Ranking the Best NFL Drafts of All Time

The NFL draft has been making or breaking franchises since 1936.

The first NFL draft was in 1936. Since then, the league’s franchises have been defined by the players they’ve selected.

A decision can make or break a team’s fortunes. When a team hits it big in the draft, it can mean success for the next decade with Super Bowls, MVP honors and a bottom line on the team’s ledgers that always stays in the black.

Going back almost 90 years, some draft classes have separated themselves from the pack thanks to the legendary players who have changed the game from that moment on. These are the greatest NFL drafts of all time.

Honorable Mention: 1952 NFL Draft

Harold P. Matosian / AP Photo

Date: Jan. 17, 1952

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Bill Wade, QB, Vanderbilt (Los Angeles Rams)

Hall of Famers (6): Hugh McElhenny, Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, Frank Gifford, Yale Lary, Bobby Dillon

Bottom line: The 1952 NFL draft had a whopping six Hall of Famers selected over 30 rounds, but just two of them, halfbacks Hugh McElhenny and Frank Gifford, were selected in the first round.

The best player of the bunch went undrafted. Hall of Fame cornerback Dick “Night Train” Lane played one year of junior college football, for his club team in the Army and aced an open tryout with the Los Angeles Rams.

He still holds the single-season record with 14 interceptions and is one of the most feared tacklers of all time.

Honorable Mention: 1973 NFL Draft

Lenny Ignelzi / AP Photo

Dates: Jan. 30-31, 1973

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: John Matuszak, DE, Tampa (Houston Oilers)

Hall of Famers (4): John Hannah, Dan Fouts, Joe Demaielleure, Ray Guy

Bottom line: The 1973 NFL draft was pretty wild. Out of the first 12 picks, 10 eventually became Pro Bowlers, and five of the first six picks were named NFL All-Pro. That did not include No. 1 overall pick John Matuszak, who eventually won two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders.

While there were three Hall of Famers taken in the first round, the fourth Hall of Famer from the 1973 draft class was likely the best player of the bunch. Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1982, a five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler.

30. 1997 NFL Draft

Reed Hoffmann / AP Photo

Dates: April 19-20, 1997

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State (St. Louis Rams)

Hall of Famers (4): Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, Jason Taylor, Tony Gonzalez

Bottom Line: 1997 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace

Luis M. Alvarez / AP Photo

The 1997 NFL draft featured two of the greatest offensive tackles in NFL history with Hall of Famers Orlando Pace and Walter Jones. Another Hall of Famer went in the first 15 picks with tight end Tony Gonzalez at No. 13 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 1997 NFL draft would have been higher on the list save for some boneheaded scouting done by the teams. A staggering seven undrafted players would go on to make Pro Bowls, including running back Priest Holmes three-time NFL All-Pro and 2002 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Priest Holmes.

29. 1969 NFL Draft

Ferd Kaufman / AP Photo

Dates: Jan. 28-29, 1969

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: O.J. Simpson, RB, USC (Buffalo Bills)

Hall of Famers (5): O.J. Simpson, Joe Greene, Ted Hendricks, Charlie Joiner, Roger Wehrli

Bottom Line: 1969 NFL Draft

Oakland Raiders linebacker Ted Hendricks

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Even with the 1990s Buffalo Bills dynasty that made four consecutive Super Bowls, you can still make an argument for running back and 1969 No. 1 overall pick O.J. Simpson being the greatest player in franchise history, his tragic personal life notwithstanding.

The 1969 NFL draft was pretty top-heavy. In an age where the draft lasted 17 rounds, no Pro Bowler was taken after the 10th round.

All five of the draft’s Hall of Famers were taken in the first three rounds, and the first round was especially full of talent — 16 of 26 picks were either Pro Bowlers or AFL All-Stars.

28. 1976 NFL Draft

Doug Pizac / AP Photo

Dates: April 8-9, 1976

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Hall of Famers (5): Steve Largent, Lee Roy Selmon, Mike Haynes, Jackie Slater, Harry Carson

Bottom Line: 1976 NFL Draft

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The top two picks in the 1976 NFL draft went to a pair of expansion franchises — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 1 and the Seattle Seahawks at No. 2 overall.

While the Bucs selected a future Hall of Famer in Lee Roy Selmon, the 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time NFL All-Pro, the Seahawks picked defensive tackle Steve Niehaus, who was out of the league within four years.

But the Seahawks did end up with a Hall of Famer from the 1976 draft, just not one they drafted. Wide receiver Steve Largent was selected by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round, then traded to the Seahawks for an eighth-round pick before the regular season began.

27. 1963 NFL Draft

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Dates: Dec. 3, 1962

Location: Chicago, Illinois

No. 1 overall pick: Terry Baker, QB, Oregon State (Los Angeles Rams)

Hall of Famers (6): Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, John Mackey, Jackie Smith, Dave Robinson, Winston Hill

Bottom Line: 1963 NFL Draft

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Nine of the 14 first-round picks in 1963 made multiple Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams. No. 1 overall pick Terry Baker was not one of them. The 1962 Heisman Trophy winner flamed out after three seasons in the NFL and never even threw a touchdown pass.

Second-round pick John Mackey became just the second tight end ever inducted into the Hall of Fame and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team.

26. 1953 NFL Draft

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Dates: Jan. 22, 1953

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: Harry Babcock, End, Georgia (San Francisco 49ers)

Hall of Famers (7): Joe Schmidt, Roosevelt Brown, Jim Ringo, Doug Atkins, John Henry Johnson, Bob St. Clair, Stan Jones

Bottom Line: 1953 NFL Draft

New York Giants offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown

John Rooney / AP Photo

The 1953 NFL draft was truly an anomaly. Outut of the seven Hall of Famers selected that year, only Cleveland Browns end Doug Atkins was taken in the first round, at No. 11 overall.

Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo was a nine-time NFL All-Pro and won two NFL championships with the Green Bay Packers and legendary coach Vince Lombardi. Ringo was one of two Hall of Famers selected in the seventh round alongside Detroit linebacker Joe Schmidt.

25. 1967 NFL Draft

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Dates: March 14-15, 1967

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Bubba Smith, DE, Michigan State (Baltimore Colts)

Hall of Famers (9): Ken Houston, Willie Lanier, Gene Upshaw, Alan Page, Bob Griese, Lem Barney, Larry Little, Rayfield Wright, Floyd Little

Bottom Line: 1967 NFL Draft

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The Baltimore Colts selected Michigan State defensive end and future “Police Academy” star Bubba Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in 1967 — meaning they missed on four future Hall of Famers taken in the first round, led by Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page.

Page was the most dominant player of the bunch, earning 1971 NFL MVP honors as well as being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.

There was a boatload of talent in the draft. Hall of Fame defensive back Ken Houston didn’t go until the ninth round, and Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud went undrafted.

24. 1994 NFL Draft

Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Dates: April 24-25, 1994

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State (Cincinnati Bengals)

Hall of Famers (5): Marshall Faulk, Larry Allen, Kevin Mawae, Isaac Bruce, Bryant Young

Bottom Line: 1994 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk

Wade Payne / AP Photo

NFL scouting was never worse than it was in 1994. An incredible 11 Pro Bowlers went undrafted, including Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, and three out of the five Hall of Famers selected were taken in the second round.

Call this one of the extra, extra value drafts of all time, with Pro Bowlers selected in all seven rounds, including legendary safety Rodney Harrison in the fifth round.

Harrison might be one of the all-time Hall of Fame snubs. He played in four Super Bowls, winning two, was a three-time NFL All-Pro, finished his career with 1,205 tackles and was the first player in NFL history to record 30 sacks and 30 interceptions in a career.

23. 1968 NFL Draft

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Dates: Jan. 30-31, 1968

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Ron Yary, OT, USC (Minnesota Vikings)

Hall of Famers (8): Larry Csonka, Art Shell, Ron Yary, Elvin Bethea, Charlie Sanders, Curley Culp, Claude Humphrey, Ken Stabler

Bottom Line: 1968 NFL Draft

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This was the first of two consecutive years USC players went No. 1 overall , with offensive tackle Ron Yary in 1968 followed by running back O.J. Simpson in 1969. Both would wind up in the Hall of Fame.

In an interesting twist, the Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for the No. 1 pick and took Yary, then got Tarkenton a few years later.

While all eight of the Hall of Famers came off the board in the first three rounds, there were still Pro Bowlers taken in the later rounds. Pro Bowl quarterback Marlin Briscoe wasn’t taken until the 14th round.

22. 1993 NFL Draft

Jack Dempsey / AP Photo

Dates: April 25-26, 1993

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Washington State (New England Patriots)

Hall of Famers (5): Willie Roaf, Michael Strahan, Jerome Bettis, Will Shields, John Lynch

Bottom Line: 1993 NFL Draft

Reed Hoffmann / AP Photo

The 1993 NFL draft was an underdog special. Of the five Hall of Famers selected this year, three were taken outside of the first round.

No player had a bigger impact on the game than defensive end Michael Strahan, a second round pick out of tiny Texas Southern who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl wins and set the NFL single-season record with 22.5 sacks in 2001.

The third and fourth rounds of the draft were especially deep, including six Pro Bowlers and a pair of Hall of Famers taken in the third round with safety John Lynch and offensive lineman Will Shields.

21. 1971 NFL Draft

Phil Sandlin / AP Photo

Dates: Jan. 28-29, 1971

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Jim Plunkett, QB, Stanford (New England Patriots)

Hall of Famers (5): Jack Ham, John Riggins, Dan Dierdorf, Jack Youngblood, Harold Carmichael

Bottom Line: 1971 NFL Draft

Washington Redskins' running back John Riggins

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

There were five Hall of Famers selected behind Jim Plunkett in the 1971 NFL draft. It’s a travesty that Plunkett hasn’t joined them yet.

He’s the only quarterback with two Super Bowl wins not in the Hall of Fame. His detractors point to high interception totals and a 72-72 career record in the regular season. But Plunkett was a trailblazer for Hispanic athletes in the U.S., and his role in that regard can’t be overstated.

20. 1961 NFL Draft

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Dates: Dec. 27-28, 1960

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: Tommy Mason, RB, Tulane (Minnesota Vikings)

Hall of Famers (7): Herb Adderley, Bob Lilly, Deacon Jones, Fran Tarkenton, Mike Ditka, Jimmy Johnson, Billy Shaw

Bottom Line: 1961 NFL Draft

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The 1961 NFL draft’s first round was full of talent. Of the 14 first-round picks, four were Hall of Famers, and eight more ended up being either Pro Bowlers or AFL All-Stars.

In a crazy show of depth, there were multiple Pro Bowlers or AFL All-Stars taken in each of the first seven rounds and at least one Pro Bowler taken in each of the first nine rounds.

No one’s career from the 1961 draft shined brighter than Rams defensive end Deacon Jones, who is perhaps the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

19. 1995 NFL Draft

Chris O’Meara / AP Photo

Dates: April 22-23, 1995

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State (Cincinnati Bengals)

Hall of Famers (6): Curtis Martin, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Terrell Davis, Ty Law, Tony Boselli

Bottom Line: 1995 NFL Draft

New England Patriots running back Curtis Martin

Winslow Townson / AP Photo

If you look past the dumpster fire of a pick the Cincinnati Bengals made with the No. 1 overall pick in 1995 — Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter — it’s an incredibly deep draft.

In a crazy bit of irony, there were actually a pair of Hall of Fame running backs selected in the 1995 NFL draft, but neither were taken in the first round. Curtis Martin was taken by the New York Jets in the third round, and two-time Super Bowl champion Terrell Davis was taken by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had one of the best rounds of any franchise in a single draft. They picked a pair of Hall of Famers in the first round with Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks.

18. 1956 NFL Draft

Horace Cort / AP Photo

Dates: November 28, 1955/Jan. 17-18, 1956

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Los Angeles, California

No. 1 overall pick: Gary Glick, DB, Colorado A&M (PIttsburgh Steelers)

Hall of Famers (5): Lenny Moore, Forrest Gregg, Bart Starr, Willie Davis, Sam Huff

Bottom Line: 1956 NFL Draft

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Forrest Gregg

Paul Shane / AP Photo

Gary Glick is still the only defensive back taken with the No. 1 overall pick, but never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team in seven seasons.

The Green Bay Packers built their offensive line during the Vince Lombardi dynasty around Forrest Gregg, a Hall of Famer who won three NFL championships and two Super Bowls with the Packers, then closed out his career by winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.

Where the Packers really hit paydirt was in the 17th round, when they selected Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr out of Alabama. Starr led the Packers to five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls, was a two-time Super Bowl MVP, the 1966 NFL MVP and four-time NFL All-Pro.

17. 1998 NFL Draft

Tom Olmscheid / AP Photo

Dates: April 18-19, 1998

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee (Indianapolis Colts)

Hall of Famers (4): Randy Moss, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Alan Faneca

Bottom Line: 1998 NFL Draft

Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

Peyton Manning, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft, is the only player to be named NFL Most Valuable Player five times and won two Super Bowls in his career. Those accomplishments set the 1998 NFL draft apart almost by themselves.

Manning was one of four Hall of Famers taken in the first round alongside wide receiver Randy Moss, cornerback Charles Woodson and offensive lineman Alan Faneca.

While third-round pick Hines Ward isn’t in the Hall of Fame, the wide receiver was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006.

16. 1949 NFL Draft

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Date: Dec. 28, 1948

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Penn (Philadelphia Eagles)

Hall of Famers (4): Chuck Bednarik, Norm Van Brocklin, George Blanda, Doak Walker

Bottom Line: 1949 NFL Draft

Philadelphia Eagles' Chuck Bednarik (60)

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Top pick Chuck Bednarik became one of the most iconic players in NFL history. He was a 10-time NFL All-Pro and won a pair of NFL championships with the Eagles. Bednarik, who played both ways, dispensed arguably the most brutal hit in NFL history when he leveled New York Giants star Frank Gifford early in the 1960 season. Gifford did not return to football until 1962.

The 1949 draft featured a whopping 25 rounds, with teams still getting good value in the later rounds. Hall of Fame quarterback George Blanda, who played a record 26 seasons, wasn’t taken until the 12th round.

The 1949 draft also featured a historic pick by the Detroit Lions in the 19th round, when Penn State running back Wally Triplett became the first Black player selected in the NFL draft.

15. 1965 NFL Draft

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Dates: Nov. 28, 1964

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Tucker Frederickson, RB, Auburn (New York Giants)

Hall of Famers (5): Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Joe Namath, Fred Biletnikoff, Chris Hanburger

Bottom Line: 1965 NFL Draft

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The Chicago Bears made back-to-back Hall of Fame picks in the first round with running back Gale Sayers at No. 4, followed by linebacker Dick Butkus at No. 5. Butkus would become arguably the most feared player in NFL history.

The most famous player in the 1965 NFL draft would never play for the team that selected him. Alabama quarterback Joe Namath was taken No. 12 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals, but signed with the New York Jets after they picked him No. 1 overall in the AFL draft.

14. 1958 NFL Draft

Julian C. Wilson / AP Photo

Dates: Dec. 2, 1957/Jan. 28, 1958

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: King Hill, QB, Rice (Chicago Cardinals)

Hall of Famers (5): Alex Karras, Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Jerry Kramer, Bobby Mitchell

Bottom Line: 1958 NFL Draft

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No one drafted better than the Green Bay Packers in the 1950s.

In 1958, the Packers selected a trio of Hall of Famers, and all in consecutive rounds — fullback Jim Taylor in the second round, linebacker Ray Nitschke in the third round and offensive lineman/kicker Jerry Kramer in the fourth round.

13. 1988 NFL Draft

Douglas C. Pizac / AP Photo

Dates: April 24-25, 1988

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn (Atlanta Falcons)

Hall of Famers (5): Michael Irvin, Randall McDaniel, Thurman Thomas, Dermontti Dawson, Tim Brown

Bottom Line: 1988 NFL Draft

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There were five Hall of Famers taken in the first two rounds of the 1988 NFL draft, and the Atlanta Falcons whiffed on all of them when they selected linebacker Aundray Bruce at No. 1 overall, and he went on to start just 42 games over 11 seasons.

In the first 20 picks of the draft, three of those Hall of Famers went off the board, and 13 of the picks were Pro Bowlers. While the final nine rounds of the draft were a wasteland, the first three rounds were absolutely stacked.

Outside of the Hall of Famers, there were bona fide NFL stars all over the place in those first three rounds, including Neil Smith, Sterling Sharpe, Terry McDaniel, Keith Jackson, Chris Spielman, Eric Allen, Ken Norton Jr. and Bill Romanowski.

12. 1996 NFL Draft

Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Dates: April 20-21, 1996

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC (New York Jets)

Hall of Famers (5): Jonathan Ogden, Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens

Bottom Line: 1996 NFL Draft

Mary Butkus / AP Photo

The 1996 NFL draft was known for its incredible depth at two positions — wide receiver and linebacker.

In all, eight Pro Bowl wide receivers were selected in 1996, including No. 1 overall pick Keyshawn Johnson and Hall of Famers Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison. Wide receivers picked in 1996 have a combined 10,000 more yards and 1,000 more receptions than any class of wide receivers selected, ever.

The linebackers were led by Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP. In all, eight linebackers picked in 1996 became Pro Bowlers.

The only thing holding the 1996 draft back from being considered one of the very best of the best is one position. Of the eight quarterbacks selected, none were ever selected to the Pro Bowl, and none ever made an All-Pro team. It’s also the last year, as of 2021, that no quarterbacks were selected in the first round.

11. 1990 NFL Draft

Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

Dates: April 22-23, 1990

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Jeff George, QB, Illinois (Indianapolis Colts)

Hall of Famers (5): Emmitt Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Cortez Kennedy, Junior Seau, LeRoy Butler

Bottom Line: 1990 NFL Draft

Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith

Paul Sakuma / AP Photo

The Indianapolis Colts passed on three first-round Hall of Famers to select Illinois quarterback Jeff George No. 1 overall, including NFL career leading rusher Emmitt Smith.

In an incredible twist, the Dallas Cowboys would have had the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive year by virtue of their 1-15 record but forfeited their first-round pick in 1990 by selecting quarterback Steve Walsh in the supplemental draft.

There was good depth beyond the first round in 1990. Multiple Pro Bowlers were selected in each of the first seven rounds, including Hall of Fame safety LeRoy Butler in the third round and Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe in the seventh round.

Defensive tackle John Randle went undrafted out of tiny Texas A&I but also went on to become a Hall of Famer.

10. 1989 NFL Draft

Spencer Weiner / AP Photo

Dates: April 23-24, 1989

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA (Dallas Cowboys)

Hall of Famers (5): Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders, Steve Atwater

Bottom Line: 1989 NFL Draft

Doug Mills / AP Photo

The start of the 1989 NFL draft was truly something to behold, with four Hall of Famers taken in the first five picks — Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and the late Derrick Thomas.

With safety Steve Atwater selected at No. 20 overall, all five Hall of Famers from the 1989 class were picked in the first round.

Few drafts in NFL history have been as top-heavy as 1989, because it lacked the depth of other elite drafts. In a 12-round draft, only three Pro Bowlers were selected in the final five rounds. Not a great percentage compared to other years.

9. 2017 NFL Draft

Jae C. Hong / AP Photo

Dates: April 27-29, 2017

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M (Cleveland Browns)

Potential Hall of Famers: Patrick Mahomes, Cooper Kupp, Alvin Kamara, T.J. Watt, George Kittle, Jalen Hurts

Bottom Line: 2017 NFL Draft

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts

Matt Rourke / AP Photo

The 2017 NFL draft was held in an outdoor theater on the famous “Rocky Steps” in Philadelphia — a fitting setting for one of the greatest draft classes in NFL history, and one made up of players who were mostly doubted, to begin with.

Take into account that the 2017 class already features a pair of Super Bowl MVPs in Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the No. 10 overall pick, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, a third-round pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt, the No. 30 overall pick, is already a four-time NFL All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, a third-round pick like Kupp, is already a two-time NFL All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl in each of his five seasons.

8. 1985 NFL Draft

Martha Jane Stanton / AP Photo

Dates: April 30-May 1, 1985

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech (Buffalo Bills)

Hall of Famers (5): Bruce Smith, Jerry Rice, Chris Doleman, Andre Reed, Kevin Greene

Bottom Line: 1985 NFL Draft

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Bruce Smith’s dominance can’t be overstated. The Hall of Fame defensive end and No. 1 overall pick in 1985 led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and is the NFL’s career sacks leader with 200.

Even more amazing? He’s still not the MVP of the 1985 draft class. That honor goes to wide receiver Jerry Rice, who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers at No. 16 overall out of Mississippi Valley State and went on to become the NFL’s career receiving leader and win three Super Bowls.

The 1985 draft also had a ton of value outside of the first round. There were multiple Pro Bowlers selected in each of the first seven rounds, with Hall of Famers Andre Reed (fourth round) and the late Kevin Greene (fifth round) getting swooped up as well.

7. 1974 NFL Draft

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Dates: Jan. 29-30, 1974

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Ed Jones, DE, Tennessee State (Dallas Cowboys)

Hall of Famers (5): Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, Dave Casper, John Stallworth

Bottom Line: 1974 NFL Draft

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Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert was the centerpiece of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ famed “Steel Curtain” defense, won four Super Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1976.

The 1974 NFL draft makes the cut based almost solely on Steelers picks alone. The franchise selected four Hall of Famers and signed an undrafted player, South Carolina State safety Donnie Shell, who also made the Hall of Fame.

The only Hall of Famer drafted in 1974 who didn’t play for the Steelers was one of their greatest rivals, legendary Oakland Raiders tight end Dave Casper.

6. 2004 NFL Draft

Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Dates: April 24-25, 2004

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Eli Manning, QB, Ole MIss (San Diego Chargers)

Potential Hall of Famers: Eli Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Vince Wilfork, Bob Sanders, Jared Allen

Bottom Line: 2004 NFL Draft

Larry Fitzgerald, LaRon Landry and Chris Horton

Kevin Wolf / AP Photo

The careers of most of the best players from the 2004 NFL draft have just come to an end in the last five years, including shoo-in Hall of Famers Larry Fitzgerald, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Vince Wilfork.

Interestingly enough, of the record six players taken from the University of Miami in the first round that year, Wilfork is likely the only Hall of Famer of the bunch, although five of them made Pro Bowls. Roethlisberger, in a funny twist, played college football at Miami of Ohio.

The 2004 was also deep. At least three Pro Bowlers were taken in rounds three through five, including four-time NFL All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen in the fourth round.

5. 1964 NFL Draft

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Date: Dec. 2, 1963

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Dave Parks, WR, Texas Tech (San Francisco 49ers)

Hall of Famers (10): Paul Warfield, Charley Taylor, Roger Staubach, Leroy Kelly, Mel Renfro, Paul Krause, Dave Wilcox, Bob Brown, Carl Eller, Bob Hayes

Bottom Line: 1964 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Paul Warfield

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The draft class with the most Hall of Famers doesn’t have a lot of names modern football fans will remember. Thank goodness those fans aren’t the only ones who matter.

While No. 1 overall pick Dave Parks had an outstanding career with the San Francisco 49ers and was a three-time Pro Bowler, he wasn’t one of the 10 Hall of Fame players picked in the draft. Or even one of the four picked in the first round.

The best value pick in the draft? Had to be quarterback Roger Staubach, a 10th-round pick who led the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl wins and made seven Pro Bowls.

4. 1981 NFL Draft

J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo

Dates: April 28-29, 1981

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: George Rogers, RB, South Carolina (New Orleans Saints)

Hall of Famers (7): Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Howie Long, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, Kenny Easley

Bottom Line: 1981 NFL Draft

Lennox McLendon / AP Photo

The greatest assemblage of defensive talent to ever go in a single NFL draft came in 1981, with six of the seven Hall of Famers that year playing on the defensive side of the ball and another Hall of Famer, linebacker Sam Mills, who went undrafted.

This year’s draft featured a trio of players who are in the GOAT discussion for their respective positions with safety Ronnie Lott and linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who is one of only two defensive players to win NFL MVP honors.

3. 1957 NFL Draft

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Date: Nov. 26, 1956

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No. 1 overall pick: Paul Hornung, HB, Notre Dame (Green Bay Packers)

Hall of Famers (9): Jim Brown, Jim Parker, Sonny Jurgensen, Paul Hornung, Len Dawson, Don Maynard, Henry Jordan, Tommy McDonald, Gene Hickerson

Bottom Line: 1957 NFL Draft

William P. Straeter / AP Photo

The Green Bay Packers won a draft lottery between themselves and the Chicago Cardinals to determine the No. 1 pick, and the Packers came away with Notre Dame halfback and future Hall of Famer Paul Hornung. In a testament to how stacked this draft was, Hornung wasn’t even the best running back in the draft.

The Cleveland Browns snagged running back Jim Brown at No. 6 overall — arguably the greatest player of all time — but got even better value down the road when they snagged Hall of Fame defensive tackle Henry Jordan in the fifth round.

2. 2011 NFL Draft

Julie Jacobson / AP Photo

Dates: April 28-30, 2011

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn (Carolina Panthes)

Potential Hall of Famers: J.J. Watt, Cam Newton, Von Miller, Richard Sherman, Julio Jones, A.J. Gren, Jason Kelce, Cameron Jordan, Patrick Peterson

Bottom Line: 2011 NFL Draft

Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

We count at least six surefire Hall of Famers in the stacked 2011 NFL draft, where most of the best players are coming into the twilight of their careers.

The first round featured a trio of players who would fill up their franchise’s trophy cases for years to come — three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller and 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton, the No. 1 overall pick.

In all, 12 of the first 16 picks in the first round would become Pro Bowlers, but the best value pick of the draft came in the fifth round, when the Seattle Seahawks selected five-time NFL All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, the leader of the famous “Legion of Boom” defense that won a Super Bowl in 2014 and was named to the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team.

1. 1983 NFL Draft

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Dates: April 26-27, 1983

Location: New York City

No. 1 overall pick: John Elway, QB, Stanford (Baltimore Colts, traded to Denver Broncos)

Hall of Famers (8): Eric Dickerson, Jim Kelly, John Elway, Dan Marino, Bruce Matthews, Darrell Green, Richard Dent, Jimbo Covert

Bottom Line: 1983 NFL Draft

Lennox McLendon / AP Photo

You can’t just point to Hall of Famers when you make a case for the 1983 NFL draft class being the best of all time, although having seven of its eight Hall of Famers taken in the first round doesn’t hurt.

Looking beyond the obvious — three Hall of Fame quarterbacks taken in the first round in John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino — the depth of talent in 1983 is truly stunning. Rounds two through five were a who’s who of 1980s Hall of Famers and Almost-HOFers, including Roger Craig, Darryl Talley, Leonard Marshall and Albert Lewis.

There was a Pro Bowler taken in each of the 14 rounds of the 1983 draft, and a whopping six undrafted players went on to make Pro Bowls. Three of those undrafted Pro Bowlers, offensive tackle Mark Tuinei, safety Bill Bates and offensive guard Nate Newton, all made Pro Bowls. And all of them won three Super Bowls as teammates on the Dallas Cowboys.