NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 Day 2 picks of the decade (2010-2019)
By Jason Truitt
Justin Houston. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. DE, 3rd Round, 2011. University of Georgia. 5. 814
Before he left for Indianapolis last offseason, it was common for Justin Houston to reach the quarterback during his brilliant career with the Kansas City Chiefs, the same team who drafted him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Houston was something the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t seen since Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas caused weekly quarterbacks havoc back in the 90s. Houston’s 2014 season was preposterous. He broke the Chiefs single-season sack record with 22, just half of a sack short of tying the NFL record set by Michael Strahan in 2001.
When he’s not breaking records, he’s breaking pass protection. Houston was able to reach the quarterback 11 times with the Colts this season, the most he’s had since his record-setting season five years ago. At 30-years-old, the edge-rusher started all 16 games this season, finishing top 15 in NFL for sacks earned.
Penn State. NaVorro Bowman. Pick Analysis. LB, 3rd Round, 2010. 4. player. 806. Scouting Report
Remember the days of 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis‘ sidekick, NaVorro Bowman? They were one of the greatest linebacker tandems of all time. If you recall correctly, then you remembered that along with Willis, Bowman was a force to be reckoned with.
We’ve all heard of sophomore slumps, but what about a sophomore stride? In his rookie year, Bowman struggled to get playing time, but who can blame him when you’re backing up Willis? The following year, in 2011, Bowman was given a chance and took off; combining for 143 tackles, a pair of sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Ironically, Bowman was voted All-Pro that year but did not make the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
The former Penn State linebacker was vital in San Francisco’s defensive achievement of not allowing a rushing touchdown in 14 consecutive games-an NFL single-season record to this day.
Bowman’s elite run was cut short during his prime when he suffered a gruesome leg injury against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2014 NFC Championship game. He retired from the league after the 2017 season. Regardless, Bowman holds the title of one of the best middle linebackers from the past decade.