49ers Top 10 NFL Draft Busts: No. 4 - Mike Rumph, Cornerback

by David Fucillo on Apr 12, 2011 3:00 PM PDT in NFL Draft

We're getting into really the crappiest of the crappy as we come down the home stretch of our Top Ten Biggest 49ers NFL Draft Busts since 1990. We'll wrap them up this week with the number one bust on Friday. Then, next Monday we start our top ten biggest 49ers draft successes. That should be slightly better discussion. For now though, we enter into what I considered hallowed territory of awful draft picks. First up, cornerback/safety Mike Rumph.

The 49ers selected Mike Rumph with the 27th overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft. A look back at that 49ers draft class reveals a fairly hideous group of players. The 49ers did score Eric Heitmann in the seventh round of that draft, but otherwise this is definitely in contention for worst 49ers draft class ever.

Although there were some questions about how long Rumph would last at cornerback, most folks generally applauded the selection:

Mel Kiper

Rumph brings outstanding size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), excels in press coverage and is a solid tackler. He has been productive since early in his college career when he led the Hurricanes with four interceptions in 1999. If Rumph struggles at cornerback, the 49ers will have the option to move Rumph inside to safety, where he shouldn't miss a beat. He has the necessary versatility to make the switch. Rumph also provides depth behind starters Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster at corner.

Pat Kirwan

Every football team needs a big corner to match up with the NBA-type wide receivers in this league. No team knows better about this than the 49ers with Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes on the team. Mike rose from the second-round area to the late first round in the last month when the coaches studied him on film and worked him out. A solid pick who could some day move to safety if need be. Ronnie Lott came to the Niners as a corner and moved to safety. Bill Walsh still has influence in the draft room and like big, smart defensive backs, and he also plays them early. You never have enough good corners when you're in the same division as the Rams.

Most every NFL Draft pick has a best case and worst case scenario for how they'll pan out. Some players like Patrick Willis or Peyton Manning, among others, are generally safe picks. While you can't guarantee the Hall of Fame performances like we've seen from them to date, they are fairly known quantities for the most part. The same holds true for many later round picks where you know they're just for deep depth or are no better than practice squad bodies.

Rumph had plenty of upside but it became quite clear quite quickly that the 49ers were going to get more of the worst case scenario than the best-case scenario. He really couldn't cover (an occasionally useful skill for cornerbacks) and he didn't bring much in the way of speed. He peaked in his second season, starting 13 games and grabbing three interceptions and two sacks. However, he started a total of five games in 2004 and 2005 and was eventually traded to the Washington Redskins for fellow under-achieving draft pick Taylor Jacobs.

I've got Rumph at number four because I really think people were convinced he would be solid in either the cornerback or safety role. Players after him on our list had arguably much worse careers with the 49ers, but I think expectations were a bit higher for Rumph than these other guys. For fans ready to drink the kool-aid on draft day, they figured worst case he turned into a big hitting safety. Instead he was an injury-prone safety who retired in 2008 without much to show for his career other than a pile of cash (not a bad parting gift).

5. Kentwan Balmer, Defensive End - 2008 NFL Draft
6. Todd Kelly, Outside Linebacker - 1993 NFL Draft
7. Kwame Harris, Offensive Tackle - 2003 NFL Draft
8. Dexter Carter, Running Back - 1990 NFL Draft
9. Reggie McGrew, Defensive Tackle - 1999 NFL Draft
10. Dana Hall, Free Safety - 1992 NFL Draft

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I don't get it

just because a a cornerback can’t run and can’t cover, he’s called a draft bust. You’re pretty hard on the guy!

by mensa on Apr 12, 2011 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

His awareness and ability to react were legendary. I remember many replays of Rumph chasing down wide open receivers where it seemed like he was day dreaming moments before he realized the play was nearly over.

by mcwagner on Apr 12, 2011 3:10 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Rumph - the sound a CB makes after getting burned

when the eagles took Lito Sheppard the pick before us we shouldn’t have reached into the “second round area.”

Clinton Portis was still available. Imagine the tandom of Garrison Hearst and Clinton Portis 2003 and 2004 would have been different years.

by reedkrase on Apr 12, 2011 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

hilarious

Give tha guy a break...I remember losing most of our games because of mistakes by players that did not play the quarterback position.

I'm sure Norv Turner is a good judge of a good QB...even he said the guy can be good w/ quality people around him.

by NewAgecorner1 on Apr 12, 2011 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for the exerts

The NFL was trying to find 200lb CBs back than. Sooner or later they got to give the fantasy up. It’s much like the NFL refusing to acknowledge pass rushers who weren’t 260 lbs before the results finally blew in 2010 showing they all made a grave mistake.

by bignerd on Apr 12, 2011 3:58 PM PDT reply actions

This whole series has been a great reminder ...

As you’ve gone through this series of articles I have gone back and looked at what the Niners did in that year in all rounds of the draft. Absolutely amazing! It is absolutely astounding how incredibly incompetent the FO was after Walsh left … basically since the mid-1990’s the draft picks have been terrible, with an occasional exception … probably more luck that anything else. It’s no wonder at all that the team’s record has been what it’s been … poor prospect selection, poor outcome. God, I hope that Baalke/Harbaugh does a decent job of drafting … else there is little hope!

by 49erFanSince1950 on Apr 12, 2011 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

You hit the nail on the head with that one sir

by texasniner06 on Apr 12, 2011 5:41 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Yes they floated on the free agency credit card throughout the 90’s than went flat bankrupt starting in the ‘00s Even than it’s being to simple. After hitting near bottom in ’99 they went back to the same plan and finally hit rock bottom in 2004. Teams been trying to climb out since.

by bignerd on Apr 12, 2011 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The one thing I remember about Rumph, was how it was lauded he didnt give up a TD his last season @ the U. Then the first preseason game he got scored on right over his head. Little did I know that that event was a precursor to what was to come.

by hendeeze on Apr 12, 2011 5:56 PM PDT reply actions

Mel Kiper is funny

" Rumph also provides depth behind starters Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster at corner." Ahmed Plummer? LOL… Plummer should the #1 draft bust. if not #1 he’s def #2.

by biggie900 on Apr 13, 2011 11:34 AM PDT reply actions

really?

He was never a lockdown corner, but prior to his injuries and retirement I actually thought he was a very solid cornerback. He wasn’t a successful draft pick, but I don’t think I’d qualify him as a bust, or at the very least as a top ten bust like some of the guys on our list.

by David Fucillo on Apr 13, 2011 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

yeah

Plummer just got a neck injury. He was a really good player when he was on the field. I also loved me some Jason Webster

by foosball4949 on Apr 13, 2011 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

2002

was the first year I followed the draft and I found myself in NY during it (though not at the draft much to my annoyance with my parents). It was the first year I did a mock draft and I picked Rumph for the niners as well.

I was happy I got it right, but not happy with the end result. I thought he was gonna be a decent safety too…

by foosball4949 on Apr 13, 2011 2:12 PM PDT reply actions