The best NFL draft pick at every slot ... ever: Who lands in our 1-262?

You're watching Day 3 of the NFL draft, catching a mates of names you admit from assemblage present and determination and wondering erstwhile your favourite squad picks next. Pick No. 188 goes crossed the board, and a small dependable successful your caput wonders: "Why adjacent fuss making prime No. 188? Pick 188 is ne'er going to matter. Who's adjacent the champion subordinate to travel retired of Pick 188?"

Danny Trevathan. The champion 188th prime ever was Danny Trevathan.

I cognize this due to the fact that I've spent the past period oregon truthful looking astatine each draught prime since the communal draught epoch began (1967) and utilizing the modern seven-round format (Nos. 1-262) to reply that precise question: Who was the champion subordinate taken astatine this draught slot? Plenty of "Oh, I retrieve him!" moments ... and plentifulness of intolerable decisions.

How I went astir things:

• I took "best" to mean immoderate operation of "most talented" and "most successful." As is ever the situation successful debating the bestness of shot players, immoderate statement that exclusively looks astatine Super Bowl wins and All-Pro nods is insufficient and lacks context. Similarly, immoderate statement that leans solely connected idiosyncratic subordinate stats and movie impressions is lacking arsenic well. I mostly tried to usage humanities accolades to contextualize career-long production. Peak play show and single-season record-setting besides mattered to me; this isn't conscionable a measurement of who played the longest but besides who played ... well, the best. And of course, rings substance due to the fact that rings ever matter. But there's nary look here. There's my work connected each pick, levied arsenic reasonably arsenic I could marque it. Disagreement is expected.

• In bid to beryllium the champion draught pick, you benignant of person to play for the squad that drafted you. I lone utilized this regularisation to the water's borderline -- I'm not dumb capable to sound Brett Favre due to the fact that helium was drafted by the Falcons. But erstwhile it came to splitting hairs, the tone of the workout implies that the subordinate was talented and the squad that drafted him was palmy due to the fact that of the pick. Lifers for 1 franchise got an borderline implicit vocation journeymen.

• There isn't a bump for QB worth (unless it was inescapable). Again, the specifics of the workout established a guardrail. Is "best draught pick" the aforesaid arsenic "most invaluable draught pick?" If that feels similar a pointless distinction, recognize that I had to marque it successful bid to lick respective ties. I'm funny successful uncovering the champion subordinate careless of position, which means that safeties tin bushed quarterbacks, and guards tin bushed walk rushers. Only successful cases of the blatantly evident (see: Purdy, Brock) did I fto the expanded interaction of the backmost presumption impact my choice.

• I americium 28 years old. I did my champion with the stars of the 1970s and 1980s, but delight bash not construe immoderate mischaracterizations of the humanities GOATs arsenic immoderate ageist propaganda. When I'm being deliberately anti-throwbacks, I'll marque it precise clear, I promise.

Enough of that. Let's get to the picks. I wrote connected the apical 100 here, and past besides picked retired a fewer extracurricular the apical 100 to sermon further. Here are the champion selections ever astatine each slot.

Jump to:
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3
Outside the apical 100 picks

Round 1

1. Peyton Manning, QB (1998)

Fourteen Hall of Famers person been selected with the archetypal wide prime since the draught began successful 1936, including Bruce Smith, Orlando Pace, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw and Earl Campbell. (By the clip Myles Garrett is done, we'll beryllium good connected our mode to the 15th.) As such, selecting a victor for the champion No. 1 prime ever is the splitting of good hairs, but Peyton Manning gets my nod. Five MVPs, 2 Super Bowl championships (with 2 antithetic teams) and still-standing records for single-season passing touchdowns (55) and single-season passing yardage (5,477) is an intolerable résumé to knock.

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Peyton outgrows dad's shadiness to go NFL legend

To commemorate the 25th twelvemonth of The ESPYS, we observe 25 athletes who person made the top people connected this 4th century. Peyton Manning became much than conscionable Archie's son; helium grew into the NFL's all-time person successful passing yards and passing touchdowns.

2. Lawrence Taylor, OLB (1981)

The champion antiaircraft subordinate of each clip is besides the champion 2nd wide prime of each time. Taylor is 1 of 2 antiaircraft players to ever triumph league MVP (in 1986, joining antiaircraft tackle Alan Page successful 1971), and that rarefied aerial each but cements him implicit contenders specified arsenic Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson. Modern contenders specified arsenic Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are fantabulous successful their clip but don't clasp a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year vocation with 142 sacks.

3. Barry Sanders, RB (1989)

The prime astatine No. 3 was 1 of the astir challenging of the aboriginal selections. Both Anthony Munoz and Joe Thomas are Hall of Famers for their longevity -- not conscionable for vocation magnitude but besides for sticking it retired with 1 squad (mostly). Sanders, successful comparison, retired earlier than immoderate expected and could person cleared Walter Payton's vocation rushing grounds had helium kept it chugging (he finished with 15,269 yards, 1,457 down Payton).

I gave the borderline to Sanders for his stylistic interaction connected the crippled and his lasting interaction connected Detroit football; helium is inactive the champion Lion successful history, whereas neither Munoz nor Thomas is the champion Bengal oregon Brown, respectively. But this was close.

4. Walter Payton, RB (1975)

Impossible to reason anyone implicit Sweetness erstwhile you see his interaction some connected and disconnected the field. Put different way: Guys with awards named aft them thin to beryllium the champion draught prime astatine their slot ever, adjacent without mentioning his 16,726 rushing yards. All owed respect to Charles Woodson, Derrick Thomas and Mean Joe Greene.

5. Deion Sanders, CB (1989)

It's a loaded 5th prime (Junior Seau, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jalen Ramsey and Ja'Marr Chase), but Sanders gets the motion for his unsocial spot arsenic a two-way subordinate (not to notation his 2 rings -- 1 of which came successful his Defensive Player of the Year play -- and his six first-team All-Pro appearances). Does helium besides get a bump for providing fantabulous return connected a sixth-round draught prime successful the MLB draft? Who's to say?

6. Walter Jones, OT (1997)

A archetypal ballot Hall of Famer and 1 of the champion violative linemen of each time, Jones conscionable bushed retired a glut of receivers taken with the sixth wide prime (Tim Brown, Julio Jones, James Lofton and Torry Holt). I would perceive arguments for the archetypal two; I would not perceive arguments for the second two. Walter Jones is 1 of lone 4 Seahawks with his number retired and is astir apt the top Seahawk successful history.

7. Adrian Peterson, RB (2007)

The past non-quarterback to win the MVP award, Peterson led the league successful rushing yardage 3 times successful his career: 2008, 2012 and 2015. That's a testament to some his excellence -- the adjacent astir caller players with astatine slightest 3 seasons of league-leading accumulation are Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith -- and his longevity. Three times implicit an eight-year span!

"All Day" was my prime implicit Champ Bailey, but ticker retired for Josh Allen. He and Peterson person the aforesaid fig of MVP trophies and Super Bowl appearances ... for now.

8. Ronnie Lott, S (1981)

A four-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers and eight-time first-team All-Pro, Lott is 1 of the astir decorated players successful history. He besides benefits from lighter contention than galore of the different top-10 picks; besides nether information were Willie Roaf, Mike Munchak and Larry Csonka.

9. Bruce Matthews, OT (1983)

Matthews made 14 Pro Bowls implicit his 19-year NFL career, which is frankly ludicrous. He played each crossed the violative line, long-snapped for peculiar teams and spent his full vocation connected conscionable 1 squad (even if that squad changed names and locations, from the Houston Oilers to the Tennessee Titans, during his career). But contempt his glowing résumé, it wasn't casual taking Matthews implicit Brian Urlacher.

10. Patrick Mahomes, QB (2017)

Our archetypal progressive subordinate is Mahomes, who someway easily clears Rod Woodson, Terrell Suggs and Marcus Allen contempt being possibly halfway done his career. A two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes volition apt physique a compelling statement for being the top backmost ever by the clip his vocation is done.

11. J.J. Watt, DE/OLB (2011)

It was a small tricky to instrumentality Watt implicit Hall of Famers similar Michael Irvin and Patrick Willis -- until you retrieve that Watt volition beryllium a first-ballot lock. Injuries robbed america of a existent contention betwixt Watt and Aaron Donald for champion modern antiaircraft player. From 2012 to 2015, Watt earned 4 consecutive first-team All-Pro nods and won 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was gathering an all-time résumé and should beryllium remembered arsenic an all-time player.

12. Warren Sapp, DT (1995)

The lone Hall of Famer selected with the 12th wide prime (so far), Sapp was 1 of those uncommon antiaircraft tackles who could accumulate sacks from the interior. He has a Defensive Player of the Year grant and a Lombardi Trophy connected his shelf. How overmuch longer tin helium clasp disconnected Cowboys walk rusher Micah Parsons, though? It depends connected the hardware Parsons collects implicit his ain career.

13. Aaron Donald, DT (2014)

Donald was really not the slam dunk that I thought helium would beryllium here, arsenic Tony Gonzalez -- proprietor of conscionable astir each vocation choky extremity accumulation grounds you tin deliberation of -- enactment up a bully fight. As it is, Donald played 10 seasons and made 8 first-team All-Pros, which is astir arsenic ascendant arsenic ascendant gets. His 20.5 sacks successful 2018 remains a towering, astir unachievable fig for a antiaircraft tackle.

14. Darrelle Revis, CB (2007)

This is precise unfair, but present it goes: If Jim Kelly had won a Super Bowl, helium astir apt beats Revis out. But helium didn't, and Revis did. Kelly besides didn't cod arsenic galore All-Pro appearances arsenic Revis did (four), and helium didn't person an island named aft him, either. While Kelly was surely much invaluable than Revis due to the fact that of the presumption helium played, I tried not to overweight quarterbacks and conscionable look astatine the champion subordinate picked. Revis was the champion player. Close one, though!

15. Alan Page, DT (1967)

The lone Hall of Famer selected with the 15th prime and our oldest subordinate successful Round 1, Page rocks. He was the lone antiaircraft subordinate to triumph MVP too Lawrence Taylor, and helium did it earlier him. He went to Notre Dame and the University of Minnesota aft retirement, got his instrumentality grade and became an associate justice connected the Minnesota Supreme Court. This shouldn't truly substance successful the "best draught pick" debate, but it makes it an adjacent much amusive pick.

16. Jerry Rice, WR (1985)

Do I request to explicate wherefore Rice is the champion 16th prime successful history? I don't, but Rice is the all-time person successful receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and receiving touchdowns (197). Pour 1 retired for Zack Martin, who would beryllium an casual victor astatine a batch of different spots connected this database -- but not here.

17. Emmitt Smith, RB (1990)

The person for vocation rushing yards by astir 2,000 yards takes the apical spot here. Just however unthinkable are Smith's 18,355 rushing yards? Derrick Henry -- who is 19th successful vocation rushing yardage but ninth with 84 rushing yards per crippled implicit his vocation -- would request to support his vocation mean implicit different five seasons to drawback Smith.

18. Art Monk, WR (1980)

A quieter radical of options present -- the biggest contenders were Joe Flacco, Marcus Peters and Maurkice Pouncey -- makes the lone Hall of Famer an casual choice. Three rings surely helps, though Monk made lone 2 All-Pro teams. Guess that's the conflict of playing astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, Sterling Sharpe and Andre Reed.

19. Marvin Harrison, WR (1996)

When Harrison snagged 143 passes successful 2002, helium broke Herman Moore's grounds (123 successful 1995). That's a 20-catch leap successful conscionable 7 years, and Harrison's fig stood each the mode until 2019, erstwhile Michael Thomas cleared him with 149. In his heyday with Peyton Manning, Harrison had 8 consecutive seasons of 1,000 receiving yards, had 8 consecutive seasons of astatine slightest 10 receiving touchdowns and made 8 consecutive All-Pro teams. Pretty good!

20. Jack Youngblood, DE (1971)

What a large sanction for a walk rusher. Youngblood was a Rams lifer with 8 All-Pro nominations and a retired jersey. His longevity conscionable hardly gives him the motion implicit different Hall of Famer, Steve Atwater, a legendary Broncos information and victor of 2 Super Bowls. I flip-flopped connected this 1 for a while.

21. Randy Moss, WR (1998)

Moss' dominance came not successful the signifier of yardage (26th each clip successful receiving yards per game), but successful scoring (his 156 TD receptions are 2nd all-time). He led the league successful receiving touchdowns 5 times and acceptable the single-season grounds with his 23 scores for the Patriots successful 2007. He gets the bump for being an iconic, culture-defining player arsenic well.

22. Justin Jefferson, WR (2020)

Thank goodness determination were nary Hall of Famers to snub with the 22nd pick, making Jefferson an adjacent easier enactment for me. Never hide that Jefferson holds the grounds for astir receiving yards done 2 seasons of a player's vocation (3,016) -- arsenic good arsenic done 3 seasons (4,825), 4 seasons (5,899) and 5 seasons (7,432). Guess which grounds he'll clasp astatine the extremity of this year?

23. Ty Law, CB (1995)

Law doesn't person the idiosyncratic accolades that immoderate different winners bash -- lone 2 All-Pro appearances -- but helium did triumph 3 Super Bowls with the Patriots and played famously important roles crossed those playoff runs, including his Super Bowl XXXVI pick-six.

24. Ed Reed, S (2002)

I picked Reed implicit Aaron Rodgers here, which is apt my astir arguable selection. Safety is an intolerable presumption to rack up counting stats -- the full constituent is that you're distant from the shot -- yet Reed accumulated 64 picks successful lone 174 games. That's 2nd all-time and easy the champion of the modern era.

Listen to guys similar Bill Belichick and Peyton Manning speech astir Reed, and it becomes casual to telephone him the best information of each time; I'm beauteous assured helium is, adjacent implicit Ronnie Lott. And I deliberation the champion information ever clears a backmost who wasn't ever the champion of his era, contempt his 4 MVPs.

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Ed Reed's crushed for playing information implicit QB

Ed Reed joins Peyton and Eli Manning to reminisce astir his precocious schoolhouse sporting exploits and wherefore helium chose to play defence implicit being a quarterback.

25. Dont'a Hightower, LB (2012)

No Hall of Famers astatine prime No. 25 leaves america choosing betwixt Hightower, Ted Washington and Stanley Morgan. Hightower has title rings with the Patriots, and I person specified fantastic memories of him arsenic 1 of the past large thumpers astatine linebacker successful the modern NFL, truthful I gave him the edge.

26. Ray Lewis, LB (1996)

Pretty casual enactment here, arsenic Lewis is arguably the champion off-ball linebacker successful NFL history. Thirteen Pro Bowls successful 17 seasons with 10 All-Pro considerations (seven connected the archetypal team) and a Super Bowl MVP to boot. What much is determination to say?

27. Dan Marino, QB (1983)

Another wildly casual enactment for me. Marino doesn't person the hardware of the historically elite quarterbacks -- lone 1 MVP, nary rings, etc. -- but helium was arsenic talented arsenic immoderate of them. Marino led the league successful passing yardage 5 times, which is down lone Drew Brees' 7 seasons arsenic the astir prolific, and helium was the archetypal to ever wide 5,000 yards successful a season. He did it backmost successful 1984, erstwhile amerciable interaction was considered legal contact, too.

28. Derrick Brooks, LB (1995)

A Buccaneers lifer, Brooks won the Super Bowl successful the aforesaid play helium won Defensive Player of the Year (2002). It was the archetypal Super Bowl for the Tampa Bay franchise. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The Buccaneers person lone 3 jerseys officially retired, and his No. 55 is 1 of them. Brooks is not conscionable the champion 28th wide pick, but he's besides the champion illustration of however you triumph connected this list. What a pick.

29. Steve Wisniewski, G (1989)

An unusual 1 here, arsenic Wisniewski was drafted by the Cowboys but was past astir instantly traded to the Raiders, with whom helium made 8 All-Pro teams implicit a 13-year career. The Wiz started 215 of a imaginable 217 games successful his vocation with the Raiders arsenic good -- ridiculous availability. Congrats to the Cowboys (I guess?) for drafting him!

30. Eric Allen, CB (1988)

The lone Hall of Famer taken with the 30th wide pick, Allen was inactive pugnacious for maine to take implicit Reggie Wayne and T.J. Watt. Wayne has been up for the Hall six times and has yet to beryllium inducted, which feels unjust but is the reality. And Watt has a bully résumé truthful acold for the Hall of Fame but needs to support his vocation accumulation up, particularly since his deficiency of postseason interaction successful Pittsburgh hurts him. So I gave it to Allen, who volition grab his golden jacket successful August arsenic the starring country of the Gang Green defense.

31. Cameron Heyward, DT (2011)

I was consenting to instrumentality an progressive subordinate implicit a Hall of Famer here, giving Heyward the motion implicit chap antiaircraft tackle Curley Culp (yes, you work that sanction right). Culp was a productive Chief and Oiler successful the 1970s, though helium was initially a Broncos draught pick. Heyward is approaching his 15th play with the Steelers, is simply a Walter Payton Man of the Year and should spell down arsenic 1 of the champion Steelers of each clip -- an incredibly pugnacious database to make.

32. Drew Brees, QB (2001)

Picking betwixt Brees and Lamar Jackson was agonizing, truthful I chickened retired and picked the feline whose vocation is over, and arsenic specified requires nary prognostication. While Brees ne'er won a regular-season MVP, helium did triumph a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP, and I ideate Jackson would commercialized his 2 MVPs for Lombardi hardware close astir now. This prime mightiness flip by adjacent season, though ...

Round 2

33. Brett Favre, QB (1991)

The 33rd prime has produced 4 Hall of Famers, but Isaac Bruce, Fred Dean and Ted Hendricks can't wide the worth of Favre, a three-time MVP and 1 of the league's astir electrical passers ever. An fantabulous draught prime by the Falcons, though they reaped perfectly nary of what they sowed.

34. Jack Ham, LB (1971)

A subordinate of the 1970s Steelers, Ham has 4 rings, which pushes him supra different 70s large -- Lions CB Lem Barney -- for the prime here. Making the archetypal squad All-Pro squad six consecutive seasons besides helps, too.

35. Joel Bitonio, G (2014)

There are a fewer bully progressive players here, including Andy Dalton and Zach Ertz. But Bitonio looks similar a Browns lifer, has made 5 All-Pro lists and mightiness beryllium considered the champion defender of the past decennary of shot if not for Zack Martin being, you cognize ... the champion defender of the past decennary of football.

36. Kevin Mawae, C (1994)

A 16-year pro, Mawae sailed disconnected into the sunset, blocking for Chris Johnson's 2,000-yard play successful his last NFL campaign. Mawae was an All-Pro-caliber starter astatine halfway for 3 teams (Seahawks, Jets and Titans) and the lone Hall of Famer astatine this spot. Easy pick.

37. Chris Jones, DT (2016)

I struggled betwixt Jones and Randall Cunningham, who had a larger interaction connected the league than his stats would indicate, fixed his presumption arsenic the herald of dual-threat quarterbacking. But Jones has strung unneurotic 3 consecutive first-team All-Pro nods and was an integral contributor to the Chiefs' 3 rings. This was ace close, though.

38. Mike Singletary, LB (1981)

One of the champion linebackers successful NFL history, Singletary was a Bears lifer, accumulating 7 first-team All-Pro recognitions and 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards successful a 12-year career. Only six players ever repeated arsenic DPOY, which amazed me. What a player.

39. Ed White, G (1969)

The hardest hairs to divided successful compiling this database were betwixt 2 players whose champion play predated my existence. Such was the lawsuit betwixt White, who played 17 seasons for the Vikings and Chargers, and Darryl Talley, a Bills walk rusher who retired the twelvemonth earlier I was born. White had a mates much Pro Bowl honors, truthful helium gets the prime here.

40. Michael Strahan, DE (1993)

The small 8-year-old Eagles instrumentality successful maine inactive resents Strahan, who terrorized Donovan McNabb and my beloved Birds for years. I truly wanted to prime Thurman Thomas present -- an MVP victor astatine moving backmost whose fig is retired successful Buffalo. But Strahan's 22.5-sack play successful 2001, his final-season show successful the Giants' magical Super Bowl XLII tally ... it's conscionable excessively pugnacious to reason against.

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4:20

Strahan: 'Improbable Hall Of Famer'

Defensive extremity Michael Strahan, who played for the Giants, speaks aft being enshrined successful the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

41. Andre Tippett, OLB (1982)

Tippett's full of 100 sacks is acold and distant the champion successful Patriots franchise past and volition apt basal arsenic specified for a agelong time. He made 4 consecutive All-Pro teams successful his heyday, helped powerfulness the Patriots to their archetypal Super Bowl quality successful 1985 and is enshrined successful the Hall. No-brainer.

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE (2010)

Four Super Bowl rings. Four first-team All-Pro appearances. A uniquely ascendant premier arsenic a pass-catching choky extremity with elite blocking ability. Gronk's vocation was excessively abbreviated to measurement arsenic acold arsenic vocation statistic are concerned, but you can't archer maine helium wasn't 1 of the 3 oregon 4 champion to ever play the position.

43. Dan Dierdorf, OT (1971)

The lone Hall of Famer selected astatine No. 43, Dierdorf spent each 13 seasons of his vocation with the St. Louis Cardinals and grabbed six All-Pro acknowledgements. This draught slot is uniquely atrocious for existent players -- caller 43rd wide picks see Joe Tippmann, Cole Kmet, Jahlani Tavai, Kerryon Johnson, Sidney Jones IV, Benardrick McKinney and Stephen Hill.

44. Dermontti Dawson, G (1988)

Much similar Dierdorf, Dawson is the lone Hall of Famer taken astatine his pick, spent each 13 years of his vocation with 1 squad (Steelers) and made six All-Pro teams (though each of Dawson's were archetypal team). Long-tenured violative linemen volition look much and much connected this database arsenic we go.

45. Derrick Henry, RB (2016)

It takes a batch for maine to prime an progressive subordinate implicit a Hall of Famer (Dave Casper, a choky extremity selected by the Raiders successful 1974). But Henry is simply a genuinely unsocial player. He has an Offensive Player of the Year award, is 1 of 9 backs to nutrient a 2,000-yard season and volition apt interruption into the apical 10 of vocation rushing yards this season. The apical 5 is successful scope if helium stays steadfast for different fewer years. And if helium tin get a ringing successful Baltimore ...

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1:38

Pat McAfee reacts to Derrick Henry's 2-year hold with Baltimore

Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk springiness their thoughts connected Derrick Henry signing a 2-year hold with the Ravens.

46. Jack Lambert, LB (1974)

Jack Ham was our enactment astatine No. 34, and his moving mate Lambert gets the telephone astatine No. 46 for his 4 Super Bowl rings and treble antiaircraft hardware -- some Rookie of the Year (1974) and Player of the Year (1976). One of the champion players to miss this database successful immoderate circular is unluckily Cowboys defender Larry Allen. Allen would person won easily successful implicit fractional of the spots connected this database -- conscionable not this one.

47. Bobby Wagner, LB (2012)

Wagner made an All-Pro database successful 2014 and hasn't stopped making them since, spanning 11 consecutive seasons. Preposterous consistency and longevity. Wagner should extremity up a Hall of Fame subordinate for his vocation success, but don't slumber connected the information that he's lone 221 tackles down Ray Lewis for the astir combined tackles successful NFL history. If Wagner plays 2 much healthy, productive seasons ...

48. LeRoy Butler, S (1990)

There were 3 Hall of Famers to take from here, including Howie Long and Dwight Stephenson. However, neither Long nor Stephenson invented a touchdown solemnisation (the Lambeau Leap), and that benignant of happening matters to maine erstwhile I'm splitting hairs successful the 2nd round. A Super Bowl ringing and 4 first-team All-Pro nods help, too.

49. Roger Craig, RB (1983)

Craig wins mostly connected the backmost of 2 seasons: his 1988 Offensive Player of the Year campaign, successful which helium totaled much than 2,000 scrimmage yards and powered the 49ers to a Super Bowl win; and his 1985 season, successful which helium exceeded 2,000 scrimmage yards by evenly splitting his accumulation connected the crushed (1,050) and done the aerial (1,016). That's the archetypal 1,000/1,000 play successful NFL history. Pretty nifty!

50. Willie Lanier, LB (1967)

A classical apples to oranges examination here, picking betwixt Lanier -- a '70s mediate linebacker with 8 All-Pros and a Super Bowl IV triumph -- and Calais Campbell, who is playing his shot 40 years aft Lanier. Campbell's statement is longevity, whereas Lanier was ascendant successful his time. The authoritative Hall of Fame tract tells maine his nickname was virtually "Contact." That's sick.

51. Rickey Jackson, LB (1981)

A akin statement present arsenic the prime above, with Jackson -- 1 Super Bowl ring, 5 All-Pro teams -- facing disconnected against A.J. Brown, who mightiness go 1 of the large wide receivers of this era. Again, I thin to the established Hall of Famer, but 5 of Brown's six seasons person cleared 1,000 yards. If helium keeps that up for different 5 seasons, his résumé volition clasp up.

52. Ken Stabler, QB (1968)

Even without a QB bump, "The Snake" would beryllium the champion of this group. He delivered the archetypal Super Bowl triumph for a legendary Oakland Raiders franchise and won an MVP award. He besides has an iconic play successful his loop -- the Ghost to the Post -- which doesn't truly substance here, but bears mentioning due to the fact that it's specified a large play name.

53. Mel Blount, CB (1970)

A weirdly stacked pick, with Blount -- a Hall of Famer, a four-time Super Bowl champion and the 1975 Defensive Player of the Year -- fending disconnected progressive players Davante Adams and Jalen Hurts. Adams has the idiosyncratic accolades (three-time first-team All-Pro) without the squad success, and Hurts has the opposite. This prime is 1 to ticker for the adjacent mates of seasons.

54. Anquan Boldin, WR (2003)

Boldin is our archetypal prime to ne'er marque an All-Pro team, and I debated handing this spot to Jessie Bates III instead. But Boldin is specified a classical underappreciated guy: 14-year career, 7 seasons with much than 1,000 receiving yards, occurrence with respective antithetic teams and a Super Bowl ring. He was tough, big, carnal and talented. I loved him, truthful I picked him.

55. Andrew Whitworth, OT (2006)

Whitworth played 239 games implicit 16 seasons (wow!), and helium needed each 16 of those seasons to get his ring with the Rams. Whit worked his mode into a ascendant backmost fractional of his career, making his archetypal Pro Bowl astatine 31 and archetypal All-Pro squad astatine 34. The Bengals, who drafted him, volition admit him for his 11 seasons of prime play, and the Rams enjoyed his beardown sunset.

56. Osi Umenyiora, DE (2003)

Umenyiora wasn't consistently dominant, but his peaks made him the prime astatine No. 56. In the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was quieter successful the postseason but fantabulous successful the regular season, with 13 sacks and a Pro Bowl. In the 2011 Super Bowl season, helium was quieter successful the regular play but ascendant successful the playoffs -- 3.5 sacks implicit 4 games. Key roles successful large seasons tin marque the quality successful this exercise.

57. Devin Hester, KR/PR (2006)

I'll ever beryllium a Hester apologist. I emotion that he's successful the Hall of Fame, and I impugn anybody who says they'd alternatively instrumentality Mark Stepnoski oregon Rob Havenstein with the 57th prime implicit Hester, proprietor of 20 full instrumentality touchdowns. His electric, field-flipping imaginable is much than conscionable invaluable -- it's ace chill and ace fun.

58. Lavonte David, LB (2012)

David astir apt won't beryllium a Hall of Famer by virtuousness of mean awards and accolades (three All-Pros, 1 Pro Bowl), but I volition slot him firmly successful my idiosyncratic Hall of Very Good and sing his praises whenever fixed the chance. A Buccaneers lifer with precocious productivity connected the shot (70 passes defensed since entering the league), David has been an era-defining player who led respective antithetic Tampa Bay defenses.

59. Aeneas Williams, CB (1991)

Williams' 55 vocation picks has him successful the apical 20 of each time, and helium made 8 Pro Bowls -- 7 arsenic a country and 1 arsenic a safety, speaking to his versatility. He's the lone Hall of Famer present without overmuch competition, truthful an casual enactment for me.

60. Pat Swilling, OLB (1986)

The 1991 Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Pro, Swilling was a spot of a journeyman (played for the Saints, Lions and Raiders), but helium was astatine his champion for the squad that drafted him. One chaotic enactment from a 2011 column by an up-and-coming writer named Adam Schefter: Swilling has the astir playoff losses (six) with nary wins of immoderate subordinate successful NFL history.

61. Brian Dawkins, S (1996)

Dawkins has each the pieces to beryllium a enactment successful this exercise. He did astir of his harm with the squad that drafted him, was consistently ascendant implicit a agelong long (he made his archetypal Pro Bowl successful 1999 and past 1 successful 2011) and was an iconic subordinate successful Philadelphia. The golden overgarment surely helps, arsenic well.

62. Tony Hill, WR (1977)

With respect to Hill, prime No. 62 is easy the worst prime we've tally into truthful far. Hill is simply a three-time Pro Bowler with 1 ring; his champion play had 1,113 yards. His strongest contention is Brian O'Neill, the existent close tackle for the Vikings, and Jimmy Garoppolo. It's starting to get bleak!

63. Travis Kelce, TE (2013)

A Hall of Fame lock, Kelce apt won't extremity his vocation with choky extremity accumulation records. He's inactive 4 Pro Bowls, 300 catches, 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns down Tony Gonzalez, but he'll easy wide him successful Super Bowl championships. Kelce besides gets a bump for his defining relation arsenic Patrick Mahomes' superior people and for being 1 of the leading figures successful the communicative of the 2020s successful the NFL.

64. Dan Fouts, QB (1973)

Fouts is the lone 64th prime with a golden jacket, which gives him an casual wrong track. How astir 4 consecutive seasons starring the league successful passing yardage and an full vocation spent quarterbacking the San Diego Chargers? Pretty bully subordinate for our last second-round pick. (He was technically a third-round prime owed to determination being less teams successful 1973, but whatever.)

Round 3

65. Frank Gore, RB (2006)

Gore finished his vocation with an even 16,000 rushing yards, putting him 3rd connected the all-time database down lone Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. I won't get into Hall of Fame debates present (I'd beryllium good if helium made it, though I'm not stumping for it), but erstwhile it comes to prime No. 65, he's caput and shoulders supra the rest.

66. Ronde Barber, CB (1997)

Feathers successful Barber's cap: He's a Hall of Famer and Buccaneers Ring of Honor member, having played his full vocation (16 seasons!) successful Tampa Bay. He holds the grounds for astir consecutive starts by immoderate antiaircraft backmost with 215. He's a Super Bowl champion and writer of an iconic play -- the pick-six against Philadelphia successful the 2002 NFC Championship Game. He's a five-time All-Pro with a ring. What a star.

67. Ken Anderson, QB (1971)

A 16-year vet of the Bengals, Anderson's 1981 play won him an MVP and took Cincinnati to its first-ever Super Bowl. I strived to debar overweighting quarterbacks successful this exercise, but adjacent without a positional worth bump, Anderson inactive clears the worth of Alvin Kamara, besides taken astatine No. 67 wide and 1 of the champion third-round picks ever.

68. Lance Briggs, LB (2003)

Briggs spent each 12 seasons of his NFL vocation successful Chicago, and 10 too Hall of Famer (but not best-ever ninth wide pick) Brian Urlacher. He's astir apt not arsenic elite arsenic I retrieve (middle schoolhouse Ben was obsessed with Briggs and Urlacher), but 7 consecutive Pro Bowls with 3 All-Pro nods is thing to sneeze at, either.

69. Jason Witten, TE (2003)

A weirdly pugnacious radical astatine prime No. 69, wherever Witten goes against Hall of Famer Russ Grimm and a fewer beardown progressive players, including Cooper Kupp. Assuming Witten -- who becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame successful this upcoming rhythm -- makes the Hall successful 1 oregon 2 ballots, I deliberation helium has a amended résumé than Grimm (though 3 Super Bowl championships and 4 first-team All-Pros is beauteous bully stuff). Witten conscionable has a level of era-defining play with those 2000s Cowboys that puts him a hairsbreadth above.

70. Fred Warner, LB (2018)

Easy prime here, arsenic Warner volition spell down arsenic the champion linebacker of this decennary and 1 of the champion linebackers ever. Warner has been a first-team typical connected 4 of the past 5 All-Pro teams and shows nary signs of slowing down.

71. DeMarco Murray, RB (2011)

Pick No. 71 isn't a beardown group, truthful I'll fto Murray's legendary 2014 season transportation him to the top: 392 carries, 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns, with different 57 catches for 416 yards to boot. The 449 touches remains the sixth highest-volume play successful NFL history, and fixed the mode backs are managed these days, it volition apt enactment that mode for a while.

72. Jeremiah Trotter, LB (1998)

The Axe Man was a two-time All-Pro astatine his highest and an era-defining subordinate for the early-2000s Eagles arsenic they continually knocked connected the doorway of a Super Bowl berth. As we get further down this list, guys with coagulated peaks commencement to overtake the remainder of the field, adjacent if a long, ascendant vocation wasn't truly there.

73. Jason Taylor, DE (1997)

Another Hall of Famer was besides selected astatine prime No. 73 successful Bears DT Steve McMichael, but it's pugnacious to clasp a candle to Taylor. A victor of Defensive Player of the Year (2006) and Walter Payton Man of the Year (2007), Taylor had some a ascendant premier and a agelong long of viable play. He adjacent collected 7 sacks successful his last play astatine property 37, putting him astatine 139.5 for his vocation -- sixth astir all-time.

74. Will Shields, G (1993)

Three Hall of Famers were selected with the 74th wide pick, including RB Curtis Martin and TE Charlie Sanders. But Shields, who ne'er missed a crippled successful 14 years for the Chiefs, cleared them some -- 224 games, 223 starts, ne'er inactive. He made each Pro Bowl from 1995 to 2006. Bonkers stuff.

75. Russell Wilson, QB (2012)

Tough interruption for OT Terron Armstead, who is 1 of the champion third-round picks ever but isn't amended than this Super Bowl-winning, Walter Payton Man of the Year-winning quarterback. Wilson ne'er collected a ton of All-Pros, which isn't astonishing fixed the epoch of quarterbacking successful which helium plays, but helium has been a decade-long starter who won a ring, and that's conscionable excessively invaluable astatine prime No. 75.

76. Keenan Allen, WR (2013)

Very, precise pugnacious hairsbreadth to divided present betwixt Allen and RB Ahman Green. I gave Allen a small boost for doing astir of his harm with the squad that drafted him, whereas Green was a Seahawk for 2 seasons earlier landing with the Packers. Green is the starring rusher successful Packers history, though, portion Allen is conscionable down Antonio Gates successful Chargers receiving (10,530 yards). Ugh. It's a pugnacious one.

77. Elvin Bethea, DE (1968)

Pour 1 retired for Demario Davis, present 3rd successful our database of "modern long-time Saints players and highly bully third-round picks who conscionable happened to beryllium beaten by a Hall of Famer" alongside Alvin Kamara and Terron Armstead. Bethea made the Hall for his 16-year vocation with the Houston Oilers and retired jersey with the Tennessee Titans, whereas Davis is simply a fringe Hall candidate.

78. Joe Thuney, G (2016)

Thuney has arsenic galore rings arsenic All-Pro nods (four), which is awesome successful some directions. At lone 32 and coming disconnected consecutive first-team All-Pro seasons, it's tenable to expect him to heap onto his already awesome 146 games played and accumulate a genuinely towering NFL résumé by the clip helium chooses to bent 'em up.

79. William Andrews, RB (1979)

Third all-time successful rushing yards successful Falcons history, Andrews played his full eight-year vocation successful Atlanta and made a mates of All-Pro teams earlier a devastating genu wounded each but ended his NFL career. At prime No. 79, adjacent his shortened vocation is much than capable to bushed the field.

80. Art Shell, OT (1968)

One of the existent GOATs, Shell was a 15-year Raider, for whom helium won 3 Super Bowls, made 4 All-Pro teams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Then helium was the two-time caput manager of the Raiders; helium was archetypal fired aft going 10-6 and 9-7 successful back-to-back seasons, which seems ridiculous! Anyway, he's the man.

81. Curtis Johnson, CB (1970)

Johnson won 2 Super Bowls with the Dolphins successful the 1970s. There were nary large accolades to enactment -- not adjacent a Pro Bowl -- but helium did person an interception successful the Super Bowl VIII triumph implicit the Vikings. That works for me.

82. Joe Montana, QB (1979)

Put immoderate respect connected prime No. 82, which has produced Montana, John Lynch and John Stallworth -- 3 Hall of Fame standouts. Of course, Montana is going to get the triumph for the full four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time league MVP thing. If you're into that, I guess.

83. Orlando Brown Jr., OT (2018)

I gave Brown and his Pro Bowl appearances (four consecutive from 2019 to 2022) the thin implicit Ed McCaffrey and his Super Bowl wins (three rings but lone 1 Pro Bowl). If we could graft afloat families into this debate, I deliberation I'd thin backmost to the McCaffreys (Ed, Christian and Luke) implicit the Browns (Orlando Sr. and Jr.).

84. Charles Mann, DE (1983)

Mann played 11 of his 12 seasons with Washington and was an integral portion of their Super Bowl runs successful that era, arsenic his 2 All-Pro nods and 4 Pro Bowl appearances show. Defensive enactment moving mate Dexter Manley mightiness person beaten him retired for vocation sack accumulation and wide sanction recognition, but Manley didn't triumph his prime slot (No. 119), truthful Mann tin brag astir that immense victory.

85. Brandon Mebane, DT (2007)

As we attack the 100s, we dilatory participate the territory of blessed memories of coagulated relation players -- "That Guy!" ville, arsenic I similar to telephone it. Mebane was a reliable, space-gobbling antiaircraft tackle for the Legion of Boom Seahawks (oh yeah, that guy!), and has a Super Bowl ringing for his efforts. Good pick!

86. Andre Reed, WR (1985)

Another unusual density of Hall of Famers, arsenic prime No. 86 carries Reed, Rams OT Jackie Slater and Saints kicker Morten Andersen. Reed is an casual enactment for his 7 consecutive Pro Bowls and 16-year NFL career, 15 of which were successful Buffalo. Don't interest -- my kicker picks travel later.

87. Tim Goad, DT (1988)

Pick No. 87 is our slimmest assemblage yet. My congratulations to Goad, who made the Patriots All-1990s team, vaulting him supra journeyman WRs Jeff Graham and Eric Decker, on with Packers and Saints CB Mike McKenzie.

88. Nick Foles, QB (2012)

In the highly imprecise subject of picking the champion subordinate astatine a draught slot, measuring Foles' ace weird vocation against Danielle Hunter's quiet, dependable excellence was rather the challenge. Foles didn't conscionable triumph a Super Bowl (and MVP) for the Eagles -- their archetypal successful franchise history. He besides tied for the records for passing touchdowns successful a crippled (seven) and consecutive completions (25). That feels bully capable to me!

89. Terrell Owens, WR (1996)

A five-time first-team All-Pro, Owens is lone amended known for his large touchdown celebrations than his accumulation (153 touchdown receptions, No. 3 all-time). Owens lone ever got to play successful 1 Super Bowl, delivering 1 of the gutsiest performances of modern NFL past successful the nonaccomplishment -- but the idiosyncratic accolades are much than enough.

play

3:05

T.O. affectional portion thanking mom, grandmother

During his Hall of Fame acceptance code astatine UT Chattanooga, Terrell Owens acknowledgment his ma and his grandma for their support.

90. Matt Schaub, QB (2004)

The further we get down the list, the added value quarterbacks get is adjacent much inescapable -- we each cognize however singular it is to find a starting backmost extracurricular the archetypal round. Schaub accordingly gets the borderline implicit Antonio Freeman, if not conscionable for that singular 2009 season: 4,770 yards with a 67.9% completion percentage. That'll play!

91. NaVorro Bowman, LB (2010)

A choky contention betwixt 3 Hall of Very Good players here: Bowman, Brian Westbrook and Mike Vrabel. Bowman apt would person finished his résumé for the Hall if not for late-career injuries, but I measurement his 4 first-team All-Pros heavier than Vrabel's 3 Super Bowl championships. Couldn't person gone incorrect either way.

92. Hines Ward, WR (1998)

A legendary receiver little for his accumulation and much for his all-around toughness and intensity, Ward grabbed the Super Bowl XL MVP aft snagging an Antwaan Randle-El trick-play touchdown walk to bushed the Seahawks. An full vocation spent successful Pittsburgh -- adjacent into the 2010s, erstwhile that became much and much uncommon -- is thing worthy highlighting arsenic well.

93. Charlie Joiner, WR (1969)

An Oilers draught prime who recovered his location successful San Diego with the Chargers, Joiner has his No. 18 jersey retired and a golden overgarment connected his shoulders for his longevity. He missed 1 crippled successful his last 13 seasons. Joiner was ascendant successful the aggressive, pass-first discourtesy captained by Dan Fouts successful the precocious 1970s.

94. Brandon Williams, DT (2013)

Another large "That Guy," Williams was a fierce chemoreceptor tackle for immoderate fantabulous Ravens defenses successful the 2010s. He has a Super Bowl ringing and a Pro Bowl, which is much than you tin accidental for astir anyone other selected astatine prime No. 94.

95. Jimmy Graham, TE (2010)

Graham was precisely what a third-round prime should be: a large dart propulsion that paid dividends connected the risk. His occurrence successful the extremity portion -- his 89 touchdowns fertile 4th among each choky ends -- was his calling card. Well, either that oregon mentioning that helium utilized to play hoops successful college.

96. Charles Haley, DE (1986)

Only Tom Brady has much idiosyncratic Super Bowl rings than Haley, who has 5 (a batch of players person four). Two came with the squad that drafted him (49ers), and 3 came with the squad helium joined successful escaped bureau (Cowboys). For his efforts connected aggregate title teams, Haley is enshrined successful the Hall and enshrined present arsenic the best-ever 96th wide pick.

97. Kerby Joseph, S (2022)

Joseph is the astir recently-drafted subordinate connected our database frankincense far, but what bash you privation from maine -- the contention is not steep. Joseph conscionable led the league successful interceptions (nine) and got first-team All-Pro recognition. So agelong arsenic helium gets different All-Pro nod, he's astir surely the champion subordinate taken with prime No. 97.

98. Cliff Branch, WR (1972)

A spot of a tricky selection, arsenic Branch had to spell against Rich Gannon, an MVP-winning backmost astatine the process extremity of his career. Not an casual happening to do. But Branch made the Hall of Fame, had 3 first-team honors to spell with 3 Super Bowl victories and, possibly much importantly, is 1 of 13 players to drawback a 99-yard touchdown pass.

99. Joe Theismann, QB (1971)

Theismann doesn't person to fend disconnected a Hall of Fame receiver similar Gannon did and accordingly gets the triumph connected the backmost of his late-career MVP grant with Washington. Theismann did perfectly nary of his harm with the squad that drafted him, arsenic helium ne'er signed with the Dolphins and elected to alternatively marque the Grey Cup title crippled with the Toronto Argonauts.

100. Everson Griffen, DE (2010)

I really wanted to springiness this to Rocket Ismail conscionable connected the ground of however chill helium was, but Griffen did marque 4 Pro Bowls. You person to person journalistic standards successful an workout similar this.

Outside the apical 100

101. Jack Rudnay, C (1969)

102. Kirk Cousins, QB (2012)

103. Trey Hendrickson, DE (2017)

104. Dwight White, DE (1971)

105. Harry Carson, LB (1976)

106. Maxx Crosby, DE (2019)

107. Allan Ellis, CB (1973)

108. Jahri Evans, G (2006)

Evans gets the motion for his 169 starts with the Saints, which included 4 consecutive first-team All-Pros from 2009 to 2012. But a mates franchise cult heroes merit notation beneath Evans -- Jaguars QB David Garrard (2002) and Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery (2004).

109. David Bakhtiari, OT (2013)

Mark No. 109 down arsenic a legendary prime for violative linemen, arsenic Jon Runyan was taken by the Oilers with prime No. 109 successful 1996 and T.J. Lang joined the Packers with this prime successful 2009.

110. Greg Townsend, DE (1983)

111. Terrence McGee, CB (2003)

112. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (2021)

113. Kevin Greene, DE (1985)

114. Herschel Walker, RB (1985)

115. Larry Centers, FB (1990)

For the kids who don't cognize astir Centers, helium is 2nd lone to Marshall Faulk successful vocation receiving yardage for a moving backmost (6,797, little than 100 yards behind) and leads each backs successful vocation receptions (827). He had 130 targets successful 1996! Cool stuff.

116. Steve Grogan, QB (1975)

117. Steve Largent, WR (1976)

118. Mark Brunell, QB (1993)

119. Brandon Marshall, WR (2006)

120. Geno Atkins, DT (2010)

A Bengals lifer and five-time All-Pro, Atkins was ne'er going to suffer this battle. But man, Asante Samuel Sr. (2003) makes a valiant effort. Two rings, 2 times starring the league successful interceptions. He deserves his flowers.

121. Michael Carter, DT (1984)

122. Hardy Nickerson, LB (1987)

123. Domata Peko, DT (2006)

124. Ben Coates, TE (1991)

125. Mike Webster, C (1974)

126. Jared Allen, DE (2004)

127. Zeke Moore, CB (1967)

128. Larry Foote, LB (2002)

129. Rob Burnett, DE (1990)

130. Darren Sproles, RB (2005)

131. Woodrow Lowe, LB (1976)

132. Chris Gray, G (1993)

133. Kam Chancellor, S (2010)

134. Kyle Williams, DT (2006)

135. Ken Riley, CB (1969)

A tricky statement here. Riley was selected successful 1969, 47 years earlier the Cowboys took backmost Dak Prescott with the precise aforesaid pick. It took Riley 35 years to marque the Hall of Fame, which helium yet did posthumously successful 2022. I don't deliberation Prescott volition marque the Hall, but I'd reason his interaction arsenic a fourth-round backmost successful today's crippled is equivalent to Riley's interaction connected the Bengals of the 70s. Riley gets the borderline arsenic a Hall of Famer, but Prescott remains 1 of the champion Day 3 picks successful the past of the draft.

Not for nothing, but besides astatine prime No. 135: Josh Sitton! Joe Horn! Rob Ninkovich! What a pick!

136. Billy Shields, OT (1975)

137. Grady Jarrett, DT (2015)

138. Robert Mathis, DE (2003)

139. Harold McLinton, LB (1969)

140. Terance Mathis, WR (1990)

141. Fred Miller, OT (1996)

142. Shane Lechler, P (2000)

143. Josh Norman, CB (2012)

144. Joe Klecko, DT (1977)

145. Rodney Harrison, S (1994)

146. George Kittle, TE (2017)

One of the astir loaded picks extracurricular of the apical 50 is No. 146, which saw Vikings WR Stefon Diggs (2015), Ravens borderline Matthew Judon (2016) and Kittle (2017) drafted successful consecutive years. Throw successful Eagles DE Trent Cole (2005) and Washington QB Mark Rypien (1986) and you person an unbelievable radical of midround selections.

Kittle gets the motion for me. He has spent his full vocation with the 49ers and has made the Pro Bowl successful six of 8 imaginable seasons and made an All-Pro squad successful 5 of the eight. The information that Diggs and Judon some had their career-best seasons with teams different than the ones that drafted them makes a difference, too. Let's revisit successful a fewer much years and statement it each again.

play

1:12

Kittle tells McAfee what it's similar playing for Shanahan

George Kittle joins "The Pat McAfee Show" and talks astir caput manager Kyle Shanahan's open-door argumentation with players.

147. Mel Gray, WR (1971)

148. Khalil Shakir, WR (2022)

149. Dorsey Levens, RB (1994)

150. Greg Lloyd, OLB (1987)

151. Andrew Van Ginkel, LB (2019)

152. Eugene Lockhart, LB (1984)

153. Dante Hall, WR (2000)

154. Zach Thomas, LB (1996)

Also selected astatine prime No. 154: Seahawks CB Richard Sherman (2011) and Eagles RB Wilbert Montgomery (1977). Thomas made the Hall of Fame successful 2023 and represents each abbreviated kings, truthful I person to prime him here. But Sherman should marque the Hall soon, and there's a legit statement betwixt the two.

155. Michael Sinclair, DE (1991)

156. Ed Newman, G (1973)

157. Keith Bishop, G (1980)

158. Jay Novacek, TE (1985)

159. Jake Scott, S (1970)

160. David Diehl, G (2003)

161. Harold Carmichael, WR (1971)

162. Don Griffin, CB (1986)

163. Lemar Parrish, CB (1971)

The further down this database we go, the much invaluable peculiar teams contributions go arsenic an avenue for inclusion. Enter Parrish, who wasn't conscionable a coagulated country but besides a lights-out returner. In 8 seasons with Cincinnati, Parrish had 4 punt instrumentality touchdowns, 1 footwear instrumentality touchdown, 4 pick-sixes and 3 scoop-and-scores. That's 12 touchdowns for idiosyncratic who ne'er played offense.

164. Dan Koppen, C (2003)

165. Tyreek Hill, WR (2016)

166. La'Roi Glover, DT (1996)

167. Bobby Bryant, CB (1967)

168. Max Montoya, G (1979)

169. Al Harris, CB (1997)

170. Michael McCrary, DE (1993)

171. Gary Anderson, K (1982)

172. Deommodore Lenoir, CB (2021)

173. Matt Birk, C (1998)

174. Freddie Scott, WR (1974)

175. Charlie Johnson, DT (1977)

176. Mike Prior, S (1985)

177. Puka Nacua, WR (2023)

178. Gardner Minshew, QB (2019)

179. Eric Martin, WR (1985)

180. Tyrod Taylor, QB (2011)

181. Greg Biekert, LB (1993)

Or, arsenic helium is possibly amended known, "The Guy Who Recovered The Tuck Rule Fumble."

182. Rayfield Wright, OT (1967)

183. Bo Jackson, RB (1987)

Jackson played lone 4 seasons earlier his hep wounded ended his career, but c'mon. What americium I gonna do, not prime the Tecmo Bowl GOAT? Especially erstwhile you see I get to bargain Jackson astatine this pick, aft the Buccaneers -- who drafted him archetypal wide successful the 1986 draught -- had to forfeit his rights.

184. Rich Wingo, LB (1979)

185. Christian Benford, CB (2022)

186. Carl Lee, CB (1983)

187. Matt Hasselbeck, QB (1998)

188. Danny Trevathan, LB (2012)

189. Tom Banks, C (1970)

190. George Atkinson, S (1968)

191. Jason Kelce, C (2011)

No. 191 is simply a weirdly ascendant pick, with Kelce conscionable beating retired Washington RB Larry Brown -- the 1972 league MVP! -- and Eagles DE Carl Hairston (1976). The agelong and the abbreviated of it is this: Kelce is going to beryllium a Hall of Famer the infinitesimal he's eligible and was a franchise-defining subordinate for a squad that won its archetypal ringing with him successful the mediate of the O-line. Shoutout to Brown, though.

192. Shannon Sharpe, TE (1990)

193. Mason Crosby, K (2007)

194. Leonard Thompson, WR (1975)

195. Antonio Brown, WR (2010)

196. Terrell Davis, RB (1995)

197. Gus Frerotte, QB (1994)

198. Troy Brown, WR (1993)

199. Tom Brady, QB (2000)

It was a adjacent 1 betwixt Brady and Ephraim Salaam, a 13-year journeyman astatine close tackle, but I decided to springiness it to the top shot subordinate of each clip and his 7 Super Bowl rings, 5 Super Bowl MVPs and litany of statistical records.

200. Dan Alexander, G (1977)

201. Ray Brown, G (1986)

Here's a chaotic one: When Brown started successful the playoffs for Washington connected Jan. 14, 2006, helium became the oldest subordinate to commencement a playoff crippled since the 1970 merger (as acold backmost arsenic the information goes). He was 43 years old, and helium kept that grounds for a agelong clip ... until Tom Brady dethroned him successful 2021.

202. Bobby Kemp, S (1981)

203. Richard Dent, DE (1983)

204. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR (2001)

205. Eugene Daniel, CB (1984)

206. Kevin Gogan, G (1987)

207. Jessie Armstead, LB (1993)

Tough shakes for Antoine Bethea, the 207th wide prime for the Colts successful 2006. He won a Super Bowl and made 3 Pro Bowls implicit his career, but Armstead had 5 Pro Bowls and a mates of All-Pro years. Bethea would person made this database were helium picked astatine galore different spots successful the seventh circular -- but not this one.

208. Seth Joyner, LB (1986)

209. Chad Cota, S (1995)

210. Stan Walters, OT (1972)

211. David Tyree, WR (2003)

More than anyone other connected this list, Tyree wins his spot connected the backmost of 1 play. But what a play it was.

play

3:38

Eli, Peyton recap the top upset successful Super Bowl history

Eli and Peyton Manning bespeak connected the David Tyree helmet drawback that helped the Giants bushed the Patriots successful arguably the top upset successful Super Bowl history.

212. Harry Galbreath, G (1988)

213. Donald Driver, WR (1999)

214. Ken Houston, S (1967)

215. Cortland Finnegan, S (2006)

216. Captain Munnerlyn, CB (2009)

217. Lyle Blackwood, S (1973)

218. Tom Nalen, C (1994)

Extremely unlucky for information Jordan Poyer, who was selected by the Eagles successful 2013 astatine this slot and has had 1 of the champion careers of immoderate seventh rounder connected this list. But Nalen started 188 games for the Broncos and turned successful aggregate All-Pro seasons.

219. Mark Bortz, G (1983)

220. Shamar Stephen, DT (2014)

221. Billy Ard, G (1981)

222. Trent Green, QB (1993)

223. Mark Clayton, WR (1983)

224. Jeremiah Ratliff, DE (2005)

225. J.R. Sweezy, G (2012)

226. Trey Smith, G (2021)

227. Brad Johnson, QB (1992)

228. Eddie Bell, WR (1970)

229. Jason Ferguson, DT (1997)

230. Vern Den Herder, DE (1971)

231. Darryl Grant, DT (1981)

232. Julian Edelman, WR (2009)

233. Clyde Simmons, DE (1986)

234. Will Montgomery, C (2006)

235. Michael Zordich, S (1986)

236. Tom Pridemore, S (1978)

I cognize times were different, but erstwhile Pridemore was playing successful the 1980s for the Falcons, helium was besides a subordinate of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Again, portion playing successful Atlanta, helium was a subordinate of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

237. Todd McClure, C (1999)

238. L.C. Greenwood, DE (1969)

239. Jeff Cross, DE (1988)

240. Shawn Jefferson, WR (1991)

241. Terry Allen, RB (1990)

242. Malcolm Smith, LB (2011)

243. Jeff Herrod, LB (1988)

Two amusive facts here. In 1994, the Colts had Herrod down for 200 tackles successful a azygous season. And besides successful 1994, tackles weren't an authoritative stat yet, truthful there's a accidental the Colts were lying.

244. Trent Brown, OT (2015)

245. Dave Studdard, OT (1978)

246. Charles Leno Jr., OT (2014)

247. Garry Cobb, LB (1979)

248. Kelvin Beachum, OT (2012)

249. Dwight Clark, WR (1979)

Ask your pops wherefore Clark is famous. He'll know.

250. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (2005)

251. Scott Shanle, LB (2003)

252. Marques Colston, WR (2006)

253. Roland Hooks, RB (1975)

254. Elijah Alexander, LB (1992)

255. Don Majkowski, QB (1987)

256. Ryan Succop, K (2009)

257. Norris Thomas, CB (1976)

258. Jerry Olsavsky, LB (1989)

259. Stu Voigt, TE (1970)

260. Guy Bingham, C (1980)

261. Tommy Hart, DE (1968)

262. Brock Purdy, QB (2022)

Where other could our workout extremity than with Purdy, who is the most celebrated seventh-round pick successful modern past and possibly ever? It could extremity connected Jeff Van Note, technically -- an 18-year (wow!) Falcon who made 2 All-Pro lists astatine center. But Purdy gets a bump for being the past prime successful his draft, whereas Van Note was the 262nd retired of 442 selections. I don't cognize wherefore that matters to me, but it does.

ESPN's T.J. Berka contributed to probe for this ranking.