NFL Draft: The Last Time All 32 Teams Held A Top 10 Pick
By Erik Lambert
There are many ways to identify the most successful franchises in pro football. One way is see how long it has been since they’ve held a top 10 pick in the NFL draft. For an idea here is a layout of every team, the last year they held such a pick and who they took with it.
Note: These do not include top 10 picks acquired via trade.
Arizona Cardinals – 2013 (7th)
Pick: Jonathan Cooper
Atlanta Falcons – 2014 (6th)
Pick: Jake Matthews
Baltimore Ravens – 2003 (10th)
Pick: Terrell Suggs
Buffalo Bills – 2014 (4th)
Pick: Sammy Watkins
Carolina Panthers – 2012 (9th)
Pick: Luke Kuechly
Chicago Bears – 2005 (4th)
Pick: Cedric Benson
Cincinnati Bengals – 2011 (4th)
Pick: A.J. Green
Cleveland Browns – 2014 (9th)
Pick: Justin Gilbert
Dallas Cowboys – 2011 (9th)
Pick: Tyron Smith
Denver Broncos – 2011 (2nd)
Pick: Von Miller
Detroit Lions – 2014 (10th)
Pick: Eric Ebron
Green Bay Packers – 2009 (9th)
Pick: B.J. Raji
Houston Texans – 2014 (1st)
Pick: Jadeveon Clowney
Indianapolis Colts – 2012 (1st)
Pick: Andrew Luck
Jacksonville Jaguars – 2014 (3rd)
Pick: Blake Bortles
Kansas City Chiefs – 2013 (1st)
Pick: Eric Fisher
Miami Dolphins – 2012 (8th)
Pick: Ryan Tannehill
Minnesota Vikings – 2014 (9th)
Pick: Anthony Barr
New England Patriots – 2001 (6th)
Pick: Richard Seymour
New Orleans Saints – 2008 (7th)
Pick: Sedrick Ellis
New York Giants – 2004 (4th)
Pick: Philip Rivers (traded for Eli Manning)
New York Jets – 2013 (9th)
Pick: Dee Milliner
Oakland Raiders – 2014 (5th)
Pick: Khalil Mack
Philadelphia Eagles – 2013 (4th)
Pick: Lane Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers – 2000 (8th)
Pick: Plaxico Burress
San Diego Chargers – 2004 (1st)
Pick: Eli Manning (traded for Philip Rivers)
San Francisco 49ers – 2011 (7th)
Pick: Aldon Smith
Seattle Seahawks – 2010 (6th)
Pick: Russell Okung
St. Louis Rams – 2014 (2nd)
Pick: Greg Robinson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2014 (7th)
Pick: Mike Evans
Tennessee Titans – 2013 (10th)
Pick: Chance Warmack
Washington Redskins – 2012 (2nd)
Pick: Robert Griffin III
So what does this list tell the average reader? It’s good to be fan in the AFC North. Aside from some slim years the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have enjoyed a great deal of consistent success. Their three Super Bowl titles since 2005 is testament to that. The New England Patriots have also had an incredible run. What those three teams have in common is they all made good picks when given the chance and got the most out of them.
Such is why the key to sustained success in pro football is getting things right in the NFL draft.