NFL Draft: Top Booms and Busts

Who shined and who fizzled after the NFL Draft.

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Bust: Tim Tebow - A look back at football players who either shined or fizzled after being picked up in the NFL Draft. —Britt Middleton.  A first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos to the AFC West conference before being picked up by the New York Jets in March 2012. Long criticized for his throwing skills, Tebow saw little on-the-field action and was released by the Jets on April 29 after just one season.  (Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Boom: Deion Sanders - The Hall of Famer cornerback attended Florida State University and was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. His on-field confidence helped him earn the nickname “Neon Deion” and “Primetime” — and his stats were as flashy as his infamous touchdown dance. Sanders racked up 53 career interceptions, two Super Bowl Championships (XXIX and XXX) and also enjoyed a 10-season stint in Major League Baseball. (Photo: Allen Steele/Allsport)

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Boom: Deion Sanders - The Hall of Famer cornerback attended Florida State University and was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. His on-field confidence helped him earn the nickname “Neon Deion” and “Primetime” — and his stats were as flashy as his infamous touchdown dance. Sanders racked up 53 career interceptions, two Super Bowl Championships (XXIX and XXX) and also enjoyed a 10-season stint in Major League Baseball. (Photo: Allen Steele/Allsport)

Bust: JaMarcus Russell - Drafted no. 1 overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2007, Louisiana State University quarterback JaMarcus Russell famously held out throughout training camp for a six-year, $60 million contract. Two lackluster seasons led to the Raiders benching him in 2009, the last year he played in the NFL, and his eventual release from the team in 2010. A drug arrest that year capped off his fall from grace, although the former star says he is preparing for a comeback in the 2013 season. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 

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Bust: JaMarcus Russell - Drafted no. 1 overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2007, Louisiana State University quarterback JaMarcus Russell famously held out throughout training camp for a six-year, $60 million contract. Two lackluster seasons led to the Raiders benching him in 2009, the last year he played in the NFL, and his eventual release from the team in 2010. A drug arrest that year capped off his fall from grace, although the former star says he is preparing for a comeback in the 2013 season. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 

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Bust: Akili Smith - University of Oregon quarterback Akili Smith was the third overall pick in the 1999 draft, signing a $10.5 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. After four disappointing seasons, he was released and played briefly for the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith then appeared in the European and Canadian football leagues before retiring for good in 2007. (Photo:  Paul Spinelli/Getty Images)

Boom: Walter Payton - Legendary running back Walter Payton was drafted to the Chicago Bears in 1975, and stayed with the team for 13 seasons. The former Jackson State University football star and NFL Hall of Famer retired from the NFL in 1987, having won Super Bowl XX with the Bears and setting records as the league’s all-time rusher (16,726 yards) and most touchdowns (110). In November 1999, he passed away from a rare autoimmune liver disease.  (Photo:  Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Boom: Walter Payton - Legendary running back Walter Payton was drafted to the Chicago Bears in 1975, and stayed with the team for 13 seasons. The former Jackson State University football star and NFL Hall of Famer retired from the NFL in 1987, having won Super Bowl XX with the Bears and setting records as the league’s all-time rusher (16,726 yards) and most touchdowns (110). In November 1999, he passed away from a rare autoimmune liver disease.  (Photo:  Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Boom: LaDainian Tomlinson - LaDainian Tomlinson was picked up by the San Diego Chargers from Texas Christian University in 2001. He put in five seasons with the Chargers before joining the New York Jets as a free agent, where he currently plays. In all, the running back racked up 13,684 rushing yards (the fifth highest in NFL history), is a five-time Pro Bowl player and recipient of the 2006 NFL Most Valuable Player Award. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/ALLSPORT)

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Boom: LaDainian Tomlinson - LaDainian Tomlinson was picked up by the San Diego Chargers from Texas Christian University in 2001. He put in five seasons with the Chargers before joining the New York Jets as a free agent, where he currently plays. In all, the running back racked up 13,684 rushing yards (the fifth highest in NFL history), is a five-time Pro Bowl player and recipient of the 2006 NFL Most Valuable Player Award. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/ALLSPORT)

Bust: Curtis Enis - Hailing from Penn State University, Curtis Enis was drafted in the first round to the Chicago Bears in 1998. Over three seasons with the team, the running back rushed only 1,497 yards and made just four touchdowns. In 2001, he retired at the age of 24 due to a degenerative knee condition(Photo: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport)

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Bust: Curtis Enis - Hailing from Penn State University, Curtis Enis was drafted in the first round to the Chicago Bears in 1998. Over three seasons with the team, the running back rushed only 1,497 yards and made just four touchdowns. In 2001, he retired at the age of 24 due to a degenerative knee condition(Photo: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport)

Bust: Ron Dayne - Former University of Wisconsin running back and 1999 Heisman Trophy recipient Ron Dayne seemed poised for a fruitful NFL career. He was drafted to the New York Giants in 2000, but his lack of commitment to lose weight became a problem with coaches. He also played for the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, but hasn’t played a game in the NFL since the 2007 season. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Allsport)

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Bust: Ron Dayne - Former University of Wisconsin running back and 1999 Heisman Trophy recipient Ron Dayne seemed poised for a fruitful NFL career. He was drafted to the New York Giants in 2000, but his lack of commitment to lose weight became a problem with coaches. He also played for the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, but hasn’t played a game in the NFL since the 2007 season. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Allsport)

Boom: Emmitt Smith - The former University of Florida football player was drafted to the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 and went on to win three Super Bowl titles with the team (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). The running back currently holds the NFL rushing yards record (18,355) and was the only running back in NFL history to win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL MVP award and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award in the same season (1993). (Photo: George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

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Boom: Emmitt Smith - The former University of Florida football player was drafted to the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 and went on to win three Super Bowl titles with the team (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). The running back currently holds the NFL rushing yards record (18,355) and was the only running back in NFL history to win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL MVP award and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award in the same season (1993). (Photo: George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Bust: Dewayne Robertson - Dewayne Robertson was drafted to the New York Jets as the fourth pick in 2003. The Jets had high hopes for the former University of Kentucky player, who played defensive tackle. Despite starting every game since his rookie seasons with the team, the Jets released him in 2008. The Denver Broncos briefly picked Robertson up in 2008, but dropped him just after one season. He is currently a free agent. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Bust: Dewayne Robertson - Dewayne Robertson was drafted to the New York Jets as the fourth pick in 2003. The Jets had high hopes for the former University of Kentucky player, who played defensive tackle. Despite starting every game since his rookie seasons with the team, the Jets released him in 2008. The Denver Broncos briefly picked Robertson up in 2008, but dropped him just after one season. He is currently a free agent. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Bust: Mark Sanchez - Mark Sanchez led the University of Southern California Trojans to an impressive Rose Bowl victory in 2008 before being drafted in the first round to the New York Jets in 2009. Since entering the NFL, the quarterback has been criticized for his uneven performances and less-than-impressive numbers (in the 2012 season, he completed just 54.3 percent of his passes and fumbled the ball 14 times). (Photo:  Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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Bust: Mark Sanchez - Mark Sanchez led the University of Southern California Trojans to an impressive Rose Bowl victory in 2008 before being drafted in the first round to the New York Jets in 2009. Since entering the NFL, the quarterback has been criticized for his uneven performances and less-than-impressive numbers (in the 2012 season, he completed just 54.3 percent of his passes and fumbled the ball 14 times). (Photo:  Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Boom: Hakeem Nicks - Hakeem Nicks was drafted from the University of North Carolina to the New York Giants in 2009. The wide receiver just won his first Super Bowl with the team in 2012. Aside from playing a crucial role in the post season leading up to that Super Bowl game, he has completed 202 catches and made 24 touchdowns for the Giants over three seasons in the NFL. (Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Boom: Hakeem Nicks - Hakeem Nicks was drafted from the University of North Carolina to the New York Giants in 2009. The wide receiver just won his first Super Bowl with the team in 2012. Aside from playing a crucial role in the post season leading up to that Super Bowl game, he has completed 202 catches and made 24 touchdowns for the Giants over three seasons in the NFL. (Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Bust: Jamal Reynolds - Former Florida State University football player Jamal Reynolds was drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 2001. The defensive end missed the first 10 games of his rookie season due to injuries and finished the season with four tackles and two sacks. Three years later, Reynolds’s numbers remained dismal, and the Packers released him in 2004; he hasn’t played in the NFL since. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Allsport)

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Bust: Jamal Reynolds - Former Florida State University football player Jamal Reynolds was drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 2001. The defensive end missed the first 10 games of his rookie season due to injuries and finished the season with four tackles and two sacks. Three years later, Reynolds’s numbers remained dismal, and the Packers released him in 2004; he hasn’t played in the NFL since. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Allsport)