The 10 biggest draft busts in Detroit Lions history

6. CB Bryant Westbrook

Going back a little further than we have to this point, Westbrook was taken by the Lions with the fifth overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He started 54 games over five seasons in Detroit, with 11 interceptions (six in 2000).

The pick after Westbrook was Hall of Famer Walter Jones, and at 13th overall another Hall of Famer was drafted (Tony Gonzalez).

A cornerback taken with a top-five pick better be someone who takes the receiver he’s matched up with out of the opponent’s game plan. Westbrook was just not that.

5. WR Mike Williams

In NFL parlance, this is the “other” Mike Williams–not the current Los Angeles Chargers receiver. Then-Lions general manager Matt Millen made the USC product his third straight top-10 drafted wide receiver, 10th overall in 2005. Williams also sat out the entire 2004 season, after being part of a legal challenge to the NFL’s draft eligibility rules.

Williams was built like a tight end, and moved like one. He lasted two seasons in Detroit (with 37 catches), before being traded to the Oakland Raiders in 2007. He had something of a pop-up season with the Seahawks in 2010 (65 catches for 751 yards), and his final season came in 2011.