NFL Draft: Which teams are the best and worst at picking players

http://nypost.com/2015/04/25/an-exhaustive-ranking-of-every-nfl-teams-draft-haul-since-2010/

NFL Draft: Which teams are the best and worst at picking players

By Brian Costello

April 25, 2015 | 11:19pm

Who is the best team at finding players in the NFL Draft? Who is the worst?

We examined the last five drafts to see what teams get it and which don’t. Instead of the knee-jerk grades handed out immediately after the draft, we looked at how these picks actually panned out.

The criteria was based on: How many games the picks played, Pro Bowl appearances, first-team All-Pro selections and awards won. We also factored in how much the team has won during this period, since players tend to play quicker for worse teams.

Here are the rankings from the best to the worst:
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Richard Sherman, fifth round, 2011Photo: AP
1. Seahawks

GM: John Schneider
Average position of 1st pick: 30.6
Total picks: 48
Pro Bowlers: 7
Best Pick: CB Richard Sherman — 2011 5th round
Worst Pick: G John Moffitt — 2011 3rd round

Seattle is the gold standard for drafting in the NFL right now. The 2010 draft netted Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Russell Okung and Golden Tate, laying the foundation for their 2013 Super Bowl team. Chancellor and Sherman were 5th-round picks, and they landed QB Russell Wilson in the 3rd round.
2. 49ers

GM: Trent Baalke
Average position of 1st pick: 19.2
Total picks: 48
Pro Bowlers: 4
Best Pick: LB NaVorro Bowman — 2010 3rd round
Worst Pick: WR A.J. Jenkins — 2012 1st round

There may have been dysfunction inside the 49ers in recent years, but it did not stop them from finding some good players. The 2010 draft was their best with Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis in the 1st round and NaVorro Bowman in the 3rd.
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J.J. Watt, first round, 2011Photo: Getty Images
3. Texans

GM: Rick Smith
Average position of 1st pick: 17
Total Picks: 44
Pro Bowlers: 1
Best Pick: DE J.J. Watt — 2011 1st round
Worst Pick: DE Sam Montgomery — 2013 3rd round

The Texans have not landed a ton of superstars, but they drafted the best player taken in the past five years — Watt, who has been the Defensive Player of the Year twice. They also have drafted a number of solid, if not spectacular, starters.
4. Patriots

GM: Bill Belichick
Average position of 1st pick: 29.2
Total Picks: 44
Pro Bowlers: 2
Best Pick: TE Rob Gronkowski — 2010 2nd round
Worst Pick: S Ras-I Dowling — 2011 2nd round

Belichick’s drafts came under criticism for a few years, but he has done a solid job of restocking his roster through the draft. Gronkowski was a huge home run.
5. Rams

GMs: Billy Devaney (2010-11), Les Snead (2012-14)
Average position of 1st pick: 7.8
Total Picks: 47
Pro Bowlers: 2
Best Pick: DE Robert Quinn — 2011 1st round
Worst Pick: CB Jerome Murphy — 2010 3rd round

The Rams recent drafts have been shaped by the 2012 trade with the Redskins that landed them Washington’s 1st-round picks in 2013 and 2014 after swapping 1st rounders in ’12. QB Sam Bradford and DT Aaron Donald won Rookie of the Year with the Rams, and Quinn has become a perennial Pro Bowler.
6. Broncos

GMs: Brian Xanders (2010), John Elway (2011-14)
Average position of 1st pick: 23.8
Total Picks: 38
Pro Bowlers: 4
Best Pick: LB Von Miller — 2011 1st round
Worst Pick: QB Tim Tebow — 2010 1st round

Elway has proven to be nearly as good an executive as he was a quarterback. His first draft in charge landed starters Miller, TE Julius Thomas, OL Orlando Franklin and S Rahim Moore.
Best draft

7. Steelers

GM: Kevin Colbert
Average position of 1st pick: 21
Total Picks: 44
Pro Bowlers: 4
Best Pick: WR Antonio Brown — 2010 6th round
Worst Pick: S Mike Adams — 2012 2nd round

Pittsburgh has landed some offensive stars in the draft, but has struggled to replenish its defense despite taking defensive players in the 1st round in three of the last five years.
8. Eagles

GM: Howie Roseman
Average position of 1st pick: 15.6
Total Picks: 48
Pro Bowlers: 2
Best Pick: C Jason Kelce — 2011 6th round
Worst Pick: G Danny Watkins — 2011 1st round

Roseman lost personnel control this winter to coach Chip Kelly, but he landed some decent starters during his time picking players. The Eagles have not found stars but have landed some good, contributing players.
Best pick

2010-2014

2010: Ndamukong Suh, Lions

2011: J.J. Watt, Texans

2012: Luke Kuechly, Panthers

2013: Sheldon Richardson, Jets

2014: Aaron Donald, Rams
9. Bills

GMs: Russ Brandon (2010), Buddy Nix (2011-12), Doug Whaley (2013-14)
Average position of 1st pick: 8.4
Total Picks: 42
Pro Bowlers: 2
Best Pick: DT Marcell Dareus — 2011 1st round
Worst Pick: DT Torell Troup — 2010 2nd round

Coach Rex Ryan is going to benefit from how well the Bills have drafted in recent years. The one area they have missed on is at quarterback, where EJ Manuel, their 2013 1st-round pick, does not look like the answer.
10. Vikings

GM: Rick Spielman
Average position of 1st pick: 16.4
Total Picks: 47
Pro Bowlers: 4
Best Pick: K Blair Walsh — 2012 6th round
Worst Pick: QB Christian Ponder — 2011 1st round

Minnesota had a great draft in 2012, landing five starters plus Walsh, who is one of the best kickers in the NFL. This is another franchise that has missed on quarterbacks, but may have found one last year in Teddy Bridgewater.

11. Cardinals

GM: Rod Graves (2010-12), Steve Keim (2013-14)
Average position of 1st pick: 15.6
Total Picks: 38
Pro Bowlers: 3
Best Pick: CB Patrick Peterson — 2011 1st round
Worst Pick: RB Ryan Williams — 2011 2nd round

Arizona has built its defense through the draft, but now needs its offense to catch up. They have taken three quarterbacks over the last five years in the mid- and late-rounds, but none have panned out.

Seattle, SF, StL, and the Cards dominate the top of this list.