When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell waltzes up on that stage next Thursday to announce the future for each team, two things will happen: a former college player will become an instant millionaire, and you'll get a priceless fan reaction.
There are signature moments that stick out between the fans and the NFL draft. Who could forget the Eagles faithful mercilessly booing Donovan McNabb in 1999? What about the New York Jets fans — every year.
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Thanks to the camera phone and YouTube, fan reactions have been immortalized. Sometimes for the unrealistic exuberance of perceived expectations. Other times, the utter disgust has been palpable. Almost every year, some fan bases are completely…off-base.
Here are five times where fans were so happy, but the player's production would make them so sad.
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Ryan Leaf & Mel Kiper
This one isn't really a fan base, but rather a bold prediction that was proven erroneous very quickly. While there is no video evidence proving Kiper said he would retire if Jimmy Clausen was not a successful quarterback, we do have Kiper raving about the second pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Ryan Leaf.
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Minnesota Vikings Select Laquon Treadwell
After losing a heartbreaking playoff game to Seattle in 2015, it was clear where the Vikings would have to get better. Minnesota finished the year dead last in passing offense and circled the wide receiver position as its main point of interest.
In Treadwell's two years, he has 21 catches. Not exactly a first-round return. Back in 2016 it was a different story. You won't find a better reaction from a fan base than when Treadwell's name is called…well maybe one better that we'll see further down the list.
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Chicago Bears Select Kevin White
The wide receiver position may be the epitome of the risk and reward that characterize the NFL Draft. It seems for every Odell Beckham Jr and Julio Jones, there are three or four wide receivers who never live up to their potential.
The Bears were expected to go defense with the seventh pick, especially with a loaded edge-rusher draft. The Bears did something different, and the people loved the pick. White has played in five games in an injury-marred three years. The Bears are still bad.
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Buffalo Bills Select EJ Manuel
The 2013 quarterback draft class may go down as the worst in history. To put into some sort of perspective, EJ Manuel was the first QB taken followed by Geno Smith, Mike Glennon, Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib. Manuel lasted one year as the starter in Buffalo, and has just eight other starts under his belt after his rookie year. Somehow things seemed so much brighter in 2013.
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Cleveland Browns Select Johnny Manziel
So much hope. So much hope…emoji:sad face
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NEXT: History of Horrors: Looking Back at Cleveland's NFL Draft QB History
