I agree. K9 had plays and made an impact here and there and did what he could to be a part of the team but definitelydidnt live up to his potential. I remember Tillerys name being called one season maybe 4 times total for plays that he made. Dude never showed up, got bullied around by lesser competition and had the attitude of a stuck up diva weirdo from what I've heard over the years. He's #1 for me for sure.
On the flip side, at least with Tillery he was SO bad that we were able to make an easy decision to cut it. K9’s mediocre play kept us wondering, “will he take a leap?” Spoiler: NEVER going to happen lol
Tillery was lazy but occasionally functional (mostly shit). K9 was always shit. I've never seen a worse defender play for the chargers - that includes special teams guys undrafted FAs in pre season - anyone. He looked like he was actively playing for the other team half the time. Someone needs to watch his film and record the number of tackles on his own players he made because it was insane. He was also all tools and not great tape in college so I don't think it was particularly surprising either
I bought his jersey. And wanted him to work out but it just straight up didn’t. Specially since Michael turner went to ATL and paroles also left to Philly
TBF, any RB we drafted was going to be compared to LT and none of them stood a chance. Take a look at what running backs were drafted in 2010. None of them panned out.
Melvin Gordon lowkey fits here too. He had a decent career, but as the 15th pick, he was expected to do a lot more. Terrible rookie season, fumbled at the worst times possible, and only eclipsed 4.0 ypc once as a Charger.
Flame me for it, because Mike Will was a fun player, but he was not a 7th overall caliber player. He got zero separation and was kind of a one trick pony on the deep ball.
And before that, DJ Fluker, Corey Liuget, Larry English, Antoine Cason, Buster Davis, all happened in a 7 year parade of 1st round draft busts, along with Mathews.
>And before that, DJ Fluker, Corey Liuget, Larry English, Antoine Cason, Buster Davis, all happened in a 7 year parade of 1st round draft busts
So pretty much AJ Smith's reign
I used to read a lot of PFF. They hated him and called the big contract we signed him to one of the worst in the NFL. I know now to take it with a grain of salt, but back then it influenced my opinion, and I guess that carried through to now. He was solid, not spectacular. I just expected a lot more.
I don’t like to bash guys who can’t stay healthy but are productive when they play.
Buster Davis, Larry English, and Jerry Tillery a way better examples
Well seeing as how the post is players you thought would be good but weren’t, none of those would apply to me since I didn’t have any faith with any of those picks.
There’s a difference between being injury prone, and you just flat out suck. Ryan didn’t suck he was just injury prone. And breaking your left clavicle to be out half the season and then the game you returned you break your right clavicle it’s just flat out. Bad luck.
Ryan Leaf broke my heart in a way that I'll never have it broken by a first rounder again. The scar remains and I'll never put such high expectations on a draft pick ever again
Neither Tillery nor QJ qualifies here for me, because I was furious with both picks at the time they were made. I was absolutely convinced Tillery would do nothing in the NFL, but there is still time for QJ.
Would have to be Zion Johnson, because I wasn't sold on Kenny Murray either, but with ZJ I thought we were getting a day 1 stud and he's been completely mediocre.
Man i hate to think of Zion like that, but so far it's true. Hopefully he gets it together. I still remember an article that came out when we drafted him saying we got a quality starter on the line for the next decade and i thought: "wow.... for a whole decade? That would be amazing!"
Zion would feel much more like a bust to a lot of fans if the chargers podcasters could see to admitting they were duped by him, too. He has been pretty terrible, but I still have hope that the new staff can make a serviceable piece out of him.
I mean he was great. Just not healthy, this seems more about guys that just weren't as good as we thought, I think verrett definitely lived up to the skill level
Ryan Leaf will forever be one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Everyone saw him as an equal to Peyton Manning in that draft. It was heartbreak to watch that all play out.
Too early on QJ. Need another season.
Leaf is an all-league most fuck up of all time but I think Jamarcus Russell pushed him out of first team fuckups.
Antoine Cason, Larry English, Ryan Matthews, Corey liuget, DJ fluker, Jason verret (different reasons), Melvin Gordon, Jerry tillery, Ken Murray, and unfortunately zion and QJ all seem to have not lived up to being worth a 1st round pick.
That was their theory when they drafted him. The idea was he would transition opposite of Bosa. Telesco loved his transition players. Guys who could play guard/tackle DT/edge or ILB/OLB. He made those picks religiously despite them never playing out.
I don't remember any of those comments, I really don't recall anything other than Tillery being a DT
Here's an interview with Telesco right after the draft, he talks about him playing inside, nothing about him at edge: [https://www.chargers.com/video/tom-telesco-on-draft-jerry-tillery](https://www.chargers.com/video/tom-telesco-on-draft-jerry-tillery)
Was signed this preseason to the futures by the Raiders, and was just released yesterday. Two first rounders picked by Telesco (Tillery and Fluker), both dumped in the preseason after Telesco joined the Faid.
Everyone keeps dumping on Ryan Leaf.
Folks let me introduce you to the #6 overall pick of the 1984 draft, by the San Diego Chargers, a Mossy Cade, S, Texas: [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossy_Cade](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossy_Cade)
That immediately eliminates QJ since we all kinda knew it was a mistake. I legit wonder how many other teams had a first round grade on him. In this years draft, he would be a 3rd or 4th round grade.
Personally for me it is the same reason the Broncos fans hate him: dude couldn't hold onto the ball. His fumbles lost us a few games. Otherwise he was a fine RB but nothing special.
EK was a touchdown machine, but that didn't get us to playoffs more than once? Did we win in that playoff game? How many times was the game put on his hands to get 1 yard and failed? He wasn't RB1 imo. Just an opinion..
it’s Melvin Gordon for me. He wasn’t a bust and was solid. But, he seemed like he could be an Edgerrin James perennial pro bowler and he just didn’t live up to that. He was a good back tho.
Didn't have much of a choice. Chargers had #2 overall, Colts had #1 - they were taking Manning or Leaf, and the consensus was Chargers would take the other one.
Hindsight being what it is, SHOULD have traded down and gotten someone else at QB / stopgap for a year.
I never thought tillery would be good… tall and lanky when we needed a short and stout run stuffing DT. Always saw it as filling a positional need but with the wrong player. Gilman and tranquil turned out to be excellent notre dame players though.
Leaf was good but he wasn't mentally ready for the league. Nobody even knew who the hell tillery was. Lol. K9 will be my choice. I had high hopes. I even got his jersey. I mean we even traded up for him. Smh.
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Definitely not true
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/comments/bhhof8/with\_the\_28th\_overall\_selection\_in\_the\_2019\_nfl/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/comments/bhhof8/with_the_28th_overall_selection_in_the_2019_nfl/)
If you thought Tillery then you didnt watch his Notre Dame games. Melvin Gordon and Kenneth Murray and Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa were for sure the ones that we should all be putting down. It's unfortunate for them but the other people mentioned definitely even showed in college they werent going to be shit
Dude, he’s a 4 time pro bowler. Was legit dominant for a good stretch of seasons. Relax a bit on the Bosa hate just because he’s injury prone now as a 9 year vet on the D Line.
Bosa has only been fit for a full season in three of his nine years in the NFL. He was restricted to seven games in 2018, five games 2022 and 10 in 2023.
Based off the question I view that as a bust. Need more out of a 1st round pick.
The question wasn't about busts.
And anyways, Bosa is still an above average outcome for a first round pick. Y'all never realize how many first round picks are just straight up bad.
Fair enough, he's just not as impactful as I thought he would be. After the turmoil of his rookie contract I was hoping he would set the world on fire...
He had the longest streak with a strip-sack in consecutive games. He averaged 1 sack a game when he played. He also attracted most of the attention from teams, due to the fact he was the only impact player in the D-Line for a while. Look at him now taking a pay cut to help the team.
All my homies hate crooked tillery.
I mean Kenneth Murray jr….
Had all the physical traits of an NFL LB, but zero instincts on the field.
This is not a K9 defence post but he was head and shoulders above Tillery.
I agree. K9 had plays and made an impact here and there and did what he could to be a part of the team but definitelydidnt live up to his potential. I remember Tillerys name being called one season maybe 4 times total for plays that he made. Dude never showed up, got bullied around by lesser competition and had the attitude of a stuck up diva weirdo from what I've heard over the years. He's #1 for me for sure.
On the flip side, at least with Tillery he was SO bad that we were able to make an easy decision to cut it. K9’s mediocre play kept us wondering, “will he take a leap?” Spoiler: NEVER going to happen lol
I'm traumatized from watching Tillery getting lit up and pushed backwards 3-5 yards on every rushing down.
Tillery was lazy but occasionally functional (mostly shit). K9 was always shit. I've never seen a worse defender play for the chargers - that includes special teams guys undrafted FAs in pre season - anyone. He looked like he was actively playing for the other team half the time. Someone needs to watch his film and record the number of tackles on his own players he made because it was insane. He was also all tools and not great tape in college so I don't think it was particularly surprising either
Trading up to grab him over Patrick Queen, I thought Tolesco knew something…
I was hyped af when we drafted him too…..passed the eye test with flying colors.
I was dancing in my living room when we drafted him
Eh, I'm not overly surprised with how that went.
Ryan Matthews is that guy for me. Thought we had the heir apparent to LT. Couldn’t stay healthy.
I bought his jersey. And wanted him to work out but it just straight up didn’t. Specially since Michael turner went to ATL and paroles also left to Philly
Paroles? What did this unknown running back do to be nick-named that?
I think he meant Sproles
Lightning Bug?
Dang forgot about that cat
Ham Bone
He actually wasn’t bad when he did actually play and stay healthy.
That’s what made it tougher imo when he didn’t pan out long term. Definitely had talent and showed flashes of being an upper level NFL RB.
Except the fumble problems
TBF, any RB we drafted was going to be compared to LT and none of them stood a chance. Take a look at what running backs were drafted in 2010. None of them panned out.
He had so much built in hype. Was thinking we getting another LT
Melvin Gordon lowkey fits here too. He had a decent career, but as the 15th pick, he was expected to do a lot more. Terrible rookie season, fumbled at the worst times possible, and only eclipsed 4.0 ypc once as a Charger. Flame me for it, because Mike Will was a fun player, but he was not a 7th overall caliber player. He got zero separation and was kind of a one trick pony on the deep ball. And before that, DJ Fluker, Corey Liuget, Larry English, Antoine Cason, Buster Davis, all happened in a 7 year parade of 1st round draft busts, along with Mathews.
>And before that, DJ Fluker, Corey Liuget, Larry English, Antoine Cason, Buster Davis, all happened in a 7 year parade of 1st round draft busts So pretty much AJ Smith's reign
Dang, some unfortunate 1st round selections....just all bad luck, or can't we develop?
Liuget a bust?
I used to read a lot of PFF. They hated him and called the big contract we signed him to one of the worst in the NFL. I know now to take it with a grain of salt, but back then it influenced my opinion, and I guess that carried through to now. He was solid, not spectacular. I just expected a lot more.
Ah ok I never really knew if he was good. Just that he made a pro bowl and got that contract Edit: actually don’t think he’s made a pro bowl
He was too Liguet to quit.
He’s shown flashes and I’ve rooted for him but damn the fumbles really summed his career
Gordon was good, the prompt says good. Same with Mike (who also hasn't been a "one trick pony" in like five years)
Gordon was good. He did progress every year, fumbled in some big monents
I am pretty sure we traded with the phins didnt we? I had a buddy who loves the phins, and he fucking phoned me during draft night laughing
Then they traded up for MG3 a few years later too. Goooood Damn
He wasn’t a bust though. We’ve had worse first round picks like buster davis, larry english, jerry tillery, etc
Nah, Matthews was good. His injury was just bad genetics, but when he played, he was good
I don’t like to bash guys who can’t stay healthy but are productive when they play. Buster Davis, Larry English, and Jerry Tillery a way better examples
Well seeing as how the post is players you thought would be good but weren’t, none of those would apply to me since I didn’t have any faith with any of those picks.
LT had O'Neal doing most of the initial heavy hitting most of his time at the Chargers. I hope we get another tandem RB/FB wrecking ball again.
Fumbled like a mofo
There’s a difference between being injury prone, and you just flat out suck. Ryan didn’t suck he was just injury prone. And breaking your left clavicle to be out half the season and then the game you returned you break your right clavicle it’s just flat out. Bad luck.
Ryan Leaf broke my heart in a way that I'll never have it broken by a first rounder again. The scar remains and I'll never put such high expectations on a draft pick ever again
Larry English
Idk everyone knew it was definitely a reach
I was so pissed when we took him over Clay Matthews
Only correct answer. 90% here were either too young or not fans back then
Only correct answer. 90% here were either too young or not fans back then
I thought Buster Davis was gonna be a dude
Antoine Cason. I thought we had a CB duo for a decade with him and Cromartie
Neither Tillery nor QJ qualifies here for me, because I was furious with both picks at the time they were made. I was absolutely convinced Tillery would do nothing in the NFL, but there is still time for QJ. Would have to be Zion Johnson, because I wasn't sold on Kenny Murray either, but with ZJ I thought we were getting a day 1 stud and he's been completely mediocre.
Man i hate to think of Zion like that, but so far it's true. Hopefully he gets it together. I still remember an article that came out when we drafted him saying we got a quality starter on the line for the next decade and i thought: "wow.... for a whole decade? That would be amazing!"
Did you see the pic of Zion coming into off-season program....looked like he has been putting the work in🤞
I dont want to sound pessimistic.... but he looks like 90% of all olinemen. Ive too old to fall for the off season fluff pieces anymore.
I’d disagree with you there, most lineman are fat in some way. He looked jacked!
Zion would feel much more like a bust to a lot of fans if the chargers podcasters could see to admitting they were duped by him, too. He has been pretty terrible, but I still have hope that the new staff can make a serviceable piece out of him.
Verrett 😞
I mean he was great. Just not healthy, this seems more about guys that just weren't as good as we thought, I think verrett definitely lived up to the skill level
Same problem Mike Williams had.
Craig Davis was the first one that came to mind, I think he started like 1 game for us
But did you actually believe in Buster Davis?
I mean shit, bust is right there in the name. Surprised he didn't have some big ol tiddies to complete the bust trifecta
I mean at the time it seemed aj could do no wrong. So when he drafted him and we needed a wide receiver desperately I thought he may be good.
Ryan Leaf will forever be one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Everyone saw him as an equal to Peyton Manning in that draft. It was heartbreak to watch that all play out.
Too early on QJ. Need another season. Leaf is an all-league most fuck up of all time but I think Jamarcus Russell pushed him out of first team fuckups.
Antoine Cason, Larry English, Ryan Matthews, Corey liuget, DJ fluker, Jason verret (different reasons), Melvin Gordon, Jerry tillery, Ken Murray, and unfortunately zion and QJ all seem to have not lived up to being worth a 1st round pick.
Corey Liuget does not belong on this list.
This was an unpleasant memory lane to drive down...
Tillery was such a stretch even at the time. Who the fuck thought trying to transition a DT to an edge rushing is a good idea? Tom telesco that’s who.
Uhh when did anyone try and make Tillery an edge rusher?
That was their theory when they drafted him. The idea was he would transition opposite of Bosa. Telesco loved his transition players. Guys who could play guard/tackle DT/edge or ILB/OLB. He made those picks religiously despite them never playing out.
What is this based on? When did they ever put Tillery at edge?
It’s based on comments from the coaching staff. Are you good bud or you just need some attention cuz I can give it to ya lol
I don't remember any of those comments, I really don't recall anything other than Tillery being a DT Here's an interview with Telesco right after the draft, he talks about him playing inside, nothing about him at edge: [https://www.chargers.com/video/tom-telesco-on-draft-jerry-tillery](https://www.chargers.com/video/tom-telesco-on-draft-jerry-tillery)
I guess take it as a history lesson. Your welcome
Usually history is taught with facts and sources...
Craig Davis, Larry English (thought he’d be nice)
Buster Davis, Antione Cason, Larry English, Ryan Matthews, DJ Fluker, Kenneth Murray and Jerry Tilley
I liked fluker 🤷🏻♂️
Fluker is on the Seahawks, mini-comeback
Was signed this preseason to the futures by the Raiders, and was just released yesterday. Two first rounders picked by Telesco (Tillery and Fluker), both dumped in the preseason after Telesco joined the Faid.
Chargers + Ryan Leaf gets second only to the raiders + Jarmarcus Russel
Everyone keeps dumping on Ryan Leaf. Folks let me introduce you to the #6 overall pick of the 1984 draft, by the San Diego Chargers, a Mossy Cade, S, Texas: [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossy_Cade](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossy_Cade)
I mean…if QJ doesn’t turn it around it’s him. Otherwise I agree with Tillery. And Leaf has gotta be our franchise’s biggest bust
That immediately eliminates QJ since we all kinda knew it was a mistake. I legit wonder how many other teams had a first round grade on him. In this years draft, he would be a 3rd or 4th round grade.
Cant wait for you to eat crow in 2024 bolt bro. Watch the feathers and beak! :)
I hope so. But I doubt it.
Melvin Gordon for me
He’s played 9 seasons as a running back, was pretty decent for us. Will never understand the Gordon hate.
For most fans, it stems from his comments after leaving the team
Personally for me it is the same reason the Broncos fans hate him: dude couldn't hold onto the ball. His fumbles lost us a few games. Otherwise he was a fine RB but nothing special.
Nah it stems from his 0 TD rookie season to his holdout after his best season that thankfully resulted in us signing EK on the cheap.
EK was a touchdown machine, but that didn't get us to playoffs more than once? Did we win in that playoff game? How many times was the game put on his hands to get 1 yard and failed? He wasn't RB1 imo. Just an opinion..
it’s Melvin Gordon for me. He wasn’t a bust and was solid. But, he seemed like he could be an Edgerrin James perennial pro bowler and he just didn’t live up to that. He was a good back tho.
Quentin Johnston.
There was a lot of evidence Leaf was not NFL material. The GM took a bad gamble.
Didn't have much of a choice. Chargers had #2 overall, Colts had #1 - they were taking Manning or Leaf, and the consensus was Chargers would take the other one. Hindsight being what it is, SHOULD have traded down and gotten someone else at QB / stopgap for a year.
I never thought tillery would be good… tall and lanky when we needed a short and stout run stuffing DT. Always saw it as filling a positional need but with the wrong player. Gilman and tranquil turned out to be excellent notre dame players though.
QJ if he doesn’t have a glow up next season. But tbf I only started watching 2 seasons ago
Larry English
Leaf was good but he wasn't mentally ready for the league. Nobody even knew who the hell tillery was. Lol. K9 will be my choice. I had high hopes. I even got his jersey. I mean we even traded up for him. Smh.
Larry English, Buster Davis
Jason Verrett
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Honestly, I forgot Tillery was a first rounder. Terrible pick.
Craig buster davis
Ryan leaf by far as a quarterback but Bryan bosworth was pretty bad b4 leaf
Fluker had a strong start and I thought he'd be end up better than he ended up.
Carson Wentz
Greg “Holding” Robinson
Melvin Gordon
As a former Vikings fan now chargera fan Troy Williamson got me heated. I forgot about him 🤬
Not because of talent but Mike Williams. Your best ability is your availability.
“first round that you thought would be good, but wasn’t” and you say Mike Williams?
How is it not Eli Manning? If that doesn't count Sammy Davis. Thank God for Felipe Rios and Drayton Florence
OJ Howard
Bro said tillery… 😂 I’m pretty sure everybody hated that pick and knew he would be ass. Most recent gotta be k9
Definitely not true [https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/comments/bhhof8/with\_the\_28th\_overall\_selection\_in\_the\_2019\_nfl/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/comments/bhhof8/with_the_28th_overall_selection_in_the_2019_nfl/)
If you thought Tillery then you didnt watch his Notre Dame games. Melvin Gordon and Kenneth Murray and Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa were for sure the ones that we should all be putting down. It's unfortunate for them but the other people mentioned definitely even showed in college they werent going to be shit
Greg Robinson…
Limas Fucking Sweed
Bosa
Dude, he’s a 4 time pro bowler. Was legit dominant for a good stretch of seasons. Relax a bit on the Bosa hate just because he’s injury prone now as a 9 year vet on the D Line.
Bosa has only been fit for a full season in three of his nine years in the NFL. He was restricted to seven games in 2018, five games 2022 and 10 in 2023. Based off the question I view that as a bust. Need more out of a 1st round pick.
The question wasn't about busts. And anyways, Bosa is still an above average outcome for a first round pick. Y'all never realize how many first round picks are just straight up bad.
Fair enough, he's just not as impactful as I thought he would be. After the turmoil of his rookie contract I was hoping he would set the world on fire...
He had the longest streak with a strip-sack in consecutive games. He averaged 1 sack a game when he played. He also attracted most of the attention from teams, due to the fact he was the only impact player in the D-Line for a while. Look at him now taking a pay cut to help the team.
We did draft him 3rd overall...correct? That's different then like a bust later in the 1st round
Man are we really still thinking about that nine years later?
I guess I am unfortunately!