Football can be a cruel business. One day you’re the five-star recruit who just about every powerhouse in the country is begging to sign, and the next, you’re a "what if" story buried in the transaction wire. Honestly, if you followed the 2017 NFL Draft, you probably remember the hype. Eddie Vanderdoes was supposed to be the anchor of the Oakland Raiders' defensive line for a decade. He had the size—6'3" and over 300 pounds—and a motor that scouts loved.
But things didn't go according to the script.
It’s easy to look at a career that effectively ended after a few seasons and blame "bust" status, but that's lazy. The story of Eddie Vanderdoes is actually a masterclass in how injuries and bad timing can derail even the most elite talent. You’ve got to look at the context to understand why a guy with his ceiling isn't still starting on Sundays in 2026.
The Notre Dame Drama and the Rise at UCLA
Before he ever put on a Silver and Black jersey, Vanderdoes was at the center of one of the weirdest recruiting sagas in recent memory. He originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Notre Dame. Then, he changed his mind. He cited family reasons and a desire to be closer to his home in Auburn, California. Brian Kelly, who was coaching the Irish at the time, famously refused to release him from his letter.
Vanderdoes fought it. He appealed to the NCAA, won, and landed at UCLA.
Once he got to Westwood, he lived up to every bit of the five-star billing. As a true freshman in 2013, he was a wrecking ball. He earned Freshman All-America honors and even showed off his athleticism by lining up at fullback to punch in rushing touchdowns. Basically, he was a giant who moved like a much smaller man.
Then the injuries started.
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In the 2015 season opener against Virginia, he tore his ACL. It was a freak deal. He had recorded 11 tackles in that game alone before his knee just gave out. Most people don't realize he actually stayed in for a goal-line play after the initial tweak to help lift teammate Kenny Clark for a touchdown celebration. That kind of toughness is what made NFL scouts drool, but it also hinted at the physical toll his body was taking.
Why the Raiders Took the Gamble
When the 2017 draft rolled around, the Oakland Raiders were desperate for interior help. They took Eddie Vanderdoes in the third round with the 88th overall pick. At the time, it looked like a steal. He had lost nearly 40 pounds after his senior year at UCLA, dropping from 340 down to a lean 302. He looked explosive again.
His rookie year started with promise. He played in all 16 games and started 13 of them. He wasn't putting up massive sack numbers—that wasn't his job—but he was eating up space and allowing the linebackers to flow to the ball.
Then, disaster struck again.
In the 2017 season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, he tore his ACL for the second time. This was the turning point. Recovery from one ACL is hard; recovery from a second one on a 300-pound frame is a different beast entirely. He spent the entire 2018 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and eventually the Injured Reserve. He never quite regained that "twitch" that made him a high-round prospect.
The Houston Texans and the COVID-19 Opt-Out
By 2019, the Raiders had moved on. Vanderdoes landed with the Houston Texans, initially on the practice squad. He eventually worked his way back onto the active roster and played in three games, but the writing was on the wall. He was a rotational piece, not the centerpiece.
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In 2020, Vanderdoes made a choice that many players faced during the pandemic: he opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. While it was a personal health decision, in the high-stakes world of the NFL, a year away from the game for a player already battling a history of knee issues is often a death knell for a career.
The Texans released him in February 2021 with a "non-football injury" designation. A brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers in the summer of 2021 lasted only a few days before he was waived. Since then, his name hasn't appeared on an active NFL roster.
Sorting Through the Misconceptions
People often say Vanderdoes "lazied" his way out of the league or couldn't control his weight. That’s sort of a half-truth. While he did struggle with his weight in his final year at UCLA—he admitted he was playing at nearly 340 pounds—it’s important to note he was playing through multiple high-ankle sprains. When you can't run, you can't burn calories, but you still need the bulk to play nose tackle. It’s a vicious cycle.
The real culprit was the 2017 ACL tear. If he doesn't go down in that season finale, he enters his second year with a full offseason of conditioning. Instead, he spent that time in a rehab tub.
Eddie Vanderdoes by the numbers:
- Drafted: 3rd Round, 88th Overall (2017)
- Career Games: 19
- Total Tackles: 26
- Career Earnings: Approximately $2.5 million (per Spotrac)
It’s a stark reminder that the "bust" label is often just a synonym for "unlucky." Vanderdoes had the talent. He had the pedigree. He just didn't have the health.
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Lessons from the Vanderdoes Era
If you’re a fan or someone following the draft, there are a few things to take away from how his career unfolded. First, interior defensive linemen are high-risk picks when they have a history of lower-body injuries. The sheer torque they put on their knees is unsustainable if the ligaments are already compromised.
Second, the "opt-out" year in 2020 was a massive factor for middle-of-the-roster guys. For stars, it was a blip. For players like Vanderdoes who were fighting for a roster spot, that year of rust was impossible to overcome.
For those looking for actionable insights on how to evaluate similar prospects today:
- Look at "functional weight": A player’s ability to maintain a target weight while injured is a huge indicator of long-term viability.
- The "Second Surgery" Rule: Statistically, players returning from a second major ligament tear in the same joint face a massive drop-off in "burst" metrics.
- Draft Capital vs. Longevity: A third-round pick is expected to be a four-year starter. When they aren't, it's usually medical, not mental.
Eddie Vanderdoes remains a prominent name in UCLA lore and a "what if" for Raiders fans. He wasn't a failure of talent; he was a victim of the physical reality of the sport. Understanding that distinction is the difference between a casual fan and an expert.
To keep track of how similar high-pedigree defensive tackles are trending in today's league, monitor the training camp "PUP" lists specifically for players coming off their first rookie-contract injury, as this is the primary window where careers like Vanderdoes' are often decided.