Arizona Cardinals: Not signing Joe Namath
The greatest quarterback the Cardinals ever drafted was Joe Namath. He was the 12th pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. But the Cardinals couldn't keep up in a famous bidding war with the AFL's New York Jets, who picked him first in the AFL's draft that year. The Cardinals — who many believe were secretly working for the Giants, and would have traded him to New York's NFL team upon signing him — are still trying to win their first Super Bowl. Namath signed with the Jets and led them to a win in Super Bowl III. He became one of the most famous players ever. Imagine how NFL history would be different had the Cardinals outbid the Jets.
Atlanta Falcons: Trading Brett Favre
The Falcons made one of the best draft picks in NFL history and didn't know it. In the second round of the 1991 draft, Atlanta took Southern Miss quarterback Brett Favre, who would set numerous NFL records and go to the Hall of Fame. But for the Falcons, Favre attempted four passes and didn't complete any of them. (Actually two were completed ... to the other team for interceptions.) Fed up with Favre's partying ways, the Falcons traded Favre to the Packers for a 1992 first-round draft pick, which probably seemed smart at the time.
Baltimore Ravens: Cutting Trent Dilfer
You wouldn't think that Trent Dilfer would be the biggest one who got away from the Ravens, but Ray Lewis says it cost the Ravens more Super Bowl titles. Dilfer helped the Ravens win a championship in the 2000 season and then they cut him, opting to sign Elvis Grbac. Grbac didn't work out and the Ravens didn't win another title for 12 years.
Buffalo Bills: Trading up for Sammy Watkins
The 2014 NFL Draft was awesome. It wasn't so great for the Bills. They traded up to the fourth pick, sending the ninth pick as well as first- and fourth-round selections in 2015, to the Browns. The Bills took Sammy Watkins, who was a bust. Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews and Mike Evans were picked in the next three selections. If the Bills had stayed at No. 9, they basically couldn't have done worse than Watkins.
It's amazing to think that the Bills paid up to move to No. 4 and somehow missed 12 future Pro Bowlers with the pick, including some future Hall of Famers.
Carolina Panthers: Tim Biakabutuka over Eddie George
In the 1996 NFL Draft, the second draft in Panthers history, they took a running back at No. 8. Instead of going with Eddie George, who just won a Heisman Trophy at Ohio State, they took another Big Ten back. Michigan's Tim Biakabutuka was the pick and it didn't turn out well. Biakabutuka never had more than 718 yards in a season for the Panthers. George went 14th to the Titans and had an outstanding career, gaining 1,000 yards seven times in eight seasons with the team.
Chicago Bears: Forcing George Blanda into retirement
The Bears wanted to use George Blanda, a multi-talented player and promising quarterback, as just a kicker starting in 1959, his 11th season. So Blanda retired. Then, when the AFL started in 1960, he joined Houston and restarted what would become a storied career. Blanda played until 1975, playing quarterback and kicking. He was a three-time champion in the AFL and was elected to the Hall of Fame. The Bears haven't had a first-team All-Pro quarterback since 1950.
Cincinnati Bengals: Not promoting Bill Walsh
When Paul Brown stepped down after the 1975 season, it seemed like the obvious move was promoting offensive coordinator Bill Walsh, who had already established himself as a young star in the business. But Brown went with offensive line coach Bill "Tiger" Johnson. Johnson went 18-15, was fired after an 0-5 start to his third season and never was a head coach again. Walsh built a dynasty with the 49ers that included two Super Bowl wins over a Bengals team that inexplicably passed him over.
The greatest quarterback the Cardinals ever drafted was Joe Namath. He was the 12th pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. But the Cardinals couldn't keep up in a famous bidding war with the AFL's New York Jets, who picked him first in the AFL's draft that year. The Cardinals — who many believe were secretly working for the Giants, and would have traded him to New York's NFL team upon signing him — are still trying to win their first Super Bowl. Namath signed with the Jets and led them to a win in Super Bowl III. He became one of the most famous players ever. Imagine how NFL history would be different had the Cardinals outbid the Jets.
Atlanta Falcons: Trading Brett Favre
The Falcons made one of the best draft picks in NFL history and didn't know it. In the second round of the 1991 draft, Atlanta took Southern Miss quarterback Brett Favre, who would set numerous NFL records and go to the Hall of Fame. But for the Falcons, Favre attempted four passes and didn't complete any of them. (Actually two were completed ... to the other team for interceptions.) Fed up with Favre's partying ways, the Falcons traded Favre to the Packers for a 1992 first-round draft pick, which probably seemed smart at the time.
Baltimore Ravens: Cutting Trent Dilfer
You wouldn't think that Trent Dilfer would be the biggest one who got away from the Ravens, but Ray Lewis says it cost the Ravens more Super Bowl titles. Dilfer helped the Ravens win a championship in the 2000 season and then they cut him, opting to sign Elvis Grbac. Grbac didn't work out and the Ravens didn't win another title for 12 years.
Buffalo Bills: Trading up for Sammy Watkins
The 2014 NFL Draft was awesome. It wasn't so great for the Bills. They traded up to the fourth pick, sending the ninth pick as well as first- and fourth-round selections in 2015, to the Browns. The Bills took Sammy Watkins, who was a bust. Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews and Mike Evans were picked in the next three selections. If the Bills had stayed at No. 9, they basically couldn't have done worse than Watkins.
It's amazing to think that the Bills paid up to move to No. 4 and somehow missed 12 future Pro Bowlers with the pick, including some future Hall of Famers.
Carolina Panthers: Tim Biakabutuka over Eddie George
In the 1996 NFL Draft, the second draft in Panthers history, they took a running back at No. 8. Instead of going with Eddie George, who just won a Heisman Trophy at Ohio State, they took another Big Ten back. Michigan's Tim Biakabutuka was the pick and it didn't turn out well. Biakabutuka never had more than 718 yards in a season for the Panthers. George went 14th to the Titans and had an outstanding career, gaining 1,000 yards seven times in eight seasons with the team.
Chicago Bears: Forcing George Blanda into retirement
The Bears wanted to use George Blanda, a multi-talented player and promising quarterback, as just a kicker starting in 1959, his 11th season. So Blanda retired. Then, when the AFL started in 1960, he joined Houston and restarted what would become a storied career. Blanda played until 1975, playing quarterback and kicking. He was a three-time champion in the AFL and was elected to the Hall of Fame. The Bears haven't had a first-team All-Pro quarterback since 1950.
Cincinnati Bengals: Not promoting Bill Walsh
When Paul Brown stepped down after the 1975 season, it seemed like the obvious move was promoting offensive coordinator Bill Walsh, who had already established himself as a young star in the business. But Brown went with offensive line coach Bill "Tiger" Johnson. Johnson went 18-15, was fired after an 0-5 start to his third season and never was a head coach again. Walsh built a dynasty with the 49ers that included two Super Bowl wins over a Bengals team that inexplicably passed him over.