When was the last time a 1st or 2nd Rounder got cut during first contract and was successful

[darthseinfeld]

Did Brees finish his 1st contract with San Diego?

Yes. He got tagged the year after they drafted Rivers. They were gonna tag him the next year as well but then he hurt hi shoulder in the playoffs

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

So does Rolando McClain count or no? I mean you don't have to look further than this team for guys who have had success here who didn't with their previous team.

Does Laurent Robinson fit the criteria?

 

[darthseinfeld]

So does Rolando McClain count or no? I mean you don't have to look further than this team for guys who have had success here who didn't with their previous team.

Does Laurent Robinson fit the criteria?

Technicaly Laurent wouldn't because he was a 3rd rounder. But its pretty much splitting hairs and I would say he is an example of a high pick that had success after being cut

 

[31smackdown]

Also, not many 1st and 2nd rounders get cut due to their contracts.. they have to be pretty poor or likely have other issues in those cases. Trades or not resigning them are likely more common scenarios.

 

[FloridaRob]

Steve Young. Bum with Tampa and HOF with San Fran

 

[JoeKing]

Wasnt cut.

Yeah, for the 3rd or 4th time... I've already been informed. Thanks anyway.

 

[Bullet22]

With another team? Reason I ask change of scenery is overrated. If you suck with the Raiders you gonna suck with the Cowboys. I.E. McFadden .

Who cares about DMC, we have 2 future HOF'ers in Randle and Micheal's ready to run over everything in their path's....

 

[Rack]

This is not correct. Jimmy was cut and the plan was to put him on the practice squad. The eagles claimed him on waivers and at some point they cut him. He was out of the league for a little bit of time and the expansion Jags then signed him.

Ahhh that's right. You are correct, sir. My mistake. Still he wasn't a "bust" in dallas. He just had some unlucky, freakish injuries.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Even though the example in the OP is a fail, it's a fair question.

I don't really know the answer, but it doesn't seem like a lot of guys go to new teams and all of a sudden turn into studs.

this

this is the NFL. there are always exceptions. but generally teams do everything in their power to help the 1st and 2nd rounders and don't give up as easily given the investment both in terms of premium picks and cost.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Rolando McClain has been good with the Cowboys when healthy.

Jimmy Smith was a 2nd round pick by the Cowboys and they cut him. His accomplishments:
2× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII)
5× Pro Bowl selection (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
2× Second-team AP All-Pro selection (1998, 1999)
NFL Receptions leader (1999)
Ed Block Courage Award (2001)

Career NFL statistics
Receptions:
862

Receiving yards:
12,287

Touchdowns:
69

I'm certain that there have been several that were cut and had success with other teams.

Marshawn Lynch was obtained for a 4th round pick after being the 12th overall pick by the Bills.

the cowboys liked him. but when in dallas he got injured and couldn't play so cowboys just moved on......

 

[jterrell]

An early pick who is actually cut probably has major issues to overcome.
Likely injury-status, work ethic, attitude or inability to learn the scheme.
There is around one guy a class who meets the criterion, provided simply making it elsewhere counts.

Early draftees who are cut had talent so often get second looks, by the same token teams are loathe to move on from high picks.

As relates to McFadden a lot of guys play out contracts and move on to greater success elsewhere.
Change of scenery can be a very good thing as a player can finally pick his spot.
Hard to name a player in the last decade who has went to Oakland and gotten better.
For the most part it is a graveyard.

In Dallas, McFadden is playing about like all the rest of the RBs. He's been good in the open field and with receptions.
His between the tackles play has been what you expect, unimpressive and slow to develop.
None of the backs have fared well because the OL was slow to start the year and we faced run blitz after run blitz since teams knew what was coming after Dez then Romo went down.

With Weeden at QB and TWill/Street outside McFadden is about as mediocre and sad as he was in Oakland.
Same as Murray was the first few weeks with Philly or Randle has been here under the same cast.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

With another team? Reason I ask change of scenery is overrated. If you suck with the Raiders you gonna suck with the Cowboys. I.E. McFadden .

The likely best and most recent example would be Jerry Hughes, even though he was not cut. He was a bust in Indy and traded for basically nothing, but put up double digit sacks back to back seasons.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Charles Woodson.

The Raiders didn't like his attitude and questioned his heart playing through injuries and they let him go.

He went on to GB where he played a DPOY level for a good 2-3 year stretch and overall had a huge impact.

he was defensive rookie of the year and made 4 pro bowls plus 1 all pro team with the Raiders...

 

[Manwiththeplan]

He was playing hardball on the extension coming off a rotator cuff or something, right? So SD just drafted his replacement.

they already had Rivers. In essence, Brees was a bust prior to 2004, so SD drafted Rivers, then the light went off and Rivers sat all of 2004 and 2005, until Brees hurt his shoulder late in 2005. They let him walk and the rest is history.

 

[tyke1doe]

If he did, it was as a special teamer in 1992 for Dallas.
They also list him as a SB Champion for 1993 season, but he never played a single down that year due to his pre-season appendectomy and resulting infections.

Thanks. I thought they had gotten rid of him prior to the Super Bowls.

 

[jterrell]

they already had Rivers. In essence, Brees was a bust prior to 2004, so SD drafted Rivers, then the light went off and Rivers sat all of 2004 and 2005, until Brees hurt his shoulder late in 2005. They let him walk and the rest is history.

Brees simply got with the right Coach in the right system.
He is a perfect example of a guy who excelled after a fresh start.
Favre had the same experience leaving ATL by trade to go to GB.

Dallas has a handful of examples or near examples: Jimmy Smith, groin issues; Columbo, leg injuries; Laur Robinson, depth issues in SD; Ro McClain, bipolar?/attitude issues; Pacman Jones criminal issues....
Most high picks will get a second and maybe even 3rd chance so it isn't rare for them to make it once the stigma and expectation is gone.

End of the day no decent personnel office is ignoring former 1st round picks with cheesy talking points about them not faring well elsewhere because it really isn't true and it is never smart or write off talent in any wholesale fashion.
But busts often are busts for a reason. Just have to discern the reason and go from there in any evaluation.