Ranking the 10 biggest NFL Draft shocks
The NFL Draft is one of the most dramatic experiences in sports for all involved. Teams are banking their future on the shoulders of one player, while players are on the verge of being called a professional and being set for life financially.
With the stakes being this high, the public interest in the NFL Draft is monumental and is only growing with every passing year. This, however, comes with certain moments of madness.
Pressure can make people do funny things, make mistakes and even lose all sense of reason. We’ve seen this throughout the years of the NFL Draft.
What are the top 10 biggest NFL Draft shocks?
10. Washington trades the farm for RG III
Robert Griffin III would have been the standout quarterback in pretty much any other NFL Draft class, yet in declaring for the NFL Draft in 2012, he ensured he would be taken behind Andrew Luck.
With the Indianapolis Colts’ "Lose for Luck" campaign having worked a treat, it was the St. Louis Rams who held the #2 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but they already had their quarterback in Sam Bradford, who they selected first overall in 2010.
As such, teams around the NFL knew that the Rams were open to trading down and allowing someone else to take Griffin and his prodigious talent.
Washington was a team that had a strong roster and felt they were only a quarterback away from really challenging, and the chance to secure Griffin opening up felt like a miracle.
However, the price was to be heavy and remains one of the most shocking trades in NFL Draft history.
Washington gave up three first-round picks over the course of 2012, 2013 and 2014, as well as a second-round pick in 2012.
While not quite the bounty that Mike Ditka once gave away… we’ll get to that later ... it was a rarity in the modern era of the NFL where draft selections are so highly valued.
9. Aaron Rodgers’ green room nightmare
There was something rather poetic about the 2005 NFL Draft. The best quarterback prospect in it, Aaron Rodgers, came from Chico, California, and the San Francisco 49ers had both the first-overall selection and a need for a new quarterback.
In no universe did the 49ers not take Rodgers, yet there was a huge shock when, on draft day, the Niners threw a curveball into the proceedings.
Alex Smith was their chosen signal caller, picked with the first overall selection, while Rodgers would be condemned to a dramatic slide down the NFL Draft board.
With the NFL Draft now a televised event and the age of the internet giving fans a lot more access to information regarding the collegiate career of a player, Rodgers dropping so much was massive.
As were the regular camera shots we got of the crestfallen quarterback sitting alone in the green room, waiting for his phone to ring.
What was even more shocking was where he eventually got taken. Pick no.24 which belonged to the Green Bay Packers, who had a certain Brett Favre already in place.
It was the worst possible end to the worst possible day for Rodgers, and we got to see it play out right on our screens, although history will show the Packers were the perfect home for him.