In both the literal and figurative sense, the Raiders today made quarterback JaMarcus Russell the biggest bust in NFL Draft history.
Biggest bust ever? Oakland Raiders release JaMarcus Russell
The team today released the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
In three seasons, the team paid Russell $39 million. He won seven games.
Russell’s career stat line includes passing for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He was sacked 70 times on 680 pass attempts.
Stats weren’t the only culprit that doomed Russell’s career in Oakland. He held out a portion of his rookie season and had weight issues throughout his career.
Arguably Russell’s best game came in a 27-16 win in 2008 against Houston. In it, he had 236 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 72 percent of his passes.
The Raiders traded a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft to Washington for quarterback Jason Campbell.
Russell’s release was first reported by the Associated Press.
Update: He's a fun factoid from Adam Schefter of ESPN. "Al Davis publicly declared it himself: He wanted JaMarcus Russell. Lane Kiffin wanted Calvin Johnson. Someone was right; someone wasn't."
Update 2: Trey Wingo, also of ESPN, says no quarterback drafted No. 1 overall has been released by his team as fast as Russell.
Update 3: I bet Ryan Leaf is smirking somewhere. You know, even though he’s on probation for drug abuse.
Also see: Richard Hill of Pats Pulpit (who is a great, great, great blogger) looks at the biggest draft busts of the New England Patriots since 2001.
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