The Importance Of One Draft Pick

Sure, it's easy to look back on any given draft and see the guys below your team's spot who turned out better (and that's exactly what I'm going to do here).  But there are certain picks that really stand out as major mistakes that hurt a franchise.  There is the drafting of Tony Manderich second overall in 1989 in front of future or current Hall of Fame players Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders. And then there is practically any draft day move made by either Al Davis or Matt Millen. And certainly other factors like injuries, lack of surrounding talent, poor coaching, or poor fit for the team can contribute to the washout of an otherwise talented player.  You only need to look at the top five overall picks from the last few drafts to see that talent alone won't get you too far as a pro.  Drafting that high and whiffing can set a franchise back considerably.  The Lions, Browns, and Bengals have perpetually picked at the top of the draft, which tells you ... (link)