Best of the First (16-1)
Well, that's 16 down and 16 to go.
Now it is time to look at the best of the best in the first round. This is where teams look to make or break their next season: one pick. Maybe two depending on how you traded.
There are a lot of great picks that happened in this top 16 from the past 10 years. JJ Watt, Tyron Smith, Todd Gurley III, and Cam Newton are all to be seen on this list. The question remains: were they the best at their numbered slot?
16. OG Zack Martin - 2014 - Dallas Cowboys
Other Options: LB Ryan Kerrigan (2011). DE Derrick Morgan (2010), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2008).
Back to the linemen. Martin was the Dallas selection the year before their prolific running game took form. Martin helped to fortify the middle of the field and provide protection for Romo where he needed it. Martin has been to two Pro-Bowls and has been in the league for two seasons. He was also runner up for Rookie of the Year for the 2014 season.
15. DE/OLB Bruce Irvin - 2012 - Seattle Seahawks
Other Options: C Mike Pouncey (2011), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (2010), LB Lawrence Timmons (2007)
Bruce Irvin is one of the most underrated linebackers in the league today. He is physical and will make runningbacks pay when they run to his side of the field. He just signed a big contract with the Raiders, a team that now has a great deal of defensive talent.
While his stats may not say much, this guy is very disruptive and will be a big problem for offenses next season when he teams up with Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards Jr.
14. CB Darrelle Revis - 2007 - New York Jets
Other Options: S Earl Thomas (2010), DE Robert Quinn (2011)
There was no other option here. Revis is the best corner the NFL has to offer today. When a receiver is stuck on Revis Island, there is no getting off until the 4th quarter has ended. It is hard to argue with seven Pro-Bowl appearences and five First-Team All-Pros.
And let's not forget he does have a Super Bowl ring. While it was with the Patriots, it still counts.
13. DE Aaron Donald - 2014 - Los Angeles Rams
Other Options: DE/OLB Brian Orakpo (2009), DT Sheldon Richardson (2013), DE Brandon Graham (2010)
Donald is one of the five best linemen in the league, no question. How he slipped to number 13 in the draft, I don't understand. He made up for the poor pick the Rams took at number two for OT Greg Robinson.
Twenty sacks in two seasons, 117 tackles, and a Defensive Rookie of the Year are just his NFL accolades. He, like Zack Martin, both have been to as many Pro-Bowls as years they have been in the NFL.
12. RB Marshawn Lynch - 2007 - Buffalo Bills
Other Options: DE Fletcher Cox (2012), WR Odell Beckham Jr (2014), DE Haloti Ngata (2006)
BeastMode Activated. While it took him going to Seattle for that to happen, one cannot deny that Lynch was a monster on the field. His ability to lower his shoulder and keep his feet moving contributed greatly to Seattle's Super Bowl run in 2013. Let's not forget the 57-yard run against the Saints in 2011 where he broke six tackles on his way to the endzone.
Over 11,000 all purpose yards, 83 touchdowns, and a two-time touchdown leader for the 2013 and 2014 season put Lynch high above the rest.
Lynch is just one of three players who retired this year that made it on the list.
11. DE J.J. Watt - 2011 - Houston Texans
Other Options: LB Patrick Willis (2007), CB Leodis McKelvin (2008), NT Dontari Poe (2012)
For anyone that knows me, this is a no brainer. J.J. Watt is the best defensive player in the league today and possibly of the last 10 years. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner. The only other players to do that is Linebacker Bruce Smith (1990, 93, & 96) and Defensive Lineman Reggie White (1987, 91, & 98).
Four-time Pro-Bowler, Four-time First-Team, two-time sack leader, 74.5 sacks in his career, and five touchdowns are just the tip of the iceberg. Watt cannot and will not be stopped.
10. LB Jerod Mayo - 2008 - New England Patriots
Other Options: RB Todd Gurley II (2015), CB Stephon Gilmore (2012)
Mayo was a consistent piece of the Patriot defense since his first year. His body of work outweighs that of Todd Gurley, who has only been in the league for a year. A two-time Pro-Bowler and winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 were just part of Mayo's journey. He was not the healthiest player. Mayo was sidelined multiple times throughout his career due to leg injuries. But when he was on the field, he was a stud.
Mayo finished his career with over 800 tackles, seven fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns.
9. LB Luke Kuechly - 2012 - Carolina Panthers
Other Options: OT Tyron Smith (2011), LB Anthony Barr (2014), DT B.J. Raji (2009)
Obviously one of the best linebackers of today had to make this list. Kuechly was the first linebacker taken in the 2012 draft and the Panthers haven't looked back. Except maybe to admire their work. Kuechly is a beast on the field. Last year alone he had three pick-sixes and two of those were in the playoffs against the Packers and Cardinals. He is a talented young player with a very high ceiling.
Kuechly has accumulated 371 tackles, 11 interceptions, and five fumble recoveries in his four years in Carolina.
8. LB Rolondo McClain - 2010 - Oakland Raiders
Other Options: Eugene Monroe (2009), S Donte Whitner (2006), QB Ryan Tannehill (2012)
Not a great deal of big talents at the number eight slot. I had to give this one to Rolondo McClain. The guy did not hit his stride until he showed up in Dallas two years ago to replace the always injured Sean Lee. He led the poor defense from being ranked 32nd to 19th in a year. While his issues with substance abuse has been a problem, he is still a heck of a defender.
McClain has 208 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and four interceptions in five years. Tannehill was close on this one, but his inconsistent play hurt him here.
7. RB Adrian Peterson - 2007 - Minnesota Vikings
Other Options: CB Joe Haden (2010), LB Aldon Smith (2011), WR Mike Evans (2014)
Peterson has been the best runningback in the league for years now. Even after the ACL tear in 2011, he came back and nearly broke the single season rushing record. His agility and leadership helped the Vikings get back to the playoffs last year after a two year absence.
Over 11,600 yards rushing in his nine seasons in Minnesota with 97 touchdowns. Seven trips to the Pro-Bowl, five First-team appearences, Most Valuable Player (2012), Comeback Player of the Year (2012), and Offensive Player of the Year (2012) are some of the long list of accolades Peterson will be able to hang on his Hall of Fame career when it is all said and done.
6. WR Julio Jones - 2011 - Atlanta Falcons
Other Options: Russell Okung (2010), TE Vernon Davis (2006)
Jones is one of the top three receivers in the league today, no doubt. He's the reason Matt Ryan is such a great quarterback. He can make a play from anywhere on the field and has a profound highlight reel. Dispite the 2013 knee injury, sidelining him for the season, Jones is not only a top receiver, he is one of the top players. He was ranked eight out of the entire NFL, with Antonio Brown being the only receiver above him.
Jones has caught for over 6,200 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also led the league in receiving yards this past season with 1,871 yards.
5. CB Patrick Peterson - 2011 - Arizona Cardinals
Other Options: S Eric Berry (2010), Khalil Mack (2014), DE Ezekiel Ansah (2013)
Alright, so this was the toughest call. I had this down between Peterson and Mack. I brought in two of my friends, Julian and Ryan, along with my co-worker and her son, April and John Clay, to decide who is the best player. By a close margin of 3-2, Peterson barely edges out Mack.
Most of this is due to Peterson's larger body of work. He is one of the top five corners in the league and kept the tradition of LSU cornerbacks alive. This guy has five Pro-Bowls, three First-Team All-Pros, and was ranked 18th by the league in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.
Peterson amounted 246 tackles, 17 interceptions, and an astonishing 57 pass defenses in his five seasons. He has also played in every game since his rookie season.
4. WR A.J. Green - 2011 - Cincinnati Bengals
Other Options: OT Matt Kalil (2012), WR Sammy Watkins (2014)
Another one of the NFL's top targets makes this list. Green has done well for a while, even with the Red Rifle. A.J. Green is much like the other receivers on this list: somewhere in the top five at the position. He has great acceleration and is an impressive route runner. He is one of the guys you definitely want on the receiving end of your hail mary with seconds to go.
In his five seasons, he has caught for 6,171 yards in the regular season along with 45 touchdowns. Green has also made four trips to the post season, but has yet to have a 100-yard game there.
3. QB Matt Ryan - 2008 - Atlanta Falcons
Other Options: OT Joe Thomas (2007), DE Gerald McCoy (2010), DT Marcell Dareus (2011)
Matt Ryan is a good quarterback with the potential to be great. In his eight seasons with Atlanta, Ryan has only missed two games in his sophomore campaign. He has had four post season trips, but only has one win to his name in 2012. Ryan leads the Falcons at the beginning of every season with hopes of seeing the playoffs once again, but the defense underperforms, costing Ryan his shot. He is a good quarterback to have at the helm. He will only get better with time.
Ryan has 33,987 passing yards and 211 touchdowns in his career. He has been selected to the Pro-Bowl three times and boasts a passer rating of 90.9 for his career.
2. WR Calvin Johnson - 2007 - Detroit Lions
Other Options: DT Ndamukong Suh (2010), OLB Von Miller (2011), RB Reggie Bush (2006)
Megatron made the list against some tough competition. Johnson was seen as the best receiver in the league for the last five years. He put up astonishing numbers, including having the most receiving yards in a single season by a wide receiver in 2012. This was the same season he graced the cover of "Madden 13" and broke the Madden curse. Without him, i fear we may see a very different Matthew Stafford this fall.
In his career, Megatron had 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. He had seven 1,000-yard seasons and was a six-time Pro-Bowler.
1. QB Cam Newton - 2011 - Carolina Panthers
Other Options: QB Andrew Luck (2012), QB Jameis Winston (2015), QB Matt Stafford (2009)
Cam Newton is the best of the first overall picks in the last 10 years. His injuries have never kept him out of action for more than one game. He is one of the best running quarterbacks today and is possibly the most exciting player to watch. He is an All-Star in his own right, topping this year's NFL Top 100 Players of 2015 at number one. He lead the Panthers to a 15-1 record, the second best record in the past 10 years.
In his five seasons with the Panthers, Newton has thrown for 18,263 yards and rushed for 3,207 yards. Between the rushing and passing, Cam is responsible for 160 touchdowns. He also has made three trips to the Pro-Bowl, won the Offensive Rookie of the Year (2011) and won the MVP (2015).
