Ranking the Top 25 NFL Draft Picks from 1st Quarter of 21st Century

We’ve now seen 25 draft classes take the field this century in the NFL, with the 26th class set to debut in September. 

With that in mind, we figure this is a good time to run down some of the greatest picks made in the last quarter-century. 

Excluding top-10 selections (because few are ever the result of rocket science), let’s count ‘em down from 25 to 1.

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AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

25. WR Justin Jefferson -- Round 1 (22nd overall) by the Vikings in 2020

Four receivers went off the board before Jefferson, who was Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and has arguably emerged as the best wideout in the NFL at the age of 26. 

24. QB Brock Purdy -- Round 7 (262nd overall) by the 49ers in 2022

The jury is still out on Mr. Irrelevant, of course, but the fact is he’s the highest-rated passer in NFL history among those with at least 1,000 career attempts. 

23. CB Darrelle Revis -- Round 1 (14th overall) by the Jets in 2007

By no means was the Hall of Famer an afterthought in ‘07, but the Jets quickly looked like geniuses by trading up to grab him in the middle of Round 1. Revis made seven Pro Bowls over the course of the next nine seasons and was a four-time first-team All-Pro. 

22. G Jahri Evans -- Round 4 (108th overall) by the Saints in 2006

Very rarely do players drafted outside of the top 100 become four-time first-team All-Pros. For 11 years, Evans was a key cog for the consistently competitive Saints.

21. Edge T.J. Watt -- Round 1 (30th overall) by the Steelers in 2017

Like Jefferson and Purdy, there’s still room for the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year to climb this list as a late-first-rounder, but Watt is already a future Hall of Famer with four first-team All-Pro nods. Seven edge defenders went off the board before Watt did.

20-16

AP Photo/Don Wright

20. S Troy Polamalu -- Round 1 (16th overall) by the Steelers in 2003

The Hall of Famer was passed on 15 times in ‘03 before making eight Pro Bowls. He was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. 

19. S Ed Reed -- Round 1 (24th overall) by the Ravens in 2002

The Hall of Famer was passed on 23 times in ‘02 before making nine Pro Bowls. He was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. 

18. TE George Kittle -- Round 5 (146th) by the 49ers in 2017

As a four-time 1,000-yard receiver who continues to make a huge impact, Kittle has helped get the 49ers to two Super Bowls in the last six years. Not bad for the sixth player taken by the team in the ‘17 draft. 

17. LB Bobby Wagner -- Round 2 (47th overall) by the Seahawks in 2012

An integral part of the Seahawks throughout the Russell Wilson/Pete Carroll era, Wagner is a six-time first-team All-Pro with longevity to boot. Yet he was only the second-best pick in one of the greatest team draft classes in NFL history. 

16. G Zack Martin -- Round 1 (16th overall) by the Cowboys in 2014

Only 13 players in NFL history have earned more first-team All-Pro honors than Martin (seven). He’ll eventually be in Canton. He probably should have been the No. 1 pick in this draft (it’s him or Khalil Mack).

15-11

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, left, and AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

15. WR Davante Adams -- Round 2 (53rd overall) in 2014

Adams is one of just 10 players in NFL history with more than 100 touchdown catches, and for several years he was clearly one of the top offensive players in the game. Yet he wasn’t even a top-50 selection in 2014.

14. QB Jalen Hurts -- Round 2 (53rd overall) by the Eagles in 2020

Anytime you can land a bona fide franchise quarterback without using a top-50 pick, you’re winning big. That’s what Hurts has done in helping the Eagles get to two Super Bowls in four seasons as a starter, winning MVP in the last one. 

13. WR Antonio Brown -- Round 6 (195th overall) by the Steelers in 2010

The key here is Round 6. A hilarious 21 receivers were selected before Pittsburgh finally took Brown in 2010, and he wound up on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team thanks to seven Pro Bowl nods. 

12. TE Travis Kelce -- Round 3 (63rd overall) by the Chiefs in 2013

The future Hall of Famer was the only other player the Chiefs selected in the top 95 after they took Eric Fisher first overall. Now he’s one of only three tight ends in the 12,000-yard club. 

11. C Jason Kelce -- Round 6 (191st overall) by the Eagles in 2011

Taken three rounds later than his younger brother two years earlier, Jason was a stalwart six-time first-team All-Pro for the usually competitive Eagles. 

10-6

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

10. Edge Jared Allen -- Round 4 (126th overall) by the Chiefs in 2004

The Hall of Famer ranks 12th on the all-time sack list with 136, but he was merely the fifth player selected by the Chiefs in the ‘04 draft. 

9. QB Lamar Jackson -- Round 1 (32nd overall) by the Ravens in 2018

Jackson falls short of the top group because he was still a first-round pick and he’s yet to get Baltimore to a Super Bowl, but the fact is he’s already a two-time MVP with the third-highest passer rating in NFL history at age 28. It’s amazing he was the fifth quarterback to go off the board in this draft. What a trade-up from the Ravens.

8. DL J.J. Watt -- Round 1 (11th overall) by the Texans in 2011

As with Jackson, the Watt pick loses some points simply because it wasn’t exactly some diamond in the rough. That said, we’re talking about one of only three three-time Defensive Player of the Year winners. 

7. DT Aaron Donald -- Round 1 (13th overall) by the Rams in 2014

And here’s another one. It’s Watt, Donald and Lawrence Taylor. And Donald was chosen two spots later than Watt. 

6. TE Rob Gronkowski -- Round 2 (42th overall) by the Patriots in 2010

The four-time Super Bowl champion falls a little short in terms of individual statistics because he lacked longevity, but his legacy is massive. He’s widely considered one of the top five tight ends of all time, despite coming out of Round 2 in 2010.

5-1

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File

5. WR Tyreek Hill -- Round 5 (165th overall) in by Chiefs 2016

When healthy and focused, there hasn’t been a weapon in the game quite like Hill, who was the 18th receiver selected in ‘16 but has been to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons. 

4. QB Drew Brees -- Round 2 (32nd overall) by Chargers in 2001

One of the most decorated and productive players in the history of the sport was overshadowed by Michael Vick, LaDainian Tomlinson and 29 others before finally going to San Diego in ‘01.

3. QB Aaron Rodgers -- Round 1 (24th overall) by Packers in 2005

Only Peyton Manning (five) has won more MVPs than Rodgers (four), and he remains the highest-rated passer of all time (minimum of 1,500 pass attempts). Yet Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson, Travis Johnson, David Pollack, Erasmus James, Matt Jones and Fabian Washington were among those selected before him. 

2. QB Russell Wilson -- Round 3 (75th overall) by Seahawks in 2012

Here’s another future Hall of Famer with one of the best resumes in league history, but unlike Brees, Rodgers, Jackson and Hurts, Wilson wasn’t even taken in the first two rounds.

1. QB Tom Brady -- Round 6 (199th overall) by Patriots in 2000

Duh. The most accomplished player in the history of professional football was famously just the seventh quarterback selected in that draft.