Biggest NFL Draft busts in Oregon football history

Let me get this out of the way from the start, you will not see Justin Herbert on this list. Just because the Chargers are a bust, doesn’t mean Herbert is one as well.

You also won’t see Marcus Mariota. While the Ducks’ only Heisman winner hasn’t gone on to win a Super Bowl or been able to hold on to a starting spot, Mariota isn’t a flop in the NFL – he’s in his ninth season after all.

Okay, now that’s out of the way, here are the biggest NFL busts who came out of the Oregon football program.

LaMichael James

LaMichael James was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. 

James was coming off a historic career at Oregon with 5,082 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns. He also had 26 games of 100 yards or more.

However, once he got to the league, James couldn’t keep his feet beneath him. In his rookie season, he only ran for 125 yards. He saw his only career touchdown in a playoff game that year.

James’ entire NFL career surmounted to less than 200 rushing yards in six seasons and he hasn’t played a single snap since 2015.

Going from the second-best running back in the Oregon stat books to being unable to score touchdowns for his team was one of the biggest disappointments in Pro Duck history.

James was inducted into the college football Hall of Fame in 2023. He is the sixth Duck to receive this honor.