This was originally published on April 20, 2024. It has since been updated with new information (read: more NFL Draft busts)

There's no place you're more likely to find a franchise cornerstone than the first round of the NFL Draft. That makes the misses all the more painful.

The league is littered with disappointments who never quite lived up to the hype, but only a select few have the honor of a Day 1 selection and the fervor (and guaranteed money) that come with it. Some players shrink under the spotlight they've been given, whether that's due to a bad fit, weak coaching, off-field issues or just a straight-up lack of talent that everyone somehow missed.

Let's talk about those guys. These are the biggest first round draft busts for all 32 NFL teams, dating back to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Kelly Stouffer was a mess who forced his way out of the franchise without playing a single snap for the Cardinals, but at least he brought back three draft picks via trade (before ultimately being a disaster for the Seattle Seahawks). Steve Pisarkiewicz made only four starts at quarterback and compiled a 49.4 passer rating in two seasons with St. Louis. Josh Rosen was, famously, Josh Rosen.

But Stegent was a top 10 pick who injured his knee in a preseason game and had exactly one play that counted in the official NFL stat book — a 12-yard catch.

(Dis)honorable mention: QB Kelly Stouffer, QB Steve Pisarkiewicz, QB Josh Rosen

Pickens had all the athletic ability in the world but couldn’t turn that into on-field production. He made only eight starts in two-plus seasons with the Falcons and was charged with rape in 1993 before having the charges dropped days later. Honorable mention goes to Joe Profit, the seventh overall pick in 1971 who would have the most productive stretch of his career two years later after joining the arch rival New Orleans Saints.

(Dis)honorable mention: RB Joe Profit, RB Tony Smith, WR Shawn Collins

There have only been 33 first round picks in Ravens franchise history and most of them have been pretty good. Boller was a mid-round lottery ticket who failed to pan out but still managed to be a competent placeholder quarterback who was a contingency plan, not a starter.

(Dis)honorable mention: CB Matt Elam, WR Breshad Perriman, TE Hayden Hurst

Tuttle had 150 catches in his four-year Clemson career — 126 more than he’d have in two seasons as a Bill. The collegiate deep threat failed to translate that game-shifting playmaking to the NFL and was out of the league after three seasons. Two-time All-Pro Mike Quick was selected by the Eagles with the very next pick before going on to have the career Buffalo hoped it would get out of Tuttle.

(Dis)honorable mention: DT Phil Dokes, RB Booker Moore, DE Erik Flowers

Carruth failed to meet his potential on the field and was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was found guilty of conspiring to murder a woman who was eight months pregnant with his child. He’s garbage all around.

(Dis)honorable mention: A bunch of guys who were never involved in conspiracy charges.

Armed with a chance to change the trajectory of their moribund franchise, the Bears took Trubisky, a one-year “wonder” at North Carolina.

A player with negative pocket presence. A player who left more than a handful of deep balls short every game he played with that orange C on his helmet. A player who couldn’t decipher a basic zone defense even if you told him exactly where to throw the ball on every play.

And the rotten cherry on top? The Bears passed over Patrick Mahomes, who may be known as the best football player ever by the time his career is over, to pick Trubisky. (Note: Mahomes was second on their draft board!) That’s not merely rubbing salt in the wound for Bears fans. That’s slowly pouring a tub of it while cackling at their pain.

(Dis)honorable mention: WR Kevin White, OT Stan Thomas, DE Michael Haynes

Four seasons, 17 starts and a 3-14 overall record to pair with a 5:13 touchdown to interception ratio. Gross.