The 10 biggest FSU football NFL Draft busts of all time
QB. Buffalo Bills. EJ Manuel. 9. player. 16.
No. 9 biggest FSU football NFL Draft bust of all time: EJ Manuel
2013 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 16
Buffalo Bills, 2013-2016
Oakland Raiders, 2017
Kansas City Chiefs, 2019 (Did not make roster)
It’s debatable that EJ Manuel ever truly got a fair shake following his No. 16 selection in the 2013 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. His rookie year saw injuries derail the momentum he had building through the first five weeks of the season, and his second season saw him benched after a 2-2 start.
Rex Ryan’s preference for Tyrod Taylor was Manuel’s undoing, and he never replicated his rookie-year success with the then Oakland Raiders or Kansas City Chiefs as a backup. Manuel is a major injury-related case of “what could’ve been.”
. DE. Indianapolis Colts. Bjoern Werner. 8. player. 46
No. 8 biggest FSU football NFL Draft bust of all time: Bjoern Werner
2013 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 24
Indianapolis Colts, 2013-2015
Jacksonville Jaguars, 2016 (Did not make roster)
Bjoern Werner was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, so expectations were high following his selection at No. 24 by the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. Unfortunately, Werner ended up having a quiet presence for three seasons in the Circle City before he was released.
Worse yet, Werner couldn’t make the Jacksonville Jaguars roster ahead of the 2016 season, and ended up retired following that season. The fall of Werner from top-rated defender to training camp cut was completely unforeseen by Tomahawk Nation.