Top 5 Worst Draft Picks - 2004 NFL Draft

Part 5 of my series running down the worst first round selections in each NFL draft since the year 2000. The 2004 draft was notable for two things: the number of draft records it set and the infamous Eli Manning trade. The former included a record seven wide receivers selected in the first round, a record 28 trades in the first round, and a record six players selected from the University of Miami in the first round. Another record was set by Ohio State University which had a record 14 total players selected in the draft. The latter, the Eli Manning trade, is well known because of the fact that he was traded after he was drafted, a significant rarity in the NFL. The Chargers selected the Ole Miss QB despite his comments leading up to the draft that he would not play with San Diego if they chose him. About an hour after the selection, the Chargers traded Manning to the New York Giants for the QB Philip Rivers (the #4 overall pick) and the Giants' first and fifth round picks in 2005.

An amazing 13 of the top 24 players selected have already been to the Pro Bowl, and that doesn't even include Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning. Eight of the top 12 picks have been to Hawaii, while two (Manning and CB Dunta Robinson) are considered to still be potential future Pro Bowlers. Given all that, the worst picks in this draft don't have to be complete busts to stand out among the quality players.

Honorable Mention: J.P. Losman, Quarterback, #22 Overall Pick, Buffalo Bills - After spending the #13 pick on a wideout (Lee Evans) and spending a first round pick in 2003 on a running back (Willis McGahee), the Bills believed Losman was the final piece to a great young offense. Losman would spend his rookie season on the bench watching and learning from veteran Drew Bledsoe, and started his first game in 2005. Losman struggled through the 2005 season, even being benched in favor of backup Kelly Holcomb and the two split time through much of the season. Thanks largely to a porous offensive line and a struggling running game, the Bills offense had little success in 2006 as well, although Losman himself played well. Despite this, the Bills still chose to select Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards in the third round of the 2007 draft and after Losman went down with an ankle injury in October, Edwards stepped in and performed well enough to be named the starting quarterback even when Losman returned. Rumors then surfaced that the decision was not merit-based but rather a means for the Bills to avoid Losman reaching certain milestones that would result in bonuses from his contract. When Edwards went down with an injury, Losman returned to the lineup and again performed well but was clearly upset about being benched and even requested a trade which has not yet been granted. He will be a Bill in 2008, but it is unknown whether or not he will start. Players selected later: RB Steven Jackson #24, CB Chris Gamble #28, QB Matt Schaub #90.

5. Kenechi Udeze, Defensive End, #20 Overall Pick, Minnesota Vikings - Udeze had a standout career at USC but could never seem to get it going with the Vikings. His early career was marred by a major knee injury in his second season and when he returned in 2006, he was ineffective. In 2007 it was discovered that he has a form of Leukemia and he will received a bone marrow transplant that will keep him out at least through the 2008 season. Players selected later: DT Vince Wilfork #21, RB Steven Jackson #24, SS Bob Sanders #44.

4. Reggie Williams, Wide Receiver, #9 Overall Pick, Jacksonville Jaguars - It's no surprise that at least one of the seven receivers selected in the first round would show up on here. Williams, being a top 10 pick, might have warranted a higher ranking on this list were it not for the fact that the Jaguars still believe he can turn into a quality receiver as evidenced by his 11 touchdown receptions in 2007 (on only 38 total catches, mind you). Williams looked like he was figuring things out in early 2005 until a mid-season concussion caused his numbers to drop off. Again in 2006 he was on pace for a breakout season until an ankle injury sidelined quarterback Byron Leftwich and Williams production dropped with David Garrard under center. Williams may still make it in the league, but for now he's most accurately described as a draft miss. Players selected later: LB Jonathan Vilma #12, WR Lee Evans #13, DT Tommie Harris #14.

3. Robert Gallery, Offensive Tackle, #2 Overall Pick, Oakland Raiders - This was a tough choice, because Gallery seems like he really should be higher on this list, but the fact is the two players ahead of him deserve those spots more. Gallery was seen as a can't-miss prospect coming out of Iowa, with good size and strength and remarkably quick feet, but for whatever reason he was never really able to put it all together as a tackle. Gallery does get a bit of redemption in the fact that, since he was moved to guard prior to the 2007 season, he seems to have found his niche in the league and some think he may even be capable of becoming a Pro Bowl caliber guard within the next couple years. Despite this, virtually all NFL teams would agree that not even a Pro Bowl guard is worth the #2 pick, and it's rare a guard would ever be picked in the top half of round 1. Players selected later: WR Larry Fitzgerald #3, QB Philip Rivers #4, S Sean Taylor #5.

2. Ahmad Carroll, Cornerback, #25 Overall Pick, Green Bay Packers - Carroll may have one of the strongest nicknames in all of football: "Highway 28" (28 being his number) for the fact that opposing receivers routinely speed past him into the endzone. His other nickname, also very appropriate, is "Grabby Smurf" for his tendency to commit illegal contact penalties (i.e. pass interference). In Carroll's career, he played 34 games with the Packers, starting 28, and was flagged 33 times (26 for coverage violations) for 256 penalty yards (on only 24 accepted penalties) and allowed 11 touchdown receptions. Oh, and he did have 3 interceptions, so he's got that going for him. Let's not forget the arrest in May 2007 on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of a firearm during commitment of a felony. No surprise, he's been out of football since then. Players selected later: CB Chris Gamble #28, LB Karlos Dansby #33, S Bob Sanders #44.

1. Rashaun Woods, Wide Receiver, #31 Overall Pick, San Francisco 49ers - So how does the #31 overall pick make his way onto this list? How does a career total of 7 receptions for 160 yards and 1 touchdown sound? Not so good for a first round pick. Woods career production all came in his rookie season in 2004. He spent the 2005 season on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his thumb, and was traded in April 2006 to the San Diego Chargers. He would be cut by the Chargers in August of 2006 without playing a down and would subsequently be offered a contract with the Denver Broncos but fail the team's physical and not be signed. He later worked out for the Vikings, but was not signed and his been out of football since the end of 2006. Players selected later: TE Benjamin Watson #32, LB Karlos Dansby #33, S Bob Sanders #44.