The NFL Draft is the closest thing football has to a soap opera, as emotions run high while players eagerly await to hear what team calls their name. Each class features unique storylines that grab headlines, but many of these pre-draft developments are forgotten years down the line.
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However, some of these instances are so wild that they stand the test of time as the most insane moments in the event's history. These dramatic moments show that anything can happen during the draft, which has proven to be one of the most unpredictable events in sports.
10 When Mike Ditka Got Left At The Altar
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Mike Ditka is known for his success as head coach for the Bears, as he led Chicago's utterly dominant 1985 squad to their only Super Bowl victory in franchise history. However, his three-year stint with the Saints was much less memorable, and his run is most remembered for one of the most one-sided trades in NFL history. He fell head over heels for Texas running back Ricky Williams ahead of the 1999 draft and traded the Saints' entire draft and first- and third-round selections the following year to move up only seven spots to select him.
It quickly became clear Ditka made a gross miscalculation, as Williams struggled to adapt to the speed of the NFL and only averaged 3.5 yards-per-carry in his rookie year (which is not great for someone who cost a boatload of picks). The move would have been ill-advised even if he sprinted out of the gates, as the Saints went 3-13 in 2000 and were not a Ricky Williams away from competing for a Super Bowl. Unsurprisingly, that season marked Ditka's last with the team.
9 When The Vikings Were Asleep At The Altar
Teams anxiously await their turn to make their pick on draft night, as they prepared months in advance to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Nevertheless, anything can happen when a team is on the clock, and issues often arise when there is a breakdown in communication between two front offices trying to work out a deal with one another.
One of the most notorious instances of this occurred during the 2003 draft when the Vikings got skipped twice after the Ravens failed to notify the league of a trade that would move them into Minnesota's seventh spot. Jacksonville and Carolina swooped in and grabbed Byron Leftwich and Jordan Gross with the following two selections before the Vikings picked Oklahoma State defensive tackle Kevin Williams in the ninth spot. Nevertheless, it all worked out for Minnesota, as Williams fortified their defensive front for the next decade.
8 Manziel Mania
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Johnny Manziel was one of the most polarizing prospects in the history of the NFL Draft, as analysts were torn on whether the Texas A&M star's unique playing style would translate to the professional level. Those who believed he could become a franchise quarterback (looking at you, Mad Mel) thought he would hear his name called early in round one, while his doubters expected him to have an extended stay in the green room, with some even predicting that he would fall out of the first round altogether.
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Manziel wound up going 22nd to the Browns, but one might think he was selected 21 times before that, as the cameras focused on him with each passing selection. Cleveland may have seemed like the winner of the Manziel sweepstakes, but it turns out that every other team was for steering clear of the immature signal-caller.
7 Mel Kiper Drama
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© Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
There may be countless NFL Draft 'experts,' but there is only one Mel Kiper, and he is as opinionated as they come. His brashness tends to rub people the wrong way. Just ask former Colts general manager Bill Tobin, who questioned Kiper's credentials when the analyst voiced his displeasure with the Colts' decision to select linebacker Trev Alberts over quarterback Trent Dilfer in the 1994 NFL Draft.
Kiper refused to back down and showed even more conviction in his stance in response to the criticism. The war of words was unlike anything in the history of the draft. In hindsight, they probably would avoid the conflict, as neither player accomplished much during their career and were both considered colossal busts (although Dilfer did help the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV).
6 Laremy Tunsil's Expensive Bong Rip
Most shocking draft day moments at least make sense, like a talented player inexplicably tumbling down the draft board or a player refusing to join the team that selected them (more on those later). At the same time, some moments are so insane that they seem to be straight out of the plot of a Stephen King novel.
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Laremy Tunsil's draft day experience would fall into the latter category, as many expected him to be the first non-quarterback selected in the 2016 NFL Draft before a video of him smoking a bong out of a gas mask was posted to his Twitter account moments before the event began. The Ravens and Titans passed on Tunsil for other offensive tackles (Ronnie Staley and Jack Conklin), and Miami scooped up the talented blindside protector with the 13th selection.
5 Dan Marino's Unexpected Fall
Laremy Tunsil's situation may have been unprecedented, but he is not the only notable player who fell in the draft due to their supposed love of the devil's lettuce. Dan Marino fell victim to the same fate in 1983, although his situation was clearly more speculation-based. His final season at Pitt did not go as planned, as he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, but he was still considered one of the most talented passers in the draft.
Nevertheless, five quarterbacks got picked ahead of Marino (including Ken O'Brien, who played at Division-II Cal-Davis), and he fell all to the Dolphins (are we noticing a theme?) with the 27th pick. The signal-caller wasted no time in making everyone who passed on him regret their decision, as he looked impressive as soon as he took over the starting job and set a slew of records in only his second season.
4 John Elway Bucks The Colts
Dan Marino was not the only legendary quarterback in the 1983 NFL Draft who was subject to controversy. John Elway made waves when he refused to join the Colts, who held the first-overall selection and were determined to draft the Stanford signal-caller. The fact that he also excelled on the baseball field gave him added leverage, as he threatened to join the Yankees (who selected him in the second round two years prior) if Baltimore picked him.
Baltimore attempted to move down the board before the draft but selected Elway after being unable to strike a deal. He was only a Colt for a week before the team found a trade partner in the Broncos, who gave up offensive tackle Chris Hinton, whom they selected with the fourth pick, backup quarterback Mark Herrmann, and a first-round selection the following year.
3 Eli Manning Does His Best John Elway Impersonation
John Elway is not the only all-time great passer who voiced his disinterest in playing for a team with the top selection, as Eli Manning was in a similar situation 21 years later. The Chargers seemed destined to select the Ole Miss product, whose older brother was tearing up the league, with the first pick before he and his father (former NFL quarterback Archie Manning) made it clear that they had no intentions of playing for the moribund franchise.
Much like the Colts in 1983, the Chargers selected Manning intending to trade him, and it did not take them long to do so, as Manning was only a member of the team for 30 minutes before the Giants packaged Philip Rivers, who got selected with the fourth pick, a third-round pick, and first- and fifth-round picks the following year for his services. The move was as close to a win-win you will ever see, as both quarterbacks became their team's all-time leading passer and set a bevy of records for their respective squads.
2 Randy Moss' Draft Day Slide
It is no surprise that Randy Moss blew scouts away during his Pro Day workout ahead of the 1998 NFL Draft, as he is one of the most physically gifted players ever to step foot on the gridiron. His talent was never in doubt, but there were many questions about his character due to well-documented legal issues, which led him to fall much further than he should have.
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The Vikings mercifully ended his fall and selected the talented pass-catcher with the 21st pick. The Marshall product wasted no time in making each of the teams who passed on him regret their decision, as he led the league in receiving touchdowns and established himself as one of the league's most dynamic receivers in his rookie season.
1 Aaron Rodgers' Draft Day Freefall
When Aaron Rodgers agreed to attend the 2005 NFL Draft, he (along with many others) thought there was a good chance he would get selected first overall by the 49ers, his childhood team. However, his prospects became much bleaker when San Francisco opted to select Alex Smith instead, as the Cal signal-callers ensuing freefall got broadcasted for the world to see, and the camera was on him for every minute of the seemingly never-ending debacle.
Green Bay wisely went against conventional wisdom and ended Rodgers' suffering when they selected him with the 24th pick despite Brett Favre still being under contract. It took three years for the heir apparent to take over the starting role, and he never looked back once he did. The situation may have been difficult for Rodgers to stomach, but it contributed to him becoming the player he is, as it manufactured a chip that is still on his shoulder today.
