Bills Draft Busts, No. 6: DT John McCargo

With the 2011 NFL Draft quickly approaching, we thought it'd be a good idea to run down the Buffalo Bills' ten biggest draft successes and failures. I decided at the last minute to make this an "of my lifetime" series, meaning that the only busts and gems that you'll see listed here every day were picked in 1985 or after.

After passing on Haloti Ngata to select safety Donte Whitner at the top of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Bills tried to rectify the situation at defensive tackle by trading back into the first round to snag Mario Williams' unheralded NC State teammate, John McCargo. Turns out, there wasn't a lot of rectifying accomplished there.

McCargo's rookie season ended after just five games thanks to a season-ending injury. A year later, as a reserve and rotational player, he showed a few flashes of potential, and set career marks with 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In 2008, however, the Bills acquired Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson at defensive tackle, and McCargo would wind up being traded to Indianapolis - a trade later revoked after a back issue caused him to fail Indy's physical. McCargo was promptly returned to Buffalo, where he has toiled on Buffalo's roster for the past two-plus seasons as a complete non-factor.

About the best thing that can be said for McCargo's Bills career is that he miraculously made it through the entirety of his five-year rookie contract signed in 2006. Though he is a well-liked teammate, McCargo is an impending free agent, and is obviously not expected back heading into the 2011 season.

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