Every NFL team has made mistakes before. Some are bad at hiring coaches while some can’t seem to draft the right player. Players that are drafted high in the NFL Draft but turn out to be unsuccessful in the NFL are called “Busts”.
This could be for a number of reasons. Lack of right coaching, off the field issues or just plain lack of talent on the professional level. In this article, we will look at the biggest draft bust for each NFC North team.
Chicago Bears: Kevin White
The Chicago Bears drafted wide receiver Kevin White 7th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. As of June 2022 Kevin White is on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
In his two years at West Virginia in 2013 and 2014 White caught 15 touchdowns. Despite the college success White has yet to catch a touchdown in the NFL. In his three seasons with the Bears White only started five games and recorded only 25 catches.
White’s one highlight that can also double as a lowlight as a Bear is when he caught a hail marry bomb from Mitch Trubisky. However, he caught it four yards short of the endzone and failed to run it in and was tackled.
This play occurred in a 2018 week seven game against the New England Patriots.
Detroit Lions: Charles Rogers
The Detroit Lions drafted wide receiver Charles Rogers 2nd overall in the 2003 draft out of Michigan State. Like Kevin White, Rogers only lasted three seasons in the NFL. However Rogers rookie year in 2003 looked promising.
Rogers caught three touchdowns and even made it onto the 2nd all rookie team.However after his rookie season things would take a turn. Rogers had numerous run-ins with the law first at MSU then in the NFL with the Lions.
In the 2005 season Rogers was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Rogers did not play the majority of the 2005 season. Just before the 2006 season Rogers once promising career came to an end as the Lions cut Rogers forcing him to retire.
Unfortunately Rogers tragically died of liver failure due to cancer in 2019.
Green Bay Packers: Tony Mandarich
The Green Bay Packers selected Tony Mandarich 2nd overall in the 1989 draft out of Michigan State. Mandarich was hyped up by Sports Illustrated and was said to be the can’t miss offensive line prospect of the century. He also earned the nickname “The Incredible Bulk”.
Even though Mandarich was selected out of Michigan State, he did not play there his senior year. Instead he chose to lift weights and hang out on Venice Beach all year.
By the time Mandarich got to Packers training camp most of his so-called bulk had turned to fat. Mandarich only lasted three seasons with the Packers before being cut.
Despite the disaster that was his Packers career Mandarich made a comeback in 1996 with the Colts and immediately became a starter. He even got to block for Peyton Manning for a year.
In the 1989 draft four of the first five picks became Hall Of Famers and Mandarich is the only one that does not have that gold jacket.
Minnesota Vikings: Troy Williamson
The Minnesota Vikings selected wide receiver Troy Williamson 7th overall in the 2005 draft out of South Carolina. After the departure of Randy Moss the vikings were in need of a good receiver and drafted Williamson thinking he would be a good fit.
Williamson only played three seasons with the Vikings and in those three seasons he only caught three touchdowns. After his third season Williamson was traded to the Jaguars and found little success there as well.
Needless to say Williamson was not the second coming of Randy Moss Minnesota was hoping for.
