The poor NFL draft of 2009 is proving to be in a class by itself

You can debate the best NFL draft well into the night. The 1964 draft produced a record 10 Hall of Famers, the 1974 draft paved the way for a Pittsburgh dynasty, and the 1983 draft gave the NFL an unprecedented class of quarterbacks.

But the worst draft ever? There’s no need to debate that one. The 2009 draft is swiftly moving into a class of its own.

The NFL has played only 17 games since conducting the 2009 draft and already a third of that class has been waived, traded or retired. Of the 257 selections in 2009, 85 are already off the rosters of the drafting teams – a stunning 33.1 percent.

The first three rounds are considered a draft’s premium rounds. Those are the picks each team uses to build the core of its starting lineup. All 100 players selected in those first three rounds of the 2009 draft held onto their roster spots last season.

But 12 of those players (four second-rounders and eight thirds) didn’t survive in 2010. Denver traded CB Alphonso Smith to Detroit, and Arizona (LB Cody) Brown), Cleveland (LB David Veikune), Miami (QB Pat White) all released second-rounders to account for those four departures.

The Chicago Bears cut both of their third-rounders (DT Jarron Gilbert and WR Juaguin Iglesius) and the New England Patriots waived a third-, fourth- and fifth-rounder. The Philadelphia Eagles released all three of their fifth-rounders and traded away a sixth.

The Eagles have already moved five of their eight 2009 draft picks off the roster, and the Steelers have released five of their nine. The Cincinnati Bengals also have released five of their 2009 draft picks.

Two safeties who were season-long starters as rookies – sixth-rounders Al Afalava of Chicago and Kevin Ellison of San Diego – were cut this summer. Sixth-rounder Keith Null started four games at quarterback for the St. Louis Rams last season. He also was released this summer. Third-round RB Glen Coffee of the San Francisco 49ers retired after one season.

NFL teams have released 19 fifth-rounders, 19 sixths and 27 seventh-rounders from the 2009 draft. Three other players from that draft opened the 2010 season under NFL suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs: LB Brian Cushing of Houston, L Gerald McRath of Tennessee and TE Shawn Nelson of Buffalo.

Two teams did beat the odds in 2009 and come away with superb drafts – the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions.

The Texans still have all eight of their 2009 draft picks on the 2010 roster, and the Lions still have eight of their 10 selections. Five of the eight were 2010 opening-day starters for Detroit. Three start for Houston.

Just an FYI - but Pat White signed a baseball deal. Forgot who, but he's no longer interested in playing football apparently.

you're right, just checked mlbtraderumors

wow, can't believe he didn't try to get another gig since the running QB is apparently the new trend according to guys like Kirwan.

Just an FYI - but Pat White signed a baseball deal. Forgot who, but he's no longer interested in playing football apparently.