Reader Input: Which Team Drafts Best In The First Round?

99% of us put way too much emphasis on the NFL Draft.  I get it.  There's a long lull between the end of the playoffs and the start of mini-camp, and you really need your football fix.  But putting as much hope, expectations and money into a handful of 22 year old boys is asinine and rediculous.

Yeah, I do it too.

You hear a couple times a year about the NFL Draft Busts, but not nearly enough about the teams that do the most solid job in spending the money at the end of April. So here, we will dissect the 5 best 1st round drafting teams over the last 5 years.  I will give my opinion, and want to hear and see yours.

Houston Texans:
2006, Mario Williams, DE
2007, Amobi Akoye, DT
2008, Duane Brown, OT
2009, Brian Cushing, LB
2010, Kareem Jackson, CB

Denver Broncos:
2006, Jay Cutler, QB
2007, Jarvis Moss, DE
2008, Ryan Clady, OT
2009, Knowshon Moreno, RB, Robert Ayers, LB
2010, Demaryius Thomas, WR, Tim Tebow, QB

Baltimore Ravens:
2006, Haloti Ngata, DT
2007, Ben Grubbs, OG
2008, Joe Flacco, QB
2009, Michael Oher, OT
2010 - no pick, traded to Denver for 2010 2nd and 3rd round picks.

Cincinnati Bengals:
2006, Jonathan Joseph, CB
2007, Leon Hall, CB
2008, Keith Rivers, LB
2009, Andre Smith, OT
2010, Jermaine Gresham, TE

New York Jets:
2006, Nick Mangold, C, D'Brickashaw Furgeson, OT
2007, Darrell Revis, CB
2008, Vernon Gholston, LB, Dustin Keller, TE
2009, Mark Sanchez, QB
2010, Kyle Wilson, CB

You have here, in my opinion, the five best 1st round drafting teams in the NFL over the last 5 years.  What do you notice about the five of them?  All but one (Denver) has drastically improved over the last five years.  Denver could have, but getting rid of Shanahan and Cutler really stunted their growth.  Denver could have redeemed themselves with a great draft in 2010, but instead opted for the Tebow Experiment, and thus are not my best drafting team.

One way to get the status of best first round drafting NFL Team is to have a pick every year.  The Carolina Panthers have had great drafts recently, but they've not had a 1st round pick since 2008.  That's why they're not on the list.  The fact that the Ravens didn't have one this year is why they're not the best war room generals in the NFL.

Is that logic flawed?  Absolutely.  Roast me later.

Another huge step in having 1st round success is the ability to get your players on the field.  The Cincinnati Bengals have had huge success over the last several years, solidifying their secondary and bringing in Rivers to maul in the middle.  However Andre Smith refused to sign for 30 days, and didn't start until Mid December.  They've been good, but not the best.

So it comes down to the Jets and the Texans.  Two teams that have shown some of the most steady growth over the last couple years. But at the end of the day, when you get two shut down corners, a QB to build around, a nice young TE, and other good pieces, it's hard to argue with what the J-E-T-S have done over the last few years.

Best 1st Round Drafting Team: New York Jets

Don't agree?  What say you?  Is it one of the other teams I've mentioned?  Did I completely miss one of the great drafting teams?  It's a possibility.  Let's hear it!