NFL draft: Five worst team classes of last five years
These are the five worst NFL draft classes — by team — of the past five years (2012-16). (Previously, we covered the five best classes of the same span.)
5. 2014 New York Jets
Notable picks: DB Calvin Pryor (Round 1), TE Jace Amaro (Round 2), DB Dexter McDougle (Round 3), OL Dakota Dozier (Round 4), WR Quincy Enunwa (Round 6), DE IK Enemkpali (Round 6)
The Jets had 12 selections in this draft, and only four players (Pryor, McDougle, Dozier, Enunwa) remain on the current roster. One could make a strong case that Enunwa is the best of the bunch. Pryor has done little to live up to the first-round hype. Enemkpali is best known for breaking quarterback Geno Smith's jaw.
4. 2014 Cleveland Browns
Notable picks: CB Justin Gilbert (Round 1), QB Johnny Manziel (Round 1), G Joel Bitonio (Round 2), LB Christian Kirksey (Round 3), RB Terrance West (Round 3)
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In back-to-back years, the Browns had two first-round picks. These are the sort of draft classes that keep a franchise in a seemingly unending "rebuilding" cicle, which is unfortunately what you can say about a lot of Browns' draft classes. This is the worst of the two. After his draft-night "wreck this league" moment, the Manziel hype train that had been at full-speed-ahead since his Heisman-winning redshirt freshman season at Texas A&M derailed in a hurry. After two seasons, Manziel was out of the league. Gilbert experienced the same fate, traded to the Steelers for a 2018 sixth-round pick before the 2016 season began.
3. 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars
Notable picks: WR Justin Blackmon (Round 1), DE Andre Branch (Round 2), P Bryan Anger (Round 3), LB Brandon Marshall (Round 5)
OK, it's easy to point and laugh at the fact that the Jaguars drafted a punter in the third round - especially when Russell Wilson famously went five picks later. So, there's that. The situation surrounding Blackmon, meanwhile, wasn't a laughing matter. He showed promise early, then experienced multiple suspensions due to violations of the league's substance abuse policy and hasn't played since 2013. Branch and Marshall are still active NFL players, but not with the Jaguars.
2. 2012 San Francisco 49ers
Notable picks: WR A.J Jenkins (Round 1), RB LaMichael James (Round 2), G Joe Looney (Round 4)
As much as the 49ers' 2010 and 2011 draft classes helped the team reach Super Bowl XLVII, the 2012 draft class might be a big reason why the 49ers are picking second in this year's draft. Jenkins has just 17 career receptions to his NFL ledger, but none of those came as a member of the 49ers. James has just 192 career yards rushing. Looney, meanwhile, is still in the league, but with the Cowboys.
1. 2013 Miami Dolphins
Notable picks: DE Dion Jordan (Round 1), DB Jamar Taylor (Round 2), OT Dallas Thomas (Round 3), LB Jelani Jenkins (Round 4), TE Dion Sims (Round 4), K Caleb Sturgis (Round 5)
The 2013 draft class as a whole has been rather unimpressive, and Jordan is perhaps its biggest failure. He played just 26 career NFL games, missed the entire 2015 season due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy and then didn't play at all in 2016 due to a knee injury. He was released in March, and the Seahawks signed him with some hope of salvaging something out of the draft bust. Of the eight position players taken in this draft by the Dolphins, only one — Jenkins — experienced consistent time as a starter.
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