Top 7 Biggest Sports Draft Misses Of All Time From All Sports

The combination of a No. 2 pick, injuries, and passing on Jordan makes this the clearest cross-sport benchmark for a draft miss.

Portland took Bowie at No. 2, one pick before Michael Jordan. Bowie's injuries limited his impact, while Jordan became a six-time NBA champion and the sport's defining global star.

A No. 1 overall pick never reaching the majors is an extreme outcome, especially for a high-profile Yankees selection.

The Yankees made Taylor the No. 1 pick and gave him a record bonus, but a shoulder injury after an off-field fight derailed his career before he reached MLB. For baseball, it remains one of the starkest examples of a top pick producing zero major-league value.

Few misses are as famous because the bust and the nearby all-time great are paired at the same position in the same draft.

Leaf went No. 2 after Indianapolis chose Peyton Manning No. 1. Manning became a Hall of Fame quarterback, while Leaf's NFL career collapsed quickly amid poor play and off-field issues.

It is a premium pick in one of basketball's richest drafts, with not one but several superstar alternatives available.

Detroit selected Darko No. 2 in a legendary draft, ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Darko became a marginal NBA contributor while multiple future Hall of Fame-level stars went immediately after him.

It is the NHL's signature modern No. 1 miss because the next pick became exactly the kind of franchise cornerstone Ottawa needed.

Ottawa drafted Daigle first overall with superstar expectations, but he never became an elite NHL player. Chris Pronger, taken No. 2, became a Hall of Fame defenseman and Stanley Cup champion.

The miss is amplified by the extraordinary cluster of all-time talents selected right after him.

Green Bay took Mandarich No. 2, ahead of three Hall of Famers: Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders. Mandarich's Packers stint was a major disappointment despite enormous pre-draft hype.