Top NFL Draft Busts at Running Back

Running backs typically have a shorter shelf life in the NFL than most positions. With that said, when a team drafts a quarterback early in the first round, he better produce. Throughout the history of the NFL, teams have gambled on a running back, only to watch their franchise player fall victim to an injury, off-field issues, or some other issue that keeps them from producing on the field. Below is a list of NFL draft busts at the running back position.

Lawrence Phillips, St. Louis Rams

Phillips exhibited an abundance of skills during his collegiate years in Nebraska. He was quick and was a physical force when carrying the ball. Therefore, the St. Louis Rams selected Phillips sixth overall in the 1996 NFL draft, hoping that his history of misconduct would not follow him. They even traded the popular Jerome Bettis to move up in the draft. Not only was Phillips a menace to the franchise, but he was inefficient on the field. The Rams released the trouble running back in 1997 after he missed practice and a team meeting due to the fact he was upset about his playing time. He lasted two games with the Miami Dolphins before they cut him. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, and played in the CFL, NFL Europe, and Arena Football League.

Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals selected Carter as the first pick in the 1995 NFL draft. He excelled while playing for Penn State, as he was a primary catalyst in the 1994 undefeated season. The Bengals traded for the top pick in order to draft Carter. Unfortunately, Carter tore a ligament in his knee during the preseason of his rookie year. He never emerged as a productive running back following the injury. He spent four seasons with the Bengals, only starting in 14 games. He bounced around from the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints before his career ended. He also spent time on the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Unfortunately, players become busts after an injury based on the fact the statistics do not equal the value of the draft pick. To put his career in perspective, Carter rushed for 1,144 for his entire career. He was supposed to exceed that number in each season.

Dick Leftridge, Pittsburgh Steelers

Some NFL fans may not recognize the name Dick Leftridge, but he was a third overall pick for the Steelers in the 1966 NFL draft. He was a standout running back at West Virginia, but he reportedly gained excess weight while he was in the NFL. Leftridge's NFL career consisted of a mere four games, definitely not the workload you expect from a third overall pick. It is assumed that Leftridge lacked the discipline and desire to remain in the physical shape required for an NFL running back. Leftridge's son reached out to BlackAthlete.net as a way to tell his father's story by remembering his accomplishments. While the story was enlightening, he still qualifies as an NFL draft bust.

Blair Thomas, New York Jets

The Jets selected Thomas second overall in the 1990 NFL draft. He was decent in his first two seasons, but his numbers did not equal a second overall draft pick. Following his second season, he entered a downhill slope in his career, and never recovered. After brief and ineffective stints with the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers, his once promising career ending with just over 2,000 yards rushing. Thomas was a running back coach at Temple, and helped other young running backs following his exit from the NFL.

Curtis Enis, Chicago Bears

Enis edged out William Green, Alonzo Highsmith, and Sammie Smith for the final spot on the unenviable list. Many consider Enis a bust in college, as he violated NCAA regulations for accepting gifts, therefore, he missed the final few months of his collegiate career with Penn State. The Bears proceeded to draft Enis fifth overall in the 1998 NFL draft, as they recognized the potential. The potential never transformed into on-field greatness, as Enis' brief career ended after three seasons. He retired at the age of 24 because of knee problems, thus, the Bears basically wasted a fifth overall pick.

Honorable Mentions include Alonzo Highsmith (Oilers); Joe Profit (Falcons); Ron Dayne (Giants), Chris Perry (Bengals), Vaughn Dunbar (Saints), Sammie Smith (Dolphins), Larry Stegent (Cardinals), D.J. Dozier (Vikings), Bo Matthews (Chargers), Rocky Thompson (Giants), William Green (Browns), Anthony Thomas (Bears), Rashaan Salaam (Bears); Michael Haddix (Packers)

Resource: Pro-Football Reference