NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 Day 2 picks of the decade (2010-2019)
By Jason Truitt
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ohio State. 812. WR, 2nd Round, 2016. Michael Thomas. 3. player
Before striking gold with Alvin Kamara on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft the following year, the Saints found Michael Thomas.
Thomas has already become one of, if not, the best wide receiver in the league in his short career after being drafted 47th overall in 2016 by the New Orleans Saints.
After trading away Jimmy Graham the year prior, Drew Brees and company desperately needed a new No. 1 weapon. Luckily, Thomas made an impact for the New Orleans the second he entered the league, bringing in 92 catches for 1,137 yards and 9 touchdowns as a rookie. Since then, Thomas as averaged over 11 yards a catch every season, gaining more and more yards every year. The star wideout has yet to go under 1,000 yards receiving and I don’t think he ever will.
And if you’ve been living under a rock, Thomas just recently passed Marvin Harrison for the NFL’s single-season reception record, finishing the season with an incredible 149 receptions. It must be an honor to catch the ball from Brees that much, who was also a second-round NFL Draft selection.
University of Wisconsin. 2. 809. Pick Analysis. QB, 3rd Round, 2012. player. Scouting Report. Russell Wilson
Leader. Humble. Clutch. Fighter. MVP. Those are just a few of the words used to describe Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson, who became the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL with a $140M, four-year contract extension last April.
Throughout his entire career, Wilson has thrown for at least 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and a 92.6 rating in each of his eight seasons. He typically doesn’t turn the ball over and is extremely intelligent when it comes to football and protecting his body. Always reaching out for the first down and sliding or going out of bounds when he decides to run it himself.
Wilson doesn’t tend to consistently display outrageous numbers, but what makes him so valuable is his ability to win football games. He commonly finds a way to make something special happen on offense with aid from his mobility and downfield vision. Throws the deep-ball better than almost anyone.
Not only has Wilson grown into one of today’s elite passers, but his competitiveness and passion for the game are contagious to both teammates and fans alike. Not many people knew who Wilson was in the 2012 NFL Draft, but they sure do now.