After months of draft chatter, speculation, rumors, mocks and more, it's impossible to envision forgetting an elite 2017 NFL Draft prospect's name anytime in the next decade, let alone in the next few years.
But even the most diehard fans will forget the name of Takkarist McKinley, Garett Bolles or Kevin King in the near future. To be clear, we're not suggesting any of those three likely first-rounders will be draft busts or even fail to live up to expectations, but instead reminding fans that it doesn't take long for current household names to fall far from our radar.
Here are some first-round draft picks from the last decade that you have no recollection of.
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Justin Harrell
2007: Green Bay Packers (No. 16)
Before Reggie McKenzie became general manager in Oakland, he spearheaded one of the worst picks in Packers' history. McKenzie, who played at Tennessee and maintained strong contacts in Knoxville, pushed for Vols' defensive end Justin Harrell at No. 16, far earlier than many expected.
Weight issues, ineffectiveness and injuries — including a torn biceps from his senior season that should have dropped his draft stock — limited him to 18 total tackles and zero sacks in three seasons (14 games).
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Kentwan Balmer
2008: San Francisco 49ers, No. 29
The 49ers selected Balmer, a defensive tackle from North Carolina, with the 29th-overall pick, or six spots ahead of Brandon Flowers and seven ahead of Jordy Nelson.
Balmer appeared in 27 games in his first two years, but was barely noticeable, recording 19 total tackles for mediocre teams. He was traded to Seattle three weeks before the 2010 season and had his best year as a pro, starting 11 games (his only 11 career starts) and making 43 tackles.
But Balmer was waived the following August and, following a one-week preseason stint with the Panthers in August 2011, three appearances with the Redskins in 2011 and a bizarre disappearance during training camp in 2012, was out of football less than five years after being a first-round pick.
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Danny Watkins
2011: Philadelphia Eagles (No. 23)
Danny Watkins made headlines for his draft day guests in 2011; five friends from his former job in the West Kelowna, British Columbia, fire department went ballistic in the Radio City Music Hall crowd when the Eagles drafted him.
It was all downhill from there. The former Baylor lineman did start 18 games between 2011-12 but first-year head coach Chip Kelly released him one week before the 2013 season.
"When you watched Danny play [at Baylor], the hockey-toughness he showed never translated to Philadelphia," said general manager Howie Roseman.
Watkins signed with Miami four days later but appeared in one game. A year later, it was reported that he left the NFL to return to firefighting.
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Peria Jerry
2009: Atlanta Falcons (No. 24)
Peria Jerry went from one of the best players in college football in 2008 and first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft to out of the league five years later.
Jerry had 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a First-Team All-American defensive tackle at Ole Miss to earn a first-round grade and selection by the Falcons at No. 24. A knee injury limited him to two games as a rookie and he never fully rebounded.
Though he did appear in all but two games between 2010-13, including 27 starts — and was serviceable at times — Jerry retired in July 2014 after five seasons, 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
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Björn Werner
2013: Indianapolis Colts (No. 24)
Björn Werner is proof that it doesn't take long for elite prospects to falls into the depths of draft obscurity.
A unanimous First-Team All-American defensive end at Florida State and 2012 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Werner was supposed to be the Colts' replacement for Dwight Freeney, who departed Indianapolis three weeks later in free agency.
He started just 16 games over three seasons (2013-15) and had 57 tackles and 6.5 sacks before being waived in March 2016. Werner briefly signed with the Jaguars during the 2016 offseason. As color commentator for a German station during the Seahawks-Falcons playoff game last January, Werner announced his retirement.
