Favorite and least favorite Gruden era draft picks

[L.H.T]

I was reading a thread yesterday about how teams that draft well are consistently contenders year in and year out (NE, Pit, Indy, etc.). Looking at the past 6 drafts in the Gruden era, it's safe to say that we didn't draft very well at all.

Call it lack of 1st rounders if you want. But we had our 1st round picks each year except for 02 and 03 with Gruden here. And out of 61 draft picks only 21 are still with the team and 10 are starters out of 6 years of drafting. The most disturbing thing here is that no players drafted after the 4th round even made a positive impact for our Bucs in that span.

Im not saying we havent signed any good players whether it be UFA or FA, but our drafting has been less than stellar over the years.

So here's the point of the thread. Who is your favorite Buc drafted in the Gruden era, and who is your least favorite?

Favorite- Barret Ruud- 2nd round- 2005. Ruud is the unquestioned face of our defense now, and plays at a pro-bowl level. Hopefully we can sign this guy to an extension pretty soon.

Least favorite- Chris Colmer- 3rd round- 2005. This guy had a medical condition that said he might not ever be able to play in the NFL. They were right, as he only lasted 2 years on the Bucs squad and never played in a regular season game. He is now retired from the NFL.

So who you got Buc fans?

[h-town baller]

Favorite:
White
Talib
T. Jackson
J. Phillips
Joesph

Least:
Marquise Walker
Travis Stephens
Bruce G
clayton
Marquise Cooper.

[kaconbuc28]

Tanard jackson- dude is a beast the end!

[#1Pewter_Pirate]

The best was Barret Ruud, as for worst, just take your pick because there were too many to name.

[KG21MVP]

Marquise Walker definitely has to be on the least. He had high expectations by some, but didn't even come close.

I would wait til after this season to put Clayton on this list. But that's just me.

[h-town baller]

I forgot Walker turned out to be Thomas Jones for a 1 year rental.

[Miller4Prez64]

Best-Barrett Ruud
Worst-Dexter Jackson

[KG21MVP]

Originally Posted by h-town baller

I forgot Walker turned out to be Thomas Jones for a 1 year rental.

Please don't mention Thomas Jones' name. I still get upset anytime his name is mentioned. We should NEVER have let go of that man. He's the most underrated RB in the league and has done nothing but be productive for the Bears and Jets.

Letting him go was one of the dumbest mistakes by the Gruden regime.

[KG21MVP]

Originally Posted by Miller4Prez64

Best-Barrett Ruud
Worst-Dexter Jackson

Winner!!!!!!!!!!

Especially considering we wasted a SECOND FREAKING ROUND PICK on Jackson.

It would've been a bad pick if he was selected in the 5th round, but a 2nd round?

We're lucky we found Clifton Smith and basically made him our true 2nd round pick.

[h-town baller]

Originally Posted by KG21MVP

Please don't mention Thomas Jones' name. I still get upset anytime his name is mentioned. We should NEVER have let go of that man. He's the most underrated RB in the league and has done nothing but be productive for the Bears and Jets.

Letting him go was one of the dumbest mistakes by the Gruden regime.

I have no idea what that was about. Did Jones ask for a big price? cause we kept michael Tripsmen over TJ.

[FRG]

Originally Posted by h-town baller

I have no idea what that was about. Did Jones ask for a big price? cause we kept michael Tripsmen over TJ.

No, Jones only got 4 years for $10 million total from Chicago, which is chump change. What he most likely wanted was starter's carries and it would appear Gruden could only guarantee him to platoon with Pittman and Charlie Garner.

[Jack Sparrow]

You have to go with Tanard Jackson.....4rth round CB, turned into an above average FS.

and if im not mistaken, Gruden coached him at the senior bowl, so im pretty sure he had his eye on him.

that selection was GENIUS.


Now, who was the worst pick?

Many will say D-jax...however, im not going to judge the guy after one year.

With that being said, i'll go with Marquise Walker, and Chris Colmer.

[Ayrianth]

Best - Rudd
Worst - Simms/Gradkowski

[h-town baller]

Another genius move by Gruden to bring in an older Charlie Garner coming off knee surgery over a younger Thomas Jones.

[Bahamian:bucfan]

Best: D. Joseph, T. Jackson, B. Ruud

Worst: L. Brackens, C. Colmer, M. Walker, and The fullback who had the roid problem (can't remember his name).

Soon to be on worst list: D. Jackson (if he does not prove his worth of a 2nd rnd pick soon!)

[mpmalloy]

...He's like a freakin Spartan from 450 BC

[KingFlorida1]

Best. Davin Joseph. Worst. Dexter Jackson

[Captain Elbarc]

Best: Barrett Ruud

Worst: Christina Simms

[FRG]

Everyone is being a little too harsh on Simms and Gradkowski. Sure they stunk, but the thing is unless you are one of the ten best quarterbacks in the league, you're useless. With other positions, you can be a non-top 10 offensive tackle, linebacker, or safety, and still be a productive starter or at least solid back up or special teams player. With quarterbacks, it's al or nothing, and considering the minimal investments made for Simms and Gradkowski, it's hard to expect anything better.

[WildBuc24]

The best Gruden pick was Ruud. Hats off to Gruden and Company finding him in the 2nd round.

The worst Gruden pick is a tie IMO: Dexter Jackson and Bruce Madcowdisease.

[Ayrianth]

Originally Posted by FRG

Everyone is being a little too harsh on Simms and Gradkowski. Sure they stunk, but the thing is unless you are one of the ten best quarterbacks in the league, you're useless. With other positions, you can be a non-top 10 offensive tackle, linebacker, or safety, and still be a productive starter or at least solid back up or special teams player. With quarterbacks, it's al or nothing, and considering the minimal investments made for Simms and Gradkowski, it's hard to expect anything better.

What makes Simms and Gradkowski my least favorites is that Gruden believed them both to be gods that would take the team into the future. Simms I could see as a maybe but Gradkowski was a loser from the get-go.

[TerryTate]

I'd like to throw an honorable mention to the Zuttah pick. A lot of people thought another OL pick was a stretch but the guy was a steal and having him on the roster has proven to be invaluable.

[kaconbuc28]

Originally Posted by Ayrianth

What makes Simms and Gradkowski my least favorites is that Gruden believed them both to be gods that would take the team into the future. Simms I could see as a maybe but Gradkowski was a loser from the get-go.

^^^^^ i agree 100% could had not said it better my self gosh it hurts thinking of those two ouch!

[Faithwarrior]

Originally Posted by Ayrianth

What makes Simms and Gradkowski my least favorites is that Gruden believed them both to be gods that would take the team into the future. Simms I could see as a maybe but Gradkowski was a loser from the get-go.

I have to totally disagree with you here... Gruden didn't hide his distain for Simms. I've never seen a coach constantly screaming at a qb like Jon did to Chris.. he would continue to scream at him while numerous plays were going on, basically would miss tons of plays while he would follow Simms to the bench yellin at him. I do agree that Gruden seemed to be in love with Bruce and the kid def was not a pro qb. However neither could be considered a terrible pick by the Bucs. There wasn't much invested in either player, Simms was a 3rd round and i believe Bruce was a 6-7 rd pick(don't feel like looking it up). Most teams take qbs in those rounds to be a solid back up at best. If you are looking for a franchise qb you typically take them in the 1st or 2nd round. The reality here is that people just pick players they hate and unfortunately Simms takes the brunt of that hatred. Chris took us to the playoffs and put his life on the line for his team. I can't hate the kid for that and sure fit the bill as a solid backup qb. If we had taken Simms in the first i could see some people being disappointed in the pick, but for a 3rd round pick i don't think it was one of worst picks we ever made.

[FRG]

Now you can talk about Dexter Jackson, Chris Colmer, Marquis Cooper, and the like, but none of those guys set the team back that much. There were some good players available in those spots, but franchise difference makers were few and far between. It can be argued that no draft pick set the team back more than Carnell Williams, who at his best couldn't hold Thomas Jones' jock, and was picked over one of the best pass protecting left tackles in the game (Jammal Brown), one of the best blind side pass rushers in the game (DeMarcus Ware), and the quarterback #4 in passing touchdowns for 2008 (Aaron Rodgers). If the Bucs got one of those three instead of Carnell Williams, the team would be drastically different.

[FromdaCrowsNest]

Best - Ruud.

Worst - M. Walker.

Dex is not done yet...

and yeah - Zuttah was a steal IMO.

[FRG]

Originally Posted by FromdaCrowsNest

and yeah - Zuttah was a steal IMO.

One point I'd like to make about people saying Zuttah was a "steal" is that while he's a good player and you don't always get good players with the 83rd pick in any draft, he plays a position in which there aren't always even 1st round caliber players and numerous teams start undrafted free agents. Zuttah was only the third guard drafted in the class of 2008. While he still went somewhat late, it's not because no one knew who he was, but because guard is perhaps the most undervalued position in the NFL.

[Jack Sparrow]

Originally Posted by FRG

Now you can talk about Dexter Jackson, Chris Colmer, Marquis Cooper, and the like, but none of those guys set the team back that much. There were some good players available in those spots, but franchise difference makers were few and far between. It can be argued that no draft pick set the team back more than Carnell Williams, who at his best couldn't hold Thomas Jones' jock, and was picked over one of the best pass protecting left tackles in the game (Jammal Brown), one of the best blind side pass rushers in the game (DeMarcus Ware), and the quarterback #4 in passing touchdowns for 2008 (Aaron Rodgers). If the Bucs got one of those three instead of Carnell Williams, the team would be drastically different.

thats the beauty of the nfl Draft.

Now, let me ask you, did you think caddy was a bad selection in 05, cause he was on pace to emerge as a top 5 back. Now, as we all know, injuries ended his promising career, but thats not on gruden. Caddy was a great pick, too bad he had bad luck.

[FRG]

Originally Posted by Jack Sparrow

thats the beauty of the nfl Draft.

Now, let me ask you, did you think caddy was a bad selection in 05, cause he was on pace to emerge as a top 5 back. Now, as we all know, injuries ended his promising career, but thats not on gruden. Caddy was a great pick, too bad he had bad luck.

1. I did not think Carnell was a bad selection when he was drafted, but at the time I had just begun seriously watching the draft. In hindsight of watching 5 drafts since then, it should be pretty evident he should have never been drafted that high based on his modest physical abilities and the fact that good teams continually find good backs in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds. If Adrian Peterson was not worth the #5 pick to anyone, Carnell Williams was not worth the #5 pick.

2. As nice as his 2005 season was, he was in no way on pace to be a top 5 back. He was above average rushing the ball and terrible catching the ball.

3. Due to the fact that a.) Carnell had injury problems in college and b.) everyone and their mother knows running backs get injured more than any other position, it is on Gruden for using the #5 pick on an injury-prone running back.

[Chas]

Best: Tanard Jackson, Ruud, Joseph

Worst: Cooper, Walker