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I'll go to my grave saying Tim Couch could've been in the conversation of top 10 QBs in the early 2000s if he wasn't always hurt because the expansion Browns had turnstiles for offensive line and no running game to help either because of it.
Then years later, we had dominant O-lines with no QB. Put Couch behind some of the lines we've had in the past decade and he would've shined imo.
Gabe Carimi looked incredible before his knee exploded and he had it surgically replaced with a turnstile
John Ross. 4.22 speed coulda been somethin great
Nick Collins had an objectively successful career: a super bowl and three 2nd team All-Pros. His run was cut short in his prime due to a neck injury. He easily could've been a lot more, and the story of the early 2010s Packers is a lot different if he stays healthy. The only real fuckup of the Thompson/McCarthy Packers (or at least "only" in the sense that it vastly supercedes anything else) was the inability to replace him, and the misappropriation of draft capital intended to replace him. There's no telling what the Packers look like if they aren't throwing back to back firsts and seconds at unimpressive DBs.
I have two players that I believe in the right hands could have been great. Still that is a big COULD.
This might sound crazy but Chad Kelly. The Broncos needed a QB bad and you could tell he was a week or two away from starting but dude decided to go and break into a person's house while completely drunk during Halloween and ruined his chances. He would have had a pretty good wideout duo in Sanders and DT at the time. If he had a chance, it could have been the start of a long career.
Outside of him, if Tony Sparano's wildcat offense took off, it would have been amazing to see what he could have done with Tebow under center. I believe they might have changed his career, making him a great alternate and really would have worn out the opposing defense.
Walter Payton.
Sam Huff.
Jerry Rice.
NaVorro Bowman….dude played just as great as Patrick Willis in my opinion, until the injury. Even after coming back he put up decent numbers before retiring. I’ll never forget his pick 6 at the stick
RGIII. he was the prototype for dual threat QBs after Mike Vick set the blueprint. Dri Archer coulda been nasty.
As a Jaguars fan, Justin Blackmon and Matt Jones. I rooted so hard for these guys
Chris Borland
Victor Cruz. Who knows what kind of career he could’ve had without his injuries.
Gale Sayers
Chris Henry
David Wilson had so much promise
Caleb Williams in 10 years
Sterling Sharpe
Tyler Eifert. Watch his 2015 film, dude had the potential to be the next great tight end in the league, but was derailed by injury. Damn shame, dude was insane in the red zone
Eric Berry would have been an all-timer. His body betrayed him.
Ryan Shazier - LB Pittsburgh Steelers. Was in his 4th year when he had a career ending injury.
Ryan shazier comes to mind
Shaq(Darius) Leonard had an all-time start to his career and then had 2 back surgeries and is pretty much our LB3 now. It sucks, he was fun to watch before the injuries
Billy Sims also a #20-wearing runningback that got injured left the NFL with an insurance payout and lost everything in failed businesses and had to sell his Heisman trophy
In 5 years in the NFL he has these accomplishments on wikipedia
*.3-Time Pro-Bowl selection *.32nd – NFL All-Time Rushing Yards Per-Carry (4.515) *.75th, along with Calvin Hill & Don Perkins, – NFL All-Time *. Rushing Touchdowns (42) *. 135th – NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage (5,106) *. 1st player to score 3 touchdowns in first NFL game.[24]
Ki-Jana Carter would have been one of the greatest RBs ever
Chad Pennington
If he hadn't hurt his shoulder he very well could have won back to back Super Bowls with the Jets in 2009 and 2010
Todd Gurley was well on his way to being one of the great RBs. injuries are a binch
Sean Taylor
RIP
Pennington. Both in New York and in his second act in Miami. I remember how good he was in 08, and I though we would be good for a while. But only a few weeks into 09, he suffered a career ending injury, and the walk in QB purgatory resumed