Essentially the most memorable moments from NFL Drafts within the twenty first century

McGahee’s promising draft standing was clouded by a catastrophic knee harm in his ultimate school recreation on the Fiesta Bowl. Regardless of the harm, the Payments chosen McGahee at No. 23 general. Whereas McGahee sat out his first season, he finally rewarded the Payments with three sturdy seasons earlier than going to Baltimore. McGahee had a robust NFL profession, making two Professional Bowls in 10 seasons whereas gaining over 1,000 yards from scrimmage 5 occasions.

The Vikings made an notorious blunder within the first spherical of the 2003, failing to submit a choose the time the clock struck zero. Because of this, Jacksonville and Carolina rushed to submit their picks earlier than the Vikings chosen Kevin Williams ninth general.

The Chargers had the primary general choose within the 2004 draft, however the Manning household acknowledged that they wouldn’t play for the franchise. After San Diego chosen Manning first general, he was promptly traded to the Giants.

Rodgers was ranked by some evaluators as the highest participant within the 2005 draft, however that didn’t cease his freefall. The Cal star slipped one choose after one other till the Packers lastly took him twenty fourth general. Inexperienced Bay didn’t want a quarterback on the time with Brett Favre their long-time sign caller, however Rodgers finally changed him in 2008. The remaining is historical past, as Rodgers received 4 MVPs and one Tremendous Bowl as one of many best quarterbacks in league historical past.

Jones had a terrific profession as a cellular quarterback at Arkansas, however his throwing expertise wasn’t seen as enough for the subsequent degree. Jacksonville noticed the massive upside from the 6-foot-6 speedster, taking him twenty first general. He failed to realize a lot steam in a four-year profession, and was additionally briefly suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse coverage in 2008.

Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan had a fame for working backs into stars, however the choice of Clarett within the third spherical nonetheless got here as a serious shock after the previous Ohio State star was dismissed from his school workforce in 2003. Clarett was launched earlier than Week 1 of his rookie season and by no means appeared in an NFL recreation.

USC star working again Reggie Bush was hyped as the highest participant out there within the 2006 draft, however the Texans made the controversial choice to draft NC State go rusher Mario Williams as an alternative. Houston’s choice was arguably the proper one, as Williams went on to make 4 Professional Bowls over 11 seasons whereas Bush had a considerably disappointing profession.

Matt Millen’s days as GM of the Lions aren’t remembered fondly by followers, and his repeated drafting of extensive receivers within the first spherical was the largest instance. He chosen a wideout with a high 10 choose three straight years, culminating with the choice of Mike Williams No. 10 general in 2005. Williams was a relative bust, taking part in solely two seasons in Detroit.

Quinn’s fall within the 2007 draft wasn’t fairly as dramatic as that of Aaron Rodgers two years earlier, however it nonetheless despatched shockwaves by means of the league on draft day. The Notre Dame star fell to Cleveland with the No. 22 general choose. His struggles within the NFL confirmed why Quinn fell, struggling in three seasons with the Browns and going 4-16 a a starter throughout his profession.

Raiders proprietor Al Davis had a fame for making stunning draft choices and valuing velocity. Heyward-Bey was a transparent instance, because the Raiders chosen the Maryland wideout properly forward of the place he was projected after working a sub-4.3 second 40-yard sprint. Heyward-Bey did have a productive NFL profession over 10 seasons, although he by no means reached 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

Whereas Tebow was one of many best school soccer gamers ever, there have been questions on his arm getting into the 2010 draft. The expertise was nonetheless too engaging for Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, buying and selling as much as No. 25 general to pick the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. Whereas Tebow went 8-6 as a starter and received a playoff recreation, his arm expertise merely wasn’t ok to stay on the place as a long-term starter. Denver jumped on the alternative to interchange Tebow with Peyton Manning in 2012.

Atlanta was all-in on Jones, buying and selling a number of picks to land Jones sixth general. Regardless of the draft worth the Falcons gave up, the transfer paid off with Jones turning into one of many league’s high wideouts. He made seven Professional Bowls in 10 seasons with Atlanta.

A controversial star and Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M, Manziel dropped within the first spherical of the 2014 draft because of dimension, arm power, and off-field issues. Cleveland added to their historical past of quarterback futility by choosing Manziel with the No. 22 general choose, because the quarterback began solely eight video games in two seasons and was lower after repeated blunders on and off the sphere.

The Rams began their transfer again to L.A. in a giant means, buying and selling as much as the primary general choose to pick Goff. Goff was maligned in his rookie season, going 0-7 as a starter earlier than head coach Sean McVay was employed the next yr. With McVay’s assist, Goff had a profitable document the subsequent 4 seasons and led the workforce to a Tremendous Bowl.

Tunsil was arguably the highest offensive lineman out there within the 2016 draft after an amazing profession at Ole Miss. Nevertheless, Tunsil’s Twitter account was hacked simply earlier than the draft started, and a video was posted of him smoking from a bong whereas carrying a fuel masks. Tunsil fell to the Dolphins with the No. 13 choose, however the left deal with has has turn into one of many high offensive linemen within the NFL with three Professional Bowls over his first seven seasons.

Bears followers would nonetheless prefer to neglect their 2017 draft, choosing North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second general choose as an alternative of Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson. Trubisky did make one Professional Bowl in 4 seasons with Chicago, however he finally moved on whereas Mahomes and Watson turned superstars.

Kansas Metropolis’s historical past of creating their very own drafted quarterbacks was non-existent earlier than buying and selling up with Buffalo for the No. 10 general choose to pick Mahomes. After largely sitting in his first season, Mahomes has turn into the most effective participant within the league with two MVPs and two Tremendous Bowl wins in his first 5 seasons as a starter.

Houston desperately wanted a quarterback in 2017, buying the No. 11 general choose from Cleveland to pick Watson, a famous person from Clemson. Watson made the Professional Bowl in three of his first 4 seasons earlier than the Texans traded him to Cleveland because of off-field points.

Jackson received a Heisman Trophy at Louisville, however many groups questioned whether or not the cellular quarterback had the arm to stay on the place. Baltimore acquired the No. 32 general draft alternative in 2018 to pick Jackson, regardless of having Tremendous Bowl winner Joe Flacco on the roster. Jackson has gone on to win an NFL MVP and submit a profitable document as a starter in his first 5 seasons.

Metcalf confirmed unbelievable expertise and bodily potential whereas at Ole Miss, however harm issues pushed him to the second spherical of the draft. Seattle was the beneficiary, taking Metcalf with the No. 64 general choose. Metcalf memorably cried whereas accepting his draft name from Seahawks brass, and has gone on to turn into one of many league’s high wideouts with over 4,000 yards receiving in his first 4 seasons.

The NFL made the most effective of a nasty scenario within the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The annual reside draft occasion was canceled in favor of a digital draft, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying the early picks from his house and cameras setup within the residing quarters of groups and gamers. The league was in a position to pull off the draft with out a hitch, making a TV present followers will always remember.