The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and it’s an opportunity for organizations to build for the future and change players’ lives. However, there are times when draft selections don’t work and players get the bust label.
One franchise that hasn’t had the best drafting record in its history is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, there were some great picks, but most were bad. Out of all the draft picks made, five stand out as the biggest busts.
The Jaguars have made some picks at the QB position, but from the bunch, the worst selection made at that position is Blaine Gabbert. It’s not even close. He was horrendous as a Jaguar and in his three seasons with the team threw for 22 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, and 4,357 passing yards.
He also suffered injuries to his forearm and hamstring. His time as a Jaguar was pretty much done the moment Chad Henne took the starting job, and he was eventually traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick.
As for Gabbert, he did have a lengthy NFL career as a backup and even started games for the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs and eventually won 2 Super Bowl rings. His NFL career was a bust, but nobody can take those rings away from him. Sucks that JJ Watt was used with the next pick and went to a divisional rival.
I can’t mention NFL draft busts with the Jaguars without mentioning CJ Henderson. This one will be brief as it was covered more in a previous piece regarding the first half of the 2020 NFL Draft, five years later.
All that needs to be known is that the Jaguars used a Top 10 pick on Henderson, but only played 10 games with the team. He was on and off certain teams but is currently out of the NFL due to his off-the-field issues and poor play on the field.
Soward is an interesting case, as he had the potential to be a receiver of the future for this team. However, there is one major issue: he constantly violated the NFL drug policy. It also didn’t help that he had a poor work ethic and dealt with mental health issues.
He did play with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, but that didn’t go well either, especially after he got in a lot of heat for the popcorn incident. That was where he celebrated a touchdown midgame and also used popcorn. Want more bad news? The next pick turned into Keith Bulluck. He would be a pain in the neck for the Jaguars for many years to come,, as he was a notable player for the Tennessee Titans in the 2000s era of football.
This one was obvious because Joeckel was a top-five draft pick. In general, the 2013 NFL Draft wasn’t the strongest, but three offensive linemen stood out from the bunch: Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson, and Luke Joeckel. With Eric Fisher taken, the Jaguars had a choice to make, and they chose Joeckel. He was expected to be a franchise blindside blocker in the draft, but it did not work out.
The main reason is simple: Injuries. He had many knee/leg injuries throughout his career, and even when healthy, he was often labeled as one of the worst blockers in the NFL. He tried switching to guard, but still could not improve. He had a brief one-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks, but that didn’t go anywhere, and Joeckel was out of the league.
Such a shame that he couldn’t stay healthy, and it sucks more that Lane Johnson became one of the most important pieces to the Eagles offensive line during their Super Bowl runs.
Justin Blackmon is one of the classic examples of wasted potential in the NFL. The dude had so much talent during his days at Oklahoma State. Heck, Blackmon was fun to watch during his rookie season in Jacksonville.
However, the dude was an absolute trainwreck and had a really bad alcohol addiction. It’s hard to keep track of how many times this man has been arrested for DUI. With his substance abuse issues and being suspended in 2013, he disappeared.
He never played a football game since, and it’s a shame. He will go down as arguably one of the greatest what-if stories ever. As a Top 5 pick, Blackmon is a bust, especially as the Jaguars traded up during the draft to select him. Wherever he is, hopefully, he is in a much better place and can find closure with his upcoming induction to the OSU Ring of Honor.
So those are the Top 5 biggest draft busts in Jacksonville Jaguars history. Do you agree? Who did I leave out? What are your thoughts on the 5 busts listed above? Let me know in the comment section and give me the article a like as well. Don’t forget to check out other NFL content on Stadium Rant as well.
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