NFL Draft: Power Ranking the No. 1 Overall Draft Picks of the 2000's

The 2011 NFL draft is just around the corner.

Each team's executive brass is getting ready to make a first selection that could impact its franchise for years to come...positively or negatively. 

The following is a power ranking of the No. 1 overall picks of the NFL drafts from the 2000s.

Check out the similar lists for the 1980's and the 1990's.

Enjoy!

11. JaMarcus Russell: 2007

Position: Quarterback

College: LSU

NFL Team Drafted by: Oakland Raiders

NFL Team Played for: Oakland Raiders (2007–2009)

JaMarcus Russell is considered by many to be the biggest bust in NFL draft history.

Russell has the worst starting record among quarterbacks taken No. 1 in the NFL draft.

Russell's 2009 passer rating of 50.0 was the lowest by a starting quarterback in the NFL since 1998.

His final stats during his three years as a Raider were 52.1% pass completion, 4,083 yards, 18-23 TD-INT ratio, a passer rating of 65.2 and 15 lost fumbles.

Russell has tried out with a number of NFL teams since being released by Oakland.

10. Alex Smith: 2005

Position: Quarterback

College: Utah

NFL Team Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

NFL Teams Played for: San Francisco 49ers (2005-present)

Alex Smith has had an uneven six seasons in the NFL.

During his rookie season, Smith had one touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The last two seasons, Smith has thrown for 4,720 yards and 32 TDs.

Overall, Smith has more INTs (53) than TDs (51).

9. Courtney Brown: 2000

Position: Defensive End

College: Penn State

NFL Team Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

NFL Teams Played for: Cleveland Browns (2000–2004); Denver Broncos (2005–2006)

Courtney Brown was the 11th defensive lineman to be taken first overall in the history of the NFL draft.

Brown had a solid rookie season with 70 tackles, including 4.5 sacks. His "sophomore season" was cut short by injury, but he still recorded 4.5 sacks. He only played 26 games over the next three seasons.

All told, Brown had 156 tackles and 19 sacks in his seven-year career.

8. Matthew Stafford: 2009

Position: Quarterback

College: Georgia

NFL Team Drafted by: Detroit Lions

NFL Team Played for: Detroit Lions (2009-present)

Matthew Stafford had an average season as a rookie NFL quarterback, having passed for 2,267 yards, 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

In all 10 of the games he started for the Lions, he either threw or ran for a touchdown.

Stafford was injured in the first game of his second season. He re-injured the shoulder later in the year, with the injury requiring season-ending surgery.

Recently, Stafford was seen throwing during a workout at the University of Georgia's spring game.

7. David Carr: 2002

Position: Quarterback

College: Fresno State

NFL Team Drafted by: Houston Texans

NFL Teams Played on: Houston Texans (2002–2006); Carolina Panthers (2007); New York Giants (2008–2009); San Francisco 49ers (2010–present).

David Carr had a challenging start to his NFL career.

With the first overall pick of 2002 NFL draft, the expansion Houston Texans selected Carr. He would go on to start all but four games for the team in its first five years.

In 2006, Carr led the NFL in completion percentage (68.9 percent) and tied the single-game NFL record of 22 consecutive pass completions.

For his career, Carr has 14,433 passing yards and 65 passing TDs.

6. Mario Williams: 2006

Position: Defensive End

College: North Carolina State

NFL Team Drafted by: Houston Texans 

NFL Team Played for: Houston Texans (2006–present)

When Mario Williams was selected first overall by the Texans in the 2006 NFL draft, he was the first player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to be chosen as the first overall pick.

Williams has gradually become one of the top DEs, compared by some to Dwight Feeney.

Williams, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has had 230 tackles, including 48 sacks.

5. Sam Bradford: 2010

Position: Quarterback

College: Oklahoma

NFL Team Drafted by: St. Louis Rams

NFL Team Played for: St. Louis Rams (2010-present)

Sam Bradford had a very promising rookie season last year.

He completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,512 yards and 18 TDs.

In his first eight games, he passed for 11 TDs, which tied an NFL rookie record held also by Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Not bad company to be keeping.

During October and November, he set a record for most consecutive passes without an interception for a rookie (169).

Bradford also set the NFL season record for most passes attempted (590) and completed passes (326) by a rookie.

On top of the individual accolades, Bradford helped the Rams go from a bleak 1-15 to a hopeful 7-9.

4. Carson Palmer: 2003

Position: Quarterback

College: USC

NFL Team Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals

NFL Team Played on: Cincinnati Bengals (2003-present)

Carson Palmer had the privilege of being able to learn the NFL game by watching during his rookie season.

Since then, Palmer, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has had a very productive NFL career.

In his eight years in the league, he has thrown for 22,694 yards and 144 TDs.

Palmer holds many franchise records including:

Most TD Passes, Game (six)

Most TD Passes, Season (32)

Highest Completion Percentage, Career (63.8).

Palmer has also has a share of the NFL record for most consecutive games  with a passer rating of over 100 (nine, tied with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady).

3. Jake Long: 2008

Position: Offensive Tackle

College: Michigan

NFL Team Drafted by: Miami Dolphins

NFL Team Played for: Miami Dolphins (2008–present)

Jake Long is good as reported. He has started every game since becoming a member of the Miami Dolphins.

He has been an All-Pro selection each of his first three years in the NFL.

Long's presence has helped the Dolphins overhaul their offense line and reduced the amount of sacks drastically.

2. Eli Manning: 2004

Position: Quarterback

College: Mississippi

NFL Team Drafted by: San Diego Chargers (traded to the New York Giants)

NFL Team Played for: New York Giants (2004-present)

Eli Manning has had a strong first seven years in the NFL.

Manning has thrown for 22,646 yards and 156 TDs and has been selected for the Pro Bowl once (2008). 

More importantly, Manning led the Giants to a Super Bowl XLII win, taking home the Super Bowl MVP as well. 

1. Michael Vick: 2001

Position: Quarterback

College: Virginia Tech

NFL Team Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

NFL Teams Played for: Atlanta Falcons (2001–2006); Philadelphia Eagles (2009–present)

Michael Vick is unique quarterback, blending speed, skill and a very strong arm.

Vick is the only quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards during a (2006) regular season when he also set the NFL quarterback record for most yards per carry in a season with 8.4. Wow!

In his career, Vick has thrown for 93 TDs and 14,609 yards. He has rushed for 4,640 yards and has recorded 32 rushing TDs.

Vick has been selected four times for the Pro Bowl and was named the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.