The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers’ Five Biggest Draft Busts

By James Yarcho

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Number Five: LB Keith McCants, Number Four Overall Pick – 1990

Keith McCants was the man the Buccaneers believed was a major missing piece they could get after he put up huge numbers at Alabama. While there, McCants was a unanimous first team All-American, National Defensive Player of the Year, All-SEC first team, and the 1989 Butkus Award runner-up. In 1989, McCants led the Tide with 119 tackles and finished his collegiate career with sixteen tackles for loss.

McCants was the “can’t miss guy” in 1989 and by some “miracle” he slipped to the Bucs at number four. McCants would start only four games as a rookie before being moved to defensive end in 1991. McCants was eventually released in 1993, finishing his Bucs career with only twelve sacks to go along with 156 tackles.

To make matters worse, players picked after McCants include; Junior Seau (fifth), Safety Mark Carrier (sixth), LeRoy Butler (forty-eighth), and Eric Davis (fifty-third). Also undrafted in 1990 was defensive tackle John Randle.

Just goes to show that not all the “can’t miss” prospects are actually can’t miss.

Home/Bucs All-Time Lists