THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 25, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
NY Post
New York Post
22 Apr 2023


NextImg:Five-year NFL Draft analysis: Ravens move to top spot as Giants, Jets both rise

Grades will be handed out quickly after the NFL draft, which begins Thursday, but those won’t mean much. We won’t truly know who won or lost in the draft for a few years.

That is why we evaluate the past five draft classes for each team as we approach the draft each year, to see who nailed it and who failed it. In our ninth annual examination, we will analyze the years 2018-22 to see how teams fared.

Advertisement

The rankings are based upon how many games each draft pick has played, Pro Bowl appearances, first-team All-Pro selections and awards such as MVP and Rookie of the Year. We also factored in how much the team has won during those five seasons, because players on losing teams tend to have an easier path to playing time.

Here are the rankings from best to worst, with the ranking from last year in parentheses:

Pro Bowlers: 4

Best Pick: Lamar Jackson (2018, first round)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: Hayden Hurst (2018, first)

Baltimore is the only team in the NFL that has drafted an MVP in the past five years. Jackson, who won the 2019 award, is a big reason why they are on the top of this list. In Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown and Devin Duvernay, Baltimore has some other players who have racked up accolades. The Ravens also don’t have many players who could not get on the field. Almost all of their draft picks have contributed in some way.

Lamar Jackson was the only NFL player drafted within the last five years to win an MVP.
Getty Images

Pro Bowlers: 3

Advertisement

Best Pick: Quenton Nelson (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Rock Ya-Sin (2019, second)

The 2022 champion slides into second place. Indianapolis’ 2018 draft is one of the best by any team in the past decade. Nelson and Shaquille Leonard are both foundation players. The big knock on general manager Chris Ballard has been his failure to find a quarterback, but he has drafted well.

Pro Bowlers: 6

Advertisement

Best Pick: Nick Bosa (2019, first)

Worst Pick: Javon Kinlaw (2020, first)

San Francisco has talent all over the field thanks to some great drafting by GM John Lynch. Bosa is one of the best players taken in the past five years, but the 49ers also have drafted Fred Warner, Deebo Samuel and Talanoa Hufanga outside of the first round. Their draft picks have been named All-Pro five times.

Nick Bosa has headlined strong 49ers drafting from the last five years.

Nick Bosa has headlined strong 49ers drafting from the last five years.
Getty Images

Pro Bowlers: 6

Best Pick: Micah Parsons (2021, first)

Worst Pick: Trysten Hill (2019, second)

Jerry Jones has made some great selections in recent years. Parsons is an absolute stud, and they landed a number of contributors behind him in the 2021 draft. CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs were a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the 2020 draft.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 5

Best Pick: Tristan Wirfs (2020, first)

Worst Pick: M.J. Stewart (2018, second)

Tampa Bay took Vita Vea, Devin White and Wirfs in the first round in three consecutive years. That is a 100 percent hit rate. Tom Brady made this team look good in the last two years, but GM Jason Licht deserves credit, too, for building a nice foundation through the draft.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: Justin Herbert (2020, first)

Worst Pick: Jerry Tillery (2019, first)

It should not be overlooked what a good pick the Chargers made with Herbert. There were not a lot of people pounding the table for him before that draft, but he looks like he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Derwin James and Rashawn Slater are strong foundational players.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: Josh Allen (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Harrison Phillips (2018, third)

Brandon Beane has done a fantastic job building the Buffalo roster through the draft. Allen was not viewed as a sure thing before the 2018 draft, but he looks like he’ll be considered the best quarterback drafted that year. Tremaine Edmunds taken 16th overall the same year, was another tremendous pick.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 5

Best Pick: Frank Ragnow (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Jeff Okudah (2020, first)

The Lions are on the upswing and a good deal of that can be credited to some good recent drafts. Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown, both taken in 2021, look like keepers. Aidan Hutchinson had a strong rookie season in 2022.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Justin Jefferson (2020, first)

Worst Pick: Mike Hughes (2018, first)

The Jefferson pick was a franchise-changer. He is the best player from that draft, and the Vikings got him with the 22nd-overall pick. Former GM Rick Spielman did not receive enough credit for his draft work. The Vikings had the most picks (56) over the past five years.

Advertisement

Somehow, the Vikings snagged wideout Justin Jefferson with the No. 22 pick.

Somehow, the Vikings snagged wideout Justin Jefferson with the No. 22 pick.
Getty Images

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Nick Chubb (2018, second)

Worst Pick: Baker Mayfield (2018, first)

Advertisement

The Browns had the No. 1-overall pick in 2018 and blew it on Mayfield. That is the type of decision that sets a franchise back several years, and it made them eventually overspend on Deshaun Watson.

Pro Bowlers: 1

Best Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick (2018, first)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: Michael Deiter (2019, third)

The Dolphins landed Fitzpatrick, Mike Gesicki, Jerome Baker, Durham Smythe and Jason Sanders in 2018, and they all have played a lot of games. We’ll see how the Tua Tagovailoa pick (fifth overall, 2020) turns out. That will ultimately define this period of Miami football.

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: Maxx Crosby (2019, fourth)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: Damon Arnette (2020, first)

The Raiders have a very inconsistent draft record. Their 2019 class had some great picks, such as Josh Jacobs and Crosby, as well as a good one in Hunter Renfrow. Then, their 2020 class had two disastrous first-round picks: Arnette and Henry Ruggs. There is no way the Raiders could have known how things would work out with Ruggs, but he still drags down their score.

Pro Bowlers: 3

Advertisement

Best Pick: DK Metcalf (2019, second)

Worst Pick: Marquise Blair (2019, second)

Seattle has not drafted a lot of stars — Metcalf is the exception — but has taken some good starters in the past five years. Tariq Woolen had an impressive rookie season and could be a foundational player. The Seahawks had just three picks in 2021 after their trade for Jamal Adams. The 2023 first-round and second-round picks they got in the trade of Russell Wilson to Denver should help.

Pro Bowlers: 4

Advertisement

Best Pick: Jalen Hurts (2020, second)

Worst Pick: Jalen Reagor (2020, first)

The Reagor pick is a stinker when you consider Justin Jefferson went a pick later. But GM Howie Roseman has used the draft to help build his NFC East champions. If Hurts can stack together more seasons like last year, his selection will look like a genius pick.

Jalen Hurts became an integral part of the Eagles' team that advanced to the Super Bowl.

Jalen Hurts became an integral part of the Eagles’ team that advanced to the Super Bowl.
Getty Images

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: Patrick Surtain II (2021, first)

Worst Pick: Drew Lock (2019, second)

Head coach Sean Payton is taking over a team that has some talent, but has not been able to put it together. Surtain is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy can be a good receiver tandem. This is another team whose drafts will look better with good quarterback play.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: A.J. Brown (2019, second)

Worst Pick: Isaiah Wilson (2020, first)

Only the Saints have had fewer draft picks than the Titans (33) over the past five years. Wilson is one of the worst busts any team has taken. The first two picks in 2019, Jeffery Simmons and Brown, were strong. It is too bad for Tennessee they traded Brown away.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Elgton Jenkins (2019, second)

Worst Pick: Jordan Love (2020, first)

Green Bay has had the third-most picks over this span, 48. Jaire Alexander and Jenkins are foundational players, but the Packers have missed on several other picks. Love may end up looking like a good pick, but three years into his career he has not had any impact, so that drags them down.

Advertisement

The outlook on the Jordan Love draft pick could change after this season.

The outlook on the Jordan Love draft pick could change after this season.
Getty Images

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Mac Jones (2021, first)

Worst Pick: N’Keal Harry (2019, first)

Advertisement

Bill Belichick has drafted some solid starters, but not many stars. Jones looked good as a rookie, but not in his second season. Right now, we’ll give Belichick a plus for that pick. Belichick has drafted three players who made first-team All-Pro over the five years, but all three were on special teams.

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: Chase Young (2020, first)

Worst Pick: Dwayne Haskins (2019, first)

Advertisement

They have blown a lot of picks, but have landed a few stars. Daron Payne, Terry McLaurin and Young (when healthy) are strong players who should be in Washington for a long time. Missing on a quarterback in the first round, as they did with Haskins, always sets a franchise back.

Pro Bowlers: 3

Best Pick: D.J. Chark (2018, second)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: C.J. Henderson (2020, first)

Jacksonville had back-to-back No. 1-overall picks during this time, so how Trevor Lawrence and Travon Walker pan out will ultimately define this era for the Jaguars. Chark and Josh Allen were strong picks earlier in this period.

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Ja’Marr Chase (2021, first)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: Drew Sample (2019, second)

Cincinnati, surprisingly, came out lower in our rankings than expected. When you dig in, however, you can see Joe Burrow and Chase are superstars, but the Bengals’ drafting falls off after that. They have some serviceable starters, but not many other stars.

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Sauce Gardner (2022, first)

Advertisement

Worst Pick: Sam Darnold (2018, first)

After years of terrible drafting, the Jets got it right in 2022. They landed a loaded class with Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall — who should all be long-term foundational players. That is the good. The bad is they drafted two quarterbacks in the top three over the past five years and neither has proven to be the answer.

Jets draft pick Sauce Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.

Jets draft pick Sauce Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Pro Bowlers: 2

Advertisement

Best Pick: Creed Humphrey (2021, second)

Worst Pick: Breeland Speaks (2018, second)

The best team in the NFL over the past five years has not drafted great after the franchise-changing pick of Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Part of it is drafting at the end of the rounds every year, because of the Chiefs’ success. Humphrey is a star at center, but the hits in the draft thin out after that.

Pro Bowlers: 2

Advertisement

Best Pick: Saquon Barkley (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Deandre Baker (2019, first)

Some of former GM Dave Gettleman’s picks don’t look as bad as they once did. Barkley, Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence all had good 2022 seasons. Baker, however, remains a huge miss, and Kadarius Toney is a miss for now, but could end up being a good player with the Chiefs.

Daniel Jones earned a massive contract with the Giants after a strong 2022 season.

Daniel Jones earned a massive contract with the Giants after a strong 2022 season.
Charles Wenzelberg

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 1

Best Pick: Roquan Smith (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Teven Jenkins (2021, second)

The Justin Fields pick in 2021 will end up defining this era for the Bears. The previous regime missed on enough picks to get the boot last year. Smith became a first-team All-Pro last season after the Bears traded him to Baltimore.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Diontae Johnson (2019, third)

Worst Pick: Justin Layne (2019, third)

Pittsburgh plummets in our rankings this year after losing the 2017 draft that was headlined by T.J. Watt. The Steelers haven’t made a ton of terrible picks in the past five years, but it’s hard to find any that are really exciting.

Advertisement

Pro Bowlers: 2

Best Pick: Chris Lindstrom (2019, first)

Worst Pick: Isaiah Oliver (2018, second)

Advertisement

How bad is the NFC South? Three of our six worst teams come from that division. Atlanta has some hits, such as Lindstrom and Kyle Pitts, as well as A.J. Terrell, but there are way too many misses, and that is why they are rebuilding.

Pro Bowlers: 1

Best Pick: Brian Burns (2019, first)

Worst Pick: Will Grier (2019, third)

Advertisement

Carolina is starting over with Frank Reich as head coach after the Matt Rhule mistake. The Panthers have not done well in the draft for a while now. Can they change that this year with the No. 1-overall pick?

Pro Bowlers: 0

Best Pick: Van Jefferson (2020, second)

Worst Pick: Terrell Burgess (2020, third)

Advertisement

The “F Them Picks” philosophy won them a Super Bowl, so it is hard to argue with. The Rams, however, are now going to pay for that ideology. Their recent drafts have not produced much. By trading away so many picks, the Rams’ average first pick has been 72.6 overall in the past five years. That is staggering.

Pro Bowlers: 1

Best Pick: Kyler Murray (2019, first)

Worst Pick: Josh Rosen (2018, first)

Advertisement

Arizona used back-to-back first-round picks on quarterbacks. Rosen was a terrible pick. Murray looked like a good one until recently. We’ll see if he comes back under a new coaching staff. The rest of their drafts were pretty weak.

Pro Bowlers: 0

Best Pick: Justin Reid (2018, third)

Worst Pick: Kahale Warring (2019, third)

Advertisement

The Texans have not landed a homegrown superstar since Deshaun Watson, and their roster is one of the worst in the NFL because of it. They are picking No. 2 overall this year as they try to find some answers.

Pro Bowlers: 0

Best Pick: Marcus Davenport (2018, first)

Worst Pick: Payton Turner (2021, first)

Advertisement

No one has had fewer picks than New Orleans’ 27 in the past five years. The Saints are an example of how hard it is to draft. They had one of the best drafts in recent history in 2017, with two Rookies of the Year, but have not had many hits since.

Payton Turner has dealt with injuries in each of his first two seasons with the Saints.

Payton Turner has dealt with injuries in each of his first two seasons with the Saints.
Getty Images

2018: Colts

2019: Raiders

Advertisement

2020: Vikings

2021: Cowboys

2022: Jets

Advertisement

2018: Quenton Nelson, Colts

2019: Nick Bosa, 49ers

2020: Justin Jefferson, Vikings

2021: Micah Parsons, Cowboys

2022: Sauce Gardner, Jets