NFL Draft: Ranking the Best and Worst Teams at Picking Players

In our quest to reward draft successes while weighing playoff advancement over the past five years, SI created a points system to bring order to the chaos.

The NFL has changed dramatically over the past five years.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went from an unknown to unstoppable. Tom Brady—finally—retired. The Bengals are an annual force. It’s a world upside down.

So how did everything change, and where is the league going? We attempted to gauge answers for both of those questions.

We wanted to look at which teams not only have found quality players in the draft over the past five seasons, but which teams have turned those talents into wins. In our quest to reward draft successes while weighing playoff advancement, we created a points system to bring order to chaos.

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Points system

• Each first-team All-Pro season: 5 points
• Each second-team All-Pro season: 3 points
• Each season as primary starter (per PFR: 1 point)
• Each regular-season win: 1 point
• Each wild-card win or bye week: 2 points
• Each divisional win: 3 points
• Each conference title: 4 points
• Each Super Bowl victory: 5 points

Burrow, Surtain and Jefferson are three of the best draft picks over the past five years.  :: Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports (Burrow); Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports (Surtain); Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports (Jefferson)

An important note: A player no longer on his original team doesn’t count toward the point total as he’s not a piece of the future. However, if he has played only for his original team and remained a free agent as of April 6, his points count.

Lastly, undrafted free agents aren’t part of the equation. It’s only players who were picked in the draft.

1

Kansas City Chiefs

129 total points, 23 draft points

Humphrey was taken with the 63rd pick in the 2021 draft, helping solidify the Chiefs' offensive line and protect franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes :: Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports

• Starting seasons: 20
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 5
• Divisional wins: 5
• Conference titles: 3
• Super Bowl wins: 2

Best picks: C Creed Humphrey, LB Nick Bolton, CB L’Jarius Sneed

The Chiefs have drafted only one All-Pro over the past five seasons, but they’ve hit on numerous high-end starters to complement quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. Obviously, much of Kansas City’s score was driven by postseason success, which included last season’s Super Bowl run … helped along by eight contributing rookies.

2

Indianapolis Colts

115 TP / 72 DP

• Starting seasons: 31
• First-team All-Pro: 7
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: LG Quenton Nelson, LB Darius Leonard, WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Surprised? The Colts finished second because of seven All-Pro seasons from Nelson and Leonard. Indianapolis’s big issue has been finding a quarterback along with drafting at other premium positions, along with hitting on receivers save for Pittman.

3

San Francisco 49ers

113 TP / 48 DP

• Starting seasons: 23
• First-team All-Pro: 5
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 3
• Divisional wins: 3
• Conference titles: 1
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: LB Fred Warner, DE Nick Bosa, WR Deebo Samuel

Nobody has found more talent in the draft over the past five years than the Niners, who continue to add All-Pro players on both sides of the ball. San Francisco has also reached three NFC title games over the past four seasons, but has yet to capture an elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy.

4

Dallas Cowboys

99 TP / 47 DP

• Starting seasons: 26
• First-team All-Pro: 3
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR CeeDee Lamb, LB Micah Parsons, CB Trevon Diggs

The Cowboys are often maligned as underachievers, but owner/general manager Jerry Jones has stocked America’s Team with talent. Dallas has also advanced a few times in the postseason, but has yet to reach the NFC championship game since the 1995 season.

5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

95 TP / 35 DP

• Starting seasons: 24
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 1
• Super Bowl wins: 1

Best picks: RT Tristan Wirfs, DT Vita Vea, LB Devin White

This grade is largely buoyed by excellent first-round picks and the boost given to the Buccaneers by Tom Brady, who fueled three playoff runs, including two division titles and a Super Bowl victory. For general manager Jason Licht, the challenge now is finding Brady’s successor.

6

Green Bay Packers

92 TP / 27 DP

• Starting seasons: 21
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 2
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Jaire Alexander, LB Rashan Gary, OL Elgton Jenkins

With the Packers now set to give Jordan Love the starting quarterback job, we’re going to find out plenty about Green Bay’s drafting acumen. If Love pans out, the Packers are set for another dozen years, albeit with holes to fill. If he doesn’t, it’s time for a rebuild the scale Green Bay hasn’t seen since the early 1990s.

7

Buffalo Bills

The Bills traded up in the 2018 draft to select Allen with the No. 7 pick :: Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

89 TP / 27 DP

• Starting seasons: 24
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 3
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Josh Allen, TE Dawson Knox, DE Gregory Rousseau

The Bills have struggled to draft over the past couple of years, with only Rousseau as a key contributor to this point. However, Buffalo landed Allen and has found success in recent years, winning three consecutive AFC East titles while reaching the conference championship game once.

8

Baltimore Ravens

87 TP / 30 DP

• Starting seasons: 15
• First-team All-Pro: 3
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews, WR Devin Duvernay

The Ravens have found first-team All-Pros in Jackson, Andrews and Duvernay, but haven’t been able to advance deep into the playoffs. Baltimore has a roster full of young talent, but its future largely hinges on whether Jackson is retained long term.

9

New England Patriots

87 TP / 25 DP

• Starting seasons: 15
• First-team All-Pro: 2
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 1
• Super Bowl wins: 1

Best picks: S Kyle Dugger, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Josh Uche

Bill Belichick has struggled mightily to find difference-makers in recent drafts, with this ranking buoyed significantly by winning Super Bowl LIII. New England has gotten 11 starting seasons from the last five rookie classes, and the offense has found little outside of Stevenson. If the Patriots are going to compete in the loaded AFC East, they must improve their drafting.

10

Los Angeles Rams

84 TP / 10 DP

• Starting seasons: 10
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 3
• Divisional wins: 2
• Conference titles: 2
• Super Bowl wins: 1

Best picks: WR Van Jefferson, C Brian Allen, OT Joe Noteboom

No team accrued fewer draft-based points than the Rams over the past five seasons, which shouldn’t be shocking considering general manager Les Snead’s motto. However, they’ve used those selections to find championship-caliber veterans such as quarterback Matthew Stafford and corner Jalen Ramsey. The problem? It appears the bill has come due.

11

Miami Dolphins

81 TP / 41 DP

• Starting seasons: 36
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Jaylen Waddle, S Jevon Holland, QB Tua Tagovailoa

The Dolphins have done a tremendous job stacking their roster with talent, but the linchpin remains the health of Tagovailoa. However, the draft has seemingly taken a back seat in Miami, with seven picks being sent out—including two first-rounders—for corner Jalen Ramsey, receiver Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

12

Minnesota Vikings

81 TP / 33 DP

• Starting seasons: 22
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Justin Jefferson, OT Brian O’Neill, OT Christian Darrisaw

Jefferson is the best receiver in football and has already made two All-Pro teams, and O’Neill and Darrisaw are one of the best tackle tandems in in the NFL. The problem? Minnesota is in quarterback purgatory, and the defense is a mess, leading to only one NFC North title and a single playoff win since 2018.

13

Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow was taken No. 1 in the 2020 draft, and has led the Bengals to back-to-back AFC title games and a Super Bowl :: Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

77 TP, 29 DP

• Starting seasons: 26
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 2
• Conference titles: 1
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins

Few teams have changed their cultures and direction more over the past five years than the Bengals. Aided by high draft positions, Cincinnati landed Burrow and Chase with top-five picks along with Higgins going No. 33 in 2020. The Bengals appear poised for a run of dominance in the AFC North, and it’s because of their drafting.

14

Seattle Seahawks

77 TP / 26 DP

• Starting seasons: 18
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Tariq Woolen, LT Charles Cross, WR DK Metcalf

After some middling draft classes, the Seahawks struck gold time and again this past year with Woolen and Cross, alongside running back Kenneth Walker III and right tackle Abraham Lucas. The Seahawks have also been getting results, including a surprising playoff appearance last season.

15

Philadelphia Eagles

77 TP / 21 DP

• Starting seasons: 18
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 1
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Jalen Hurts, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert

It might be surprising to see the Eagles in the middle of this list, but despite some terrific draft picks over the past five years, Philadelphia has only one first- or second-team All-Pro in Hurts. General manager Howie Roseman has also been fantastic at acquiring outside talent, including corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry, and receiver A.J. Brown.

16

New Orleans Saints

77 TP / 16 DP

• Starting seasons: 16
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 2
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Chris Olave, WR Tre’Quan Smith, OL Erik McCoy

Over the past five seasons, general manager Mickey Loomis has generated only 16 starting seasons from his draft classes, and zero All-Pro teams. It’s been a dry spell for the Saints after their stunning 2018 class, which included corner Marshon Lattimore, running back Alvin Kamara and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.

17

Tennessee Titans

72 TP / 19 DP

• Starting seasons: 13
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 1
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: LB Harold Landry, DT Jeffery Simmons, WR Treylon Burks

First-year general manager Ran Carthon appears to be embarking on a team reset, but he has some quality pieces to build around in Landry and Simmons in the front seven. The big question is whether the Titans can finally find a franchise quarterback for the first time since Steve McNair ruled in Nashville.

18

Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert was taken with the sixth pick in the 2020 draft and has thrown for 14,089 yards and 94 TDs :: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union/USA Today Network

71 TP / 26 DP

• Starting seasons: 15
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Justin Herbert, S Derwin James, LT Rashawn Slater, DE Joey Bosa

The Chargers have nailed recent first-round picks, headlined by Herbert, James, Slater and edge rusher Joey Bosa. However, save for corner Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles hasn’t gotten nearly enough from its mid- and later-round choices. The Chargers have talent, but they’re top-heavy and short on results.

19

Pittsburgh Steelers

71 TP / 24 DP

• Starting seasons: 21
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: RB Najee Harris, LB Alex Highsmith, WR Diontae Johnson

While the Steelers have never suffered a losing season under coach Mike Tomlin, they’ve also failed to win a playoff game since the 2016 campaign. If quarterback Kenny Pickett pans out, Pittsburgh is rolling. If not, recent drafts aren’t going to make the Steelers an AFC contender.

20

Cleveland Browns

67 TP / 26 DP

• Starting seasons: 23
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Denzel Ward, RB Nick Chubb, LT Jedrick Wills Jr.

The Browns have done a nice job finding quality starters in the draft at times, but they’ve also had ugly misses headlined by quarterback Baker Mayfield. As a result, Cleveland is now without three consecutive first-round picks and will have a hard time building a sustainable roster around Deshaun Watson.

21

Las Vegas Raiders

65 TP / 30 DP

• Starting seasons: 22
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DE Maxx Crosby, RB Josh Jacobs, LT Kolton Miller

No team has had more opportunity to alter its course than the Raiders, and failed to do so. Las Vegas has continuously missed on first-round picks, including safety Johnathan Abram, receiver Henry Ruggs III, corner Damon Arnette and offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood. Combine that with zero playoff wins since 2002, and the Raiders get a low ranking.

22

Atlanta Falcons

62 TP / 30 DP

• Starting seasons: 24
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: TE Kyle Pitts, CB A.J. Terrell, G Chris Lindstrom

General manager Terry Fontenot has a decent base to build his roster, but the Falcons have to find a quarterback. Atlanta has nice weapons led by Pitts, receiver Drake London and running back Tyler Allgeier, but nobody to run the point. If Fontenot changes that, the Falcons could win the NFC South.

23

New York Giants

60 TP / 30 DP

• Starting seasons: 24
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 2
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DT Dexter Lawrence, LB Azeez Ojulari, RB Saquon Barkley

The Giants are moving in the right direction, although much hinges on quarterback Daniel Jones. New York has drafted well up front in both trenches, but now must find receivers and corners to bolster Big Blue’s chances of getting back to the postseason. The arrow is pointing up for the Giants.

24

Washington Commanders

57 TP / 25 DP

• Starting seasons: 25
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Terry McLaurin, DE Montez Sweat, DT Daron Payne

Another franchise that desperately needs to figure out its quarterback situation. The Commanders have found elite talent in Payne and McLaurin, along with other solid pieces sprinkled throughout the roster, but it hasn’t been enough to win consistently. Also, what to make of edge rusher Chase Young, who is entering his fourth year?

25

Chicago Bears

55 TP / 18 DP

• Starting seasons: 18
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Justin Fields, WR Darnell Mooney, S Jaquan Brisker

After years of poor drafts from general manager Ryan Pace, the Bears are trying to dig out with Fields leading the way. Last year’s class looks promising, led by Brisker on the defense’s back end, but Chicago is without a single All-Pro over the past five years and only 18 starting seasons during that span. Now armed with extra picks from their deal with the Panthers, the Bears can start over.

26

Denver Broncos

54 TP / 24 DP

• Starting seasons: 19
• First-team All-Pro: 1
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Patrick Surtain II, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Courtland Sutton

After years of being a perennial contender, the Broncos haven’t appeared in a playoff game since winning Super Bowl 50. Much of this is because they’ve missed on quarterbacks—Paxton Lynch and Russell Wilson say hello—while failing to draft top-end talent save for Surtain. This year, Denver is once again without a first-round pick.

27

New York Jets

Gardner was selected fourth in the 2022 draft. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league with 20 pass breakups :: Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

52 TP / 28 DP

• Starting seasons: 18
• First-team All-Pro: 2
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Sauce Gardner, DT Quinnen Williams, WR Garrett Wilson

The Jets are low on this list largely because they haven’t won a playoff game since 2010, and they missed on quarterbacks in the first round. However, New York crushed last year’s draft, highlighted by Gardner becoming a shutdown corner from Week 1. For general manager Joe Douglas, it’s about finding a long-term fix at quarterback.

28

Carolina Panthers

52 TP / 23 DP

• Starting seasons: 23
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Jaycee Horn, CB Donte Jackson, LB Brian Burns

The Panthers have gone through lean years recently, and their previous five draft classes aren’t helping. Carolina has some quality players such as Horn and Burns, but it hasn’t found a single All-Pro. Furthermore, the Panthers whiffed on coach Matt Rhule, which has all combined for some forgettable years in Charlotte.

29

Houston Texans

49 TP / 15 DP

• Starting seasons: 15
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Derek Stingley Jr., S Jalen Pitre, RB Dameon Pierce

The Texans are certainly going to draft their presumptive franchise quarterback in a few weeks. Whoever that is will step into a limited offense after multiple drafts without much return for that unit. Still, Houston is loaded with future draft capital after the Watson trade, giving it an opportunity to rally quickly.

30

Detroit Lions

48 TP / 22 DP

• Starting seasons: 19
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 1
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DE Aidan Hutchinson, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, OT Penei Sewell

The Lions are low on this list, but things are turning in Motown. Their past few drafts have yielded elite talent in Hutchinson, St. Brown, Sewell and others, with two more first-round picks coming this year. Detroit hasn’t won or hosted a playoff game since 1991, but those streaks could soon be ending.

31

Arizona Cardinals

44 TP / 13 DP

• Starting seasons: 13
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 0
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Kyler Murray, WR Rondale Moore, LB Isaiah Simmons

The Cardinals haven’t drafted a single first- or second-team All-Pro player over the past five years, with former general manager Steve Keim largely whiffing on his defensive choices. If Murray doesn’t rebound from a tough 2022 once he’s back from a torn ACL, Arizona could be in full tear-down mode.

32

Jacksonville Jaguars

41 TP / 15 DP

• Starting seasons: 15
• First-team All-Pro: 0
• Second-team All-Pro: 0
• Wild-card wins or bye: 1
• Divisional wins: 0
• Conference titles: 0
• Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, LB Josh Allen

The Jaguars are on the upswing after a strong 2021 class featuring Lawrence and Etienne in the first round, but they need to make better use of their drafts. There have been far too many examples of empty high-rough picks, including first-rounders Taven Bryan, K’Lavon Chaisson and C.J. Henderson.