The Best Draft Classes Of The Last Decade

The day after the NFL Draft every year, people come running with their analysis of “Who won the draft?” or “Who lost the draft?” We’ll do that at the end of the month for this year’s draft as well. But today, I’m taking a step back from that and looking into the past. Let’s look back at each draft from the last 10 years to find the best draft classes from each year and the teams that improved the most from one year to the next. For best draft classes, extra credit is given to finding late value — you’re supposed to nail your first-rounder, but if you are also finding gold on Day 3, you really did something. And of course, the more recent the draft class, the more up in the air the selections are — things could change very quickly.

Draft Winners of the Last 10 Years

2016

Biggest Win Increase

Dallas Cowboys (4-12 to 13-3)

The Cowboys went from 4-12 in 2015 to 13-3 in 2016. The picked fourth overall in 2017, and then they won the NFC East and had the NFC 1 seed in 2016, falling to the Packers in the Divisional Round. Honorable Mention Tennessee Titans (3-13 to 9-7) Oakland Raiders (7-9 to 12-4) New York Giants (6-10 to 11-5)

Best Draft Class

Dallas Cowboys

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	2016-2022
2	Jaylon Smith	LB	2016-2021
3	Maliek Collins	DT	2016-2019
4	Charles Tapper Jr.	DE	2016-2017
4	Dak Prescott	QB	2016-
6	Anthony Brown	CB	2016-2022
6	Kavon Frazier	S	2016-2019
6	Darius Jackson	RB	N/A
6	Rico Gathers	TE	2016-2018

The Cowboys not only got an All-Pro running back at fourth (maybe it was bad strategy to take Ezekiel Elliott at 1.04 when CB Jalen Ramsey, OT Ronnie Stanley and EDGE DeForest Buckner were the next three picks, but he was still very good), they got a Pro Bowl LB in Jaylon Smith whose career got cut short by injuries and a longtime starter at DT in Maliek Collins. And then the prize of the draft, with Dallas getting a four-time Pro Bowler at quarterback in Dak Prescott in the fourth round. Honorable Mention Atlanta Falcons (Keanu Neal, Deion Jones) Philadelphia Eagles (Carson Wentz, Isaac Seumalo, Jalen Mills) Tennessee Titans (Jack Conklin, Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard III)

2017

Biggest Win Increase

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13 to 10-6) Los Angeles Rams (4-12 to 11-5)

The Jags went from 3-13 in 2016 to 10-6 in 2017 on the backs of an absolute dive-bomb on defense in free agency, signing Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye and more. It carried them to an AFC South crown and a hair shy of the Super Bowl, losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game in controversial fashion. The Rams had gone 4-12 in their first year in Arizona in 2016 but climbed to 11-5 in 2017, their first year with Sean McVay as head coach. McVay won Coach of the Year, Aaron Donald won Defensive Player of the Year, Todd Gurley won Offensive Player of the Year. McVay (deservedly) gets so much credit here. Honorable Mention Philadelphia Eagles (7-9 to 13-3) Carolina Panthers (6-10 to 11-5) Minnesota Vikings (8-8 to 13-3)

Best Draft Class

New Orleans Saints

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Marshon Lattimore	CB	2017-2024
1	Ryan Ramczyk	T	2017-2023
2	Marcus Williams	S	2017-2021
3	Alvin Kamara	RB	2017-
3	Alex Anzalone	LB	2017-2020
3	Trey Hendrickson	LB	2017-2020
6	Al-Quadin Muhammad	DE	2017

The Saints’ haul in 2017 wasn’t deep, because they only picked once after Day 2 and used that pick on a player in Al-Quadin Muhammad who only spent one year with the team. But their Day 1/Day 2 haul was about as good as it conceivably could have been. Ryan Ramczyk and Trey Hendrickson became All-Pros for the Saints. Marshon Lattimore, Alvin Kamara and Hendrickson were Pro Bowlers. Even Alex Anzalone and Marcus Williams turned into long-time starters. You don’t get a better draft class than this. Honorable Mention Pittsburgh Steelers (T.J. Watt, JuJu Smith-Schuster) Cleveland Browns (Myles Garrett, David Njoku)

2018

Biggest Win Increase

Cleveland Browns (0-16 to 7-8-1)

The Browns famously went 0-16 in 2017, a year after going 1-15 and two years after 3-13. So 7-8-1 is not exactly a super season, but when your baseline is “historically bad,” then finishing around .500 is pretty cool. Myles Garrett became a star. Baker Mayfield looked like the Browns had finally found a long-term answer at quarterback. Things were good. Honorable Mention Chicago Bears (5-11 to 12-4) Houston Texans (4-12 to 11-5)

Best Draft Class

Baltimore Ravens

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Hayden Hurst	TE	2018-2019
1	Lamar Jackson	QB	2018-
3	Orlando Brown Jr.	T	2018-2020
3	Mark Andrews	TE	2018-
4	Anthony Averett	CB	2018-2021
4	Kenny Young	LB	2018-2019
4	Jaleel Scott	WR	2018-2019
5	Jordan Lasley	WR	N/A
6	DeShon Elliott	S	2018-2021
6	Greg Senat	T	N/A
6	Bradley Bozeman	CB	2018-2021
7	Zach Sieler	DE	2018-2019

“You didn’t use your first first-rounder on the multi-MVP quarterback, you waited until your second first-rounder” is the biggest knock we have here. Jackson and Mark Andrews are still core parts of the Ravens. Five different Day 3 picks became starts in the NFL, and Orlando Brown Jr. has signed multiple big-money contracts. Sure, Hayden Hurst wasn’t a star, and Jordan Lasley and Greg Senat were basically not NFL players, but there are plenty of hits here. Honorable Mention Buffalo Bills (Josh Allen, Tremaine Edmunds, Wyatt Teller) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Vita Vea, Carlton Davis III) Philadelphia Eagles (Dallas Goedert, Jordan Mailata) Indianapolis Colts (Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Zaire Franklin)

2019

Biggest Win Increase

San Francisco 49ers (4-12 to 13-3)

Kyle Shanahan’s first two years as head coach were underwhelming, with 6-10 and 4-12 finishes. But it all clicked in 2019, going 13-3 and making it all the way to the Super Bowl. If Jimmy Garoppolo had hit Emmanuel Sanders with a deep pass in the fourth quarter, the 49ers might even have taken down the Chiefs. Honorable Mention Green Bay Packers (6-9-1 to 13-3) Baltimore Ravens (10-6 to 14-2) Buffalo Bills (6-10 to 10-6)

Best Draft Class

San Francisco 49ers

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Nick Bosa	DE	2019-
2	Deebo Samuel Sr.	WR	2019-2024
3	Jalen Hurd	WR	N/A
4	Mitch Wishnowsky	P	2019-2024
5	Dre Greenlaw	LB	2019-2024
6	Kaden Smith	TE	N/A
6	Justin Skule	T	2019-2021
6	Tim Harris	CB	2019-2020

This is mostly carried by Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw, but hey, that’s a very good player on each day of the draft and that counts for a lot. (I will forever think Jalen Hurd would have been a star if not for the fact that his body was made of Fabergé egg, but alas.) This one is basically a toss-up with the Titans, and I’m already reconsidering picking the 49ers. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Honorable Mention Tennessee Titans (Jeffery Simmons, A.J. Brown) Las Vegas Raiders (Josh Jacobs, Maxx Crosby) Jacksonville Jaguars (Josh Hines-Allen, Jawaan Taylor)

2020

Biggest Win Increase

Cleveland Browns (6-10 to 11-5) Miami Dolphins (5-11 to 10-6)

This was the year Baker Mayfield broke through … sort of. The Browns made it to 11-5 after a 6-10 2019, but that was only good enough for third place in the AFC North. Still, it won them a Wild Card, and they beat the Steelers in the playoffs before falling to the Chiefs. And then Baker got hurt in 2021 and ended up shipped out of town. The Dolphins started 1-3, but then they won nine of their next 11. The Ryan Fitzpatrick/Tua Tagovailoa duo was surprisingly competent, even if there was no grand offensive weapon (no one ran for 600 yards or caught 800). The Dolphins didn’t make the playoffs, but they did go 10-6. Honorable Mention Indianapolis Colts (7-9 to 11-5) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8 to 12-4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9 to 11-5) Washington Football Team (3-13 to 6-9)

Best Draft Class

Cincinnati Bengals

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Joe Burrow	QB	2020-
2	Tee Higgins	WR	2020-
3	Logan Wilson	LB	2020-2025
4	Akeem Davis-Gaither	LB	2020-2024
5	Khalid Kareem	DE	2020-2021
6	Hakeem Adeniji	T	2020-2022
7	Markus Bailey	LB	2020-2023

It’s not like Joe Burrow was a tough pick in 2020, but still, you got a franchise quarterback and a franchise-ish receiver in Tee Higgins in the same draft. And Wilson and Davis-Gaither were both locked in to the Bengals until the last year or so. Honorable Mention Indianapolis Colts (Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr.)

2021

Biggest Win Increase

Dallas Cowboys (6-10 to 12-5)

Dak missed 11 games in 2020 to a brutal ankle injury, but he came back in 2021 in a big way, throwing for a career-high 37 touchdowns and finishing second in Comeback Player of the Year voting. That and Micah Parsons winning Defensive Rookie of the year were enough for the Cowboys to win the NFC East and lose to the 49ers in the first round of the playoffs. Honorable Mention Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1 to 10-7) Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1 to 9-8) San Francisco 49ers (6-10 to 10-7)

Best Draft Class

Detroit Lions

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Penei Sewell	OL	2021-
2	Levi Onwuzurike	DL	2021-
3	Alim McNeill	DT	2021-
3	Ifeatu Melifonwu	DB	2021-2024
4	Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	2021-
4	Derrick Barnes	DE	2021-
7	Jermar Jefferson	RB	2021-2024

Getting a superstar at seventh overall isn’t that remarkable, but it’s nice to see. Penei Sewell is great. But getting another one in the fourth round in Amon-Ra St. Brown really makes a draft class. Add in long-time starter Alim McNeill on Day 2, and the Lions nailed 2021. Honorable Mention Kansas City Chiefs (Nick Bolton, Creed Humphrey) Denver Broncos (Pat Surtain II, Javonte Williams) Philadelphia Eagles (DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson)

2022

Biggest Win Increase

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14 to 9-8)

The Jaguars wasted Trevor Lawrence’s rookie season with Urban Meyer at head coach. The switch to Doug Pederson worked wonders for Lawrence and the team, as they climbed to 9-8 and an AFC South crown. They won a wild playoff game in the Wild Card Round against the Chargers before falling to the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Honorable Mention Detroit Lions (3-13-1 to 9-8) New York Giants (4-13 to 9-7-1)

Best Draft Class

Kansas City Chiefs

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Trent McDuffie	CB	2022-2025
1	George Karlaftis III	EDGE	2022-
2	Skyy Moore	WR	2022-2024
2	Bryan Cook	S	2022-2025
3	Leo Chenal	LB	2022-2025
4	Joshua Williams	CB	2022-2025
5	Darian Kinnard	T	2022
7	Jaylen Watson	CB	2022-2025
7	Isiah Pacheco	RB	2022-2025
7	Nazeeh Johnson	S	2022-2025

Just ignore that Skyy Moore pick in the second. Otherwise, this group kind of came in like an elite college recruiting class (at least, pre-transfer era). They did their time, won a lot of games, and when their four years were up, everyone but Karlaftis moved on. But for all the (deserved) credit Patrick Mahomes gets for the Chiefs’ recent run of success, the defensive overhaul of McDuffie, Karlaftis, Chenal and Watson all at once was the driving force. Honorable Mention Detroit Lions (Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams) Baltimore Ravens (Kyle Hamilton, Tyler LInderbaum) New York Jets (Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall) Seattle Seahawks (Charles Cross, Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen)

2023

Biggest Win Increase

Houston Texans (3-13-1 to 10-7)

The Texans got mocked fairly hard after trading up to take Will Anderson Jr. third overall one pick after taking C.J. Stroud. They weren’t close enough for that, everyone said. The mockery faded very quickly went the Texans went 10-7, won the division and smashed the Browns in the Wild Card Round. Oh, and Stroud and Anderson won their respective side of the ball’s Rookie of the Year Awards. Honorable Mention Los Angeles Rams (5-12 to 10-7) Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1 to 9-8)

Best Draft Class

Houston Texans

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	C.J. Stroud	QB	2023-
1	Will Anderson Jr.	LB	2023-
2	Juice Scruggs	OL	2023-2025
3	Tank Dell	WR	2023-
4	Dylan Horton	DL	2023-
5	Henry To’oTo’o	LB	2023-
6	Jarrett Patterson	OL	2023-
6	Xavier Hutchinson	WR	2023-
7	Brandon Hill	DB	2023

Stroud and Anderson are the stars here, but the Texans kept finding value. Juice Scruggs became a starter and helped them acquire David Montgomery in trade. Tank Dell looked like a future star before his leg injury, but he’s working his way back. Xavier Hutchinson was a decent depth contributor last year. And Henry To’oTo’o has developed into a decent starter the last couple years. Honorable Mention Los Angeles Rams (Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua) Seattle Seahawks (Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zach Charbonnet) Green Bay Packers (Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks)

2024

Biggest Win Increase

Washington Commanders (4-13 to 12-5)

The Commanders came from out of nowhere to go 12-5 in 2024 on the back of Jayden Daniels’ Offensive Rookie of the Year season, winning two playoff games before falling to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Sure, it was partly smoke-and-mirrors, with the team going 8-4 in one-score games and 5-1 in games decided by a field goal or less, but that’s something you care about in 2025 and beyond, not a concern when looking back. Honorable Mention Minnesota Vikings (7-10 to 14-3) Los Angeles Chargers (5-12 to 11-6)

Best Draft Class

Los Angeles Rams

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Jared Verse	DL	2024-
2	Braden Fiske	DL	2024-
3	Blake Corum	RB	2024-
3	Kamren Kinchens	S	2024-
5	Brennan Jackson	DE	2024-
6	Tyler Davis	DT	2024-
6	Joshua Karty	K	2024-2025
6	Jordan Whittington	WR	2024-
6	Beaux Limmer	OL	2024-
7	KT Leveston	OL	N/A

The Rams have made one first-round pick in the last nine years, and they crushed it, grabbing Jared Verse in 2024 and having him make two straight Pro Bowls and win Defensive Rookie of the Year. They also got Braden Fiske in the second round and Blake Corum in the third, so even if their Day 3 haul didn’t really amount to much (or at least hasn’t so far), that Day 1/Day 2 crop is pretty impressive. Honorable Mention New York Giants (Malik Nabers, Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy Jr.) Washington Commanders (Jayden Danels, Mike Sainristil)

2025

Biggest Win Increase

New England Patriots (4-13 to 14-3)

Drake Maye was a bona fide MVP candidate after looking like he had that potential as a rookie. And the coaching upgrade from Jerod Mayo to Mike Vrabel was one of the biggest single-season upgrades any team found anywhere. Honorable Mention Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13 to 13-4) Chicago Bears (5-12 to 11-6) San Francisco 49ers (6-11 to 12-5)

Best Draft Class

Chicago Bears

Round	Player	Position	Years w/ Team
1	Colston Loveland	TE	2025-
2	Luther Burden III	WR	2025-
2	Ozzy Trapilo	OL	2025-
2	Shemar Turner	DE	2025-
4	Ruben Hyppolite	LB	2025-
5	Zah Frazier	CB	2025-
6	Luke Newman	G	2025-
7	Kyle Monangai	RB	2025-

Ben Johnson’s arrival and the offensive line overhaul on the market get the headlines for the Bears’ jump from last to first in the NFC North, but this draft class contributed a lot to that. Colston Loveland looked like a star tight end, Luther Burden III was good enough that the team dealt DJ Moore this offseason, and Ozzy Trapilo was a strong OL until his postseason injury. Add in seventh-round RB Kyle Monangai, and this group was very solid. Honorable Mention Cleveland Browns (Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr.) Seattle Seahawks (Grey Zabel, Nick Emmanwori) New York Giants (Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo)