Can you tell I'm excited yet?
Before we get to the draft though, we need to take a look at something.
What exactly?
How about "Which NFL teams have had the most success in the NFL this decade?"
Seems pretty fitting doesn't it?
With the draft here, it only makes sense to take a look at which teams have had the most success in the draft recently. These are most likely the teams that will once again have success this weekend. These teams have the best talent evaluators in the game and it really shows when you start looking at how successful each of the teams on this list have done over the last few seasons.
All the teams on this list have something in common and I'll see if you guys can figure it out by the time we reach the end of the column.....
ENJOY!!!!!
Top Drafting NFL Teams of the 2010's
Honorable Mention:
Arizona Cardinals
Notable Picks: Daryl Washington (LB), Patrick Peterson (CB), Justin Bethel (S), Tyrann Mathieu (CB)
San Francisco 49ers
Notable Picks: Mike Iupati (OG), NaVorro Bowman (LB), Aldon Smith (LB), Eric Reid (S)
And now....THE TOP 10!
10. Denver Broncos
Notable Picks: Demaryius Thomas (WR), Zane Beadles (OT), Von Miller (LB), Julius Thomas (TE)
It shouldn't surprise anyone to see the Broncos ranked on this list. Why? Because they just hoisted a Super Bowl trophy that was won in large part thanks to players that they drafted over the last few years (looking at you Von Miller). Everyone knows that I'm not a fan of John Elway and the Donkies, but you have to give them credit where credit is due. They have absolutely nailed some draft picks and reaped the benefits.
9. Los Angeles Rams
Notable Picks: Robert Quinn (DE), Janoris Jenkins (CB), Tavon Austin (WR), Aaron Donald (DT), Todd Gurley (RB)
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
"The Rams are an extremely well-built football team that is a QB away from being a competitor"
That is actually pretty true. The Rams are a really good football team on paper that can't get over that 7-9 & 8-8 hump in large part because they don't have a quarterback who is capable of taking them to the promised land. The rest of the team though? They have been pretty solid thanks in part to how successful the Rams have been in the NFL Draft recently. Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL right now. Todd Gurley looks like he could be the next big running back in the NFL. And Janoris Jenkins just turned his run in St. Louis into a big-time contract with the New York Giants. Some teams just hope to get a guy that can make a difference on-the-field in some fashion when they draft him. The Rams have done that and more.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Notable Picks: Maurkice Pouncey (C), Emmanuel Sanders (WR), Antonio Brown (WR), David DeCastro (OG), Le'Veon Bell (RB)
How are the Steelers ranked on this list?
Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, that's how. Most NFL teams just hope to draft ONE guy who could potentially blossom into the best player at their position in the NFL. The Steelers have drafted two of those guys in the last six years. Bell and Brown are absolute juggernauts when they are on-the-field and have no doubt extended the life of QB Ben Roethlisberger. People ask how the Steelers seem to be able to compete year-in and year-out in the NFL. It's because they consistently draft well. Some NFL teams have figured this out and are reaping the benefits while other teams are still behind the times (Cleveland).
7. Minnesota Vikings
Even though the Vikings don't exactly have the sexiest picks of the bunch, the fact that they have drafted eight Pro Bowlers this decade is impressive. Even though some of these guys have had some major up-and-down careers (looking at you Matt Kalil), the Vikings do get major bonus points for seemingly have found a franchise quarterback in the draft (always an impressive feat). The selection of Teddy Bridgewater has turned into a good one thus far for the Vikings and if he can continue to improve, the franchise could finally see a Super Bowl title headed their direction...especially if they keep drafting they way they have been.
6. New England Patriots
Notable Picks: Devin McCourty (DB), Rob Gronkowski (TE), Aaron Hernandez (TE), Chandler Jones (DE), Jamie Collins (LB)
Of course the New England Patriots are ranked here. Bill Belichick and company are some of the best scouts in the NFL. I haven't actually gone back and looked, but if I did, I bet the Patriots have hit on more draft picks than any other team since Belichick was hired. You may hate the guy. You may hate the Patriots. But you can't deny greatness and these guys are great because they consistently draft fantastic players. It's the "Patriot Way". Ranking would probably be higher if Aaron Hernandez killed less people.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Notable Picks: Dez Bryant (WR), Sean Lee (LB), Tyron Smith (OT), DeMarco Murray (RB), Travis Frederick (C), Zack Martin (OG)
I love what the Cowboys have done in the NFL Draft these last few years. It's really hard to go wrong when you focus a lot of your attention on the offensive line and nail the picks. Just look at that haul the Cowboys have brought in over the last six years. Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin are all amongst the best players at their position and have really helped turn the Cowboys into a respectable team again. The only reason they aren't ranked higher here is because they may have spent a little TOO much attention on the line and not enough elsewhere, namely the back-up quarterback position. Even though the offensive line and Dez Bryant are extremely good players, the Cowboys have also had some stinkers (Morris Claiborne) that affect this ranking to.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Notable Picks: Jermaine Gresham (TE), Carlos Dunlap (DE), Geno Atkins (DT), A.J. Green (WR), Andy Dalton (QB), Tyler Eifert (TE),
The Cincinnati Bengals are a good football team. That's no argument. They have been one of the best regular season teams in the NFL over the last few seasons, and that's largely because they have drafted extremely well. I give a lot of points to a team that drafts a franchise QB in the draft because of how hard it is to find one. Even though Andy Dalton may not be the sexiest QB in the NFL, he's still a really good one and he's turned the Bengals into a contender in his time there. When you also throw in A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Carlos Dunlap, and Geno Atkins....then yeah. It really shouldn't surprise anyone to see them ranked this high. When are these draft picks going to result in some post-season wins though?
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Notable Picks: Eric Berry (S), Dexter McCluster (RB), Justin Houston (LB), Dontari Poe (DT), Travis Kelce (TE), Marcus Peters (CB)
The Kansas City Chiefs just earned their first playoff win in over twenty years last season. How did they manage to do that? By building an extremely impressive team through the NFL Draft. I mean, look at some of those picks the Chiefs have made recently...especially on the defensive side of the ball. Justin Houston has blossomed into one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Donatri Poe is an absolute beast at nose tackle. Eric Berry and Marcus Peters have turned the KC secondary into one of the most exciting in the league and Travis Kelce is Travis Kelce. The Chiefs are a legitimate Super Bowl contender now and when's the last time anyone could say that?
2. Carolina Panthers
Notable Picks: Greg Hardy (DE), Cam Newton (QB), Luke Kuechly (LB), Josh Norman (CB), Kawann Short (DT), Trai Turner (OG)
The Carolina Panthers have drafted really well over the last six years and it all culminated in a Super Bowl appearance this last season. The Panthers are a pretty well-balanced team on all sides of the ball and that is definitely in part to how well they have drafted recently. A lot of people questioned their selection of Cam Newton at #1 back in 2011, but that was obviously the right choice. QB's like Cam don't come around very often and as he showed last season, he has the talent to potentially blossom into the best quarterback in the league. Meanwhile, the Panthers also drafted a guy who could be the best linebacker in the league (Kuechly) and a guy who could be the best corner in the league (Norman). Not too shabby at all if I may say so myself.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Notable Picks: Russell Okung (OT), Earl Thomas (S), Golden Tate (WR), Kam Chancellor (S), Richard Sherman (CB), Bobby Wagner (LB), Russell Wilson (QB), Tyler Lockett (WR)
Super Bowl titles.
That's really the only argument you need when talking about how well the Seattle Seahawks have drafted over the last few years.
Earl Thomas? Kam Chancellor? Richard Sherman? Bobby Wagner? RUSSELL FREAKING WILSON?!?!
Ya, this one was easy.....
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