Which Number Draft Pick Has Produced The Best?

TomRalph · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 5816 Location: Leeds, England

A fun little game to play, grouping players by the number pick used to select them, which draft slot has produced the best players in terms of value and productivity since 2008? I'm going with a Top 10 for now, but may extend it if I have the willpower.

1st Overall:
Jake Long, Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck

2nd Overall:
Chris Long, Jason Smith, Ndamakong Suh, Von Miller, Robert Griffin III

3rd Overall:
Matt Ryan, Tyson Jackson, Gerald McCoy, Marcel Dareus, Trent Richardson

4th Overall:
Darren McFadden, Aaron Curry, Trent Williams, AJ Green, Matt Kalil

5th Overall:
Glenn Dorsey, Mark Sanchez, Eric Berry. Patrick Peterson, Justin Blackmon

6th Overall:
Vernon Gholston, Andre Smith, Russell Okung, Julio Jones, Morris Claiborne

7th Overall:
Sedrick Ellis, Darius Heyward-Bey, Joe Haden, Aldon Smith, Mark Barron

8th Overall:
Derrick Harvey, Eugene Monroe. Rolando McClain, Jake Locker, Ryan Tannehill

9th Overall:
Keith Rivers, BJ Raji, CJ Spiller, Tyron Smith, Luke Kuechley

10th Overall:
Jerod Mayo, Michael Crabtree, Tyson Alualu, Blaine Gabbert, Stephon Gilmore

What I really noticed was how there seems to be at least one bust in pretty much every group and alot of them drafted by the Raiders or Jaguars (sorry guys)

I think I'd have to go with 2nd Overall though as the strongest group, (which should be somewhat expected) despite the major bust Jason Smith, all the other guys are very good to elite players at important positions.

The 5th Overall group though, wow, not too much to write home about there, no one has really established themselves at elite at their position, and for 5 Top 5 selections, for none of them to achieve that distinction is atrocious.

It'll be interesting, if I continue this for the entire 1st Round, if there is any particular draft slots that are particularly strong and could this sort of data (a push to call it that) be used in terms of draft strategy in the future?
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TomRalph · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 5816 Location: Leeds, England

Please move to NFL General Embarassed

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epicMustache · Joined: 19 Jul 2010 Posts: 631 Location: Tallahassee

I think the 2nd overall is probably the best out of the top 10
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GoneWithTheWind · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:39 pm Post subject:

2nd Overall. 4th Overall is pretty solid as well.

8th Overall is pretty brutal besides Eugene Monroe
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Now or Never Christian Ponder.

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joru1000 · Joined: 23 Jan 2012 Posts: 1816

Jeez, if you're a defensive tackle and you go number 3, you're gonna have a bad time. I sure hope Star isn't going to the Raiders.
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Victor Cruz Pun · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 2530

2nd overall. Besides Jason Smith that's an elite group. Pick 4 has some very solid players too, it would look even better if Knapp's scheme didn't make DMC look pedestrian this season, it's a shame too he was healthy the whole year and it was basically wasted.

chris00cm · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject:

I'd say pick 2, like everyone else.

But this just goes to show that you do not have to have a high pick to pick an elite player in the draft. There are a bunch of disappointing players on that list.
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FireC · Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 114

2nd perhaps?

AlphaQHard · Joined: 13 Jan 2013 Posts: 110

2,1, 4
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1st and Gore

playmaker8267 · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject:

Agree with the consensus of 2nd overall. 5th overall is interesting; if Dorsey goes to another team that fits him better, I still think he could forge a decent career. Then you have Eric Berry and Patrick Peterson, two of the best at their respective positions already, then there's the unlimited potential of Justin Blackmon. There's a good deal of promise in the 5th overall slot if Blackmon develops into a no. 1 receiver.
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Adrenaline_Flux · Joined: 19 Dec 2008 Posts: 15130 Location: The Iowa

#1: 76%
#2: 80%
#3: 68%
#4: 72%
#5: 64%
#6: 72%
#7: 72%
#8: 40%
#9: 76%
#10: 68%

Tier One

#2

Tier Two

#1
#9

Tier Three

#4
#6
#7

Tier Four

#3
#10

Tier Five

#5

Tier WAHT R U DOING EUGENE CAN'T SAVE YOU NOW

#8
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Mich_fan20 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 16561

I would go 2 too. But what interests me is how much better the last three classes are compared to the first two.
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mack.