10 Quarterbacks Who Looked Like STARS...Then Became BUSTS

NFL QBs from stars to busts.
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Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL-and when your favorite team drafts one, all of the fan base’s hopes and dreams are tied into that guy.
And if that pick becomes a bust, it is devastating.
But what makes it even more painful-is if the guy gets his career off to a good start, maybe even looks like he could become a star in the league-and then, next thing you know, it all turns to dust!
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Host: Aaron Leger
Editor: Kyle McCormick
Writer: Alex Hoegler
#NFLQBs #VinceYoung #NFLOneYearWonders

[@moopert86]

Baker led the CLEVELAND BROWNS to a playoff win a few years removed from a 1-31 stint. He deserves some credit for that alone.

[@LouisWinthorpe3]

Yup. The Browns went 3-13, 1-15, 0-16...and then Baker had them in the playoffs with double digit wins in his 3rd season. People may hate to admit it, but it's impressive.

[@TimothyStuder]

And they didn't even mention Johnny

[@joserios991]

Baker then won a game for the Rams and led Tampa to the post season post Brady

[@Pfisiar22]

@@joserios991 Yeah, Baker isn't a bust. Browns are a bust. Browns and Jets are largely tied for gross incompetence when it comes to building an offense.

[@ShinyShades]

Carson Wentz

[@Rev......]

He wasn't an immediate bust in his first season but from there on yeah

[@Bucketheads_CR]

Immediately what I thought when I clicked this video

[@ezzie218]

😞😞😞

[@peelslowly28]

​​​@vs_jorrinh that's the point of the video bruh

[@Rev......]

@@peelslowly28 that's not what he was talking about.

[@Liamminecrafter33]

Notice how multiple of these are at the hands of Jeff Fisher 💀

[@himmybuckets223]

Exactly!!!

[@NAT-turners-Revenge]

I noticed 🤔... I was like wait. . Him again

[@cjnda56ace]

Yeah bro dude was a QB killer

[@dnasty312]

In _NFL Head Coach,_ I'd draft Vince Young and develop him properly

[@andrewschwarz937]

Jeff Fisher never protected his quarterbacks.

[@33TimberWolf]

Interesting that two of the QBs had Jeff Fisher as head coach. Thank you for mentioning Rick Mirer. I still remember everyone crapping on Bledsoe in '93; but three years later and Mirer was a disaster. So many talented QBs that either fall apart or never get a decent supporting cast...

[@LouisWinthorpe3]

Sometimes the difference between having a nice career and being a bust is just landing in the right place at the right time. If the Cleveland Browns had drafted Dak Prescott with the 93rd pick in 2016, I doubt his career ends up being much different than Cody Kesslar....

[@lnnrt0161]

@@LouisWinthorpe3 If the Bears selected Mahomes in the Draft instead of Trubisky I doubt that he would have ever turned into the consistent scoring machine he is today. I think he would still be good for some big plays but definitely not like he is today. The Chiefs were the perfect destination for any rookie

[@LouisWinthorpe3]

@@lnnrt0161 Mahomes could not possibly have landed in a better situation. He went to a team that was already good, a team with a legendary head coach, a team with a very smart and experienced starting QB who was willing to work with him, and with no expectation to start and win week 1.

[@12thMandalorian]

Mirer is one of the best one season wonders out there, but that’s it 😂

[@Rockhound6165]

You can add Matt Leinart to this list. In his rookie year, even though the numbers weren't spectacular he showed tremendous promise. In the infamous Monday Night Meltdown game, he threw for 232 yards and 2 TD's before Green put the ball in his pocket and kept on rushing James up the middle. Then Whisenhunt came in and the kid fell apart. He never recovered and it turned out he was made of glass.

[@chrisredden4745]

Isn't it insane to think about these kids? In college they are super Stars and get to the NFL and crumble. Against people who were in college too. Going to the NFL really shows how good or bad they really were. Wasn't matt dating Paris Hilton or something like that in his rookie year?

[@Rockhound6165]

@@chrisredden4745 don't know about that but he was in House Bunny. Now he's doing Wendy's commercials. With Caleb Williams. LOL

[@boostedleafeon7794]

RG3 Breaks my heart every time I hear his name. He was injured and then just went down in a glorious ball of flames compared to what he had at his start. Just imagine an Uninjured RG3 VS Mahomes, Burrow, or Allen.....

[@ernestosuarez4499]

Dan Majikowski of the Packers had that one epic season.

[@Duke-20-prod]

christian ponder, he had fans excited because he had this crazy streak of 0 interceptions for awhile, then he started falling off, only lasted 4 seasons on the vikings and the only reason they went 10-6 that one year is because of adrian peterson

[@jrmorris8140]

Suprised that when Chad Pennington was mentioned on this list that his NFL comeback player of the year awards were not mentioned. Once in 2006 while playing for the Jets and another in 2008 when he played in Miami.

[@kushdragon7854]

Yeah that’s wild Chad is on this list he was actually really solid and if it were t for injuries he would have been even better

[@ljessecusterl]

If Chad had a stronger arm and didn't get hit by the injury bug, he could've been a multiple All-Pro. He had phenomenal processing speed and anticipation.

[@Jfen79]

From 2001 through 2019 only 2 QBs won the AFC east Brady of course and Pennington in '02 with the Jets and '08 with Miami

[@ethandegge3127]

Vince Young making the pro bowl with more interceptions than tds is a mystery

[@LouisWinthorpe3]

Still not as much of a mystery as Tyler Huntley going last year...

[@BengalsSoloFr]

@@LouisWinthorpe3 lmao ong

[@IntroducingMrLucci]

@@LouisWinthorpe3 affirmative probowls.

[@TheSteveKinney]

Is it?… is it really though?…

[@mikehurt3290]

What's crazy is Sam Bradford only had 1 full season without injuries and so many teams still went after him

[@JC-nd5ye]

Man I Wonder What Washington Would Of Became With A Healthy RGIII AND That All Star Cast Of Coaches💯

[@chiefkeef74]

RG3 honestly hurts to see especially with our school's state championship run in 2008.

[@mjollnirHawk]

Young was way ahead of his time. He wasn’t developed properly, he had all the tools to succed.

[@GunnShotVisuals]

jeff fisher was a horrible coach & manager .. him and marvin lewis were given too many years to prove how horrible they were

[@karlarrington5362]

Interesting that Jeff Fisher coached both Vince Young and Sam Bradford

[@justinterry2926]

Chad is an amazing story of a player who lost his big arm and learned how to play as a completely different style Went from a gunslinger to an accurate timming based qb And that alone is incredible

[@bigbearkat2010]

I remember towards the end of his career, people kept shitting on him for how weak his arm was and I remember thinking, "who cares as long as the guy catches the pass"?

[@MultiSkins4life]

Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Christian Ponder, Brock Osweiler, Mark Sanchez, and Drew Lock are honorable mentions

[@stevegallo8483]

Interesting how TPS talks about QB busts from the1983 draft (Ken O'Brien and Tony Eason) but missed the BIGGEST QB draft bust that year: KC's Todd Blackledge! Blackledge was the 7th overall pick and the second quarterback taken. By the way, they were wrong abut Eason leading the Patriots to that 1985 Super Bowl. Eason got hurt that year, and veteran QB Steve Grogan stepped into the starting lineup and got the Pats to the Super Bowl. Eason got the start in the Super Bowl, but the Bears were too much for the Pats that day.

[@Rockhound6165]

The difference is, Todd Blackledge never showed any promise. He was bad from the jump.

[@billybandyk0720]

Kenny O'Brien was NEVER A BUST; he simply didn't live up 2 his draft status. Nvrthlss; Kenny O'Brien still had a very respectable career. He was much better than his predecessor (Richard Todd).

[@bryanbrown8686]

Colin Kapernick should be on this list. He took the 49ers to the Super Bowl, then lost his starting job, then got demoted to 3rd string, then was out of the league.

[@LHRKiiDfLaSh]

Colin didn’t start that season off as the starter he took over after Alex Smith got hurt in the middle of season, I don’t think anyone saw him get drafted and thought “that kids gonna light up the NFL”

[@nordy259]

I've always wondered what could have been with RG3 if Washington had a reasonable field

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Or if the then called Redskins had a reasonable ownership

[@NAT-turners-Revenge]

Agreed

[@emersonarriety]

Or if Mike Shannahan protects Robert from himself and puts Kirk Cousins in like he had some sense. Washington would definitely have even won that game.

[@SirDoge7]

It doesn't count as a bust if they get injured.

[@IntroducingMrLucci]

He Tore his ACL in his knee. This would possibly effect his running ability after, but wouldn't effect his ability throwing. So showed he wasn't that good of a passer & dependant on his running ability. This is what rule changes in the league have helped facilitate is QB's who didn't have good ability with their arms to be compensated to transition & help them make it in the league as the NFL had a new marketing direction they wanted to shift to.

[@Warmaker01]

I was never into getting too excited for great prospect rookies in the NFL. Even if they show great play in their rookie season, the real test happens when there's more tape of the player. More time for teams to analyze, dissect what they're doing and make life harder. You do have the players like Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes start off great and then keep on rolling. They're for real. But in general, expect a drop off. Just seen too many big prospects from college, Heisman Trophy winners become busts in the NFL to put much stock on the new guys entering the league. Best of luck to them though, these are their dreams and livelihood after all. Lots of great athletes don't even make it to the pros.

[@paulweston8408]

"Kirk Cousins of all people" ??? Yes, Kirk hasn't been a big game time QB. That said, he has been good for a long while. Cousins did win 13 games last year, including the biggest comeback in NFL history! I think a case could be made that Kirk might be the most underrated quarterback of the past few decades.

[@LouisWinthorpe3]

Agreed. Cousins is legit.

[@busterchops]

I maintain a few more years like he has had and he should be worthy of HOF consideration. The reason people ceap on him, in my opinion, is that he was a low draft guy and people simply see him as a low pedigree player. He played for the Redskins, who wanted so badly to dump him, and all he ever did was be successful time and again for them.

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

I wouldn’t call Ken O’Brien a bust. He had some good seasons a bit deeper into his career. He had the misfortune of being drafted before Marino, who most teams didn’t feel that high about. O’Brien was even shocked he was drafted in the first round, feeling he had an outside chance of being taken in the 2nd round and was most likely a third round choice. Also, in head to head meetings, he was 8-7 vs Marino. He wasn’t a bust, he had the misfortune of being on one of the worst run franchises at that time known as the Jets.

[@metsandjetsfan5174]

Ken O'Brien had 2 Pro Bowls (could've been 3 or 4) and if it wasn't for the strike he would have 4 playoff appearances and as for Chad Pennington, if it wasn't for the injuries, who knows, he would've led the Jets to deeper playoff runs and to me and everybody else they're not busts (they're misunderstood bar none)

[@NAT-turners-Revenge]

@@metsandjetsfan5174 yea.... I think Pennington had the "magic" dude just couldn't stay on the field

[@dnasty312]

Shared a division too with the two Hall-of-Famers he was drafted with 😳

[@bigbearkat2010]

Yeah I always find it weird how often people like to crap on O'Brien even he made two pro bowls and managed to last a decade on a team where most Qbs careers seemingly go to die. Meanwhile Todd Blackledge, the guy picked ahead of him, Marino and Jim Kelly is mostly forgotten despite being a much bigger bust.

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

@@bigbearkat2010 well said. Blackledge was the true bust, indeed. Also, Tony Eason, who was picked just after Kelly was closer to being a bust than O’Brien. Yeah, he started in a SB and had a couple of good seasons but he pretty much fell of the face of the NFL world right after the SB.

[@himmybuckets223]

Jeff Fisher was at the helm of multiple people on this list

[@donniewhitfield2808]

Y’all should make this a series and do every position, even Kickers and Punters 😂

[@WhiteSox1994]

Scott Mitchell Detroit Lions 🦁

[@andrewbaler4028]

Mac jones needs to be on this list by the next one

[@jimmysgarage9068]

Put Zappe in!

[@andrewbaler4028]

@@jimmysgarage9068 I would in a heartbeat if I could

[@andrewbaler4028]

@@jimmysgarage9068 just hoping he gets a chance

[@samufigueroa555]

As an eagle fan without a doubt Carson Wentz my Ginger what happened to you bro😢 one of the saddest stories by far we thought we had a franchise quarterback after that super bowl win the gods said pump your brakes on that

[@Bellymeatman]

That was a monster year CW was having…beautiful passes, tight spirals and hitting receivers in stride…

[@charleydupre3397]

Tony Eason did not lead the Pats to the Super Bowl in 85...It was actually Doug Flutie who Ray Berry benched him for Eason once they clinched.

[@seanmccartney4919]

Actually it was long time Pats QB Steve Grogan that helped lead the Pats to the Super Bowl that year. Flutie didn't come in until later

[@richardmoon7713]

Flutie didn't debut in the NFL until the '86 season with the Bears, and didn't get to the Pats until the '88 season

[@Rockhound6165]

Flutie was a member of the USFL's NJ Generals in 1985.

[@FenixDown87]

Sam darnold was the first guy from that 18 draft class to start and looked good his first couple seasons

[@doctorbashir3497]

Bradford is still in the top 10 career earners in nfl history. He single-handedly broke the rookie pay scale.

[@lauracrowgey7203]

He da goat keep up the good work

[@Jfen79]

Bortles and the Jags lost a "controversial" AFC championship to the Patriots? What was controversial about it? There was one fumble recovery that looked like Myles Jack hadnt been touched but he was just not by someones hand, Dion Lewis's leg was touching him while he made the recovery which meant he was down by contact at that spot, they still had a 10 point lead after that but Brady did his thing with 2 TD dtives in the 4th and they were up 14 to 3 near the end of the 2nd until Brady marched down field and made it 14 to 10 then JAX got the ball back with almost 2 minutes and ran out the clock out of fear of giving the ball back to Brady they where playing not to lose instead of playing to win thats why they didnt win

[@johngotti4398]

You missed Mac Jones!

[@charliemirus4124]

Most of these had defensive head coaches (or had no business being a HC - Doug Marrone). RG3 was an injury thing, of course.

[@etexbassfreak]

I like how you start the pics with big 12 players says a lot how much the conference has fallen.

[@BiffTannen-d5b]

Vince Young=RB-->RGIII = RB-->Michael Vick = RB-->Randell Cunningham = RB--> Cam Newton = TE/FB/RB-->Kordell Stewart = WR/RB-->Fran Tarkenton = RB-->Steve Young (Tampa Bay) RB. The Point just because they can run does mean they will win you a SB. Steve you got lucky (Bill Walsh) and Why is he in the HOF and Jim Plunkett is NOT. Hmmmm must be his winning complexion

[@276Chyld]

As a redskins fan it breaks my heart to see my Boi RG3 on here he got dealt such a wrong hand

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Commanders*

[@276Chyld]

@@jarlwhiterun7478 it always be redskins fir me but the commanders name has started to grow on me

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

I really felt the Commanders/Redskins/Braves really missed a chance when they were known as the Washington Football Team and should have marketed themselves as the Washington Team - Football. 😉😁

[@John_TalksGiants]

As a giants fan I loved RG3 coming out of the draft. I was pissed when WAS traded up with the rams for him. He was electric. Too bad he got drafted by that dumpster fire organization because he shouldve been a perennial pro bowler at the minimum.

[@DPK210]

Rick Mire-er. Jesus Christ TPS 🤣

[@isaacparry1295]

Seriously how did they come up with that pronunciation

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

How about a list of QBs who looked like they had potential but didn’t get a chance due to circumstances. My nomination would be Marlin Briscoe, the first Black QB to be named his team’s regular starter. As a rookie in 1968, he was drafted as a CB but managed to talk the coaching staff into giving a try to make it as a QB. He ended up 4th on depth chart but injury to the Broncos 1st stringer in the preseason and the other two failing miserably with one of them being so bad that he would have had a higher rating if he had simply spiked the ball on every pass attempt. Briscoe was drafted in the 14th round (357th overall). He was officially listed as 5’11” and 178 lbs but I think that was with his cleats on and full gear. He was most likely 5’9” and 165 lbs. He actually had a decent rookie season for the time. His TD% was above league average and his interception % was 0.1 points higher and threw for more TDs than INTs (14 TDs vs 13 INTs). He led the league in average yards per completion. He only started 5 games but had two game winning drives (2nd that season) and his 14 TD passes I believe is still a Broncos team record for a rookie. He was also 2-3-0 as a starter on a 5-9-0 team. Given his small size, it is questionable if he would have had a long career as a QB but he also ran for 308 yards, averaging 7.5 yards per rushing attempt. He later became a Pro Bowl WR and was 2nd in the league in receiving yards and receptions in 1970. He was a second team All-Pro as well that year to Dick Gordon (who led the league in receptions) and Gene Washington of the 49ers (who led the league in receiving yards).

[@NAT-turners-Revenge]

Wow, that's one interesting career never heard of him

[@Bullboy_Adventures]

David Carr would easily be number one. He was no doubt a franchise qb, but he had to start day one on an expansion team that literally never bothered to give him help.

[@ericksolis7820]

Nick Foles took Wentz in the words of Michael Myers “mojo.”

[@hop8403]

I'm thinking Kerry Collins in Carolina. NFC title game in year 2, asking for release after a few slurs.

[@Rockhound6165]

Collins is a 2X pro bowler and even took the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000. That's hardly bust material.

[@ryanbarkley6497]

Rg3 never changed how quarterbacks play....Vick did. And arguably before that Randall Cunningham.

[@MrBlue3rd]

I'll never feel sorry for Sam Bradford knowing how much money he made and got paid on "potential". Pretty lucky way to be a millionaire.

[@canaangoyer6605]

Make a video on every team’s worst case scenario in 2023 please this is like the 3rd or 4th vid I commented on

[@WhoPeedMyPants]

Calling Chad Pennington a bust is moronic. But not knowing that Marshall moved to 1-A for all 3 of his starting years is EMBARRASSING for a sports channel. He finished 5th in the Heisman race in 1999. Players from below 1-A/FBS aren’t eligible for the Heisman.

[@Adam-i9s]

The magik man, charlie batch

[@peso9700]

Why do people always say rg3 injury happened in the playoffs? It actually happened against Baltimore from a haloti ngata hit.. he had no business still playing after that hit and tweaked it up again in the playoffs

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Tony Easton and Ken O'Brian even met each other in a wild card game in December 1985

[@ChrisTammaro-qu9mj]

Scott Mitchell, Elvis Gerback Rob Johnson I could go on and on

[@lakerskid2013]

How about now the inverse for a video, 10 QBs that looked like busts that became stars

[@thurmanwilliams7961]

Remember when Brock Osweiler was supposed to be good???

[@joeland87]

Baker got the short end of the stick in Cleveland.

[@jmoore1988]

Josh Rosen!!!!

[@JWoogieraps]

No Daniel Jones ? Only QB who 5th option ain’t get picked up and still signed with team following off season

[@ChrisTammaro-qu9mj]

CHAD PENNINGTON Was probably the most underrated QB of that era!!!!!!! and Jake the snake should be on here

[@Rockhound6165]

Jake Plummer is in no way, shape, or form a bust on any level. In 10 seasons he had 1 bad year. He won the Cardinals their first playoff win in 50 years and led Denver to the playoffs 3 times and even the AFC title game.

[@EddieC2000]

One season wonders...Tim Couch Browns

[@tleoipl37]

Mark sanchez fell off faster than Pennington imo

[@zakwu-tangthegoat6175]

Missed Johnny Manziel

[@tymill9603]

Johnny manziel, Brady Quinn,

[@ernestjewett]

JP LOSMAN AND EJ MANUEL

[@mattdominick1679]

10 Best NFL players from NCAA FCS/Division 1-AA Programs

[@BettaBBigChecksEnt]

Jamis Winston

[@the_geist_life932]

Mark Sanchez went to the AFC Championship his first 2 seasons and then fell off a cliff after that

[@Eabreptiles]

You forgot to mention how Washington ruined RG3

[@KevinHernandez-qz8sb]

Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young gonna be on here soon.

[@matheinazman3448]

Chad Pennington is one of the most accurate QBs in NFL history!

[@MrPhoenixsuns]

Baker has turned things around in Tampa. I wouldn’t call him a bust just yet…

[@1CEOLC]

Jeff Fisher Ruin Them Boys Careers 😂😂

[@payrysdoscs4903]

Do the reverse of this next! Busts that became stars!

[@darnelltrotter7704]

Teams that never draft college players within their state. Has that been done yet?

[@GoodDredd]

I wouldn't say Vince Young was a bust, he just got Jeff Fisher'ed

[@kingbanzai9118]

We define these guys as QB Teases

[@jordangate7742]

Why is there a consistency of 1st round draft pick quarterbacks having bad years under Jeff fisher as a coach?

[@anrofo]

Jameis Winston

[@bigfun6332]

Two Words, Jimmy Garbageapollo.... you can NOT change my mind

[@charismatic9904]

Mirer still has the distinction of being the only bust who had 2 first rounders wasted on him. Seahawks and then they managed to get the bears to give up a 1st rounder for him in 1997.

[@paulwetzel6287]

It was .500 fisher that screwed young up lol 30-17 as starter

[@randomthoughts9564]

Chad Pennington is not a bust. When healthy he was solid and you completely skipped his 2008 season where he won comeback player of the year and lead the Dolphins to the division title.

[@othersideofgohan1]

if the team didnt push him to play through injury rg3 would had a long career but he failed after injury and no team wanted him

[@johnnysullivan436]

That's two QB's on this list that Jeff Fisher ruined if we're keeping score

[@mikemartin8461]

5 new start qbs that might do well and 5 that might not

[@ChrisTammaro-qu9mj]

TPS hates Kurt Cousins but I can't remember the QB that was the starter for the Rama's with Kurt Warner backup I think the Chiefs drafted him can't think of his name

[@Rockhound6165]

Trent Green. Hurt his knee in pre-season. He was actually drafted by the Chargers and played for the Redskins before going to the Rams.

[@Dawg2005]

Man, RGIII wasn't his fault. Terrible staff made him play on a bum knee.

[@harrisonwilloughby712]

How about the inverse? QB’s who looked like busts, but became stars

[@anthonysantiago1452]

Video idea ten time the media overhype a draft prospect and the he became a big bust

[@tyronebrown2246]

Aaron Brooks

[@adammitchell4243]

He wasn't down ...

[@isaacjohnson3384]

Johnny Football never had a chance in the NFL

[@YoBoySlimDilly]

Jamarcus Russel

[@jesseletourneau1691]

Hey for what it’s worth Bakers still signing contracts in the NFL. A bust? Talk amongst yourselves…

[@bigfoot7323]

JaMarcus Russell

[@chancedisher6949]

Now do 10 NFL players that looked like busts but became super stars

[@bsbmakesmesmile84]

They did one 4 years ago

[@louiswerner3863]

You say Rick Mire name wrong

[@martinthomas2520]

Justin Fields

[@tranquilo6897]

RG3 shouldn't count. Shanahan ran him out there when he had no business on the field and he got hurt worse. That's the Redskins fault not his.

[@williamfenton8125]

TPS just hates Baker Mayfield. I honestly think he's not that bad of a QB. Especially for what he has done for the Browns. Of all teams, the Browns, i felt were always in the game with Mayfield.

[@idohearthatersdgk]

I’d like to nominate Kyler Murray. Since he doesn’t have a fantastic record and that playoff game was one of the worst ever historically. Also he’s never been worth 230M

[@edwardblomquist786]

Did he say? Rg3 lost his job to cousins off all people? Like cousins is a bum or something