MKRob Sports

1. Statistics (The numbers don’t lie):

Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks

Three Seasons

Passing Yards: 3,666

Passing Touchdowns: 14

Interceptions: 36

JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders

Three Seasons

Passing Yards: 4,083

Passing Touchdowns: 18

Interceptions: 23

2. 1998 and 2007 NFL Draft

1998 NFL Draft

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Charlie Batch, Detroit Lions/Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks

The top three quarterbacks drafted in 1998, outside of Ryan Leaf, all have found some sort of success or tremendous success in their NFL careers. Manning, the most successful of them all, has played in two Super Bowls, winning one, he’s won four NFL MVP Awards, made multiple Pro Bowls and has numerous playoff apperances under his belt.

Batch has had as much success as you could have in Detroit and has two Super Bowl rings as a backup quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and

Hasselbeck is the Seahawks all-time leading passer, has made three Pro Bowls and led them to Super Bowl XL.

This kind of success for the other three quarterbacks from this draft does not make Leaf’s case any better for not being the NFL’s Biggest Draft Bust.

2007 NFL Draft

Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns/Denver Broncos
Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles
Troy Smith, Baltimore Ravens

The top three quarterbacks drafted in 2007, outside of JaMarcus Russell, have done no more than Russell has in their careers. Quinn has for the most part been a backup in his three seasons in Cleveland and may be backing up Kyle Orton in Denver. Kevin Kolb has been a backup his entire career until he gets his crack at the starting job this year and 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner, Troy Smith has been a backup since being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

3. San Diego Chargers vs Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers: Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers have both found success in San Diego after Ryan Leaf left the franchise in 2000. Drew Brees was drafted by the Chargers in 2001 and Phillip Rivers in 2004 and they have both had wonderful careers playing San Diego, the same organization that was almost torn down by Leaf.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders are in no worse shape now than they were in 2007 when they drafted Russell. The Raiders haven’t been good since losing to the Buccaneers 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII and they continue to struggle seven years later after numerous coaching changes, #1 draft picks and free agent signings. No one had long term success at quarterback in Oakland since Jim Plunkett in the early 80′s when they won Super Bowl’s XV in 1981 and XVIII in 1984.

Bottom line: These three reasons alone is why I give the biggest draft bust to Ryan Leaf over JaMarcus Russell. Ryan Leaf won less games, threw more interceptions, gave teams more trouble in the locker room and went to four different teams and still never lived up to the potential as a #2 overall pick. Russell still has a chance. He’s played for the Raiders, not the best of organizations to play for, and could do well with another team in a system more suited to his skills and an organization that could whip him into shape.