12. Torrian Gray – DB
Second Round (49th overall) – 1997
As was the case with Sharrif Floyd, Gray appears on this list thanks to an injury that cut his career in the NFL short.
After appearing in all 16 games for the Vikings during his rookie season in 1997, the former Virginia Tech defensive back was only on the field for nine of Minnesota’s matchups during his second year with the team. Gray tore all of the ligaments in his left knee during the Vikings’ Week 10 win over the New Orleans Saints and he was lost for the remainder of the season.
He made an attempt to return to the field for Minnesota prior to the 2000 season. But his performance during a Vikings’ spring minicamp resulted in him realizing that he was nothing close to the player he once was before his knee injury.
So instead of continuing his comeback attempt, Gray decided to retire from the NFL shortly after that Minnesota minicamp.
The Vikings passed on guys like Ronde Barber, Jason Taylor, and Derrick Mason in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft when they went with Gray instead. Although his career came to end due to an unfortunate injury, appearing in just two seasons after being drafted in the second round is enough to be considered a bust.