As Kansas City, Baltimore, Detroit, and San Francisco gear up for their conference championship games, the remaining 28 teams can now shift their focus towards free agency, which commences on March 13, and the NFL Draft, set to take place in Detroit from April 24 to 27.
Since 2018, each AFC team has regretted at least one of its draft picks, according to Yardbarker NFL writers. Here are the most disappointing selections for each team over the past five years.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | OL Cody Ford (2019): The Bills made a draft-day trade, giving up a fifth-round pick and swapping second-round picks with the Raiders, to move up two spots and select Cody Ford as their right tackle with the 38th overall pick. However, Ford did not live up to expectations, as he struggled in his rookie season by allowing seven sacks and 31 pressures. Due to his performance, Ford was shifted to an interior position, where he continued to struggle for the next two seasons, allowing 41 pressures. Eventually, the Bills decided to trade him to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | CB Noah Igbinoghene (2020): Out of the three 2020 Miami first-round picks, Igbinoghene stood out as a disappointment. He was initially drafted as a prospect with potential for growth, but in the end, it turned out to be a poor investment. With only 29 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception in 32 games, Miami decided to part ways with Igbinoghene and traded him to Dallas in exchange for CB Kelvin Joseph.
Even though Zach Wilson is not as good as Sam Darnold, the New York Jets would not have chosen Wilson as the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if Darnold had been successful. The Jets moved up in the draft to select Darnold as the third overall pick, passing on future All-Pro quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. During his three seasons with the Jets, Darnold accumulated 8,097 passing yards, 45 touchdown passes, and 39 interceptions.
The New England Patriots’ decision to overlook quarterback Lamar Jackson in the 2018 draft is widely regarded as their biggest draft regret. However, an even more glaring mistake was their selection of wide receiver N’Keal Harry in the first round, despite several standout receivers being available, including Pro Bowl talents like Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, and DK Metcalf. Harry’s tenure with the Patriots was hampered by injuries, as he only managed to catch 57 passes for 598 yards and four touchdowns over three seasons. Ultimately, the Patriots traded him to the Chicago Bears for a low-value draft pick in 2024.
Spears (2020): The Chiefs drafted Spears in the 15th spot, choosing him over players like CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson. Despite being in the league for four years, the 24-year-old has not received any Pro Bowl honors, and there are rumors that the Chiefs may let him go during the upcoming offseason, according to Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver.
DE Breeland Speaks had a disappointing performance during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, managing just 1.5 sacks in 16 games. After being released by the Chiefs in 2020, Speaks has struggled to find a spot on any other NFL team and has recently joined the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League.
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Alex Leatherwood in 2021 with high hopes, but unfortunately, it did not work out as planned. Despite then-GM Mike Mayock’s belief that it was a worthwhile gamble, Leatherwood’s stint with the team ended after just one season when he was waived in 2022.
Quentin Johnston, the wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers, has had a slow start to his career with only two receiving touchdowns in 17 games. Nonetheless, there is still potential for him to improve. However, it is worth questioning why the Chargers chose Johnston as the 21st overall pick in the first round, passing on other promising options like Zay Flowers (Ravens), Rashee Rice (Chiefs), and Puka Nacua (Rams).
AFC North teams have had some notable draft missteps in recent years. The Baltimore Ravens passed on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Nico Collins to select Rashod Bateman, who has struggled to make an impact with just 47 catches, 652 yards, and three touchdowns. The Cleveland Browns chose Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, a decision that hasn’t worked out as expected. The Cincinnati Bengals wasted a second-round pick on Drew Sample, who has produced mediocre numbers compared to the talented playmakers available in that draft. Finally, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded multiple picks to select Devin Bush, but his promising rookie season was cut short by a torn ACL, and he has since served as a backup. These draft choices have left teams with regrets and missed opportunities.
AFC South teams have had their fair share of disappointing draft picks in recent years. The Houston Texans used a second-round pick on cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr., but only got three years out of him. During his time with the team, Johnson Jr. had minimal production with just 13 passes defensed and three interceptions. He struggled in coverage, allowing an average of 13.4 yards per reception and giving up six touchdowns before being cut in 2022.
The Indianapolis Colts selected defensive end Ben Banogu in the second round of the 2019 draft, but his time with the team was forgettable. In four years, Banogu managed just 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. It was a disappointing outcome, especially considering the Colts passed on talented edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, who went on to become a two-time All-Pro.
2018 saw the Jacksonville Jaguars choose defensive tackle Taven Bryan with the 29th overall pick. While the draft class was weak for defensive tackles that year, Bryan’s performance was still underwhelming. He spent three seasons with the Jaguars, accumulating 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass defensed before being picked up by the Cleveland Browns and then the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The Tennessee Titans famously selected offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the 2020 draft, but it turned out to be a colossal mistake. Wilson’s tenure with the team was plagued by off-the-field issues and lackluster performance. Despite the Titans investing the 29th overall pick and $6.54 million in Wilson, he only played three offensive snaps. His laundry list of troubles included a trespass warning, a DUI charge, a one-game suspension, and an arrest at gunpoint. Wilson’s short-lived and tumultuous time with the Titans places him among the biggest draft busts in NFL history.
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