Every NFL Team’s Best and Worst Draft Pick of the 21st Century

The 2026 NFL Draft starts in mere days, and the tension in front offices is thick enough to cut with a knife. For every franchise-altering superstar found in the late rounds, there is a first-round “can’t-miss” prospect who vanishes into obscurity. General managers are hunting for the next cornerstone while trying to avoid the ghosts of drafts past. We evaluated the hits and misses for all 32 teams since the turn of the century, focusing on production, longevity, and the sheer weight of expectations.

Arizona Cardinals

Best: WR Larry Fitzgerald (No. 3, 2004)

Fitzgerald is the gold standard. He officially enters the Hall of Fame this summer, a fitting capstone to a career where he trailed only Jerry Rice in the record books. He wasn’t just a sure-handed target; he was the heartbeat of the desert, dragging the team to its first Super Bowl and a fresh NFC Championship appearance in 2025.

Worst: QB Josh Rosen (No. 18, 2018)

Arizona burned three picks to move up for Rosen. He won just three games before the team pivoted to Kyler Murray, shipping Rosen to Miami after a single, forgettable season.

Atlanta Falcons

Best: QB Matt Ryan (No. 3, 2008)

Ryan takes the top spot over Julio Jones because he anchored the most demanding position in sports for over a decade. His 2016 MVP campaign remains the high-water mark for Falcons football.

Worst: OLB Takk McKinley (No. 26, 2017)

McKinley’s talent was clear, but his exit was messy. Multiple trade requests led to his release in year four. The sting hurts more knowing T.J. Watt was available just four spots later.

Baltimore Ravens

Best: S Ed Reed (No. 24, 2002)

Reed was a ball hawk without peer. He edges out Lamar Jackson because he redefined the free safety position and secured a ring. He hit Canton on his first ballot in 2019.

Worst: QB Kyle Boller (No. 19, 2003)

After moving on from Trent Dilfer, the Ravens pinned their hopes on Boller. He lasted three rocky seasons, forcing the team to wait until 2008 to find stability under center.

Buffalo Bills

Best: QB Josh Allen (No. 7, 2018)

Allen enters his ninth season as the reigning 2024 league MVP. His arm strength and physical running style have transformed Buffalo into a perennial powerhouse. Only a ring remains on his to-do list.

Worst: QB J.P. Losman (No. 22, 2004)

Buffalo gave up their 2005 first-round pick to snag Losman. Had they stayed put, they could have drafted Aaron Rodgers the following year. That sliding-doors moment still haunts Western New York.

Chicago Bears

Best: LB Brian Urlacher (No. 9, 2000)

Urlacher was the face of the “Monsters of the Midway” for a new generation. He carried the 2006 squad to a Super Bowl appearance and earned his gold jacket alongside Devin Hester.

Worst: QB Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2, 2017)

Passing on Patrick Mahomes is a mistake that defines an era. Trubisky had flashes of success but never became the franchise savior Chicago craved. Caleb Williams is now tasked with erasing that memory.

Cincinnati Bengals

Best: QB Joe Burrow (No. 1, 2020)

“Joey Franchise” changed the culture in Cincinnati overnight. He nearly clinched a title in his second year and remains the only reason the Bengals are considered contenders every September.

Worst: WR Jermaine Burton (No. 80, 2024)

The Bengals needed Burton to step up after Tyler Boyd left. Instead, he was unreliable and gone in less than two seasons. Cincinnati is still searching for that missing piece in the passing game.

Cleveland Browns

Best: DE Myles Garrett (No. 1, 2017)

Garrett is a wrecking ball. Coming off a 22-sack season in 2025, he has two Defensive Player of the Year trophies and remains the most feared edge rusher in the league.

Worst: QB Johnny Manziel (No. 22, 2014)

“Johnny Football” was a disaster. His lack of preparation and off-field distractions cut his career short, leaving the Browns in a tailspin for years.

Dallas Cowboys

Best: LB DeMarcus Ware (No. 11, 2005)

Ware is the franchise leader in sacks and a 2023 Hall of Famer. He was the definition of consistency on a defense that often lacked it.

Worst: DE Taco Charlton (No. 28, 2017)

Charlton struggled to crack the starting lineup, managing only seven starts in Dallas. Like Atlanta, Dallas feels the burn of passing on T.J. Watt for a less productive edge defender.

Detroit Lions

Best: WR Calvin Johnson (No. 2, 2007)

“Megatron” was a physical anomaly. He broke records with ease and retired as one of the few players to reach the Hall of Fame by age 35. His 1,964-yard season in 2012 remains legendary.

Worst: WR Mike Williams (No. 10, 2005)

Drafting three receivers in the first round in three years was a bold strategy that failed. Williams caught only 37 passes in Detroit before becoming a journeyman.

Green Bay Packers

Best: QB Aaron Rodgers (No. 24, 2005)

Rodgers sat, learned, and then dominated. Four MVPs and a Super Bowl ring later, he proved the Packers were right to ignore the critics and draft Brett Favre’s successor early.

Worst: DT Justin Harrell (No. 16, 2007)

Harrell arrived out of shape and never caught up. He played only 14 games and failed to record a single sack before his career ended.

Minnesota Vikings

Best: RB Adrian Peterson (No. 7, 2007)

“All Day” was a force of nature. His 2,097-yard season in 2012 is the stuff of myth. Even with Justin Jefferson breaking records today, Peterson’s impact on the ground remains the standard in Minnesota.

Worst: QB J.J. McCarthy (No. 10, 2024)

The McCarthy era was a blink-and-you-miss-it disaster. After an injury-sidelined rookie year, his 2025 season was plagued by interceptions. The Vikings have already moved on, signing Kyler Murray to steady the ship.

Draft Value Comparison: Notable 21st Century Hits

Aaron DonaldRamsNo. 13 (2013)3x Defensive Player of the Year

New England Patriots

Best: QB Tom Brady (No. 199, 2000)

The greatest draft pick in sports history. Seven rings, three MVPs, and every major passing record. Brady didn’t just play for the Patriots; he was the Patriots.

Worst: WR N’Keal Harry (No. 32, 2018)

New England needed a weapon to keep the dynasty alive. Harry never found his rhythm, struggling with injuries and production before bouncing around the league.

San Francisco 49ers

Best: RB Frank Gore (No. 65, 2005)

Gore was the soul of the Niners. He overcame two ACL tears in college to rush for 16,000 yards over 16 seasons. His longevity is almost impossible to replicate in the modern era.

Worst: QB Giovanni Carmazzi (No. 65, 2000)

The 49ers took Carmazzi over local kid Tom Brady. Carmazzi never played a regular-season snap. That decision, combined with passing on Aaron Rodgers later, defines the team’s long wait for another trophy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best: WR Mike Evans (No. 7, 2014)

Evans is now in San Francisco, but his 11 seasons in Tampa were historic. He is the franchise’s all-time leading receiver and was a vital part of the 2020 championship run.

Worst: K Roberto Aguayo (No. 59, 2016)

Trading up for a kicker is risky; trading up for one who misses 29% of his kicks in year one is a catastrophe. Aguayo was gone after one season.

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