Look, the New Orleans Saints haven’t always been known as a team that drafts well. We’ve recapped the biggest misses under general manager Mickey Loomis, but their history of draft-day mistakes runs back decades. And it’s tough to argue with the case against Russell Erxleben.
A surprise pick at No. 11 overall way back in 1979, the former Texas Longhorns placekicker would have had to accomplish rare feats to avoid being called a bust in the first place. But his Saints career was miserable from the start. His very first game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons ended in overtime with Erxleben mishandling a poorly-snapped ball, which he threw away and into the arms of a Falcons defender, who returned it for the game-winning touchdown.
