Chicago Bears: Top 10 draft busts of the 21st century

5. Offensive Tackle Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

Over the last 20 years, you can be sure of very few things when it comes to college prospects translating to the NFL. Alabama defensive backs will typically turn into great pros after playing for Nick Saban. USC quarterbacks will always find an NFL roster. Offensive linemen out of the University of Wisconsin should go on to be Pro Bowl players with nice, lengthy careers.

Enter: Gabe Carimi.

The Bears drafted Carimi in the first round, at number 29 overall, in the 2011 NFL Draft. After his senior season as a Badger, Carimi had been as solid of a left tackle as you would find in college football. He started 49 out of 52 games he suited up for at Wisconsin.

Preseason First-Team All-American, First-Team All Big Ten, Second-Team All-American … these are just a handful of awards given to Carimi over his final season at Wisconsin. There was absolutely no indication the Bears shouldn’t invest a high-round pick in him.

Carimi’s rookie season was derailed by a nasty knee injury in week two, where he suffered a dislocation and damage to tissue and ligaments. He underwent multiple surgeries. In 2012, he would play in 14 games.

Because he wasn’t exactly the type of pro the Bears were hoping for, he was traded to the Bucs in 2013 for a sixth-round pick. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.