There aren't more tragic tales throughout NFL history than the one surrounding former wide receiver Rae Carruth. He was a highly touted first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers, but that's where the positivity ends.
Carruth was the No. 27 overall selection in the 1997 NFL Draft after going over 1,000 receiving yards in his final two seasons at Colorado. Things began encouragingly enough as a rookie en route to 44 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns, but it didn't take long for things to unravel after that.
The receiver suffered injury problems, and there was growing unrest about his locker room presence becoming a distraction.