Every NFC Team’s Best Draft Pick of the Past Decade

Every NFC Team’s Best Draft Pick of the Past Decade. Read Every NFC Team’s Best Draft Pick of the Past Decade.

Every NFC Team’s Best Draft Pick of the Past Decade

With the NFL Draft just days away, let’s take a look back at each NFC team’s best draft pick of the past decade. To determine the representative of each team, we will look at the draft capital used and how successful the player was with the team.

Arizona Cardinals

Budda Baker, S

The Cardinals drafted Baker in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Baker has spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Cardinals. He has been named to seven Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. He was also a second-team All-Pro. During the 2019 campaign, Baker led the NFL in solo tackles (104).

Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson, RB

With the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons secured a franchise cornerstone in Bijan Robinson. Even though Robinson was not given a full workload in his rookie season, he flashed elite potential as he posted a strong 4.6 YPA and tallied 976 yards on the ground with 487 through the air. Then in 2024, Robinson emerged as one of the league’s top backs as he ran for 1,456 yards and found the back of the end zone 15 times.

Carolian Panthers

Christian McCaffrey, RB

Even though Christian McCaffrey no longer plays in Carolina, he was still their best draft pick over the last decade. The Panthers selected McCaffrey with the eighth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. McCaffrey would enjoy one of the best seasons by a running back in league history in 2019 when he ran for 1,387 yards and added another 1,005 through the air. Across six seasons in Carolina, he would score 50 combined touchdowns.

Chicago Bears

Eddie Jackson, S

The Bears selected Eddie Jackson in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Jackson would spend the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Bears. As a Bear, Jackson would be a leader in the secondary, averaging 66 combined tackles per season. Jackson was a two-time Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro once, during the 2018 campaign.

Dallas Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb, WR

This was a two-headed race between CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons. However, with Lamb being taken 17th overall (five spots later than Parsons), he earns the spot on this list. After his rookie season in which he tallied 935 yards, Lamb would go on to hit the century mark in each of his next four seasons. In 2023, Lamb would lead the NFL in receptions. He would be named second-team All-Pro twice and first-team All-Pro once.

Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

The Lions have one of the best “steals” on this list in Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions drafted the “Sun god” with the 112th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. After a promising rookie campaign, St. Brown would go on to catch at least 100 passes in each of his previous three seasons. During these three years, St. Brown was named first-team All-Pro twice and found the end zone 34 times. St. Brown will continue to be the focal point of one of the league’s top offensive units.

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones, RB

Aaron Jones is another member of the 2017 NFL Draft who holds a spot on this list. Jones was selected in the fifth round out of Texas-El Paso. Jones would serve as a three-down back during his entire seven-year tenure in Green Bay. After his rookie season, Jones would average 1,258 scrimmage yards per season with 59 total touchdowns. He would also be named to the Pro Bowl in 2020.

Los Angeles Rams

Cooper Kupp, WR

Cooper Kupp would serve as the focal point of the Los Angeles offense through most of his eight-year tenure. The Rams selected Kupp in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Kupp would enjoy one of the greatest single seasons by a wide receiver as he caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards. During this season, he found the back of the end zone 16 times. He would be named Offensive Player of the Year and, more importantly, Super Bowl MVP.

Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson, WR

Despite being a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Justin Jefferson is one of the most significant values on this list. Jefferson would immediately emerge as one of, if not, the league’s top wide receivers. Through his first five seasons, Jefferson would be named to four Pro Bowls and would be a two-time first-team All-Pro. The LSU product was the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year and averaged over 100 yards per game in two seasons.

New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara, RB

The third-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft wasted little time to make an impact as he won Offensive Rookie of the Year. Across his first eight seasons in New Orleans, Kamara would be named to five Pro Bowls and two second-team All-Pros. He would be a factor in both the rushing and the receiving game, as he would catch 75+ passes in five out of the eight seasons.

New York Giants

Saquon Barkley, RB

Even though Saquon Barkley would enjoy the best season of his career with their division rival, the New York Giants still made the correct decision in drafting Barkley with the second pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Barkley would capture the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in his debut campaign as he would lead the league with 2,028 scrimmage yards. With the Giants, he would average just under 1,300 scrimmage yards per season and score 47 total TDs.

Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts, QB

The Philadelphia Eagles found their franchise quarterback in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While Hurts took some time to adjust to the NFL, once he found his footing, he emerged as one of the sport’s top options. He would lead the Eagles to two Super Bowls and win his first in 2024. Hurts is a two-time Pro Bowler and has scored 140 total touchdowns.

San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy, QB

Brock Purdy is the player who holds the lowest draft capital on this list. The 49ers selected Purdy in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. With this selection, the 49ers found their franchise quarterback. Purdy would take over starting duties late in the 2022 season and would eventually finish third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Over his next two seasons, Purdy would average a stellar 104.4 passer rating with 4,072 yards per season.

Seattle Seahawks

DK Metcalf, WR

The Seattle Seahawks drafted DK Metcalf out of Mississippi with the 64th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Metcalf would emerge as the top option in the offense in his first season, as he would tally 900 yards with seven touchdowns. Over his next four seasons, he would eclipse the century mark in all but one and average nine touchdowns per season. In 2024, Metcalf battled injuries but still tallied 992 receiving yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield Jr., S

The Buccaneers drafted a cornerstone of their secondary with the 45th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Winfield immediately found a lead role in the secondary as he finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He would then make the Pro Bowl in his sophomore campaign and be named first-team All-Pro during the 2023 season. In 2023, Winfield would lead the league in forced fumbles (6).

Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin, WR

While Jayden Daniels was in strong consideration, Terry McLaurin will be the representative for Washington on this list. McLaurin was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. McLaurin would tally at least 1,000 yards in all but one season so far. Despite playing on struggling Washington teams with a revolving door at the QB position, McLaurin would remain consistent. Then, in 2024, with Daniels under center, McLaurin enjoyed his long-awaited breakout as he set the franchise record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season.