MLB Drafts: Power Ranking the Top First-Round Draft Classes of the 21st Century

General managers love the draft. It’s easily the best way to add young, cheap, controllable talent that fans can fall in love with, and pay even more money to watch them play.

Few things can give a GM the satisfaction of drafting that signature franchise player who provides consistent production for the same team throughout his entire career.

But for as many times they get it right by picking that once-in-a-generation talent to lead his team to the World Series, there is always a possibility of all the general managers in the game wasting 401 picks on guys not named Albert Pujols. That said, here are the top five first-round draft classes of the 21st century.

5. Class of 2007

Notable Draftees: David Price, Matt Wieters, Madison Bumgarner, Jason Heyward

This group gets bonus points for projection: All four are destined to become perennial All-Stars at their respective positions. Add in other highly regarded prospects such as Jarrod Parker and J.P. Arencibia and you’ve got a legitimate draft class.

4. Class of 2008

Notable Draftees: Eric Hosmer, Buster Posey, Yonder Alonso, Brett Lawrie, Ike Davis.

This is the year the Rays will forever look back on and ask, “What if?” After taking Tim Beckham with the first overall pick, they watched all the aforementioned young players ascend through the minor league ranks and give reason to expect solid major league careers. Hosmer, Posey and Lawrie have all shown success in the big leagues, and even works in progress such as Brian Matusz, Jemile Weeks and Justin Smoak were taken after Beckham. 

In a class loaded with talent, the Rays' often stellar scouting staff missed some serious opportunities.

3. Class of 2006

Notable Draftees: Evan Longoria, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer, Ian Kennedy.

Three of these players are currently among the best at what they do: Longoria, Kershaw and Lincecum. Those two pitchers alone have won a combined three Cy Young Awards early in their careers, and Longoria is a perennial threat to win the MVP.

Time for some hypothetical re-drafting: The Tigers could have taken either Kershaw or Lincecum with the sixth pick, but opted for Andrew Miller instead. If they had, fans today could be treated to never-ending debates between Verlander/Lincecum or Kerhaw vs. Halladay/Lee for MLB’s top of the rotation superiority.

2. Class of 2002

Notable Draftees: B.J. Upton, Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels, Matt Cain.

Perhaps the Pirates' streak of losing seasons would have ended a few years ago if had done a better job in this draft. After taking Bryan Bullington with the first overall pick, they watched the players listed above fly off the board, in addition to several other solid major leaguers. 

Jeff Francis, Joe Saunders, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher, James Loney, Denard Span, Jeremy Guthrie, Jeff Francouer and Joe Blanton have all experienced a relative degree of success in the majors.

Because of the outstanding depth and combined talent of this draft, it barely missed out on the No. 1 spot.

1. Class of 2005

Notable Draftees: Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Ricky Romero, Troy Tulowitzki, Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Colby Rasmus.

Easily boasting the largest amount of star power on this list, the class of 2005 is widely regarded as one of the top draft classes in the history of the game. At least three of the players listed above will likely go in the first round of your fantasy drafts, and many others will follow soon after.

Other players enjoying decent, if not spectacular careers are Cameron Maybin, Mike Pelfrey and Chris Volstad.