Tony Dorsett is the definition of a slam-dunk draft pick. After winning a Super Bowl in 1971 (and coming just short in 1975), the Cowboys were a featured running back away from being a title team again. Dallas selected Dorsett on May 3, 1977. Eight months later, the University of Pittsburgh’s all-time leading rusher scored a touchdown in the Cowboys’ Super Bowl XII victory.
To the chagrin of NFL teams and fans, that scenario is not the rule but the exception. Far too often then they’d like to admit, teams have whiffed on picks that would have netted them a substantial gain. Some teams managed to recover from their draft faux pas, while other teams are still kicking themselves for their mistakes.
With the 2022 NFL Draft nearing kickoff, we decided to take a look at each NFL team’s most desired do-over. Needless to say, teams will try to avoid making similar mistakes during this year’s draft.
Arizona Cardinals
2006 NFL Draft, 10th overall pick: QB Matt Leinart
In the short term, this pick didn’t really hurt the Cardinals. They made the Super Bowl in 2008, after all. But the pick definitely hurt Arizona in the long run. The Cardinals could have selected Jay Cutler, who was taken one pick after Leinart. Cutler, who went on to enjoy success in Denver and Chicago, could have been Kurt Warner’s successor or even challenged Warner as the team’s starting quarterback. Arizona, which finished 32nd in rushing during its Super Bowl season, could have also used the pick to select a running back. The ’06 draft had several talented running backs selected after Leinart that included Laurence Maroney, DeAngelo Williams and Joseph Addai.
Atlanta Falcons
1991 NFL Draft, No. 3 overall pick: DB Bruce Pickens
Atlanta was looking for a defensive back who could complement Deion Sanders. If the Falcons had a do-over, they surely would have instead drafted Todd Light, who was selected two spots after Pickens. Pickens lasted less than three seasons in Atlanta, while Light enjoyed a successful 12-year career that included a Super Bowl win with the Rams in 1999.
Buffalo Bills
2004 NFL Draft, 22nd overall pick: QB J.P. Losman
After missing out on Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers, Buffalo (after selecting receiver Lee Evans with the 13th pick), traded its second- and fourth-round picks, as well as the next year’s first-round pick, to select Losman. It goes without saying that the Bills would have been better served saving those picks. Had the Bills not traded their 2005 first-round pick, they would have had the 20th overall pick, which would have put them in position to select Aaron Rodgers.
Baltimore Ravens
2003 NFL Draft, 19th overall pick: QB Kyle Boller
After selecting Terrell Suggs with the 10th overall pick, Baltimore traded its 2004 first-round pick to New England to select Boller. The Patriots used the Ravens’ draft pick to select Vince Wilfork. Boller won less than half of his starts in Baltimore, while Wilfork was a five-time Pro Bowler and a starter on two Patriots championship teams.
Carolina Panthers
2008 NFL Draft, 19th overall pick: OT Jeff Otah
It’s safe to say that the Panthers would select a different offensive tackle if they could jump into Doc Brown’s DeLorean. Instead of taking Otah (who appeared in just 27 games over three seasons), Carolina would surely spend the pick on Duane Brown, who was taken by Houston with the 26th pick. Brown, who is currently preparing for his 14th season, is a four-time Pro Bowler who has started in each of his 186 career regular-season games.
Cincinnati Bengals
1999 NFL Draft, No. 3 overall pick: QB Akili Smith
Cincinnati would have been better served using this pick to select quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was ultimately taken by the Vikings with the 11th pick. Culpepper, who went on to enjoy considerable success in Minnesota, would have been set up to have success…
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