The NFL Draft: The Ultimate Crapshoot

Here is a list I compiled over the weekend while watching the NFL Combine.  It is a list of the top ten picks from the year 2000 to the present.  Let’s see how many busts, disappointments, and superstars we can find in what is the ultimate crapshoot.

2000: DE Courtney Brown, LB LaVar Arrington, T Chris Samuels, WR Peter Warrick, RB Jamal Lewis, DT Corey Simon, RB Thomas Jones, WR Plaxico Burress, LB Brian Urlacher, WR Travis Taylor.  While Courtney Brown, Peter Warrick, and Travis Taylor didn’t amount to much the rest of the class is solid. Ron Dayne was taken at 11 by the Giants.

2001: QB Michael Vick, T Leonard Davis, DT Gerard Warren, DE Justin Smith, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, DT Richard Seymour, DE Andre Carter, WR David Terrell, WR Koren Ronbinson, DE Jamal Reynolds. The Giants got DB Will Allen at #22

2002: QB David Carr, DE Julius Peppers, QB Joey Harrington, T Mike Williams, DB Quentin Jammer, DT Ryan Sims, T Bryant McKinnie, DB Roy Williams, DT John Henderson, T Levi Jones.  The Giants took Jeremy Shockey at #14.

2003: QB Carson Palmer, WR Charles Rogers, WR Andre Johnson, DT DeWayne Robertson, Db Terence Newman, DT Johnathn Sullivan, QB Byron Leftwich, T Jordan Gross, DE Kevin Williams, LB Terell Suggs.  The Giants took William Joseph at #25

2004: QB Eli Manning, T Robert Gallery, WR Larry Fitzgerald, QB Phillip Rivers, DB Sean Taylor, TE Kellen Winslow, WR Roy Williams, DB De Angelo Hall, WR Reggie Williams, Db Dunta Robinson.  Roethlisberger was picked at #11 by Pittsburgh.  Except for the receivers in this group…a great draft class.

2005: QB Alex Smith, RB Ronnie Brown, WR Braylon Edwards, RB Cedric Benson, RB Cadillac Williams, DB Adam Jones, WR Troy Williamson, DB Antrel Rolle, DB Carlos Rogers, WR Mike Williams.  The Giants took Corey Webster at #43.

2006: DE Mario Williams, RB Reggie Bush, QB Vince Young, T D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LB A. J. Hawk, TE Vernon Davis, DB Michael Huff, DB Donte Whitner, LB Ernie Sims, QB Matt Leinart.  The Giants took Mathias Kiwanuka at #32

2007: QB JaMarcus Russell, WR Calvin Johnson, T Joe Thomas, DE Gaines Adams, T Levi Brown, S LaRon Landry, RB Adrian Peterson, DE Jamaal Anderson, WR Ted Ginn, DT Amobi Okoye…Patrick Willis was taken at #11.  The Giants took Aaron Ross at #20.

2008: T Jake Long, DE Chris Long, QB Matt Ryan, RB Darren McFadden, DT Glenn Dorsey, DE Vernon Gholston, DT Sedrick Ellis, DE Derrick Harvey, LB Keith Rivers, LB Jerod Mayo.  The Giants selected S Kenny Phillips at #32

2009: QB Matthew Stafford, T Jason Smith, DE Tyson Jackson, LB Aaron Curry, QB Mark Sanchez, T Andre Smith, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, T Eugene Monroe, DT B.J.Raji, WR Michael Crabtree.  The Giants took WR Hakeem Nicks at #29

2010: QB Sam Bradford, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Gerald McCoy, T Trent Williams, S Eric Berry, T Russell Okung, CB Joe Haden, LB ROlando McClain, RB C.J. Spiller, DT Tyson Alualu.  The Giants took J.P.P. at #15.

2011: QB Cam Newton, LB Von Miller, DE Marcell Dareus, WR A.J. Green, CB Patrick Peterson, WR Julio Jones, LB Aldon Smith, QB Jake Locker, T Tyron Smith, QB Blaine Gabbert, J.J Watt was #11.  The Giants selected Prince Amukamara at #19

2012: QB Andrew Luck, QB Robert Griffin, RB Trent Richardson, T Matt Kalil, WR Justin Blackmon, CB Morris Claiborne, S Mark Barron, QB Ryan Tannehill, LB Luke Kuechly, CB Stephone Gilmore.  The Giants of course selected RB David Wilson at #32.

How many complete busts can you find?  How would you have selected these same players in a different order?