Prospects you Pimped but Flopped

Anyone who has followed my posts over the years knows that I probably get more excited for the draft than the season itself.

It got me thinking to all the players I loved in the past. Some made it. Some didn't. Anyone have any memorable prospects they were trying to sell to the world that just didn't pan out?

2 immediately come to mind.

The first draft I ever scouted in detail was the '05. One prospect I loved who I thought was going to be a star was Safety Ernest Shazor from Michigan. This guy was Kam Chancellor before there was a Kam Chancellor. 6'4 230 who was ultra productive.

I remember a wise poster back in those days on the old steelers.Com board (TheStallworthSwann) wasn't quite as bullish on Shazor as I. I bet him Shazor would be a 1st round pick. Not only did TSS think Shazor wouldn't go in the 1st round he didn't think he would be drafted at all. And he was right.

This incident really changed the way I scouted players. Back then I was just going by my own eyes and workout results. It taught me to get more opinions from varying sources and use more of a statistical analysis process.

As a side note to the '05 draft, I wanted the Steelers to draft CB Justin Miller instead of Heath Miller!

Another big miss I had was in 2009 when I went all in on the 3-4 DE Jarron Gilbert. I thought he was a sure fire stud 1st round pick. I watched as much tape of him as I could. I had never seen a big man move across the LoS like he could. He had great athleticism and brute strength. Unfortunately I was fooled bigtime.

I failed to realize he was just beating up on inferior opponents and that his workout numbers were quite artificial and meaningless.

We all have or misses and we all have our hits. One thing is for sure, it's alot of fun!

 

If we're all honest about it, we'll all have our share. A few in recent years that pop into mind for me:

1. Justin Gilbert - I thought that the Browns over drafted him in the top 10, but I felt he would be well worth our pick in the teens that year. Right now, I wonder if he was actually even worth a 7th rounder.

2. The jury is still out, but I thought Jeremiah Attaochu was going to be Terrell Suggs minus the thug. He started last year and had 6 sacks, but is hardly a dominant player at this juncture.

3. I really wanted Bryan Bulaga over Maurkice Pouncey. He's been good enough that the Packers gave him a $7 mil/yr extension, but he's not a pro bowl talent.

4. I thought Mike Adams had the potential to be an adequate starting NFL left tackle if he got his head on straight. We'll just leave it that...

On the flip side, a pick that I really didn't like that's turned out well is Marcus Gilbert. I saw nothing to like when I watched his college film. I was evaluating him as a LT candidate because we had a need there, but I didn't even see RT capability there at the time.

 

Oh... I got fooled by Leinart as well. I thought he was the most Day 1 pro ready QB prospect to come out in years. Not so much...

Your mention of Dion Jordan jogged my memory. I didn't like him as a top 10 talent, but felt that he had mid 1st round talent. Thank god for the rest of the league Jeff Ireland swooped in to grab him at #3.

 

I was also very high on Kyle Wilson. I thought the Jets was the perfect situation for him too. Surprised he didn't make the cut.

 

I would be guilty on that one too. Even though he still is in the league I had very high hopes for Kraig Urbik too. Was ecstatic when we drafted him but things didn't work out. Actually surprised how few Badger O-linemen transition well to the NFL since they are so dominant in college.

 

I'm a big Badgers fan but even I knew Carimi did not have what it takes. Too tall and nowhere near strong enough.

 

Aaron Curry anyone? Supposedly one of the"safest" prospects in recent memory.

 

I definitely had Holliman pegged as a day 2 pick. Thought he was the steal of the draft in the 7th.

 

Ben Koyack, TE out of ND. Too early to grade his pro career, he currently is on the Jaguars.

I thought he would have been drafted by the 3rd rd but didn't go until the 7th

 

I liked Arthur Jones a few years back. I thought he'd have a solid career. I also liked Brent Urban as a mid-round sleeper. I'm weirdly good at accidentally mocking for the Ravens. Thought Mike Adams was going to be a solid contributor...