25 Biggest wastes of potential in NFL history

Not every highly talented prospect makes it in the pros, as we get ready for the 2017 NFL season here's a look at 25 players who wasted their potential

Looking back on the 2017 NFL offseason, fanbases grew excited about all the addition their teams made heading into the new football year. While free agency moves are fun, the majority of hope and enjoyment is born through the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, not every one of the choices made will wind up being the player their potential suggests they will.

Each and every season there are a handful of players who wind up being busts. Some may be busts in the sense that they never live up to their draft status. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is one example. He was originally selected first overall in 2005 by the San Francisco 49ers, but never became the star they hoped for.

Smith has gone on to earn two Pro Bowl trips (including one in 2016) and has 27,846 yards passing to this point. He's become a viable starter, even though he never reached his potential.

Then there are other busts that just fail miserably. Many players get selected early thanks to insane talent, only to see their careers fall apart before they ever begin. Those are the players highlighted in this list of 25 players that became famous for wasting their potential.

Aug 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) in action against Minnesota Vikings guard David Yankey (66) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

25. Randy Gregory, Defensive End

The Dallas Cowboys took a huge gamble in the 2015 NFL Draft when they used the 60th overall selection on troubled Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory. He left the Cornhuskers as one of the better defensive end prospects after recording 17.5 sacks in two seasons. He also had incredible measurables, coming in at 6-6 and 245 pounds with great speed and incredibly long arms.

Many considered him a top-10 talent, but then he made the boneheaded mistake of failing a drug test at the scouting combine. Gregory then saw his stock fall, but vowed to make the Cowboys look smart for taking the chance on him. To date he has not lived up to that.

As a rookie, injuries derailed him as he wound up with just 11 tackles all season. 2016 wasn't any better as Gregory started fighting with substance abuse again. He was suspended for four games, then an additional ten after that. He reportedly entered a rehab program due to the issues, but still failed tests. He wound up playing two games all season long, but is currently suspended for at least a full calendar season.

Gregory has no shot at playing in 2017, and chances of him ever becoming a star look to be gone. He's still young enough to make something of his career, but nothing in his history says that should be considered a possibility.

24. Vernon Gholston, Linebacker

With the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the New York Jets took Ohio State linebacker Vernon Gholston, who was expected to be a huge star in the league.

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He came in with great size at 6-3 and 266 pounds. On top of that he wowed scouts by running under 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had 37 reps in the bench press — the most of the combine that season. Everything about him screamed sure-fire pick.

Then he arrived in New York, and none of his talent transferred. He played sparingly for the Jets, and in three seasons managed just three starts despite being projected as a full-time starter after being selected. New York cut ties following the 2010 season and Gholston is considered one of the biggest busts ever.

He got a shot in the following two off-seasons as both the Chicago Bears (2011) and St. Louis Rams (2012) tried him out before making him a late August cut. The linebacker finished his uneventful career with 42 tackles and never had more than 17 in a single season. Gholston also failed to record a single sack in his career, a far cry from the 86 tackles and 22.5 sacks he had his final two seasons with the Buckeyes.

23. Tony Mandarich, Offensive Tackle

It was a fall from grace for the player once called the "best offensive line prospect ever" by Sports Illustrated. Tony Mandarich was the second overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, and many considered him a can't miss prospect after a great career at Michigan State.

The 6-6, 315-pounder was a man among men, and his physique seemed too good to be true. It was. Mandarich was considered to be a steroid user, which attributed to his freakish strength as well as his widely documented attitude problems. Finally, in 2008, he admitted that steroids were used during his playing days.

Once his time with the Packers was done, Mandarich found himself hitting rock bottom. He was checked into a drug and alcohol rehab, and after being out of football since 1992, he found himself a starter for the Indianapolis Colts in 1996. He played three seasons there, which had to infuriate the Packers who spent such a high pick on him.

What made his failure even worse was the list of players Green Bay passed on for the offensive lineman. Running back Barry Sanders, cornerback Deion Sanders, safety Steve Atwater and receiver Andre Rison were just some of the players to go on and have better careers.

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

22. Rolando McClain, Linebacker

Another player here with ties to the Dallas Cowboys as middle linebacker Rolando McClain is the next player to waste his immense potential. The 250-pound McClain was a force for the Crimson Tide, and had over 100 tackles in his junior season before turning pro. He then blew people away with his combine results and wound up being the Oakland Raiders eighth overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.

He came into the league looking like a star. As a rookie, McClain had 85 tackles and an interception. He followed that year up with 99 tackles and five sacks in 2011. By his third season, things started to unravel.

McClain saw his playing time reduced, and he started bashing the team on social media as he was angry with how they began to treat him. The talented linebacker never took responsibility for his part in being benched, which included being kicked out of practice at one point. There were also several off-field issues, which included an arrest for assault in 2011.

After leaving Oakland in 2012 McClain joined the Baltimore Ravens only to retire a few days later. He eventually was lured back to football by the Dallas Cowboys when they lost middle linebacker Sean Lee to a torn ACL before the 2014 season.

In two years with Dallas, McClain played exceptionally well. He had 161 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions in 24 games played. His issues still followed him though as McClain was suspended the first four games in 2015 and then followed that up with another 10-game suspension. Dallas gave up on him and he never played a down last season. He has since been arrested again in May 2017, and any chance of ever playing again seems to be long gone.

21. Todd Marinovich, Quarterback

Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich never really stood a chance. He had a demanding father that forced him into strength training, which began while he was still sleeping in a crib.

Marv Marinovich was a flame-out as an offensive lineman, so he decided that he would then focus on making his son the perfect NFL player. Marv pushed Todd from the day he was born, and it had tragic results as highlighted by Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report.

Marinovich wound up playing just eight games in two seasons before his career was completely derailed by drug use. Now in his late 40s, he still struggles with the problem as he was arrested in the summer of 2016 while again in the possession of drugs.

20. Brian Bosworth, Linebacker

Linebacker Brian Bosworth was an absolute monster for the Oklahoma Sooners on the field. He was just as disruptive off it though. The Boz would often poke at the NCAA in extremely critical ways, and wound up being kicked off the program following many controversial actions and a failed drug test. The linebacker reportedly was using steroids, which he claimed was for medical reasons.

He wound up in the 1987 supplemental draft, but in typical Boz fashion, he first had to inform certain teams he would not sign with them if they selected him. One of the teams he told not to draft him was the Seattle Seahawks, and they did just that. The two sides came to terms, and Bosworth would become a member of the Hawks for a short time.

After gaining notoriety for again running his mouth — this time claiming he would stop star running back Bo Jackson — Bosworth was humiliated by getting plowed over by the talented back. Bosworth lasted just three seasons and is often considered one of the biggest busts of all-time.

Some contest that injuries are to blame, as Bosworth had serious shoulder issues which caused his early exit. Still, even when he did play he never lived up to his own self-hype.

19. David Boston, Wide Receiver

Ohio State receiver David Boston entered the NFL with all the tools to be an absolute stud. The Arizona Cardinals agreed and used the eighth overall selection in the 1999 draft to secure his services. After an average rookie season, Boston went for 1,156 receiving yards in 2000 and 1,598 the following year. After struggling with health in 2002, the San Diego Chargers swooped in and signed him away from the Cards.

Boston signed a seven-year contract worth nearly $50 million. He lasted just one season with San Diego after agreeing to that deal. He wasn't a terrible player for them — he recorded 880 yards through the air and seven touchdowns in 14 games — but had a terrible attitude. They dumped him off on the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick.

Steroid suspensions and knee injuries highlighted his two seasons in South Beach. He ended up playing just five games for them before trying to resurrect his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006. That didn't work as he never played a down for them, and was cut following a DUI arrest.

The wideout tried to make it in the CFL with Toronto. More injuries surfaced and Boston was unable to make a mark for them either.

18. Marcus Dupree, Running Back

Marcus Dupree was one of the highest recruited running backs of all-time when he finally committed to join the Oklahoma Sooners. He was expected to be the best in the nation at what he did, and he thrived as a freshman rushing for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The football world was excited to see what came next, but instead of continuing to shine, the running back became an average player that seemed to wilt in the pressure created by the limelight.

After his less than impressive finish to his collegiate career, Dupree found himself in the USFL playing for New Orleans/Portland. He finished his time with them in 1985 and, until 1990, no one had heard from him again.

In 1990 he wound up resurfacing with the Los Angeles Rams, and was given a shot at living out his dream. His time with the Rams lasted just two years as well and the once promising star ended up recording just 251 yards and one touchdown.

After the NFL, Dupree tried his hands at professional wrestling, which wasn't too fruitful either. He was last seen working as an over the road truck driver, a far cry from where many believed he would wind up.

17. Ricky Williams, Running Back

In an unprecedented move, former New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka traded every draft pick the team had to move up to the fifth spot in the draft. The target for such a move was Texas running back Ricky Williams. The union of the two lasted just three seasons as Williams rushed for 3,129 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was then traded for even more draft picks as the Miami Dolphins surrendered two first-round selections for his services.

Williams was much better for the Dolphins than he was for New Orleans. He had 1,853 yards with 16 touchdowns in his first season and added 1,372 yards and nine more scores in 2003. Then after failing some drug tests, Williams abruptly retired from football and began studying holistic medicines.

He returned to the team in 2005, but was suspended for violating the NFL drug policy yet again. This ban kept him out of the NFL for all of 2006, during which time he headed north to play for Toronto of the CFL.

Eventually he returned to Miami and played four more seasons, but never was the same dominant player. He crossed the 1,000-yard mark just once mere and finished his career as a backup in Baltimore. It's crazy to think of how good he could have been if he cared more about football than smoking pot.

Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) rolls out against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

16. Johnny Manziel, Quarterback

We go from a guy in Ricky Williams who liked smoking pot more than playing football to a guy in Johnny Manziel who liked drinking more than playing football. During an exciting career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Manziel earned the nickname Johnny Football and wowed fans all over the nation.

The more popular he got, the more out of control his actions seemed to be. Manziel found himself in hot water for taking money for autographs, then instead of being apologetic, he was defiant. Manziel started to do a "Money Manziel" sign on the field as a way of poking fun at the people who were upset by his actions.

He continued this into the NFL, doing his money sign on draft night when the Cleveland Browns drafted him in the first round of the 2014 draft. Becoming a pro didn't stop him from his wild ways. Manziel was often seen posing with liquor bottles and at one point there were pictures of him rolling up dollar bills in a public bathroom, which may have just been to make an antenna for his money phone.

There were also reports of Manziel showing up to practice drunk and he had other off-field issues including a claim of domestic violence. To date, no one has given him a second shot at reviving his NFL career which lasted only two years.

15. Lawrence Phillips, Running Back

Running back Lawrence Phillips was a star at Nebraska and helped the Cornhuskers win two National Championships. Despite his insane skill, he was considered a risky pick when he finally turned pro and the St. Louis Rams used the sixth-overall pick on him.

The reason he was so toxic to some teams was mainly due to an incident in which he assaulted a female basketball player at the school. He pulled her outside by her hair and smashed her head into a mailbox. He should have been kicked out off the team, but wasn't and somehow still was drafted high.

The Rams thought they had a player they could count on though despite the red flags, and then made one of their biggest blunders ever by trading away running back Jerome Bettis — who went on to have an amazing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Phillips on the other hand had a lousy career. He played just 25 games for St. Louis and had 632 yards as a rookie and 633 the next year while rushing for 3.4 yards per carry during that span. He was released following his poor reaction to being benched — which came after he apparently would show up drunk.

He played for the Miami Dolphins after that as well as Barcelona in NFL Europe. He also had a stint with the San Francisco 49ers before finishing his career in the CFL in 2003. He was later sent to prison for intentionally hitting three people with his car — among other crimes. While in prison he was accused of killing his cellmate, and ended up taking his own life in 2016. A sad end for a guy with so much promise early in his life

14. Albert Haynesworth, Defensive Tackle

Not too many guys can spend 10 years in the NFL and have their career looked back upon as a waste of potential. Former defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth can say that, though. Despite being in the league from 2002 until 2011, Haynesworth just never seemed to really give his all. Well, at least not until it was time to try and get paid.

After being a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, Haynesworth was a good player, but wasn't great. Then when needing a new contract, he stepped up his game in 2007 and 2008. He had 9.5 career sacks heading into those two years and wound up with 14.5 during that span. He followed that up with a huge contract signing with the Washington Redskins worth $100 million over seven years.

His play never matched the pay after that as Haynesworth was then accused of taking plays off and simply not caring. He ended up spending just two seasons and playing 20 games for Washington and went down as one of the worst free agent signings ever.

To top off his poor play, Haynesworth was a jerk on the field. In 2006, he was suspended five games for stomping former Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head while his helmet was off. Gurode needed 30 stitches following the incident.

13. Art Schlichter, Quarterback

In 1982 the Baltimore Colts selected the guy they believed would be the quarterback of their future in Art Schlichter out of Ohio State. It didn't take long to realize they made a mistake.

Schlichter was suspected of gambling during his days as a Buckeye, but there was never enough evidence for the NCAA to suspend him. However, by his second season in the NFL, there was. While serving as a backup during his rookie season, Schlichter got in deep with gambling — especially as the league was on strike. He ended up helping the FBI bring down some bookies, but thanks to that involvement with gambling, he was suspended for the entire 1983 season.

By 1984 he was able to get back on the field and starter five games for the Colts — who had just moved to Indianapolis. The team lost all five games he started for them. Schlichter was pretty bad as a starter completing 44.3 percent of his passes and throwing more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (3).

In 1985 he wound up being released after it became known he was still gambling. He never played in the NFL again, and despite having some success in the Arena Football League, Schlichter was never heard from for anything positive again. Instead he spent time in several prisons for roughly 10 years, and in 2011 he was sentenced to another decade behind bars thanks to his involvement with a large forgery scam.

12. Maurice Clarett, Running Back

Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett had one of the biggest falls from grace in recent memory. After dominating the NCAA as a freshman with 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns, Clarett tried to sue the NFL for the right to enter the draft.

Although the rule of having to wait three years after graduating high school may be outdated, Clarett may not have been the best person to try and be the voice of change after being suspended by Ohio State for the 2003 season after filing a false police report — as well as having several run-ins with coaches on staff.

He lost the ruling and had to wait until the 2005 NFL Draft, and despite not playing since 2002, he was selected in the third round by the Denver Broncos. Clarett never played a down for them however, and no team gave him a shot after that.

Later in his life, Clarett began to really struggle staying on the right side of the law. After being charged with armed robbery and then another weapons charge he ended up with a sentence of more than seven years in prison. He wound up getting released early, but has mainly stayed out of the spotlight, with the exception of a couple return trips to the Ohio State campus.

11. Rae Carruth, Wide Receiver

The story of Rae Carruth is truly a sad one. He already had issues in the past with taking care of his children, as one of his ex-girlfriends had to threaten him to get him to start paying child support. Then in 1999 — during the former first-round pick's third season with the Carolina Panthers — Carruth was set to have another child with Cherica Adams.

When she was nearly full-term, Carruth was accused of paying to have her killed since she had refused to abort their baby. Witnesses claim that Carruth blocked the car Adams was in, and another man in a separate vehicle fired the shots that wound up being fatal to Adams and left the child with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy after having to fight to even survive.

He was found guilty and sentenced to prison after jurors didn't buy the claim that he was just the victim in a bad drug deal. Carruth not only saw his NFL career flame out after a decent rookie year, but took others down with him.

He's set to get out of prison some time in 2018, which still seems way too early for what he was found guilty of. What's remarkable though is the mother of the woman killed by Carruth's actions forgives him and hopes to start a relationship between the former player and his son once he gets released (per the Charlotte Observer). Saundra Adams is a stronger human being than most.

10. Vince Young, Quarterback

Nothing was more magical than the run Vince Young had in 2005 for the Texas Longhorns. They were on fire that whole season, but still were the underdogs against the exciting USC Trojans led by running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Matt Leinart. With all eyes on the Trojan stars, Young stole the show.

He rushed for 200 yards and threw for another 267. In the end, he even ran in the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-down play with less than 20 seconds to go. You couldn't write a better script if you tried.

Young continued this success into the NFL and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 for the Tennessee Titans. His second season wasn't as well received as Young threw 17 interceptions and just nine touchdowns for the Titans and then lost his job in 2008 following a knee injury. Young was never really terrible when given a chance after that, and never did have a losing record for the Titans. After five seasons, he was 30-17 as their starter, but wasn't brought back.

After spending a season as a backup to Michael Vick in Philadelphia, Young tried to catch on with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns with no luck. Currently he plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian League. The 34-year old wants to continue his NFL career, but was smart enough to realize he may need to show he can still play up north first.

9. Ki-Jana Carter, Running Back

For draft experts like ESPN's Mel Kiper who hate seeing running backs taken in Round 1, the Ki-Jana Carter pick in 1995 must have given him nightmares. Sure, Carter was a stud at Penn State. His junior season he had 1,539 yards rushing — while averaging 7.8 yards per touch — and he added 23 touchdowns. In his final game for the Nittany Lions, Carter gouged the Oregon Ducks for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

Following that remarkable year, Carter was the No. 1 overall pick for the Cincinnati Bengals. They hoped they would be able to turn to him as the catalyst for their offense for years to come, but that wouldn't be the case as he only lasted with the team until 1999.

To be fair to him — and the team — it wasn't necessarily that Carter was a bad pick. He just had terrible luck. He missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. A torn rotator cuff in 1997 cost him time, and most of 1998 was missed due to a broken wrist. A dislocated knee ended his final season with the Bengals.

Carter played three mores seasons with the Redskins and Saints, but never even tallied another 100 carries. His wasted potential was sad to see, but unlike many on this list it was no fault of his own.

8. Charles Rogers, Wide Receiver

After breaking records left and right for the Michigan State Spartans, wide receiver Charles Rogers became the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions. The move was risky, considering Rogers had issues with smoking pot while in college and failed a test at the scouting combine as well.

After recording 2,821 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons for the Spartans, there was hope that he could clean up his act and excel for the Lions. Instead he never recorded more than 22 receptions in a single season and was cut in 2006 due to a lack of work ethic. He received a few tryouts, but was never signed and never played in the NFL again.

Nowadays he works at a repair shop in Florida, according to Cody Tucker of the Lansing State Journal, who recently caught up with Rogers.

While it's good to see he has his life together now, it's a shame that such a talent never was able to make it in the NFL due to his decision-making.

Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

7. Greg Hardy, Defensive End

A 2010 sixth-round pick out of Ole Miss, defensive end Greg Hardy blossomed into one of the best pass rushers in the game by 2012. That season he recorded 11 sacks for the Carolina Panthers and then followed it up with 15 more in 2013. He was also developing the reputation as an eccentric guy — who went by the nickname "the Kraken."

Then in 2014 he made a huge mistake. Hardy was arrested and charged with domestic violence when he assaulted an ex-girlfriend and threatened to kill her while strangling her. He was found guilty of the crime, but then on appeal the witness stopped cooperating with authorities. Hardy's record was clean, but most believed it was due to him paying the woman off.

As if that wasn't enough of a second chance, Hardy then was able to get a new job as the Dallas Cowboys signed him to a lucrative one-year deal following him leaving Carolina. Another thing went Hardy's way as his 10 game suspension dropped to four and he was ready to roll in the fifth game of the season for Dallas.

He apparently never realized how lucky he was as Hardy was a turd in the punch bowl for the Boys. He fought with teammates in practice, slapped a playbook out of a coach's hands during a game and annoyed head coach Jason Garrett with his penchant for being late and saying dumb things in the locker room and on social media.

Hardy hasn't played in the NFL since his time in Dallas, and has been quite unapologetic about his actions.

6. JaMarcus Russell, Quarterback

No disrespect intended, but the Oakland Raiders had some terrible draft picks going on in the first decade of the 2000's. That would help explain why they didn't have a winning record between 2002 and 2016. Out of all the bad choices they made though, none was worse than when they selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007.

Up until his junior season, Russell had only been an average quarterback, but a good 2006 highlighted by a great performance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl prompted the Raiders to make him their selection. He hardly played as a rookie, and despite going 5-10 as a starter in his second season, he began to show some promise.

Then the following year he looked completely lost and struggled with weight issues before ultimately being benched by Oakland. Following the 2009 season, he was released by the Raiders.

In 2010, the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins both gave him a workout, but neither signed him. Russell has not played in the league since although it's not due to lack of trying. After failing to garner any interest in 2013, he then wrote a letter to all 32 teams in 2016 asking for another chance. No one bit on the request, which isn't shocking considering he wasn't good in 2009 and surely has only gotten worse without playing since then.

Sep 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Vick, Quarterback

Michael Vick was everything you ever wanted when creating the perfect Madden quarterback. The first overall pick in 2001 was like something you only saw in video games with his super-human speed and cannon for an arm. He wasn't the first ever mobile quarterback, but he sure felt like the first that would be capable of becoming a champion and potential Hall of Famer.

The Virginia Tech product wowed Atlanta Falcons fans during his six seasons with the team in which he led them to a 61-51-1 record. He was also the guy who orchestrated a huge upset win over the Green Bay Packers back when they were just unbeatable at home in January. He was also the first quarterback to ever rush for over 1,000 yards in a season during 2006, which would be his final season in Atlanta.

There was a secret side to Vick, which was revealed following that season. Vick was involved an illegal dogfighting ring and ended up in prison. He was able to resume his career in 2009 with the Philadelphia Eagles and became their full-time starter by 2010. He wound up playing seven more seasons in the NFL, never was the same player — although he was pretty spectacular in 2010.

Had Vick had his head on right early in life, he very well could have been one of the best ever. Now he will go down as a good quarterback known for his biggest mistake.

Sep 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Aldon Smith (99) stands on the field before the start of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

4. Aldon Smith, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End

There may have been no pass rusher with a higher ceiling than Aldon Smith over the past few decades. Despite never starting a game as a rookie, Smith recorded 14 sacks for the San Francisco 49ers. Then in 2012, Smith broke the franchise record for sacks in a single season, when he had 19 — including 5.5 in one game. Smith was so dominate that he reached 30 sacks faster than the great Reggie White, arguably the best pass rusher of all-time.

Then things started to get haywire. Smith was busted for a DUI during his remarkable 2012 season, but the following year was arrested after a wreck in which he was suspected of being high. He later left the team to enter rehab, and followed that up with a nine-game suspension in 2014. By the summer of 2015 the Niners were done with him. No one could blame them as beyond the DUI issues, Smith was also in trouble for three weapons charges which stemmed from a party at his house.

He was given a second chance by the Oakland Raiders, but to date has played just nine games for them and is still suspended from the league thanks to a hit-and-run in 2015. Just to prove he's not done messing up, Smith was detained again in March 2017 — although somehow he was not arrested — for being in the car with someone suspected of driving under the influence.

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) warms up before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

3. Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver

Like Aldon Smith, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was a phenomenal player early in his career. Also like Smith, he's still suspended and way too interested in smoking pot than taking his NFL career seriously.

After failing drug tests as Baylor University, Gordon was kicked off the team. He tried to enter the 2011 supplemental draft but was too late for that and so he ended up in Utah, but never played a down for them. He finally was able to get into the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, and became a second-round pick of the Browns.

After a solid rookie season, Gordon really came into his own in 2013 when he had 87 receptions and a league-leading 1,646 yards. He also had nine touchdowns, giving the Browns a true receiving threat.

Then he proved he couldn't be trusted to end the problems that resulted in the demise of his college career. He was suspended the entire 2014 season, but was bailed out by a new policy which reduced his suspension to ten games. He made the least of that second chance and got himself suspended yet again for all of 2015 and  the beginning of 2016.

He ended up missing the whole 2016 year anyway due to entering rehab, so he hasn't played since the 2014 season. The league recently denied his request to come back, and it wouldn't be surprising to never again see him on a football field.

2. Ryan Leaf, Quarterback

It's crazy to think that at one-point people actually argued about whether Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning would be the better pro quarterback. The 1998 draft was believed to feature two of the best quarterback prospects of all-time. The experts who believed this were half-right.

After the Indianapolis Colts — owners of the first pick — were stood up in their interview with Leaf, they went with Peyton Manning. He had one of the greatest careers ever, and became the face of the league thanks to his insanely-great job in every single endorsement deal he had.

Leaf on the other hand was just awful. He threw two touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a rookie while completing just 45.3 percent of his passes. In year two a shoulder injury sidelined him and then in 2000 when he returned, he wasn't much better. Leaf completed just 50 percent of his passes and had 18 touchdowns in nine starts with just 11 touchdowns.

On top of his poor play, he had a terrible attitude which wore thin and he was eventually released. Leaf had failed stints with the Tampa Bay Bucs and Dallas Cowboys following his release and finished his NFL career going 4-17 as a starter and throwing just 13 touchdowns to 33 interceptions.

His life outside of football hasn't been much better as Leaf has struggled with drugs and was arrested for burglary as well. He spent time in prison and has been widely considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history.

Apr 12, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez sits at the defense table during jury deliberations in his double murder trial of at Suffolk Superior Court . Hernandez is charged in the July 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado who he encountered in a Boston nightclub. The former NFL football player already is serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. Mandatory Credit: Pool photo by Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe

1. Aaron Hernandez, Tight End

The story of Aaron Hernandez is a sad one. He was a versatile player for the Florida Gators with immense talent. He failed several drug tests though during his time in Gainesville, which led to him dropping all the way to the fourth round. The New England Patriots were willing to give him a shot, and drafted him and stud tight end Rob Gronkowski in the same draft.

At first, Hernandez made the Pats look brilliant. He played well as a rookie, but was even better in year two when he had 910 yards receiving and seven touchdowns on 79 grabs. By 2012 he had signed a five-year extension worth $40 million total and $12.5 million guaranteed.

He played well, but injuries limited him some in 2012, which wound up being his last year in the NFL. In 2013 he was arrested for the murder of former friend Odin Lloyd, and the charges kept pouring in. Hernandez' secret life was coming out and he was linked to several murders and shootings in the past.

Hernandez had appealed the guilty verdict of homicide and then took his own life in prison. He was just 27 years old when he passed, and it was a terrible ending to an obviously troubled life. While football pales in comparison to the demons Hernandez was fighting, it is crazy to think of what the ceiling would have been for him with the Patriots as he was headed for greatness.