Five Busts From the 2010 NFL Rookie Class Worth Buying Into

By Brett Lewis | Jan 14, 2011

In the real world, when a highly touted draft picks fails to meet expectations, there is no silver lining. In the world of sports cards, the silver lining is not only present, but is often preferred, as it gives collectors a chance to buy cards featuring talented players at a low cost. Below is a look at five 2010 NFL Rookies who didn't meet expectations in 2010, but could breakout in coming years due to the level of talent present and the ever changing landscape of the NFL.

Below each player are a handful of Cardboard Connection card recommendations. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for cards in upcoming products featuring the five players below, especially those from 2010 Playoff Contenders, 2010 Playoff National Treasures and 2010 Topps Five Star.

C.J. Spiller, HB, Buffalo Bills
You'd be hard pressed to find a bigger disappointment than the the first running back taken in the 2010 draft. The Clemson alum entered the season as the Bills savior and ended the season as a backup to a less talented veteran named Fred Jackson. Spiller ended the season with just 283 rushing yards and 2 total touchdowns, 1 of which was a kick return. Spiller presents the perfect buy low opportunity.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Thomas was the first WR taken in the 2010 NFL Draft, granted Dez Bryant should have been, but none the less there is a ton of talent here and when healthy, Thomas looked like the player the Broncos thought they drafted when they selected the Georgia Tech alum with the 22nd overall pick. Oddly, Thomas had 283 receiving yards and 2 TD's like Spiller did, with the only difference being that Thomas' yards were obviously through the air. Even before his let down rookie season, Thomas' card were going for bargain prices. If Thomas becomes Tebow's go to man (or whoever lines up under center), Broncos fans will reward his cards with some major book boost.

Dexter McCluster, HB/WR, Kansas City Chiefs
The 36th overall pick in the draft came into the year as everyone's favorite sleeper rookie and exited the year as an injury prone afterthought in an offense that already featured an explosive set of young skill players including Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe and Tony Moeaki. McCluster may never achieve elite hobby status, but he certainly has plenty room to grow. You never know when it comes to players like this. Here's a question to ask yourself, who was buying Jamaal Charles cards during his rookie season?

Montario Hardesty, HB, Cleveland Browns
When the Browns trade up to draft the beastly back out of Tennessee, they planned on him immediately becoming the team's feature back for years to come. Unfortunately, Hardesty's season ended before it began after he tore the ACL in his left knee during camp. According to the News-Herald, Hardesty was already walking around without the use of crutches in mid-November. Hardesty's cards can be had for practically nothing at the moment. There's also a chance that the new coaching staff won't see Peyton Hillis as highly as recently fired head coach Eric Mangini did.

Ben Tate, HB, Houston Texans
Tate is the ultimate low risk proposition. His cards are essentially worthless at the moment, especially after Arian Foster's breakout season. But it's important to remember that two years ago, Steve Slaton was one of the biggest breakout stars in the hobby, then after an off season of watching game tape, opposing coaches figured out how to stop Slaton with ease. Who's to say Foster doesn't follow the same career path? Like the Browns, the Texans drafted Ben Tate in the second round for a reason, to make him the team's feature back. Tate's road to hobby glory is probably steeper than Hardesty's, but at the same time buying into Ben is significantly cheaper.