Our continuation of the series looking at the Bengals 10 worst draft picks when drafting from a top 10 position:

10. Greg Cook, QB, University of Cincinnati, 5th Overall Pick in 1969
9. Justin Smith, DE, University of Missouri, 4th Overall Pick in 2001
8. Dan Wilkinson, DT, The Ohio State University, 1st Overall Pick 1994

7. Ricky Hunley, LB, University of Arizona, 7th Overall Pick in 1984

Ricky Hunley….You mean Coach Rick Hunley? Yes, recently fired Bengals Coach Rick Hunley was the 7th overall pick in the 1984 draft. He had an exceptional career at Arizona being named a two-time consensus All-American in 1982 and 1983. In 1983, Hunley was also named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, and was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. But he never signed with the Bengals. Hunley’s agent and Paul Brown locked horns when Hunley’s agent in 1984 reportedly sought, “as much as $500,000 a year in a package that would include an expensive car, insurance policies and real estate as well as cash. The proposal also reportedly included a demand for a specific type of tile to be used for a hot tub in Hunley's house.” When contract negotiations stalled into September of his rookie season, the team traded his rights to Denver for a first, a third, and a fifth round draft choice.
Hunley went on to have a nondescript 7 seasons in the NFL. He started two of his four seasons in Denver and was lucky enough to be with the team and start Super Bowls XXI and XXII. Following Super Bowl XXII, Hunley was traded to the Cardinals for a backup center. He spent one season with the Cardinals after which he was cut during another contract holdout leading up to the following season. He then spent 2 seasons with the Raiders and that was that. Had Hunley stayed with the Bengals, he probably would have been considered a major bust. With the three draft picks acquired for Hunley, the Bengals saved face, even though the Broncos were good and the picks received by the Bengals were the 25th in the round. It’s better to have 3 low priced role players instead of one high priced role player.
In 2002, Hunley returned to the Bengals with Marvin Lewis and spent 5 seasons as the team's LB coach. Shortly after the 2007 season, Hunley was fired by Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown.
After 23 years, Ricky Hunley, proving it is never too late to be a Bengals first round draft bust.

Check in periodically as we count down to the worst Bengals draft pick in history leading up to the 2008 NFL draft.