NFL: Every Franchise's Best Draft Pick of the 2000s
The ability of an NFL franchise to perform at a consistent, high level at the NFL draft determines how strong the team will be down the road. Elite teams are built from great draft selections and investing in some of the most talented players fresh out of college. Here is a list of the best draft pick of every NFL team since the year 2000.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald
1 of 32
Year Drafted: 2004, first round, third overall
College: Pittsburgh
Although there is a current absence under center in Arizona, Larry Fitzgerald is the most talented wide receiver in the NFL. Period. Fitz constantly gets better and better and contains great leadership skills. He possesses so many unteachable skills and talents, and is arguably the most athletic player in the entire league. This is the perfect pick to start off this list.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
2 of 32
Year Drafted: 2008, first round, third overall
College: Boston College
The Falcons can thank the 25-year-old quarterback Matt Ryan for being the absolute savior to their franchise. In 2007, Atlanta finished with a dismal record of 4-12. In 2008, the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan third overall and he started all 16 games that season, carrying them to an 11-5 record while winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. "Matty Ice" is one of the most clutch players in the league and could be the best two-minute drill quarterback in football.
Baltimore Ravens: Terrell Suggs
3 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 first round, 10th overall
College: Arizona State
Although he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first year with Baltimore, Suggs lived in the shadow of Ray Lewis for the first several years of his NFL tenure. Now, along with Lewis, Suggs has become known as one of the most feared, intimidating and hardest hitting defenders in the NFL. Not a single quarterback wants to pick up his head and see Terrell Suggs, who has recorded 68.5 sacks in eight seasons, charging towards them.
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Buffalo Bills: Nate Clements
4 of 32
Year Drafted: 2001 first ound, 21st Overall
College: Ohio State
Nate Clements, now a 49er, played six years with Buffalo from 2001 through 2006. In those six years, Clements played in 91 out of 96 total games while recording 432 tackles, forcing 13 fumbles and intercepting 23 passes. Clements also was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004 when he tied his career high with six interceptions.
Carolina Panthers: Julius Peppers
5 of 32
Year Drafted: 2002 first round, second overall
College: North Carolina
Julius Peppers played the first eight seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers. Peppers didn't hesitate to establish himself, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 12 sacks. In his second season in the NFL, he led the Panthers to Super Bowl 38, where they lost to the New England Patriots. Throughout his entire career as a Panther, Peppers tallied 81 sacks, 30 forced fumbles and six interceptions.
Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher
6 of 32
Year Drafted: 2000 first round, ninth overall
College: New Mexico
Brian Urlacher has played all 11 years of his NFL career as a Chicago Bear. Urlacher became the face of the franchise early in his career, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2000. Urlacher also won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 while leading the Bears to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. Brian Urlacher was once, and still is, one of the most intimidating NFL players and is the man who restored the nickname "Monsters of the Midway" to the Bears defense.
Cincinnati Bengals: Carson Palmer
7 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 first round, first overall
College: USC
After winning the Heisman Trophy as a Trojan, Palmer was the No. 13 draft pick in 2003 to the Cincinnati Bengals. He didn't take a single snap in his rookie year, but in his second year, he played in 13 games throwing 18 touchdowns. The year after, Carson took off. He threw 32 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions and was selected to his first career Pro Bowl. Palmer was then selected to the Pro Bowl again the following year in 2006.
Cleveland Browns: Joe Thomas
8 of 32
Year Drafted: 2007 first round, third overall
College: Wisconsin
After just four seasons in the NFL, Joe Thomas is the epitome of consistency on the offensive line. He has played in and started all 64 games in the last four seasons and has been a Pro Bowl selection in all of them as well. Also, for the past two seasons, Thomas has been selected to the First-Team All-Pro squad. Thomas is, without a doubt, a top three offensive tackle in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys: DeMarcus Ware
9 of 32
Year Drafted: 2005 first round, 11th overall
College: Troy State
Not only is DeMarcus Ware the best Cowboys draft pick since 2000, but he's also one of the best draft picks on this list. The Cowboy is simply a sack machine. In Ware's six NFL seasons, he's recorded 80 sacks and forced 25 fumbles. Ware's accolades include five Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro selections, NFC Defensive Player of the Year in '08 and being nominated to the NFL 2000's All-Decade Team.
Denver Broncos: Clinton Portis
10 of 32
Year Drafted: 2002 second round, 51st overall
College: Miami (FL)
Clinton Portis' career has recently been highlighted with disappointing performance and notoriously consistent injuries. However, when the former Hurricane entered the NFL, he was simply unstoppable. In his rookie year, he rushed for 1,508 yards and tallied 15 TD's, winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He followed it up by rushing for 1,596 yards in his second season and was then traded to the Washington Redskins for CB Champ Bailey. Portis has rushed for over 1,300 yards in five seasons in his career.
Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh
11 of 32
Year Drafted: 2010 first round, second overall
College: Nebraska
Sure, Suh has only played one year in the NFL, but he's already proved enough to get the nod for Detroit on this list. Ndamukong is just as much of a beast as his name makes him sound. He's a freak of nature and a quarterback's worst nightmare. In his rookie year last season, Suh recorded 10 sacks, winning AP Defensive Player of the Year. He was also nominated to the Pro Bowl and made the All-Pro team.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
12 of 32
Year Drafted: 2005 first round, 24th overall
College: California
This pick was just a no-doubter. Rodgers waited three long years, warming the bench and watching Brett Favre under center. However, when the drama began and Favre left retirement in 2008 and signed with the New York Jets, it was Aaron's time to shine. Rodgers has managed to make the Green Bay faithful completely forget about Favre, bringing home the Lombardi Trophy this past season while being named Super Bowl MVP.
Houston Texans: Andre Johnson
13 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 first round, third overall
College: Miami (FL)
Andre Johnson was drafted by the Houston Texans in their first NFL season in 2003. Ever since then, he's been performing through the good times and the bad, even with a lack of talent surrounding him for the majority of his career. The hybrid receiver has the strength to fight for the ball and the vertical to go up and grab any pass. Johnson is undoubtedly the face of the Texans franchise and arguably the best wide receiver in football.
Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne
14 of 32
Year Drafted: 2001 first round, 30th overall
College: Miami (FL)
When Reggie Wayne entered the NFL, a dynamic duo was born. Wayne became the sidekick to Marvin Harrison, who was arguably the best wide receiver in football at the time. With Marvin Harrison attracting much of the defensive attention and Peyton Manning under center, Reggie was all set to grow into a force to be reckoned with. Ever since Harrison's retirement, Wayne has been the Colts' No. 1 receiver and consistently one of the greatest in football.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew
15 of 32
Year Drafted: 2006 second round, 60th overall
College: UCLA
Maurice Jones-Drew may be tiny, standing in at only 5'7", but has blazing speed and can deliver hits as hard as some linebackers. While MJD is one of the smallest running backs in the NFL, he's also one of the league's elite. Jones-Drew is the face of the Jaguars franchise and the piece in their offensive puzzle that consistently charges their rushing attack.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jamaal Charles
16 of 32
Year Drafted: 2008 third round, 73rd overall
College: Texas
The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of young talent on their team, but his choice seemed fairly easy to make. Jamaal Charles has established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL and is only 24. It's very hard to argue with a guy who was .02 yards per carry from breaking the all-time NFL record set by Jim Brown. Charles has the potential to be the best running back in all of football with his blazing speeds and quick moves.
Miami Dolphins: Jake Long
17 of 32
Year Drafted: 2008 first round, first overall
College: Michigan
In 2008, Jake Long was taken with the first overall pick by the Miami Dolphins. The left tackle has been everything the Dolphins hoped he would be and more. Long is debatably the best offensive lineman in the NFL, along with the likes of fellow tackle Joe Thomas of Cleveland. The Dolphins haven't been the best drafting crew in recent memory, but selecting Jake Long first overall was the perfect decision.
Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson
18 of 32
Year Drafted: 2007 first round, seventh overall
College: Oklahoma
Adrian Peterson also contends for the title of best draft pick in this article. Peterson has been the answer in Minnesota and consistently puts the Viking offense on his back. Besides NFL MVP, Peterson has racked up almost every accolade possible since his NFL entry winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and being nominated to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in all four of his NFL seasons.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
19 of 32
Year Drafted: 2000 sixth round, 199th overall
College: Michigan
NFL analysts always go crazy for late-round "value picks" in the draft. To be blunt, there will never be a better value pick in any future draft better than the Patriots' 199th overall selection in 2000. Tom Brady is the best quarterback in football and is arguably one of the best of all time. Brady built the New England dynasty and constantly keeps the machine running. Brady is the reason the Pats are a Super Bowl contender every season.
New Orleans Saints: Marques Colston
20 of 32
Year Drafted: 2006 seventh round, 252nd overall
College: Hofstra
While Colston isn't nearly as great of a value pick as Tom Brady, the Saints' selection at 252nd overall in '06 was still phenomenal. Colston made an immediate impact in the NFL when he set the record for having the most receptions for any receiver in history in their first two seasons, catching 168 passes from Drew Brees. Colston may have not reached star status since the New Orleans offense thrives off of spreading the ball to many different receivers, but Colston would still make a solid No. 1 wideout on any NFL roster.
New York Giants: Osi Umenyiora
21 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 second round, 56th overall
College: Troy
Osi Umenyiora and the New York Giants are a perfect match. The Giants have been a team thriving on spectacular defensive play, specifically driven by the defensive line and pressuring the QB. Umenyiora is one of the best in the NFL at getting after the quarterback, setting a New York Giants' record of six sacks in one game. Also, Umenyiora holds the NFL record for forced fumbles in one season with 10.
New York Jets: Darrelle Revis
22 of 32
Year Drafted: 2007 first round, 14th overall
College: Pittsburgh
Darrelle Revis is the major reason why the New York Jets have the most feared defense in all of football. Revis is a ball-hawk in its purest form, and there's no receiver in football that he can't smother in coverage. Out of his four NFL seasons, Revis has been selected to three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams and won AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. Revis is arguably the best cornerback in football, but more realistically, the second-best in the NFL.
Oakland Raiders: Nnamdi Asomugha
23 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 first round, 31st overall
College: California
Nnamdi Asomugha is the one reason why Darrelle Revis is not the best cornerback in football. Asomugha is the best cover-corner in the league, and with his intimidating name, is feared by every quarterback. Asomugha has four total All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl selections and is the hottest free agent on the market.
Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Westbrook
24 of 32
Year Drafted: 2002 third ound, 93rd overall
College: Villanova
Brian Westbrook never put of phenomenal numbers, but he was always a consistent and dependable running back for Philadelphia. Westbrook also has, or had, great hands for a running back, catching 437 career passes. Westbrook was explosive too, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. While Westbrook may be one of the more questionable selections on this list, the Eagles haven't had many great draft picks since 2000.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Polamalu
25 of 32
Year Drafted: 2003 first round, 16th overall
College: USC
Troy Polamalu is a freak of nature, with the image to go along with it. Polamalu is one of the fastest, hardest-hitting DB's in NFL history. Even after coming off of an injury, Polamalu picked off seven passes in 2010 and won AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. If you ever doubt Troy Polamalu's agility or quickness, just look at his two Super Bowl rings or this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PezJNmbvphM.
San Diego Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson
26 of 32
Year Drafted: 2001 first round, fifth overall
College: TCU
Back in his heyday in San Diego, LT was the greatest rusher anyone had seen since Marshall Faulk or maybe even the days of Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Tomlinson single-handedly took the league over, rushing for 28 touchdowns in 2006 and shattering the NFL record. LT has had eight seasons with 1,000 rushing yards or more and has a career total of 13,404 yards and 144 rushing touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis
27 of 32
Year Drafted: 2007 first round, 11th overall
College: Mississippi
After winning the Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Award at Ole Miss in his senior year, Willis was quick to establish himself in San Francisco as one of the league's best. In his rookie year, he led the NFL in tackles with 174 tackles and won AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Willis also has had a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in all four of his NFL seasons and has proven himself to be the best middle linebacker in the NFL now.
Seattle Seahawks: Shaun Alexander
28 of 32
Year Drafted: 2000 first round, 19th overall
College: Alabama
Shaun Alexander is very similar to Ladainian Tomlinson, just with slightly weaker stats. From 2001 to 2004, Alexander was building up to a monster year, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of the four seasons. He got more than a monster season in 2005. In '05, Alexander tied Priest Holmes' record for the most single season rushing touchdowns with 27 while rushing for 1,880 yards. Alexander has not played since 2008, but will always be remembered for his spectacular 2005 season.
St. Louis Rams: Steven Jackson
29 of 32
Year Drafted: 2004 first round, 24th overall
College: Oregon State
The St. Louis Rams brought in Steven Jackson with the intention to replace Marshall Faulk. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill. While Jackson might not be Marshall Faulk, he's still extremely talented and consistent. Since 2005, Jackson has rushed for at least 1,000 yards every season and has over 300 total receptions. While the Rams have had some horrible years recently, they're on their way back up, and Steven Jackson is the main reason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman
30 of 32
Year Drafted: 2009 first round, 17th overall
College: Kansas State
In 2010, Josh Freeman played his first full season under center. Now, finally, the Bucs have a lock at the quarterback position with Freeman on the depth chart. In his rookie year in 2009, Freeman had a dismal season throwing 18 picks in only 10 games. However, playing a full 16 games in 2010, Freeman only threw six interceptions and threw 25 touchdowns. Freeman also led the Buccaneers to a 10-6 record and barely missed the playoffs. With Freeman at the lead, Tampa Bay is one of the hottest up-and-coming teams in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson
31 of 32
Year Drafted: 2008 first round, 24th overall
College: ECU
Chris Johnson is best known for his blazing speed. At the NFL Combine in 2008, Chris Johnson recorded an incredible 40-yard dash time of 4.24 seconds. Johnson has used this speed to prove himself to be one of the league's best backs. In three seasons, he has rushed for 4,600 yards and 34 touchdowns and has also caught 137 passes. In 2009, Johnson ran for 2,006 yards, earning himself the nickname CJ2K.
Washington Redskins: Sean Taylor
32 of 32
Year Drafted: 2004 first round, fifth overall
College: Miami (FL)
Sean Taylor's career began with great controversy due to his many antics, such as spitting in the face of running back Michael Pittman. Taylor slowly but surely showed signs of growing into a better person and rapidly was becoming one of the NFL's top young DB's. In 2007, his final season, he was sidelined after only nine games with an injury. In only nine games, however, Taylor recorded five interceptions.
While recovering from his injury, Taylor's home was burglarized and the burglar shot Taylor in his leg, puncturing his femoral artery. The next day, Taylor died after being in a coma following surgery. Sean Taylor will always be in the hearts of football fans and will be remembered for his hard hits and passion for the game. Rest in peace.
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