Top 10 Draft Busts Since 1980 - Jamal Reynolds

by Brandon on Apr 12, 2011 8:01 AM CDT

23 Sep 2000: Jamal Reynolds #58 of the Florida State Seminoles stands on the field during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at the Doak Campbell, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Cardinals 31-0.Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allsport

Green Bay Packers Bust #4: Florida State DE Jamal Reynolds. Drafted No. 10 overall in 2001.

He always received his high ranking because he barely played (only 18 games, zero starts, in 3 seasons), and the missed opportunity. Not only did they waste a Top 10 selection on a guy who had knee problems almost immediately, but they acquired his pick when they traded away backup QB Matt Hasselbeck and the draft pick that became 7-time Pro Bowl, 5-time first team All-Pro LG Steve Hutchinson.

On the other hand, I really didn't miss him at the time. GM Ron Wolf made up for his usual bad first round selection by stealing DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the 5th round of the 2000 draft. That's what I expected Wolf to do. The Packers got the speed rush they needed from the blind side, but they just got it from a late round pick. Even though they completely wasted a great opportunity when they drafted Reynolds.

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Just imagine how many more titles we could have won if Ron had more hits in the first round? Its amazing how mediocre he was in the first and how great he was in the later rounds.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Apr 12, 2011 9:32 AM CDT reply actions

Jamal "Too Small" Reynolds...

by soliman on Apr 12, 2011 9:49 AM CDT reply actions

No question about this one.

Reynolds was a major bust, like most FSU DE!

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by Strohman on Apr 12, 2011 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

without injuries..

it might have been interesting to see him play OLB in Capers 3-4

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

by White92 on Apr 12, 2011 12:13 PM CDT reply actions

How does Hutchinson fit in there?

I don’t remember.

Lemme see if I understand. We traded Hasselbeck and our 1st rounder with Seattle to move up to #10 and select Reynolds, and then Seattle used the pick they got from us to take Hutchinson? Is that right?

It’s funny, but I don’t remember Reynolds at all.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 12, 2011 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

Understandable

He was quite forgettable! And yeah we gave Hasselbeck and the 24th? pick for the 10th pick and wasted it on Reynolds…

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by Strohman on Apr 12, 2011 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Thank you

Been frozen for 30 years here, people… need the info.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 12, 2011 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

But you’ve got to admit that, although this’s all clear in retrospect, at the time it looks like a good deal on paper. To move from #24 to the top 10? That’s usually going to cost a couple mid-round picks. And you can say “we could’ve had Steve Hutchinson,” but the fact is that we were as solid at guard as any other position on the team, with Rivera and Wahle. I mean, a guy couldn’t know at the time that Steve Hutchinson was going to become “Hall of Famer, Steve Hutchinson” (which he absolutely should on his first ballot).

Plus, if, when you were trying to trade Hasselbeck, you could show other teams his complete career resume, then, yeah… he would be a valuable trading chip. But, at the time, he was just guy that we had gotten in the 7th round or whatever and had warmed the bench behind Favre for a few years. Holmgren obviously knew that he had Pro Bowl caliber talent, but nobody else saw that. So… when you get a chance to trade your back-up QB to move up 14 spots in the first round and into the top 10… That’s a tempting offer. Especially considering that you’ve got another capable back-up on the roster in Doug Peterson.

Now, of course, it didn’t work out because Reynolds’ knees turned out to be made of candy glass, but… Tough to kill Wolf for the move. Although this is an example of the “don’t outsmart yourself” rule of thumb. Usually, it’s best to stand pat, draft the BPA, and play the hand you’re dealt. …even at times when you REEEAAALLY want to make a bold move that you really, really wanna’ do.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 12, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I didn't think it was a bad trade...

Just the outcome was bad. And from what I remember they wanted the DE that went to SF? right before we took Reynolds. Andre Carter, I think… Had the right idea just didn’t get the player they really wanted and got a bust instead. At the tiem we needed, or at least thought we needed, a great pass rusher. KGB became what we missed out on w/ Reynolds/Carter… Wonder who else we could have taken at 10 instead of Reynolds. Thats whay I’d like to know… Have to check on that later.

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by Strohman on Apr 12, 2011 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Dan Morgan and Marcus Stroud

Couple of pretty good players went just after we took Reynolds… Morgan especially, since our MLB position wasn’t very strong. He had a injury that ended his career prematurely, but in GB you never know. Don’t remember out DT situation at the time…

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by Strohman on Apr 12, 2011 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Think it was Gilbert Brown and Cletidus Hunt at the DTs

that was also Santana Dotson’s last year in a GB uniform (2001).

On a side note: Pickett was taken 29th overall in that draft.

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 12, 2011 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I hated the trade at the time

There were a lot of franchises who thought Hasselbeck would be a solid pro given the clinic he would put on in the preseason over his first few years in GB. I knew that it was inevitable that he would get traded, but I thought that Hasselbeck for their first rounder alone was low value, then when i had heard that they packaged their first rounder along with Matt H, I couldnt believe it. That trade to me signalled that Wolf was starting to lose his edge.

He’s actually underrated, but that’s another can of worms…

by jarlbartar on Apr 12, 2011 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Er..

my buddy always called him Hideous Cunt..haha

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

by White92 on Apr 13, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Can't say I've ever been introduced to one... LMAO

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by Strohman on Apr 13, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually we only moved from 17 to 10... Had to look it up.

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by Strohman on Apr 12, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Only up from 17, eh?

Not sure on whether or not that changes my opinion on this being a worthwhile trade. On the one hand, Hasselbeck was not yet what he would later become under Holmgren, and you’ve also got to figure in how, that high in the draft, you’re talking about prime real estate…

…and I’m having trouble coming up with an “on the other hand.”

But, …myeh. Just goes to show that the draft is a crap-shoot.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 12, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions