San Francisco 49ers: 5 NFL Draft picks who never lived up to the hype

As far as hype and overhype go, few former 49ers draftees come close to the expected levels of production than former Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods.

What prompted the 49ers to take Woods with the 31st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft was his phenomenal three-year stretch with Oklahoma State between 2001 and 2003, in which he posted receiving yard totals of 1,023, 1,695 and 1,367, respectively.

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Yeah, Woods’ college career was exemplary.

It made sense for San Francisco, too, considering the team was getting into some notable salary cap constraints and had to move on from its previous top receiver, Terrell Owens, the same year Woods was drafted.

The only problem was Woods’ NFL career flamed out just about as quickly as it began.

His rookie season amounted to almost nothing: a mere seven receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown. The following year, Woods spent the season on injured reserve before the Niners elected to trade him to the San Diego Chargers in 2006. The Chargers waived him later that year, and Woods was forever out of professional football shortly thereafter.

As far as hype goes entering the league, Woods certainly had it. As far as failing to live up to it, Woods had that, too.

Big time.