Every NFL team has made its fair share of mistakes. The NFC East division is the only division in the NFL where all four teams have won at least one Super Bowl. Three out of the four have won three or more.
The NFC East features the Washington Commanders, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys. In this article, we will look at the biggest draft bust from these four teams.
Dallas Cowboys: Morris Claiborne
Defensive back Morris Claiborne was selected with the 6th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cowboys out of LSU. In college at LSU Claiborne won the Jim Thorpe award, which is given to the best defensive back in the country. He was also a unanimous All-American.
In five seasons with Dallas Claiborne recorded just four interceptions, never having more than one in a season. Claiborne started 43 games for the Cowboys in his five seasons with the team.
Claiborne never had more than 10 passes defended in a single season and was injury prone as well. Overall Claiborne just never really fit into the Cowboy’s defense very well and was traded to the Jets in 2017.
New York Giants: Eli Apple
Defensive back Eli Apple was selected with the 10th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Giants out of Ohio State. Apple has become somewhat of a meme for the lack of success in his career so far. In three seasons with the Giants from 2016-2018 Apple recorded just one interception.
Apple quickly became hated in New York and was traded to the Saints midway through the 2018 season.
Apple’s most memorable play did not come with the Giants, it came on the NFL’s biggest stage in Super Bowl 56. Apple was playing for the Bengals and was put in to guard Rams receiver Cooper Kupp and Kupp proceeded to cook Apple for two touchdowns and win Super Bowl MVP.
This caused all Giant fans to mock Apple on social media and dub him the worst Giant of all time.
Philadelphia Eagles: Danny Watkins
Offensive Lineman Danny Watkins was selected 23rd overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Eagles out of Baylor. Many fans don’t remember Danny Watkins. That’s because he only played two seasons with the Eagles and one with the Dolphins before retiring in 2013 to become a firefighter.
Watkins only started 18 games for the Eagles and had no outstanding pass protection or run blocking skills. Needless to say Watkins did not help the Eagles offensive line much.
Washington Commanders: Heath Shuler
Quarterback Heath Shuler was selected 3rd overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Commanders out of Tennessee. Shuler did so poorly in training camp and through the first four games that he was replaced by 7th-round pick Gus Frerotte.
Shuler, like Eli Apple, quickly became hated in Washington. In his rookie year in 1994 he threw 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in one game he threw four INT’s.
After being cut from the Commanders after three seasons Shukler had one short-lived stint with the Saints before being forced to call it a career due to injuries.
Unfortunately, Shuler’s career did not pan out as he and the Commanders thought it would.
