The best draft picks of all time for every NFL team

The Cardinals landed a future Hall of Famer and one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history with this third-round pick. A six-time Pro Bowler, Williams set the team record with 46 interceptions. A shutdown corner during his 14-year career, he was a huge steal from Southern University.

The Falcons don't have a rich draft history, so this came down to RB Jamal Anderson, CB Deion Sanders and QB Ryan. Sanders' best seasons came in San Francisco and Dallas, and Anderson only had a one brilliant season. Ryan has engineered the franchise's greatest stretch of winning. Since he was drafted in 2008, the Falcons have played in 10 playoff games, including a Super Bowl (which they lost in stunning fashion to the Patriots). Although he sometimes lacked a good offensive line, a running game or a good defense, Ryan has won. He could go down as the greatest player in team history. 

For nearly a quarter-century, the Ravens have been among the best drafting teams in the NFL. During that span, they drafted Lewis, left tackle Jonathan Ogden and safety Ed Reed -- all Hall of Famers. Ogden was taken with the fourth overall pick, and 22 spots later, the Ravens landed one of the best linebackers in NFL history. Lewis played at a rare level during the Ravens' 2000 Super Bowl championship season. (Baltimore allowed only 165 points, 10.3 points per game.)  In his final NFL season, 2012, the Ravens won their second Super Bowl. Lewis was a three-down linebacker who was a feared hitter and exceptional leader. 

In the 1980s, the Bills nailed most of their first-round picks, setting up one of the best runs in league history. In 1983, Kelly was the first of them, although he played in the USFL until 1986. A five-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer, he led Buffalo to four straight Super Bowl appearances (all losses). With a powerful arm and excellent accuracy, Kelly changed the NFL with the Bills' fast-paced K-Gun offense. His ability to audible was a thing of beauty. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 35,467 yards and threw for 237 touchdowns. 

Cam Newton may become the best pick in franchise history, but this comes down to WR Steve Smith and DE Peppers, who retired after the 2018 season. We'll go with Peppers, a future Hall of Famer, because of his consistency. Smith may make the Hall someday, too. Peppers, who had 159.5 sacks in his career, was the defensive catalyst for a Carolina team that reached the Super Bowl in 2003. 

Hall of Famers Dan Hampton, Richard Dent and Mike Singletary received our consideration, but we can't go against "Sweetness." Payton, also Hall of Famer, spent 13 seasons with the Bears and retired as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. (Emmitt Smith now holds the record with 18,355 yards.) He also was a key player on the Bears' only Super Bowl championship team in 1985 -- perhaps the greatest team in the NFL history. Payton, who was selected for nine Pro Bowls, also was a superstar off the field with his charitable work.

The Browns' drafts have been less than scintillating this century, but they hit the jackpot in 1957. In fact, Jim Brown is the headliner in one of the best drafts in NFL history as Cleveland landed three Hall of Famers in its 1957 class. Along with Brown, Cleveland selected defensive tackle Henry Jordan (Rd. 5) and guard Gene Hickerson (Rd. 7). Brown rushed for 12,312 yards, averaging 5.2 yards a carry, and scored 106 touchdowns. He could have racked up more yardage, but he retired after only nine seasons. A dominant runner, Brown had one of the greatest combinations of size, speed and physicality.

The Bengals' best draft pick is one of the best, if not the best, offensive linemen in NFL history. Muñoz went to 11 Pro Bowls and was a big reason Cincinnati won the AFC in 1981 and 1987. Muñoz, a nine-time All-Pro, was on the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team. He also was a star off the field, earning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 1991.

Bob Lilly, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Larry Allen and Troy Aikman are valid choices. But Staubach stands above them all. He missed five years honoring his Navy commitment, but he led Dallas to its first Super Bowl championship in 1971 and tacked on another six years later. Staubach, a six-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer, was an icon for the NFL and the Cowboys. Quite a steal for a 10th-round pick.

Davis only played seven seasons, but oh what a run the sixth-round draft pick had. He was the workhorse who helped Denver win Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. Davis rushed for 1,750 yards and 2,008 yards in consecutive seasons (1997-98). Using a zone-blocking scheme now used by many teams, the Broncos deployed Davis superbly. Injuries cut his career short, but the Hall of Famer was one of the biggest late-round steals in NFL history. 

Sanders, who made the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons, is one of the best backs in NFL history. He probably would have smashed Walter Payton's rushing record had he not retired early. Sanders ran for 15,269 yards and scored 99 touchdowns during his career. A threat to score on any carry, he rushed for more than 1,100 yards in every season -- only once did he dip below 1,300 yards. It is amazing what Sanders did considering he didn't have great supporting casts, especially on the offensive line.

You know the story about Rodgers: He fell to 24th in the first round, sat behind Brett Favre for three season and then ... superstardom. Arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, he lifted Green Bay to a Super Bowl XLV win over the Steelers. In 2018, he threw 597 passes. Only two were intercepted.  

An eight-year veteran, Watt is already the best pick in franchise history and one of the best players in the NFL. He is the only player in NFL history to register a 20-sack season twice. Watt had four straight Pro Bowl appearances and All-Pro honors from 2012-2015. Then he was derailed by a season-ending injury in 2016. He was taken a pick after the Jaguars selected Blaine Gabbert and a pick before the Titans' selection of Jake Locker -- busts for the Texans' division rivals.

Perhaps Andrew Luck will one day replace Manning for this designation. Perhaps. Manning had an amazing run in Indianapolis, leading the Colts to a Super Bowl win and racking up four MVP awards and 11 Pro Bowl selections. While the No.1 overall pick is typically a no-brainer, it wasn't in Manning's draft class as there was a vigorous debate that Ryan Leaf should go first overall. The Colts were wise enough to avoid Leaf and take one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Taylor, who had a terrific combination of size (6-1, 230) and speed, rushed for 11,271 yards as a Jaguar, including a 1,572-yard season in 2003. But he only was selected to the Pro Bowl once in 13 seasons. Among other outstanding Jaguars draft picks: Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.

A tough call between LB Derrick Thomas and Gonzalez, but the tight end gets the nod. A 2019 Hall of Fame inductee, Gonzalez holds NFL records for most receiving yards (15,127), catches (1,325) and TDs (111) for a tight end. Gonzalez, a three-down tight end, was also a superb blocker. Even late in his career, Gonzalez played at a high level for Atlanta  -- he had 83 receptions in his final season with the Falcons. 

A difficult choice, with Kellen Winslow, Junior Seau and LaDainian Tomlinson also considered. A Hall of Famer and third-round steal,  Fouts topped 4,000 yards passing each season from 1979-81. His 4,802 yards passing in 1981 stood as the NFL record until Dan Marino broke it in 1984. (Peyton Manning holds the season record with 5,477 yards passing in 2013.) A six-time Pro Bowler, Fouts finished with 43,040 yards passing and 254 TD passes. (We oh-so-briefly mulled future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, a third-round pick by the Chargers in 2001, but his career flourished in New Orleans.)

If the NFL kept track of sacks as a statistic before 1982, most believe Jones would be the all-time leader. A Hall of Famer and one of the league's best defensive players, he was the headliner in the "Fearsome Foursome." He was a five-time All-Pro. And get this: He was picked in the 14th round.

Rocket arm. Great passing instincts. Nine-time Pro Bowler. Comeback ability in his football DNA. What's not to like about Marino's career? (Well, he never won a Super Bowl. Yes, there's that.) Marino was a steal near the end of the first round in the best quarterback draft class in NFL history. In 1984, he became the first NFL player to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. (First to throw 40 TDs, too.) For his career, Marino threw for 61,361 yards with 420 touchdowns.

Randy Moss or Page? Well, the defensive end is our pick because he was a key part of a team that made four Super Bowl appearances. Minnesota never got that far with Moss, a Hall of Fame receiver. A terror at defensive tackle, Page was named NFL MVP in 1971, the first time a defensive player accomplished that feat. He's credited with 28 blocked kicks and 23 fumble recoveries during his NFL career. 

Is there any doubt? Brady, picked in the sixth round, is the biggest steal in NFL draft history. With Brady at quarterback, coach Bill Belichick has put together a dynasty in New England with six Super Bowl championships. Some insane Brady numbers: 14 Pro Bowl selections, 70,514 yards passing, 517 TD passes, 9,375 passing attempts and 171 interceptions, a rate of 1.8 percent (third-best in NFL history).

Tight end Jimmy Graham merited consideration. So did guard Jahri Evans, a huge factor in the success of Drew Brees. But how could we ignore Hall of Fame offensive tackle Willie Roaf? A seven-time All-Pro, he was selected for 11 Pro Bowls during his 13-year career. Other Saints worth considering: Marques Colston and Alvin Kamara, who, if he continues to play a high level, could easily bump Roaf from the top spot..

A no-brainer, even considering all the great Giants picks over the years. Taylor, NFL MVP in 1986, led New York to two Super Bowl titles. He recorded 132.5  sacks, including seven straight double-digit sack seasons. (His high was 20.5 in 1986.) A nine-time All-Pro pick, he was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times.

We considered Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau and Nick Mangold. But really? Like we were going to pick someone besides "Broadway Joe"? Namath led the Jets to their only Super Bowl victory with a mega-upset over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. A five-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer, he's an icon in New York. His career passing numbers (27,663, 50.1 completion rate, 173 TDs) aren't scintillating, but the ring's the thing.

Biletnikoff, MVP of Super Bowl XI, had 14 great seasons for the Silver and Black. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and had 10 straight seasons with more than 40 receptions. If he played in today's passing era, his career numbers (589 receptions, 8,974 yards) surely would have been more impressive.

White, whose professional career began with the USFL Memphis Showboats, was a terror in the NFL. He registered more than 10 sacks in each of his eight seasons with the Eagles, with a high of 21 in 1987. He totaled 124 sacks with the Eagles before signing with the Packers in free agency. The Hall of Fame defensive lineman finished his career with 198 sacks. 

Not much to choose from here. Hmmm, there's Hall of Famer Lynn Swann. And Hall of Famer Jack Lambert. And Hall of Famer Joe Greene. And Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. And ... well, you get the picture. Harris' Immaculate Reception in the playoffs against Oakland is an iconic NFL moment, perhaps the greatest play in league. A  nine-time Pro Bowler, Harris was the No. 2 rusher in NFL history (12,120) when his career ended in 1984. The Hall of Famer was the engine of an offense for a team that won four Super Bowls. 

The 49ers have drafted plenty of Hall of Fame talent  -- Joe Montana, Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott and Terrell Owens are among them. But our pick is Rice, a Hall of Famer who rewrote record books and helped lead the Niners to three Super Bowl titles. He holds NFL records for receiving yards (22,895), receptions (1,640), touchdown receptions (197) and yards from scrimmage (23,540). One of the greatest players in NFL history. 

If Russell Wilson continues his strong play, he could easily take this spot. For now, we tap Hall of Famer Jones, a seven-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade team. One of the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history, the tackle started all of his 180 games for the Seahawks. Even more impressive, he only gave up 23 sacks in his entire career. Jones was also a bull in the ground game, opening up holes for Shaun Alexander. 

Warren Sapp was the first selection of Tampa Bay in 1995, but Brooks became Mr. Buccaneer. He redefined the Will linebacker position in the Tampa 2 defensive scheme with his sideline-to-sideline speed, great pass coverage and superb tackling. An 11-time Pro Bowl section and a Hall of Famer, Brooks was Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, when the Bucs' defense led the franchise to a Super Bowl title.

We considered Earl Campbell, the top overall selection in the 1978 draft. We also briefly mulled Eddie George and Steve McNair. But Matthews, one of the best offensive lineman of all time, topped Campbell by a hair. A 10-time All-Pro, he played every spot on the offensive line during his career. Matthews, who blocked for Campbell, George, McNair and Warren Moon, was a 10-time All-Pro and selected for the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team. 

Baugh, who retired in 1952, was a stud quarterback, throwing for nearly 22,000 yards during his 16-year career. He was a tremendous punter, too. The Hall of Famer's 51.4 average in 1940 remains the record for a season. Baugh led the Redskins to the NFL title in 1942.