Ranking Every NFL Draft Class of the Last Decade

The 2012 NFL draft class is special—absolutely loaded with well-rounded and complete players who, to some, have little to no flaws. 

Stanford's Andrew Luck is said to be the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning was taken No. 1 overall in the 1998 draft.

His teammate, David DeCastro, is being hyped as the best interior offensive line prospect in the last decade. 

Alabama's Trent Richardson's got all the tools to be an instant-impact running back at the next level. Wide receivers Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery have been compared to Anquan Boldin and Calvin Johnson. 

What about the draft classes over the last 10 years? You know, the classes that gave us Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Maurice Jones-Drew, DeMarcus Ware, Patrick Willis and Larry Fitzgerald.

Let's power rank them. 

10. Class of 2011

The Class of 2011 automatically lands at the No. 10 spot simply because we haven't seen enough from these guys yet. 

However, the future is bright. Very bright. 

Cam Newton has the potential to transcend the quarterback position, and Von Miller can be the next Derrick Thomas.

Four players made the Pro Bowl in their rookie years. 

Notable Players

Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Andy Dalton, Torrey Smith, DeMarco Murray, Roy Helu. 

We'll see how this group turns out, but there's loads of promise, especially in the first few rounds. 

9. Class of 2002

David Carr flopped as the No. 1 overall pick, but he did pick up a Super Bowl ring as the New York Giants back-up quarterback this season. 

Ten first-rounders made the Pro Bowl. 

Eh, not great. 

Of those Pro Bowlers, only Ed Reed, Bryant McKinnie, Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney have sustained quality careers. 

Notable Players

Julius Peppers, Bryant McKinnie, Dwight Freeney, Ed Reed, Jeremy Shockey, Brian Westbrook, Brett Keisel 

Bart Scott, Ryan Clarke and James Harrison were all picked up as undrafted free agents.

While Peppers, Freeney and Reed are still defensive stars to this day, the rest of the class sort of flamed out if they achieved any type of relatively prolonged success. 

Not a ton of good players found in the mid-to-late rounds in '02. 

8. Class of 2005

No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith was considered a bust until the San Francisco 49ers' 13-3 season and trip to the NFC Championship game in 2011. 

Still, he's not an elite quarterback. 

This class provided the NFL with a slew of premier players at their respective positions. 

A surprising 16 first-round picks are Pro Bowlers. 

Notable Players

Ronnie Brown, Carlos Rogers, DeMarcus Ware, Derrick Johnson, Aaron Rodgers, Roddy White, Corey Webster, Vincent Jackson, Frank Gore, Justin Tuck, Trent Cole, Chris Myers and Jay Ratliff. 

Josh Cribbs and Cameron Wake were undrafted free agents in 2005. 

The first round of this class leaves a lot to be desired. Brown has been a steady running back, but he's battled injuries for the majority of his career, as has his Auburn teammate, Cadillac Williams. 

The top seven picks were duds for the most part. Pac-Man Jones? Troy Williamson? Not a ton of late-round eventual stars, either. 

7. Class of 2009

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford hasn't made a Pro Bowl, but he certainly should have been a replacement this season with over 5,000 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. 

He'll eventually get to Hawai'i; that is, if there's still a game in the future. 

The rest of the Top-10 hasn't exactly progressed the way their respective teams would have hoped, but there's still time. 

Notable Players

Matthew Stafford, B.J. Raji, Brian Orakpo, Percy Harvin, Clay Matthews, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Connor Barwin, LeSean McCoy, Mike Wallace and Johnny Knox. 

Arian Foster went undrafted in 2009. 

A lot of players from this class get a pass because there's still time to improve as they enter what should be the primes of their careers. 

Not a ton of instant-impact, budding superstars, though. 

6. Class of 2008

Jake Long was the No. 1 overall pick and has been a stonewall tackle on the Miami Dolphins offensive line, although his team hasn't seen a great deal of success over the last four seasons. 

Seven first-round picks have become Pro Bowlers, and there aren't many guys that look to have that kind of potential. 

Notable Players

Jake Long, Matt Ryan, Chris Long, Jerod Mayo, Ryan Clady, Joe Flacco, Chris Johnson, Brandon Flowers, Jordy Nelson, Curtis Lofton, Matt Forte, DeSean Jackson, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, Mario Manningham and Carl Nicks. 

There were no notable undrafted players in 2008. 

Three supremely-talented running backs were picked up in Matt Forte, Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles. Not a great deal of solid players were found in the mid-to-late rounds, however. 

5. Class of 2010

Sam Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick, but Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 overall pick, has experienced a much quicker transition to the NFL and has experienced more success. 

Bradford's got the ability to be a fine signal-caller; he just needs to stay healthy, something he's struggled with early in his pro career. 

Although the first round only has eight Pro Bowlers, this class has a tremendous amount of players who are ready to burst onto the scene. 

Notable Players

Ndamukong Suh, Sam Bradford, Eric Berry, Jason Pierre-Paul, Maurkice Pouncey, Dez Bryant, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, NaVorro Bowman, Geno Atkins and Antonio Brown. 

LeGarrette Blount and Victor Cruz were undrafted. 

For a class that's only been in the league for two seasons, the 2010 group is rather impressive. Loads of skill at a variety of positions. 

4. Class of 2004

The 2004 class didn't come without controversy, as Eli Manning was selected No. 1 overall by the San Diego Chargers, but he and his father demanded a trade to the New York Giants. 

Their wish was granted, and yeah, the Giants have won two Super Bowls in the last five years. 

Fifteen of the 32 first-round picks have been named to the Pro Bowl. 

Notable Players

Eli Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers, Sean Taylor, DeAngelo Hall, Ben Roethlisberger, Vince Wilfork, Steven Jackson, Darnell Dockett, Matt Schaub, Shaun Phillips, Jared Allen, Antonio Smith and Michael Turner. 

Jason Peters and Wes Welker were undrafted free agents in 2004. 

This class is rock-solid. Their first-round selections emerged as some of the most recognizable players in the game.

3. Class of 2006

Mario Williams has slowly become worth the No. 1 overall pick for the Houston Texans, but their selection didn't come without controversy with collegiate legend Reggie Bush available. 

The mid-rounds were filled with solid players as well.

Half of the first-round has been named to the Pro Bowl.  

Notable Players

Mario Williams, Reggie Bush, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Vernon Davis, Jay Cutler, Haloti Ngata, Tamba Hali, Johnathan Joseph, Nick Mangold, DeMeco Ryans, Greg Jennings, Maurice Jones-Drew, Devin Hester, Jahri Evans, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, Kyle Williams and Cortland Finnegan. 

Miles Austin, Brent Grimes and Tramon Williams were undrafted free agents that year. 

An underrated class, mainly because many of its best players weren't picked in the first round. Brandon Marshall in the fourth round and Cortland Finnegan in Round 7—are you kidding?

2. Class of 2007

Based on his pre-draft hype, position, total lack of production and precipitous decline out of the league, JaMarcus Russell is the biggest draft bust in the history of the NFL. 

That doesn't bode well for the 2007 class. 

Actually, the rest of the class wasn't bad. 

In fact, it's oozing with elite players at their respective positions. 

Notable Players

Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis, Dwayne Bowe, Ben Grubbs, LaMarr Woodley, David Harris, Marshal Yanda and Dashon Goldson

There were no notable undrafted free agents besides Atlanta Falcons return man Eric Weems. 

This class is lined with perennial All-Pros. Calvin Johnson's the league's best receiver, Patrick Willis, the best linebacker and Darrelle Revis, the best cornerback. Some would argue Joe Thomas as the best left tackle. 

If it wasn't for the colossal collapse of the No. 1 overall pick, the '07 class would easily be the best class. 

1. Class of 2003

Of the 32 first-round picks in the 2003 draft, 13 were named to the Pro Bowl, and Carson Palmer was the No. 1 overall pick and flirted with that "elite" quarterback status with the Bengals before ultimately regressing to an average QB caliber.

The second round had a myriad of solid and productive players whom are still contributing today.

There also were a good mix of guys selected in the mid-to-late rounds that became good players, too.

Notable Players (I'm taking an "Ace Ventura on Ray Finkle's porch" inhale for this one) 

Andre Johnson, Terence Newman, Jordan Gross, Kevin Williams, Terrell Suggs, Troy Polamalu, Willis McGahee, Dallas Clark ,Nnamdi Asomugha, Anquan Boldin, Osi Umenyiora, Lance Briggs, Jason Witten, Asante Samuel, Robert Mathis, David Diehl and Dan Koppen. 

Antonio Gates and Tony Romo were undrafted free agents in 2003. 

This class is oozing with today's star players, which shouldn't be stunning, because many of these guys are in the primes of their careers. 

With the balance from top to bottom, this is best class in the last decade.