I've whiffed on a few players here and there, but I've yet to LOVE a prospect drafted by Seattle and not have that player manage those high expectations.
I guess the closest might be James Carpenter, though I think he might still become a plus contributor, maybe even a pro-bowler at guard. The reason I say Carpenter is because he did well under the microscope when I scouted his Alabama games. He didn't ooze athleticism, but he looked athletic enough to handle LT in the NFL, even if he didn't have much athleticism to spare. When he went to RT, it seemed like a virtual certainty that he could handle the position. Then he took the field in the NFL, and was an immediate disaster. He probably would have led the league in sacks allowed had he played 16 games at tackle that season.
I happen to be a former high school / college level offensive lineman who, like Carpenter, is left handed. I would agree with him that playing on the left side is slightly more natural. But his attempt to blame his struggles on handedness is pretty silly- it was abundantly obvious that his real problem was a lack of athleticism, weight control, and conditioning. When Seattle drafted Carpenter, they probably hoped they'd be getting a Rodger Saffold. Instead, they got a Stacy Andrews. Ouch.
I'd also say that Bruce Irvin has been a very, very, very mild disappointment. He was a prospect I loved, and though he met my 2012 expectations exactly, I gave what I think was a low bar to clear. I know more about Irvin now than I did when I raved about him during the spring of 2012, and none of that new knowledge is complimentary to Irvin's future. That said, I think 2013 is a huge season for Irvin, and he might emerge as a dynamic contributor under Dan Quinn's guidance. He might not end up being exactly the kind of player that I thought he'd be a year ago, but he could still help the team in a way I had not envisioned. And I think he probably will.
