49ers Top 10 NFL Draft Busts: No. 8 - Dexter Carter, Running Back

by David Fucillo on Apr 6, 2011 2:00 PM PDT in 49ers Year-by-Year

The first two days of our Top 10 NFL Draft Busts featured defensive players in the form of No. 10 free safety Dana Hall and No. 9 defensive tackle Reggie McGrew. We move to the offensive side of the ball and our oldest draft pick, 1990 first round pick Dexter Carter. The reason I dated this list back to 1990 was because I really wanted to include Carter.

The former Florida State running back was drafted 25th overall in the 1990 draft to be an all-purpose type of back that could offset Roger Craig. Although Craig was coming off a strong season in 1989, he struggled with injury issues and saw his final season with the 49ers capped off by his brutal fumble in the NFC championship game. Carter got plenty of action in a variety of roles including kick and punt returns, as well as time as a running back. His time as a running back slowed down after those first two seasons thanks in no small part to a ridiculous 13 fumbles.

Although Carter did manage decent yards per carry numbers, (4.0 as a rookie, 4.5 his second season), it was not remotely enough to overcome his fumble problems. Furthermore, as a change of pace back you'd expect a little bit more. He simply lacked a certain something to be a successful running back in the NFL. He did return two punts and two kicks for touchdowns during his 5+ seasons with the 49ers.

If you check out the 49ers NFL Draft history, it's interesting to note that Dexter Carter was the last running back the 49ers drafted in the first round. And in fact, of the five running backs the 49ers have drafted in the first round, Ken Willard (1965) and Earl Cooper (1980) rank in the top 30 rushing yards. Since the start of the Bill Walsh era, the three best "home-grown" 49ers running backs were drafted in the second (Roger Craig, Ricky Watters) or third (Frank Gore rounds.

Two of the bigger busts in 49ers draft history have been Carter and Terrence Flagler (1987). Any thoughts on why the team has done better with running backs outside the first round?

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I love Dexter Carter

Didn’t dude have a 75-yard return or run for a TD? I’m 30 now, which means I was probably 10 or 11 years old then, but that play sticks out in my head like John Taylor’s Super Bowl TD.

by NashvilleNinersFan on Apr 6, 2011 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

Bad draft pick or bad roster move?

I’m not so mad the 49ers drafted Carter. The terrible decision was letting Craig go leaving Carter as the only option at RB

by bignerd on Apr 6, 2011 3:11 PM PDT reply actions

1991 techmo superbowl - Carter was a great return man

If Carter could have learned to hold onto the ball, his entire career would have been different. One of the saddest busts, because he seemed to have the drive and talent, he really was a decent back, but just couldn’t fix that one problem and it killed him.

by reedkrase on Apr 6, 2011 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

Only one RB may be chosen 1st round

because the exceptional come along rarely and the so-called run of the mill often turn out pretty good. Same for receivers. QB different – look at last six years.

by oldfoggy on Apr 6, 2011 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

true dat

by Jaxson876 on Apr 6, 2011 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Amp Lee should make the list

Solely because with a name like Amp Lee he should have been a whole lot more awesomer.

by I'm your PTBNL on Apr 6, 2011 4:14 PM PDT reply actions

Which round was Amp Lee drafted?

by mensa on Apr 6, 2011 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

2nd

current running backs coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL

by Jaxson876 on Apr 6, 2011 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

"Any thoughts on why the team has done better with running backs outside the first round?"

It’s been more of a leaugue trend than simply a 49ers trend. For good or bad the Running back position as far as the draft has been devalued in the league overall.

by ChesapeakeBay9er on Apr 6, 2011 4:29 PM PDT reply actions

The highest ranked RB's usually come from the most well known schools

with the best Olines. Lower picks are generally more under the radar and usually don’t have the inflated stats to place them in higher rounds, but may have equal or better skills than the household name RB’s. Having a good Oline in the pro’s is kind of an equalizer where lower round picks will look better because of the better blocking and higher picks look worse because the line can’t dominate like it did at the big school program they came from. AP and Chris Johnson are exception to the rule because of their incredible talent!

by mensa on Apr 6, 2011 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Last Year

The NFL leading rusher and rookie rusher were undrafted. Fun fact.

by twolfe2 on Apr 6, 2011 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

We should have paid a bit more attention to his paperwork.

His initials were DFC (Dexter “Fumble! Fumble! Fumble!” Carter)

by ChesapeakeBay9er on Apr 6, 2011 4:38 PM PDT reply actions

fumbles?

no fumble from a rb hurt more than 91 against the giants in the nfc title game, i was like 10 and i cried for a week. craig is a HOFer for sure, but it’s not like he had the best hands either. pretty sure he coughed one up against the bengals too.

carter’s hands were worse, sure, but more of a bust than mcgrew or hall? bump carter down to 10 imo.

by whanson on Apr 6, 2011 5:40 PM PDT reply actions

Carter was over drafted which is not really his fault.

He would have been worth a 3rd rounder or so back in the day. The fumbles and stuff really hindered him though like you point out.

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 6, 2011 5:54 PM PDT reply actions

Loved to see him return kicks.

He was exciting, except for the fumbles of course.

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by wellnesscoach on Apr 6, 2011 6:00 PM PDT reply actions

I don’t like the term bust. Is it any players fault where they are drafted? I would call out the FO. Carter just wasn’t worth the pick used on him. He wasn’t deserving of the bust label, imo.

RLOTT#42

by rlott#42 on Apr 6, 2011 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions