49ers Top 10 NFL Draft Busts: No. 1 - Jim Druckenmiller, Quarterback

by David Fucillo on Apr 15, 2011 2:00 PM PDT in NFL Draft

The last two weeks have been a fairly rough walk down memory lane as we've looked at some pretty awful 49ers of the past twenty years. I think the list of busts (posted with links after the jump) is a broad mix of different types of busts. We've got guys who came in with high expectations and didn't meet them. We've got guys that came in with low expectations and still managed to come in under those expectations.

And then there's Jim Druckenmiller. In 1997 the 49ers made the fateful decision to ignore Bill Walsh's recommendation of Jake Plummer and instead used their 26th overall pick to select QB Jim Druckenmiller out of Virginia Tech. I was a fan of Jake the Snake dating back to Arizona State but I was quick to sell myself on the big bad Druckenmiller. He had a huge arm and played in a pro style offense with the Hokies. What wasn't there to love about the guy? Turns out plenty.

In two season with the 49ers, Druckenmiller made one start and appeared in four other games (one involved just kneel-downs). His most memorable moment as a 49er came in his one start, which as I recall was in place of an injured Steve Young (concussion). In the second quarter, Druckenmiller completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Stokes to give the 49ers a 7-6 lead. In the fourth quarter Druckenmiller completed a two point conversion pass to Terry Kirby to give the 49ers their final 15-12 victory. I believe it was after the second quarter touchdown (but might have been after the two-point conversion) that Druckenmiller was met on the sideline by Kevin Greene. Druckenmiller was wearing his helmet and Greene was not, but that did not stop Greene from giving Druckenmiller a headbutt in celebration.

Druckenmiller's time with the 49ers ended in 1999 as he was traded away. In his brief stint with the 49ers he was 21 of 52 for 239 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions. He could never pick up reading defenses or being even remotely accurate. While it is true that a good chunk of picks from the second half of the first round flop, this was a fairly epic flop in my estimation. As I recall (can'f find the link), Steve Young mentioned something about knowing fairly quickly that Druckenmiller was going to bust out.

Druckenmiller may not have had quite the expectations of some of the bigger busts in NFL history, but his overall performance was pretty miserable. You can make arguments for several of the players on this list being in the top spot. However, I think Jim Druckenmiller's truly atrocious stint with the 49ers sufficiently justifies this top spot.

49ers Top 10 NFL Draft Busts
1. Jim Druckenmiller, Quarterback - 1997 NFL Draft
2. J.J. Stokes, Wide Receiver - 1995 NFL Draft
3. Rashaun Woods, Wide Receiver - 2004 NFL Draft
4. Mike Rumph, Cornerback - 2002 NFL Draft
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 wish I could forget this list

by texasniner06 on Apr 15, 2011 2:11 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Meh

I look at that list and see all the busts in the 90’s—and we still won!

I am the adopted son of Willie...Willie McCovey.

by velvadp on Apr 15, 2011 2:44 PM PDT reply actions

Then I think about all the losses in the last decade.

I am the adopted son of Willie...Willie McCovey.

by velvadp on Apr 15, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

But he could pull a car across the practice field

a QB that Singletary could love.

by Mood_Indigo on Apr 15, 2011 2:59 PM PDT reply actions

Not just a car, a station wagon

by I'm your PTBNL on Apr 15, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

How about best and worst overall drafts in the last 10 years?

Best: 2007: Willis, Staley, McDonald, Goldson, TBrown: Quality & quantity
Worst: 2002: Only semi-successful hit: Heitman, (round 7)

Hopefully, we’ll see enough improvement from our last year’s rookies this coming season to push it up into contention for best overall draft a few years down the road. (The 2011 season is really going to get here, isn’t it? Please?)

by OffensiveInterference on Apr 15, 2011 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

2003 was pretty bad

think anthony adams was the best player to come out of that and we sent him to chicago in 07

next best was arnaz battle. bad year.

http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftteam.htm?tm=SFO&lg=NFL

by reedkrase on Apr 15, 2011 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

2003 Draft class: Brandon Lloyd >> Arnaz Battle

Lloyd was only with the team for three years, but was actually pretty successful for us:

2003: Games started: 1; Receptions: 14; Yards: 212; TDs: 2
2004: Games started: 13; Receptions: 43; Yards: 565; TDs: 6
2005: Games started: 15; Receptions: 48; Yards: 733; TDs: 5

Battle: More years with the team and attempted/bobbled kick returns; just not very good:

2003: Games started: 0; Receptions: 0; Yards: 0; TDs: 0
2004: Games started: 0; Receptions: 8; Yards: 143; TDs: 0
2005: Games started: 8; Receptions: 32; Yards: 363; TDs: 3
2006: Games started: 15; Receptions: 59; Yards: 686; TDs: 3
2007: Games started: 15; Receptions: 50; Yards: 600; TDs: 5
2008: Games started: 0; Receptions: 24; Yards: 318; TDs: 0
2009: Games started: 0; Receptions: 5; Yards: 40; TDs: 0

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=4500&type=team

by OffensiveInterference on Apr 15, 2011 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

both weren't that great

Lloyd 03-05 < Battle 05-07 in starts, receptions and yards

point being 2003 was a pretty bad draft class

by reedkrase on Apr 15, 2011 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

However Lloyd '10 > Battle ∞

When evaluating draft busts you have to consider the player’s entire career not just their stint with the team that drafted them. Lloyd is showing he’s got some ability and the Niners should shoulder some of the responsibility for not being able to get him to realize it under his time with them.

by I'm your PTBNL on Apr 15, 2011 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

A true bust by every definition

guy was out of the league in 3 years.

What hurt most is that we used one third of our 1997 draft picks to get him (we only had three). Epic failure all around.

by reedkrase on Apr 15, 2011 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

I KNO HE HAS ALOT OF SUPPORTERS ON DIS SITE

BUT ALEX SMITH OVER AARON RODGERS IS BY FAR THEE WORST BUST IN 9ER HISTORY HE BRING OUT MORE BOO BIRDS DEN SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO

OLD ENOUGH TO KNO YOUNG ENOUGH TO NOT CARE

by DIEHARD9ER on Apr 15, 2011 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

A bust that has a 1 year offer on the table to return to those same boo birds

Harbaugh must be out of his mind ;)

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Apr 15, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

No Guarantee that Rodgers would had done better than Smith here.

But, not living up to #1 pick status makes a player the biggest bust. Smith has provided value. Druckenmiller provided no value whatsoever. They were both billed as the future QB for the team. Alex Smith at the very least can be a solid backup while Druckenmiller wasn’t even good enough to be 3rd stringer.

by downsos on Apr 15, 2011 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

by reedkrase on Apr 15, 2011 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Spoken like someone who probably wasn't old enough to remember Druck.

by whistlingmountain on Apr 15, 2011 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Reminds me of Ryan Mallett.

Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing -- the result. -Lombardi

by Drew Kerr on Apr 15, 2011 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

Stokes

I always hoped that Stokes would be the receiver he should be. I even bought his jersey at the time. Part of me found it very hard to see this young, talented receiver named Owens take over the spotlight as I hoped Stokes would. At the time, the trend was to have as big, tall and strong receiver you could find. Stokes seemed to fit the bill, but was lacking tremendously on speed. Too bad, as it seemed like he was a good guy. I don’t rank him as the biggest bust as he made pretty good contributions. He definitely didn’t pan out like any fan would’ve hoped for.

by I love Patrick Willis on Apr 15, 2011 9:03 PM PDT reply actions

At least...

this first round pick (it was Policy’s, no doubt) got a hook fast.

Bite my shiny metal sig

by drummer on Apr 16, 2011 1:49 AM PDT reply actions

I'm actually surprised it's not Smith!

pick in the draft (though on a really bad team with bad management and bad coaching), set high expectations (though considered a #1 pick by default). Considering the list of #1 pick quarterbacks who have been more successful than Alex Smith is surprisingly extensive (Manning, Aikman, Elway, Vick, Bledsoe, Palmer, Testaverde, Jeff freaking George…), I could honestly say a case could very easily be made that Alex Smith should be at the top of the list.

Though Drukenmiller definitely has a place on this list!

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 16, 2011 12:54 PM PDT reply actions