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Las Vegas Raiders April Fools: 5 worst draft picks in history

By Khaled Abdallah

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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8 Nov 1995: Defensive back Patrick Bates #24 of the Los Angeles Raiders carries the ball after intercepting a pass during the Raiders 27-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/ALLSP
8 Nov 1995: Defensive back Patrick Bates #24 of the Los Angeles Raiders carries the ball after intercepting a pass during the Raiders 27-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/ALLSP /

5. Patrick Bates, DB, 12th overall in 1993

You would be forgiven for not knowing who Patrick Bates is. Unlike some of the more notorious or well known Raiders draft busts Bates is notable for not doing much at all. After being selected with the 12th overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, Bates started just nine games at safety for the Raiders in two seasons.

He stepped away from football and the Raiders after the 1994 seasons for reasons we discussed recently in a post about the Raiders history with the 12th overall pick and was traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a second round pick.  If the Falcons released a list of their worst trade acquisitions then Bates would be on there as he started nine games for them in 1996 and never played another down in the NFL.

There were rumors that Bates was more interested in a music career and hanging out with rappers like Snoop Dogg and Warren G but he refuted those claims and said that he had a great relationship with owner Al Davis. He blamed the atmosphere on the team and clashed with his teammates and front office. Bates is a great example of a player who had all the measurables but perhaps just didn’t care about football.

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