Which Texas player did you think would have a great NFL career but ultimately didn’t?

[ArizonaLonghorn]

  11 hours ago, Ace Recruiter said:

On the other hand, I totally missed the boat on Omenihu. I didn't think he would last in the league, yet there he is still. I'm happy for him. I just didn't see it.

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Yeah, that would be a good counter to this thread  - who unexpectedly did much better in the NFL than anticipated?  Charles is a good pick.

Poona Ford would get a nod from me - too short, UDFA in 2018, but kept at it and has been a starter on some good teams.  Recently signed a 3 year contract worth $27,600,000 with $15.6 million guaranteed.  And got a shout out from Jason Kelce as one of the toughest guys he went against.

From a $488,000 min wage rookie deal to $9 million average deal now - didn't see that coming after going undrafted.

Edited 11 hours ago by ArizonaLonghorn

[jkates]

  16 hours ago, Drunk randoke said:

Huff

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Huff started 94 games and picked off 11 passes. That's not a "great" NFL career, but it's pretty dang good.

[BurntOrangeCrush]

  11 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Yeah, that would be a good counter to this thread  - who unexpectedly did much better in the NFL than anticipated?  Charles is a good pick.

Poona Ford would get a nod from me - too short, UDFA in 2018, but kept at it and has been a starter on some good teams.  Recently signed a 3 year contract worth $27,600,000 with $15.6 million guaranteed.  And got a shout out from Jason Kelce as one of the toughest guys he went against.

From a $488,000 min wage rookie deal to $9 million average deal now - didn't see that coming after going undrafted.

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I will throw in Priest Holmes as unexpected. Undrafted, but made 3 Pro Bowls and was NFL Offensive POY. He was great in the NFL, particularly in KC.

[ArizonaLonghorn]

  10 hours ago, BurntOrangeCrush said:

I will throw in Priest Holmes as unexpected. Undrafted, but made 3 Pro Bowls and was NFL Offensive POY. He was great in the NFL, particularly in KC.

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Yeah, great choice.

[Tuco Ramirez]

  10 hours ago, BurntOrangeCrush said:

I will throw in Priest Holmes as unexpected. Undrafted, but made 3 Pro Bowls and was NFL Offensive POY. He was great in the NFL, particularly in KC.

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Agreed. What he did in KC was amazing. Until Jamal Charles arrived. I’m baffled that Charles isn’t in the HoF.

[Ace Recruiter]

Geoff Swaim and Andrew Beck are 2 TE still in the league. Not breaking world records, but cashing an NFL paycheck for 8-10 years is pretty darn good.

[PinchPullPancake]

Another unexpected to be in the league, and making an impact Brandon Schooler. 

[Roysterr]

Roy Williams was average to good NFL player. Not great 

[Roysterr]

  On 3/13/2025 at 12:15 AM, thatdude2 said:

RIP Cedric Benson

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Not fast enough

[jkates]

  10 hours ago, Roysterr said:

Not fast enough

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Nor sober enough. 

[CJ Vogel]

  10 hours ago, PinchPullPancake said:

Another unexpected to be in the league, and making an impact Brandon Schooler. 

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Very good career thus far.

[_everyoneshere]

Too many. Of the "big stars": Ricky, Vince, Colt, Simms..

Young Foswhitt Whittaker was so close in Carolina. Thought Collin Johnson was going to have a bounce back during his first preseason with Chicago .

I had to look up names I saw at the 2011 Holiday Bowl. I lived in north San Diego county at the time post military and HAD to see my first Texas game, but what a crazy roster of talent I didn't realize at the time. 

Follow-up question: how many Texas players have been NFL teammates? Noticed Vaccaro and Okafor in New Orleans, Simms and VY in Tennessee. 

 

[Hashtag]

Huff is probably the biggest disappointment in the league given the spot he was drafted at.

I don't think I could include players with injuries that limited their pro career for this type of topic.

[Ace Recruiter]

  8 hours ago, _everyoneshere said:

Too many. Of the "big stars": Ricky, Vince, Colt, Simms..

Young Foswhitt Whittaker was so close in Carolina. Thought Collin Johnson was going to have a bounce back during his first preseason with Chicago .

I had to look up names I saw at the 2011 Holiday Bowl. I lived in north San Diego county at the time post military and HAD to see my first Texas game, but what a crazy roster of talent I didn't realize at the time. 

Follow-up question: how many Texas players have been NFL teammates? Noticed Vaccaro and Okafor in New Orleans, Simms and VY in Tennessee. 

 

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Good question, but I'm sure there's a ton that I am too lazy to look up. X and Omenihu in KC, T Sweat and Coburn in Tennessee, PJ Locke, Brandon Jones, Malcolm Roach and Lil Jordan Humphries at Denver. Those are the ones off the top of my head on last years rosters.

[Grady Wilson]

Bryant Westbrook.  Thought he was gonna be a HOFer.

[NothinButDaHorns34]

  On 3/13/2025 at 12:16 AM, thatdude2 said:

Malik Jefferson

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Same for me. Thought there was no way a dude with his measurables and speed couldn’t have success in the NFL. 

[817 Boxing B]

  On 3/12/2025 at 10:10 PM, Blake Munroe said:

Which former Longhorn were you 100% certain would have a phenomenal career in the pros, but ended up far from that? 

Curious to see y’all’s answers. 

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Vince...and Sergio Kindle

[Drawls]

Mike Williams 

[Oldest Horn]

  8 hours ago, Hashtag said:

Huff is probably the biggest disappointment in the league given the spot he was drafted at.

I don't think I could include players with injuries that limited their pro career for this type of topic.

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Might look at Mike Williams career a bit closer given he was a #4 overall pick.

[817 Boxing B]

  On 3/13/2025 at 12:15 AM, thatdude2 said:

RIP Cedric Benson

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Cedar had a good NFL career imo. He had so many carries between high school and college that we couldn't really expect more than what he did... and that was alot, if you really look at it. 

[817 Boxing B]

  7 hours ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Same for me. Thought there was no way a dude with his measurables and speed couldn’t have success in the NFL. 

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Seeing as though he never got developed here, it was expected. You don't get time to develop about 98% of the time in the NFL. Ask Anthony Richardson. The Colts signed Daniel freaking Jones to a 2 year, 14 million dollar deal. That's not backup bread....🤷🏿‍♂️

[NothinButDaHorns34]

  6 hours ago, 817 Boxing B said:

Seeing as though he never got developed here, it was expected. You don't get time to develop about 98% of the time in the NFL. Ask Anthony Richardson. The Colts signed Daniel freaking Jones to a 2 year, 14 million dollar deal. That's not backup bread....🤷🏿‍♂️

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Wasn’t developed? He was a second team all american, big 12 co-defensive, freshman of the year and two time all big 12 team so “not developed” is very debatable. 

[Ace Recruiter]

  6 hours ago, 817 Boxing B said:

Seeing as though he never got developed here, it was expected. You don't get time to develop about 98% of the time in the NFL. Ask Anthony Richardson. The Colts signed Daniel freaking Jones to a 2 year, 14 million dollar deal. That's not backup bread....🤷🏿‍♂️

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In today's game, that is totally back up bread. Starters are getting 20M+ minimum

[John Moore]

Roy

[horns96]

Sergio Kindle.  Not sure he should be considered because his professional career was over before it even started, but he was a beast.