Cowboys shockingly release former Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith

The Arizona Cardinals drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and signed him to a five-year, $51 million contract. During Leinart’s four seasons in Arizona, he spent the majority of time on the bench due to injuries and poor performance. Leinart had 17 starts and threw 14 touchdowns and 20 interceptions as the quarterback of the Cardinals.

The Atlanta Falcons thought they were drafting the next Deion Sanders when they selected cornerback Bruce Pickens with the third overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. Pickens started eight games in 27 games with the Falcons and recorded two interceptions. The Falcons traded Pickens to the Green Bay Packers midway through his third season, and by the end of the 1995 season, Pickens was out of the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens were looking for their next franchise quarterback in the 2003 NFL Draft when they selected Kyle Boller. In his five seasons with the Ravens, Boller played a full season just once in 2004. The rest of the seasons he partially spent on the injured reserve list. Boller finished his career in Baltimore with a 20-22 record and a 45/44 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The Buffalo Bills handed linebacker Aaron Maybin a four-year contract after drafting him with the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Maybin only lasted two seasons in Buffalo before being waived prior to the 2011 season. During his two seasons with the Bills, Maybin recorded 25 tackles and zero sacks in 27 games.

The Carolina Panthers used their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft on offensive tackle Jeff Otah. The 6-foot-6-inch, 330-pound offensive tackle was an immediate starter and performed well for the Panthers, starting 25 games in his first two seasons. However, Otah injured his knee before the 2010 season and missed the entire season. After the injury, Otah only played four more games before being cut.

After the Chicago Bears drafted receiver Kevin White with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, he suffered a shin injury during training camp that ended his rookie season before he even played a single game. White played three more seasons with the Bears, recording only 25 catches and zero touchdowns in five starts. The Bears declined White’s fifth-year option after the 2018 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted quarterback Akili Smith with the third overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Smith started 17 games over four seasons, compiling a 3-14 record and a 3/14 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Bengals released Smith prior to the 2003 season, and he never played another snap in the NFL.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel was a highly anticipated draft prospect out of Texas A&M. The Cleveland Browns drafted Manziel with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. During his two seasons with the Browns, Manziel started eight games and finished with a 2-6 record. The Browns cut Manziel after the 2015 season.

The Dallas Cowboys traded up to the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and selected cornerback Morris Claiborne. Claiborne had an underwhelming five seasons with the Cowboys, starting 43 games and recording only four interceptions.

The Denver Broncos drafted quarterback Paxton Lynch with their first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, hoping to find a successor for Peyton Manning. The so-called “Paxton Lynch experiment” only lasted two seasons without success. Lynch started four games and finished with a 1-3 record. Before the 2018 season, the Broncos cut Lynch, and he never played a snap in the NFL again.

Due to injuries and drug-related suspensions, Detroit Lions receiver and second overall pick Charles Rogers didn’t have much of an NFL career. Rogers played just 15 games in three seasons and started only nine of those games. Rogers finished his short NFL career with four touchdown catches.

The Green Bay Packers had the second overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, which was filled with future Hall of Famers such as Bary Sanders, Deion Sanders and Derrick Thomas. With the second pick, the Packers instead selected All-American offensive tackle Tony Mandarich. Green Bay didn’t have any success with Mandarich and released the 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle after three seasons.

Kevin Johnson was the second cornerback taken in the 2015 NFL Draft when the Houston Texans selected him with the 16th pick. This was two picks before future All-Pro corner Marcus Peters. Johnson only lasted four seasons in Houston, starting only 18 games and recording only one interception.

The Indianapolis Colts traded Pro Bowl tackle Chris Hinton, receiver Andre Rison and a first-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for the first pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, which they used to choose quarterback Jeff George. The Illinois quarterback didn’t end up being worth the bargain. In four seasons with the Colts, George started 49 games and only managed 15 wins.

The 2012 NFL Draft was filled with busts, especially the Jacksonville Jaguars’ choice of receiver, Justin Blackmon. The Jaguars selected Blackmon with the fifth overall pick. After a promising rookie season, Blackmon’s career took a downward spiral. Blackmon was suspended prior to the 2013 season and received a second suspension during the 2013 season, playing in only four games. The Jaguars released Blackmon following an arrest for possession of marijuana in 2014. Blackmon never played in the NFL again.

When the Kansas City Chiefs were on the clock with the seventh overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, they wanted a quarterback. Future Hall of Famers such as Jim Kelly and Dan Marino were still available, however the Chiefs instead selected Penn State quarterback Todd Blacklege, who didn’t quite have a Hall of Fame career. In five seasons with the Chiefs, Blackledge only started 24 games and had a 26/32 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The 1998 NFL Draft was headlined by two quarterbacks: Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. Whoever the Indianapolis Colts took with the first overall pick, the San Diego Chargers would select with the second overall pick. The Colts chose Manning, a future Hall of Famer, leaving Leaf to the Chargers. Due to injuries and suspensions, Leaf only played two seasons with the Chargers, winning just four of his 18 starts. During Leaf’s rookie season, he threw 15 interceptions but only two touchdowns. After the Chargers released Leaf in 2001, he only played one more season in the NFL.

Jason Smith was considered the best offensive tackle in the 2009 NFL Draft, and the St. Louis Rams selected him with the second overall pick. The Rams signed Smith to a six-year contract prior to his rookie season, but Smith only played three seasons in St. Louis. The Rams traded Smith to the New York Jets in 2012. Smith only started 26 games total during his short four-year NFL career.

The Miami Dolphins traded up for the third overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and selected defensive end Dion Jordan out of Oregon. Jordan was on the Dolphins from 2013 until 2017 but only played in 26 games. Jordan was suspended for six games during the 2014 season and was suspended the entire 2015 season due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy for a third time.

After the Minnesota Vikings traded All-Pro receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders prior to the 2005 NFL Draft, the team was in need of a receiver. With the seventh pick in the draft, the Vikings selected receiver Troy Williamson from South Carolina. Williamson didn’t end up being the replacement for Moss that the Vikings were hoping for. Williamson only played three seasons in Minnesota, catching 87 passes and three touchdowns before being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008.

When the New England Patriots drafted offensive tackle Eugene Chung with the 13th pick in the 1992 NFL Draft, he became the first Korean American to be drafted in the first round. Unfortunately, Chung’s NFL career didn’t last long. Chung played three seasons with the Patriots before being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995. Chung played one season with the Jaguars and one season with the Indianapolis Colts before retiring in 1997.

The New Orleans Saints drafted defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan with the seventh pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Sullivan only played three seasons with the Saints, finishing his career with 16 starts, the second-least among players drafted within the top 10 of the 2003 draft.

The New York Giants used the 14th overall pick in the 1992 NFL on Notre Dame tight end Derek Brown. The 6-foot-6-inch, 259-pound tight end had a forgettable career with the Giants. In three seasons with the Giants, Brown started only seven games and only caught 11 passes and zero touchdowns.

The New York Jets thought they drafted the top pass rusher in the 2008 NFL Draft when they used the sixth overall pick to select defensive end Vernon Gholston, who had recorded 22.5 sacks in two seasons at Ohio State. In the three seasons with the Jets, Gholston didn’t record a single sack in 45 games. The Jets released Gholston following the 2010 season, and he never played another snap in the NFL.

The Raiders franchise has drafted a lot of busts throughout the years, but quarterback JaMarcus Russell stands out above the rest. The Raiders picked Russell with the first overall pick in the 2007 and signed him to the highest rookie contract in NFL history. Russell only played three NFL seasons and made 25 starts for the Raiders. During his three seasons with the Raiders, Russell compiled a 7-18 record and a 18/23 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The Philadelphia Eagles took a significant gamble by drafting 26-year-old offensive lineman Danny Watkins from Canada. Watkins played two years of football at Baylor before the Eagles selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Watkins played just two seasons with the Eagles, making only 18 starts. Watkins retired from the NFL after the 2013 season and became a firefighter.

With the 13th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected receiver Troy Edwards, who only ultimately only played three seasons with the franchise. Edwards only started seven games for the Steelers, finishing his three-year stint with 98 catches for 1,212 yards and five touchdowns. Edwards went to play four more NFL seasons between three teams.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted quarterback Jim Druckenmiller with the 26th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, intending the Virginia Tech quarterback to succeed Hall of Famer Steve Young. The 49ers’ plan never materialized. After two seasons as Young’s backup and only one start, Druckenmiller was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Druckenmiller was out of the NFL after the 1998 season.

After the Seattle Seahawks drafted linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, they signed him to a six-year, $60 million contract. Curry lost his starting spot after two seasons with the Seahawks and was traded to the Raiders during the 2011 season. Curry played 13 games for the Raiders and was out of the NFL after the 2012 season.

Even though Vinny Testaverde played 21 NFL seasons, he is considered one of the biggest busts in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise. The Bucs drafted Testaverde with the first overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft and gave him the starting job for six consecutive seasons. During those six seasons, Testaverde compiled a 24-48 record and 77/112 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In 1988, Testaverde threw a career-high 35 interceptions, the second-most thrown by any quarterback in one season.

The Tennessee Titans used their 29th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Georgia offensive guard Isaiah Wilson. Wilson spent the majority of his rookie season on the COVID-19 list or suspended for violating team rules. After the rookie tweeted he is “done with football as a Titan,” the team traded him to the Miami Dolphins. During his lone season in Tennessee, the first-round pick appeared in just one game and never started.

With the third overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, Washington drafted Heath Shuler, who was the first quarterback taken in the draft that year. Washington named Shuler as starter, but he was benched after two seasons and a 4-9 record as a starter. Shuler was traded to New Orleans after the 1996 season and played one season there before retiring. During Shuler’s four NFL seasons, he threw 15 touchdowns and 33 interceptions overall.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) congratulates rookie linebacker Micah Parsons (11) after his first game on Thursday, August 5, 2021. Parsons had a fumble recovery during their preseason game with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)