The New York Jets are rumored to be releasing Vernon Gholston this week, one of the NFL’s biggest mystery draft busts in years to come.

According to Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal, Gholston is the only defensive end drafted in the top 10 to fail to record a single sack since the NFL started counting sacks in 1982. What’s even worse is,  he played 45 games in his pro career (playing in all 16 last year) and has only registered 42 tackles.

Linebacker Vernon Gholston spent his college tenure at Ohio State, in which he started 25 games at defensive end. He finished with 87 tackles (47 solo) and 30.5 stops for a loss. He also had 21.5 sacks, which ranks fifth in school history. Gholston was suppose to be an NFL monster, but the converted DE to LB back to DE has proven to be a waste of time.

Gholston declared for the 2008 NFL Draft and was projected as a top 10 pick. He tied the highest bench press score at the NFL combine with 37 repetitions (record at the time). The New York Jets selected the former Buckeye with the 6th overall pick, a selection many pegged as a excellent pick for the team. The media has never let up since his rookie season

With last year being a complete stretch keeping him around as a Jet, the question most are now asking is: Can Vernon Gholston salvage his pro career with another team?

Fan’s of 4-3 defensive teams dieing for a DE will agree he is worth a shot. Adding to the fact that he was not suited for the style ran by either Mangini in his first year, nor Rex Ryan over the last two. A player is never done after just one NFL uniform and tend to find second chances before calling it a career. You know the saying “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure”. Although if Rex Ryan can’t mold you into the prototypical NFL linebacker, what chance does he have on a team with a less proficient defensive mind.

I got to give credit it where credit is due, not all saw him as a NFL star: Video