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The greatest draft pick for every NFL team. Who was the best draft pick for each nfl franchise.
Every NFL Team’s Greatest Draft Pick of All Time - All 32 Franchises
With the offseason in full swing and the NFL Draft just a month away, it is the perfect time to look at every NFL team’s best draft pick. To determine this, we will look exclusively at their statistics, awards, and if they were able to bring them a championship.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Wilson, S
The Cardinals selected Larry Wilson in the seventh round of the 1960 NFL Draft. With this pick, the Cardinals secured a Hall of Fame safety who spent his entire 13-year career with the franchise. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro rosters. He was also named to the All-Hall of Fame 1960s and 1970s team.
Atlanta Falcons
Deion Sanders, CB
With the fifth pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons drafted one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. Sanders would spend the first five years of his NFL career in Atlanta. Sanders was named to three Pro Bowls and finished first-team All-Pro twice with Atlanta. During this stretch, he also tallied at least five interceptions in three seasons.
Baltimore Ravens
Ray Lewis, LB
Ray Lewis joined Baltimore with the 26th pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. Lewis would go on to enjoy a 17-year Hall of Fame career with the Ravens. During his tenure in Baltimore, Lewis made 12 Pro Bowls, was named to seven first-team All-Pro rosters, and, more importantly, won two Super Bowls. Lewis was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Buffalo Bills
Thurman Thomas, RB
In the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected one of the best players in their franchise history. Thomas would spend the first 12 seasons of his 13-year NFL career in Buffalo. Thomas was a two-time first-team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. Thomas also won the 1991 NFL MVP and was named to the All-1990s Hall of Fame team.
Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith Sr., WR
The Panthers selected their best receiver in franchise history in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Smith wasted little time to make an impact as he was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie. Smith would go on to make another first-team All-Pro roster (2005) and one second-team All-Pro roster (2008).
Chicago Bears
Walter Payton, RB
The Bears drafted Walter Payton with the fourth pick in the 1975 NFL Draft. Payton would enjoy one of the most successful careers by a running back in league history. “Sweetness” would be named to nine Pro Bowl rosters and was also named first-team All-Pro five times. Payton was named to the All-1970s and 1980s Hall of Fame team and finished his career with 16,726 yards and 110 scores.
Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony Munoz, OT
With the third pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals would select their best player in franchise history. Often considered one of the best offensive tackles in league history, Anthony Munoz would be named first-team All-Pro nine times (during his 13-year career). Munoz would make 11 Pro Bowls and was named to the All-1980s Hall of Fame roster.
Cleveland Browns
Jim Brown, RB
Jim Brown was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft. Brown would spend all nine seasons of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. Brown would only miss first-team All-Pro honors once in his career and would make the Pro Bowl in each season. Brown led the league in rushing in all but one campaign and finished his career with 106 total rushing scores.
Dallas Cowboys
Roger Staubach, QB
Roger Staubach was initially drafted by the Chiefs in the AFL Draft but then re-entered the player pool to be selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 10th round. His NFL career was slightly delayed as he served four years in the United States Navy, but when he returned to the States, he led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer.
Denver Broncos
Shannon Sharpe, TE
One of the best “values” on this list is Shannon Sharpe. The Broncos selected Sharpe in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft. Sharpe enjoyed one of the most productive careers by a tight end. The Hall of Famer was named to four first-team All-Pro rosters and eight Pro Bowls. Sharpe was named to the All-1990s Hall of Fame team.
Detroit Lions
Barry Sanders, RB
The Lions drafted Barry Sanders with the third selection in the 1989 NFL Draft. Sanders would make the Pro Bowl during each of his 10 seasons and was a six-time first-team All-Pro. Sanders won the 1997 NFL MVP and was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year. He led the league in rushing four times and rushing scores once.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers, QB
The Green Bay Packers selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers would lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory. Rodgers was a four-time NFL MVP and four-time first-team All-Pro. The California product was named to 10 Pro Bowls and holds a league-record 1.4 percent INT%.
Houston Texans
J.J. Watt, DE
J.J. Watt was selected with the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and would become a franchise icon. Watt would tally double-digit sacks in six seasons and would lead the league twice. Watt was named to five first-team All-Pro rosters and was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Watt finished his career with 114.5 sacks with 586 combined tackles.
Indianapolis Colts
Raymond Berry, WR
The Baltimore Colts selected Raymond Berry in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. Berry would enjoy a 13-year Hall of Fame career with the Colts. Berry would lead the NFL in receiving yards three times and was named to six Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro rosters. Berry was also named to the All-1950s Hall of Fame team.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tony Boselli, OT
The Jaguars selected Tony Boselli with the second pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. Boselli would spend his entire seven-year career in Jacksonville. Boselli would make five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pros. Boselli started all 16 games in three seasons and only started less than 12 in one season.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB
The Chiefs moved up in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Patrick Mahomes with the 10th pick in the draft. The Chiefs would let Mahomes sit during his first season. However, once he took over the starting job, he did not look back. Mahomes has won three Super Bowls and captured the NFL MVP twice through seven seasons. He has also been a first-team All-Pro twice and led the league in passing scores in two seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders
Fred Biletnikoff, WR
In the second round of the 1965 AFL Draft, the Raiders selected Fred Biletnikoff out of Florida State. Biletnikoff was named to six Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. Biletnikoff won an AFL Championship and a Super Bowl Championship. In addition, he was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Los Angeles Chargers
Kellen Winslow, TE
Kellen Winslow was selected with the 13th pick in the 1979 NFL Draft. Winslow would enjoy a nine-year career with the San Diego Chargers. Winslow led the league in receptions twice and was named to three straight first-team All-Pro rosters. In addition, he was a five-time Pro Bowler and was named to the All-1980s Hall of Fame team.
Los Angeles Rams
Deacon Jones, DE
One of the best picks in relation to value on this list is Deacon Jones. The Rams selected one of the best defensive players in league history in the 14th round of the 1961 NFL Draft. Jones would be named to eight Pro Bowls and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. Jones averaged 15.4 sacks per season across his 14-year NFL career.
Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino, QB
The Dolphins selected their franchise icon, Dan Marino, with the 27th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Even though Marino was never able to win a Lombardi Trophy, he is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. During his 17-year NFL career, Marino led the league in passing yards five times. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and the 1984 league MVP.
Minnesota Vikings
Randy Moss, WR
Randy Moss was selected with the 21st pick in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Marshall. Moss would spend the first seven seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Vikings. During this stretch, Moss was a three-time first-team All-Pro and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year during his debut campaign. He also led the league in receiving TDs three times in Minnesota.
New England Patriots
Tom Brady, QB
The New England Patriots made the best selection in NFL draft history but selected the G.O.A.T. in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady would lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories. During this stretch, the Patriots enjoyed one of the greatest dynasties in professional sports. Brady was a three-time NFL MVP and a three-time first-team All-Pro.
New Orleans Saints
Rickey Jackson, LB
The Saints selected Rickey Jackson in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Jackson won a Super Bowl in New Orleans and would play a critical role in their defense for 13 seasons. Jackson was a six-time Pro Bowler and was named to four second-team All-Pro rosters. Jackson also led the league in forced fumbles four times.
New York Giants
Michael Strahan, DE
The Giants selected Michael Strahan in the second round (40th overall) in the 1993 NFL Draft. Strahan would spend his entire 15-year NFL career with Big Blue. Strahan would set the single-season sack record during the 2001 season (22.5). He was a four-time first-team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler.
New York Jets
Darrelle Revis, DB
The New York Jets drafted Darrelle Revis with the 14th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Revis would kickstart his career with the Jets. During his 11-year career, Revis would spend eight seasons with the Jets. He was a three-time first-team All-Pro (four-time counting his season with New England) and a seven-time Pro Bowler. The Hall of Famer tallied 29 total interceptions.
Philadelphia Eagles
Harold Carmichael, WR
Harold Carmichael would spend the first 13 seasons of his NFL career with the Eagles. The Eagles drafted Carmichael in the seventh round of the 1971 NFL Draft. The Hall of Famer would be named to four Pro Bowl rosters and was named to the All-1970s Hall of Fame roster. Carmichael tallied over 1,000 yards three times and led the league in receiving in 1973.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Webster, C
Mike Webster was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. Webster would win four Super Bowls with the Steelers. The center would make nine Pro Bowls and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. Webster would also be named to the All-1970s and 1980s Hall of Fame team.
San Francisco 49ers
Joe Montana, QB
In the 1979 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Joe Montana out of Notre Dame in the third round. Montana would enjoy one of the best seasons by a quarterback in NFL history. Montana would lead the 49ers to four Super Bowls. The Hall of Famer would win four league MVPs and was an eight-time Pro Bowler.
Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson, QB
The Seahawks would draft the best quarterback in the history of their franchise in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Wilson would lead the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances and would win one. Wilson would be named to 10 Pro Bowls and was the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Lynch, S
John Lynch was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. The Hall of Fame safety would be named to nine Pro Bowls and would win a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. Lynch was a two-time first-team All-Pro and finished his career with 1,059 combined tackles (727 solo).
Tennessee Titans
Eddie George, RB
Eddie George was drafted by the “then” Houston Oilers in the first round (14th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft. George would be named to one first-team All-Pro team and four Pro Bowl rosters. George won Offensive Rookie of the Year during his debut campaign. He ran for at least 1,000 yards in all but two seasons during his career.
Washington Commanders
Darrell Green, DB
Darrell Green was drafted with the 28th selection in the 1983 NFL Draft. Green would win two Super Bowls with Washington and was named first-team All-Pro once during his career. Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler and was named to the All-1990s Hall of Fame team. Green totaled 54 interceptions and 1,202 combined tackles.
