a possible inspiration for the Walsh pursuit. Interesting to see his name come up scrutinizing NFLN _before_ the debate was even beginning… I wonder how much in the pocket this guy is for Comcast! I wonder why we haven’t heard from him lately (since you started scrutinizing his campaign finance motivations), even since the comish finalized a deal to talk with Walsh. Makes me wonder if he’s not really interested in the subject so much as he is in pressuring the NFL when Comcast wants him to…
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May 7th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
marc clayton was hurt last year when he caught 49 balls. The year prior he was in the upper 60’s. Short of braylon edwards who was number 3 in the draft clayton may be the best other receiver in that draft. i don’t think you can classify him as a bust at this point. at worst he gets an incomplete because of injury.
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Rating: 2.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
At least you got it right this time around with Patterson, but how bout you explain why Patterson’s not a bust. I guess you can’t give too much respect were it’s due… How bout you tell it like it is, Paterson is a top ten DT in the NFL and an PRO BOWL ALTERNATE!!!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Roddy White did improve, but I don’t think because it wasn’t Vick throwing the ball. While Joey Harrington’s slow underhanded passes are easier to catch, Roddy improved with OC Hugh Jackson, who was WR coach for Cinnci, and a veteran in Joe Horn. He finally managed to hold on to the ball, something Atlanta’s other first round WR Jenkins is still having trouble with.
And Ronnie Brown should have a really good year.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
All in all one of the worst drafts in awhile, with the exception of the LB/DE position.
But it seems your criteria for avoiding the bust label is consistent Pro Bowl level play for the first half of the draft and borderline Pro Bowl play for the bottom half. Some of these guys are quality NFL contributors that happen to play like you’d expect for a 3rd-round draft pick, but get labeled as under-achievers because they were either misevaluated coming out of college or aren’t in a system that’s the right fit for their talents.
I understand the three-year rule for looking back to see who made immediate impact, and who is already or soon will be out of the league, but some of these guys labeled as busts may still have very productive careers. If Antrel Rolle or Travis Johnson or Marcus Spears or Alex Barron are still starters five or six years from now and still playing at the same level, you’d have to say they were solid, but unspectacular, 1st round picks.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Cadillac was only good for the first half of his rookie season. Ever since then he’s been the offensive version of Courtney Brown. Bust!
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Oh yeah, Fabian Washington. Scrolling through the list, it momentarily surprised me to see Oakland drafting out of the top ten that year, until visions of Randy Moss jogging out of bounds on plays designed for Randy Moss brought me to reality. Washington was supposed to be Phillip Buchannon with some football skills, but he’s just another scary fast guy who can’t make plays. Has anybody done less in the draft this decade than Oakland? I’d put their 2004 draft up against anyone’s, even Detroit’s.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
You’re right about #31. We would have.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
The Philly chapter would go mad because if you think Patterson is a bust you are stupid beyond belief.
Also someone getting injured doesn’t make them a bust surely, unless they had a history of getting injured in College there is no way to know that.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I don’t see Spears as a bust either. As an end in a 3-4, his main jobs are to tie up blockers so that the O lineman aren’t taking on your linebackers and clogging up the running lanes. If you’re grading him on his stats alone for a D lineman (sacks) compared to a 4-3 DL, sure. But if you take into account that both Ware and Ellis had double digit sacks last year and their rush D has been solid (top ten both years), he must be doing something right.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Alex Smith looks like a bust, but in 06 he basically had no offensive (or defensive) team, no line, no receivers, no running back (Kevan Barlow?) with Gore not starting yet. He was throw to the wolves on one of the worst offenses stat wise in league history halfway through a lost season. It was a disaster. Next year, new offensive coordinator (Norv Turner), the youngest quarterback in the league plays respectably and towards the end of the season starts to emerge as a decent quarterback for so little playing time and being so young. Looks like he may be on to something huh?
‘07 comes around, Alex starts first 3 games. Wins the first 2 respectably, and loses the next to a tough Pittsburgh team, also with his third offensive coordinator in his third year, but plays a decent game. First series of the next game, a muffed block causes Rocky Bernard of Seattle to pummel him to the ground at full speed, ran right between the guard and center virtually untouched. Bernard lands on Alex’s shoulder, said shoulder is finished. Said shoulder is throwing shoulder.
He opts to not undergo surgery and Trent Dilfer starts. Alex comes back a few games later and plays terribly with injured shoulder, holding it, not being mobile, and making the most erratic throws I have ever seen, undershooting guys by 10 - 15 feet. He is still hurt. Hes back out.
That is the story of Alex Smith so far.
Excuses, excuses yes….but all valid in my opinion. Give him this year, under Mike Martz, with a few proven receivers which he has never had (Darrel Jackson??) If he cannot handle it this year, then bust him, if he can then he is a late bloomer like Bradshaw or Aikman or Young or Plunkett.
Not enough evidence for or against him yet. Just like Aaron Rodgers, give him one more try. This is sink or swim, he has a team, a coordinator, competition, and yes the pressure of being a number one pick (and 50 million dollars….)…. Let’s see what this guy can do.
Please comment, I want to know others thoughts
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Spears would be better suited in a 4-3 imo.
But whatever.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Logan Mankins: “Solid Contributor”? The guy is a pro-bowler and was an all-pro in 2007. Yeah, the best Left Guard in the game last year.
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Cadillac Williams has had one 1000 yrd season and won rookie of the year in a year of one of the weakest rookie classes. And that award was really based off of 4 games….can you say Gary Anderson part Duex? He is being replaced by Graham anyway….quite amazing really his rise and fall.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Matt Jones has made some big plays and i think that he is not a bust
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
3. Braylon Edwards
11. Demarcus Ware
12. Shawne Merriman
13. Jammal Brown
32. Logan Mankins
These players have all been Pro Bowlers for what it’s worth.
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May 7th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
So either Florio is a blind homer Skins fan, or he was drinking again when he wrote this….
12 Td’s - 11 int’s - 12 sacks - 13 fum (8 lost) - and 2700 yards, and that qualifies as on the way to becoming one of the better signal starters in the conference??
Yeah, maybe if Manning, McNabb, Romo all retire or get traded to the AFC. And that’s just in the same division.
Campbell is somewhere between Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers, which means the jury is still out on him.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Bunglezz wil9 always suclk. Whenz da’ next aresst coming, HAHA! Go Stillerz
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May 8th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Actually Alex Smith had a highly offensive team in ‘07
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