ESPN's Worst Draft Moves Since 2011

[insaniti]

I would say Dri Archer isn't even a top ten bad move since 2011. I am not saying it was a good pick I am saying for this team that he's just another in a long line of mid round picks that didn't produce. Curtis Brown? Or how about 4th round pick and HUGE contract guy Cortez Allen? Alameda Ta'amu and his little joy ride ring a bell. Shamarko and Landry Jones are Steeler Nation whipping boys. Sir Smokes A Lot Bryant isn't working out so great and that was the guy most of the Archer haters said we should have drafted instead of Archer in-explicitly even though we got Bryant 21 spots later. And it's too early to tell but Golson, Coates and Grant haven't exactly set the world on fire.

It said since 2011, most of what you listed are before. And you really stuck Coates name in there? One year in the system, behind the WR's we had last year... Let's not forget, Bryant didn't even dress his first four games...

 

[FordFairLane]

It said since 2011, most of what you listed are before. And you really stuck Coates name in there? One year in the system, behind the WR's we had last year... Let's not forget, Bryant didn't even dress his first four games...

I would say Dri Archer isn't even a top ten bad move since 2011. I am not saying it was a good pick I am saying for this team that he's just another in a long line of mid round picks that didn't produce. Curtis Brown? Or how about 4th round pick and HUGE contract guy Cortez Allen?both 2011 Alameda Ta'amu and his little joy ride ring a bell.2012 Shamarko and Landry Jones are Steeler Nation whipping boys.both 2013 Sir Smokes A Lot Bryant isn't working out so great and that was the guy most of the Archer haters said we should have drafted instead of Archer in-explicitly even though we got Bryant 21 spots later.both 2014 And it's too early to tell but Golson, Coates and Grant haven't exactly set the world on fire.last year but not really including all of them since I still have hope at least 1 will do something

 

[MTC]

Not as bad as wasting a first round pick on a player who plain sucks.

POP's lookin at you Jarvis

 

[insaniti]

I would say Dri Archer isn't even a top ten bad move since 2011. I am not saying it was a good pick I am saying for this team that he's just another in a long line of mid round picks that didn't produce. Curtis Brown? Or how about 4th round pick and HUGE contract guy Cortez Allen?both 2011 Alameda Ta'amu and his little joy ride ring a bell.2012 Shamarko and Landry Jones are Steeler Nation whipping boys.both 2013 Sir Smokes A Lot Bryant isn't working out so great and that was the guy most of the Archer haters said we should have drafted instead of Archer in-explicitly even though we got Bryant 21 spots later.both 2014 And it's too early to tell but Golson, Coates and Grant haven't exactly set the world on fire.last year but not really including all of them since I still have hope at least 1 will do something

Still a HUGE difference between a bust, or player that didn't work out, and a bad draft move.

Cortez Allen wasn't a bad DRAFT MOVE. In fact, he was a great pick, he showed a TON of promise and contributed quite a bit before he got the contract. He was even put on AJ Green when we still had Ike before the major decline. Not a bad move at all. Curtis Brown and the long list of failed DBs, also not bad DRAFT MOVES, they didn't work out, but they were drafted to fill a weakness.

Same with Shamarko, we needed a safety to take over for Troy, we drafted a safety with all the physical tools. He just can't make it mentally.

Landry Jones was drafted to be a back up, that's exactly what he is. He even won us a couple games last year. He's not as bad as people make him out to be. He's still pretty raw, and lacks experience. Not going to get a lot of that when your starter is a top 5 QB in the league.

Seriously? You're going to mention Martavis Bryant??? Dude has 14 TD's on 76 catches, and he hasn't even played two full years. There was a reason he dropped to the fourth, we took a chance on him, and he's helped A TON. Still not a bad move.

Alameda Ta'amu, legal issues that were not a sign prior to drafting him. He's still in the league btw. Also drafted to fill a need.

So tell me what role, what hole, and what position Archer was drafted for? It was a luxury pick in a draft when everyone knew we needed help in the secondary. It was a HORRIBLE draft move and is EASILY at the top of the list for BAD DRAFT MOVES.

 

[antdrewjosh]

DRI unfortunately sucked and everyone who said so was right. He sucks monkey balls

 

[Drink IRON City]

He was a solid special teams guy, much like Spence but without the injury. If Dri had performed on special teams he would still be a Stiller. . .

A-N-D his thread would still be open with us writing about him................OH, one could only dream............



Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

DRI unfortunately sucked and everyone who said so was right. He sucks monkey balls

That's if he can reach up high enough to grab them............



Salute the nation

 

[Stryker]

DRI unfortunately sucked and everyone who said so was right. He sucks monkey balls

The Jets would beg to differ...

 

[FordFairLane]

Still a HUGE difference between a bust, or player that didn't work out, and a bad draft move.

Cortez Allen wasn't a bad DRAFT MOVE. In fact, he was a great pick, he showed a TON of promise and contributed quite a bit before he got the contract. He was even put on AJ Green when we still had Ike before the major decline. Not a bad move at all. Curtis Brown and the long list of failed DBs, also not bad DRAFT MOVES, they didn't work out, but they were drafted to fill a weakness.

Same with Shamarko, we needed a safety to take over for Troy, we drafted a safety with all the physical tools. He just can't make it mentally.

Landry Jones was drafted to be a back up, that's exactly what he is. He even won us a couple games last year. He's not as bad as people make him out to be. He's still pretty raw, and lacks experience. Not going to get a lot of that when your starter is a top 5 QB in the league.

Seriously? You're going to mention Martavis Bryant??? Dude has 14 TD's on 76 catches, and he hasn't even played two full years. There was a reason he dropped to the fourth, we took a chance on him, and he's helped A TON. Still not a bad move.

Alameda Ta'amu, legal issues that were not a sign prior to drafting him. He's still in the league btw. Also drafted to fill a need.

So tell me what role, what hole, and what position Archer was drafted for? It was a luxury pick in a draft when everyone knew we needed help in the secondary. It was a HORRIBLE draft move and is EASILY at the top of the list for BAD DRAFT MOVES.

It doesn't say biggest bust, is says worst draft move. Drafting Archer when we had other needs, and there were better players available is a bad move.

Shamarko Thomas still contributes on special teams. Emmanuel Sanders was kept because we didn't have a viable option to replace him yet, and our franchise QB went to bat for them to keep him around. Neither were worse than Dri Archer who contributed absolutely nothing to the team. He couldn't even get carries when Bell AND Williams went down.

Ok, get your story straight. First, it's not worst draft pick, EASILY that is Jarvis Jones or Mike Adams, it's worst draft move. Then I show worse draft moves i.e. Shamarko trade and matching Sanders offer. Then it you make excuses for their non-production. Thomas made 12 TOTAL tackles last year. WOW! JJ made 29 TOTAL tackles. Mike Adams made 0 anything. I am fine cutting Archer he wasn't producing so cut him. But in the same sense how is that ok and us hanging on to Jones, Adams, and Thomas all higher picks (if you take into what it cost to get Thomas) when they are NOT producing either.

And yes, I am mentioning the ******* POT HEAD MORON BRYANT! If you think he's a good pick you are either dumber than he is or just being stubborn because you were one of the people saying we should have took Bryant over Archer. Archer isn't doing us any good not being on our team and NEITHER IS BRYANT being suspended for 4 games last year and 16 this year and who even knows if he will play ever again.

I liked the Shamarko pick. I thought he was a Bob Sanders kind of SS. He hasn't panned out plain and simple. I can admit that one also.

Landry Jones finally became the backup due to injury to Bruce and the fact the team trusted him so little they handed Vick the keys when Ben went down. The Steelers have shown interest in later round QB's and likely will sign a vet to compete. At best Landry is the backup this year and I have my doubts he even makes the team because if he can't win the backup spot he's not going to sit on the roster at #3 again.

Alameda Ta'amu was released by us and picked up by the cards. Archer was released by us and picked up by the Jets. At least Archer didn't make headlines with his stupidity.

Archer was a COMP pick who was drafted to be a change of pace RB and return man. He didn't pan out. On the old Archer thread I looked up all the third round picks from 3 years earlier to 13 years (giving them a chance to move up the depth chart) and 12.5% had even started a game. Not talking full time starter just started A GAME. That means 1 in 8 never do squat in the NFL. Archer is in that group of 7. But I can deal with the 97th overall pick not working out. I can deal with Shamarko not working out. I can deal with all the other mid round picks not working out. But what I can't stand is missing with FIRST round or to a lesser extent SECOND round picks. Those you need to hit on more often than not.

 

[Shane Falco]

He was never used properly

 

[ark steel]

DRI unfortunately sucked and everyone who said so was right. He sucks monkey balls

I don't agree that he sucked. IIRC his return average would have put him in the top 15 or so of KR for the year. Not that I think he was great, but I believe he would have, eventually, proved adequate and we saw what happened when we got rid of him, which was worse. I didn't understand cutting him when they did only to get worse. Made no sense.

I think they had an idea of what they wanted to do with him, but on the KR, they asked him to do things that don't make sense (i.e. bringing the ball out when a TB would be OK) and that caused some hesitancy in his decision making.

I saw a few plays during his time here that made me believe he could be of use (plays where the defenders seemed to overcompensate, the called back TD in the playoffs). At the 97th pick for a player I believed could be adequate, I don't fee it was a bad move at draft time. I think the bad moves came after with his use. It may have been the coaches realized he couldn't do what they wanted, but I don't believe that to be true.

 

[insaniti]

Ok, get your story straight. First, it's not worst draft pick, EASILY that is Jarvis Jones or Mike Adams, it's worst draft move. Then I show worse draft moves i.e. Shamarko trade and matching Sanders offer. Then it you make excuses for their non-production. Thomas made 12 TOTAL tackles last year. WOW! JJ made 29 TOTAL tackles. Mike Adams made 0 anything. I am fine cutting Archer he wasn't producing so cut him. But in the same sense how is that ok and us hanging on to Jones, Adams, and Thomas all higher picks (if you take into what it cost to get Thomas) when they are NOT producing either.

And yes, I am mentioning the ******* POT HEAD MORON BRYANT! If you think he's a good pick you are either dumber than he is or just being stubborn because you were one of the people saying we should have took Bryant over Archer. Archer isn't doing us any good not being on our team and NEITHER IS BRYANT being suspended for 4 games last year and 16 this year and who even knows if he will play ever again.

I liked the Shamarko pick. I thought he was a Bob Sanders kind of SS. He hasn't panned out plain and simple. I can admit that one also.

Landry Jones finally became the backup due to injury to Bruce and the fact the team trusted him so little they handed Vick the keys when Ben went down. The Steelers have shown interest in later round QB's and likely will sign a vet to compete. At best Landry is the backup this year and I have my doubts he even makes the team because if he can't win the backup spot he's not going to sit on the roster at #3 again.

Alameda Ta'amu was released by us and picked up by the cards. Archer was released by us and picked up by the Jets. At least Archer didn't make headlines with his stupidity.

Archer was a COMP pick who was drafted to be a change of pace RB and return man. He didn't pan out. On the old Archer thread I looked up all the third round picks from 3 years earlier to 13 years (giving them a chance to move up the depth chart) and 12.5% had even started a game. Not talking full time starter just started A GAME. That means 1 in 8 never do squat in the NFL. Archer is in that group of 7. But I can deal with the 97th overall pick not working out. I can deal with Shamarko not working out. I can deal with all the other mid round picks not working out. But what I can't stand is missing with FIRST round or to a lesser extent SECOND round picks. Those you need to hit on more often than not.

I haven't changed my ******* story one time. You are just having trouble reading and comprehending. I don't give a flying **** what round Archer was drafted in. It was a bad move to even draft him for "change of pace/return man". A position this team didn't need. Mike Adams, drafted to address the OL, didn't pan out. Still not a bad draft move. Landry Jones, drafted to be a back up QB, guess what? He's a back up QB. Shamarko Thomas drafted to address the SS spot, hasn't panned out, still not a bad draft move. Martavis Bryant, first round talent, ten cent brain. Drafted in the fourth round, has produced more than some first rounders taken before him, has a pot problem, cost us VERY little to get what production we did get out of him... not a bad draft move...

I'm really struggling to figure out how you can separate yourself from the difference I'm pointing out very plainly. I'm not defending these guys are great players. Most of them do indeed suck. But they were drafted to address a specific hole this team had. Archer was not, in fact we had HUGE GLARING holes in the secondary, with a plethora of CB's to choose from (I don't even care if none of them panned out), and we take a midget that has no real NFL position because he ran a fast 40 time. Sorry, that is a VERY bad draft move.

Jarvis Jones - bad player not bad move
Mike Adams - bad player not bad move
Landry Jones - ok player not bad move
Shamarko Thomas - bad player not bad move
Cortez Allen - started off great, faded quickly, not a bad move still
Dri Archer - bad player bad move

Again, the article wasn't about BUSTS, it was about BAD MOVES. Do you see the difference? I really can't make it any more plain and simple. There was a reason the Archer thread went so long, and it wasn't because he sucked or didn't suck. It was because he was taken at a point in time when we didn't have any use for what little he brought to the table and had HUGE GLARING needs at other positions with plenty of players that could have at least attempted to help those positions available.

 

[ark steel]

I think what would make the Thomas pick a bad move is the trade up to get him.

Sorry, but if you consider Jarvis a bad player, it was a bad move to pick him in the first. Sure, he was picked to fill a team need, but the team had other needs. Were there no players who were actually good who would fill a need. If he is as bad as many here said, wouldn't he have been available later. Lots here have said his combine numbers and possible medical issues dropped him off of other teams boardso for the first round. A player that would, likely, have been there a round later and got taken in the first is a bad draft move. Unless you disagree with what half or more of this board believeso about uncle jarvis.

 

[steelhurt]

The disturbing thing is the number of bad picks in such a short time frame under Tomlin. Sure Cowher had misses but not that many in such a short time frame. From 2011 thru 2015 far too many misses for me.

 

[FordFairLane]

I haven't changed my ******* story one time. You are just having trouble reading and comprehending. I don't give a flying **** what round Archer was drafted in. It was a bad move to even draft him for "change of pace/return man". A position this team didn't need. Mike Adams, drafted to address the OL, didn't pan out. Still not a bad draft move. Landry Jones, drafted to be a back up QB, guess what? He's a back up QB. Shamarko Thomas drafted to address the SS spot, hasn't panned out, still not a bad draft move. Martavis Bryant, first round talent, ten cent brain. Drafted in the fourth round, has produced more than some first rounders taken before him, has a pot problem, cost us VERY little to get what production we did get out of him... not a bad draft move...

I'm really struggling to figure out how you can separate yourself from the difference I'm pointing out very plainly. I'm not defending these guys are great players. Most of them do indeed suck. But they were drafted to address a specific hole this team had. Archer was not, in fact we had HUGE GLARING holes in the secondary, with a plethora of CB's to choose from (I don't even care if none of them panned out), and we take a midget that has no real NFL position because he ran a fast 40 time. Sorry, that is a VERY bad draft move.

Jarvis Jones - bad player not bad move
Mike Adams - bad player not bad move
Landry Jones - ok player not bad move
Shamarko Thomas - bad player not bad move
Cortez Allen - started off great, faded quickly, not a bad move still
Dri Archer - bad player bad move

Again, the article wasn't about BUSTS, it was about BAD MOVES. Do you see the difference? I really can't make it any more plain and simple. There was a reason the Archer thread went so long, and it wasn't because he sucked or didn't suck. It was because he was taken at a point in time when we didn't have any use for what little he brought to the table and had HUGE GLARING needs at other positions with plenty of players that could have at least attempted to help those positions available.

How ******* convoluted are you? Ok, YOU think DRI Archer was a bad move. That's an OPINION. A FACT is he, along with Jarvis, Adams, Shamarko etc are not good picks. Arguing with you is like arguing with a liberal. They get their opinions mixed up as facts.

 

[insaniti]

How ******* convoluted are you? Ok, YOU think DRI Archer was a bad move. That's an OPINION. A FACT is he, along with Jarvis, Adams, Shamarko etc are not good picks. Arguing with you is like arguing with a liberal. They get their opinions mixed up as facts.

lol, you just can't read. And **** off with the liberal bullshit. The whole article is an opinion based, but apparently MY opinion and the reasoning behind it is completely retarded when you aren't even arguing the same ******* points...yup, I'm the liberal, you must feel the Bern

 

[FordFairLane]

The biggest gripe I have is that you excuse and justify Jarvis, Adams, Shamarko, Allen, Curtis Brown etc but vilify Archer who out of the group had the least opportunity to succeed. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if he found his niche in new York.

 

[insaniti]

The biggest gripe I have is that you excuse and justify Jarvis, Adams, Shamarko, Allen, Curtis Brown etc but vilify Archer who out of the group had the least opportunity to succeed. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if he found his niche in new York.

I justify the position that they play, the reason they were drafted, not the players themselves. Archer has no position, and couldn't get on the field when our 1 and 2 backs went down due to injury. Instead we went to an undrafted free agent. I can see the reasoning behind all those picks, there was no reason for the Archer pick, none at all.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Jarvis was easily a worse pick. He was drafted to be an every down, dominant pass rusher. Jones hasn't even come close to living up to first-round standards. He isn't a playmaker and has basically been beat out by a guy who came out of retirement. The Steelers took a shot on Archer one round early as a potential returner and gadget option on offense. He wasn't suppose to be a guy to transform the offense like Jones was suppose to do for the defense.

 

[wig]

jermaine stephens says








hi

Well, he would but he's still trying to catch his breath.

 

[wig]

Actually, I think Fairlane and Insaniti are arguing semantics.

The discussion is which is a worse pick or player, suppose. Insaniti is merely suggesting that the Steelers 'needed' players at those positions, and took Jones, Adams, Thomas, Allen etc. Unfortunately, those guys have turned out to be truly disappointing but due to the fact that A) they were drafted in high rounds and unfortunately were significant reaches by the coaching staff, they simply can't be cut loose. So, the Steelers are kinda stuck with them and have to hope they show some semblance of improvement.

On the other hand, the Steelers did NOT have a significant need for running back and simply were enamored of a speedy scatback when Archer was on the board. (Again, I assume this is Insaniti's argument here.) The completely non-essential pick didn't pan out and is exacerbated by the fact that the team has other needs that are magnified by the aforementioned "busts" which you yourself Ford are egregiously panning.

Now personally, I think Jones, Bell AND Pouncey have been huge disappointments all for different reasons. Admittedly Jones has underperformed and the other two have simply enjoyed extensive Duce Staley sweatsuit modeling careers. Either way, they have not contributed much to the team lately. And that is after all what the fans need from the athletes, is it not? So if you want to talk draft picks that didn't pan out for one reason or another, obviously Martavis Bryant is high on the list (pun intended), but Bell and Pouncey can't be excluded either, can they?

Ya, I beat that drum again, just so y'all can hate on ME for a few minutes.

Maybe my posts will piss Pouncey off enough he'll stay healthy for half the season this year.

 

[FordFairLane]

I can see what wig is saying. Hey, maybe Archer wasn't a black and white RB, WR, DE, LB QB position but I did see what the team had hoped for him. They wanted to catch electric in a bottle and have a guy that could line up in the backfield then audible to him being in the slot. Having a guy who you could put at several positions to try to get a mismatch. Then I saw they wanted to turn him into the PR/KR guy hoping he'd help the yardage there and take Brown off the field in hopes of him staying healthy.

I guess I saw the value in what they were trying to do. I remember someone asking someone else their top ten players they wanted besides Archer and all except Bryant was a flat out bust and Bryant is on his way to Josh Gordon stupidity. The next CB off the board was Ross Cockrell who was released by the Bills and we picked up and is likely a starter to at least begin 2016.

I also didn't think they really gave Archer much of a shot. He was run up the middle a few times, and would come in for one play where they'd bubble screen to him but every DB knew it and jumped right on the route. I understood why they released him he wasn't performing whether it was because he couldn't or we weren't using him right who knows. Obviously, the Bills weren't using Cockrell right so maybe the Jets can use Archer correctly.

 

[ark steel]

I can see what wig is saying. Hey, maybe Archer wasn't a black and white RB, WR, DE, LB QB position but I did see what the team had hoped for him. They wanted to catch electric in a bottle and have a guy that could line up in the backfield then audible to him being in the slot. Having a guy who you could put at several positions to try to get a mismatch. Then I saw they wanted to turn him into the PR/KR guy hoping he'd help the yardage there and take Brown off the field in hopes of him staying healthy.

I guess I saw the value in what they were trying to do. I remember someone asking someone else their top ten players they wanted besides Archer and all except Bryant was a flat out bust and Bryant is on his way to Josh Gordon stupidity. The next CB off the board was Ross Cockrell who was released by the Bills and we picked up and is likely a starter to at least begin 2016.

I also didn't think they really gave Archer much of a shot. He was run up the middle a few times, and would come in for one play where they'd bubble screen to him but every DB knew it and jumped right on the route. I understood why they released him he wasn't performing whether it was because he couldn't or we weren't using him right who knows. Obviously, the Bills weren't using Cockrell right so maybe the Jets can use Archer correctly.

This is where I fall.

 

[deljzc]

Most of the philosophical differences I've had with Tombert have come down to "special teams" value.

In my opinion, they overvalue that aspect of possible contributions from prospects and they overvalue special teams (especially field position) in general. That's just me. I've argued that point for almost a decade since Sepulveda (who I consider the worse draft pick in the Tomlin era). Some don't buy it. Some love special teams and think it's important. I don't (or I don't in the same way and I don't fix the problem in the same way).

I have heard Colbert on Sirius radio say he doesn't look at draft picks in round 5-7 as much more than special teams contributors and I greatly disagree with that approach, both in theory and in practice. And while I agree with Colbert that special teams might be how they make the squad in year 1, I don't agree with him that their potential (and thus how you evaluate and stack the board) should be based on that.

Almost every aspect of my frustration with Tombert comes down to this big philosophical difference. I don't care about coverage or return ability much in any of my draft evaluations. And I still look at all prospects, throughout the late rounds, as potential starters (and want traits that can be developed into starters in the NFL).

Too many selections this organization makes have a trait that seems to really limit their ability to be a starting caliber NFL player - height, weight, speed, size, change or direction, whatever. There's always a chance to break the mold and no pick is always a bust (except a punter), but when you start looking outside the parameters of those successful players, you really prohibit your chances of finding a gem.

 

[Steelerfan]

I also didn't think they really gave Archer much of a shot. He was run up the middle a few times, and would come in for one play where they'd bubble screen to him but every DB knew it and jumped right on the route. I understood why they released him he wasn't performing whether it was because he couldn't or we weren't using him right who knows. Obviously, the Bills weren't using Cockrell right so maybe the Jets can use Archer correctly.

Translation: Archer would look good in black & gold, was never used properly, would probably sign for vet minimum.