Best and Worst of the NFL Draft: Nos. 29-15

Best Picks 

29. Marc Bulger  QB, New Orleans Saints 168th overall (6th round) 2000

It’s a shame that the Saints couldn’t make room for Bulger. He was cut shortly after the draft and eventually caught on as the Rams’ No. 3 quarterback. 

Thanks to injuries to Kurt Warner and Jamie Martin, Bulger got a chance to start in his second season and never looked back. West Virginia’s all-time leading passer threw for a league-high 4,301 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2006, and was elected to the Pro Bowl twice.

28. Matt Birk  C, Minnesota Vikings 173th overall (6th round) 1998

Birk may not be the smartest guy out there, but he makes up for his embarrassing lack of general knowledge with raw strength and technique. 

He slid on the draft board for two reasons: 1. Teams are reluctant to use a first-day pick on a center and 2. Teams are reluctant to draft a player with such immense off-the-field problems. Luckily for the Vikings, Birk was able to put his shoddy past behind him and become a six-time Pro Bowler. 

27. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila  DE, Green Bay Packers 150th overall (5th round) 2000

KGB recently surpassed Reggie White as Green Bay’s all-time sack leader. Originally dubbed a pure speed rusher, the San Diego State product has developed into a reliable every-down defensive end. 

26. Edgerrin James  RB, Indianapolis Colts  4th overall (1st round) 1999

It’s not often that the fourth player chosen in the draft constitutes a “great pick,” but this is the case with James. Edge set records at Miami, but until a 299-yard, three-touchdown outburst against UCLA, James didn’t take much attention away from Ricky Williams and his chase for the all-time rushing record. 

Williams was considered the best running back prospect in years, but Bill Polian instead selected James with Williams still on the board. At the time, it certainly wasn’t the popular pick, but it turned out to be the correct one. Edge led the NFL in rushing his first two years and brought a new dimension to the Indianapolis offense that helped it become the league’s dominant attack for James’ seven years with the team. 

Of course, when James demanded a big money deal, Polian let him walk, drafted Joseph Addai, and won the Super Bowl. Nonetheless, the fact that Indy finally got over the hump as soon as James left is a mere coincidence. He has still succeeded in Arizona despite playing behind a sub-par offensive line, and is sure to be a Hall of Famer when his career is over.    

25. (tie) Antonio Cromartie  CB, San Diego Chargers 19th overall (1st round) 2006
Marcus McNeil  T, San Diego Chargers  50th overall (2nd round) 2006

A few players away from becoming a serious contender, San Diego took a lot of heat for using a first-round pick on Cromartie, who started just one game in an injury-riddled career at Florida State. 

Fortunately, Cromartie has lived up to the pressure of being a first-rounder and exceeded all expectations. At 6-foot-2, 205 lbs, he is essentially Randy Moss playing defensive back. Cromartie, one of the most athletic cornerbacks to ever play the game, set an NFL-record with a 109-yard missed field-goal return, snagged 10 interceptions, and was named First Team All-Pro in his second season.  

McNeil unexpectedly was thrust into the starting left tackle spot as a rookie and excelled in the role. He received votes for Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl, and helped lead the Chargers to a 14-2 regular season record. 

24. (tie) Marion Barber III  RB, Dallas Cowboys  109 overall (4th round) 2005       Brandon Jacobs  RB, New York Giants  110 overall (4th round) 2005

Two of the most physical young running backs in the NFL were back-to-back day two picks in 2005. Barber flew under the radar after sharing carries with Laurence Maroney in college and Jacobs, considered to be a short-yardage specialist coming out of Northern Illinois, fell because teams doubted his ability to be a feature back. 

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