Grading every NFL team's 1st-round haul over last 5 drafts

We often analyze draft classes in isolation, which can produce an incomplete picture of how well or how poorly a team has fared at evaluating talent. The best rosters tend to be assembled over a longer span. That's why we're looking at every franchise's first-round draft haul over the last five years to see which teams have made the most of their premium selections.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals' five-year haul is painfully average. Nolen showed flashes when he was on the field, but he only suited up for six games. Paris Johnson has proven to be a starting-caliber left tackle. Zaven Collins has been a jack of all trades, but versatility is his biggest asset. Robinson has also been underwhelming. Nothing hurts more, however, than Harrison's lack of production. A fourth overall pick in 2024, Harrison hasn't lived up to his billing: He's recorded 1,493 yards across two seasons, and his production declined in 2025. If he can become the game-changer he was touted to be, he'd reshape the narrative about Arizona's drafting.

Grade: C

Atlanta Falcons

Pitts, London, and Robinson are home runs, even if a lack of quality quarterback play has prevented some of them from reaching their potential. Any team that manages a three-year run of selecting players of that caliber deserves a round of applause. Since then, though, it hasn't been pretty. Penix hasn't been able to dispel well-documented pre-draft concerns about his injury history and limited ceiling. Double-dipping on pass rushers last year resulted in 16 combined sacks, but Pearce's future is uncertain as he faces three felony charges. Despite some gems, the Falcons' draft misses - and the process that produced them - have been just as bad as many feared at the time.

Grade: B

Baltimore Ravens

There's a reason the Ravens are considered among the best teams at identifying talent. Linderbaum, Hamilton, and Flowers combined for eight Pro Bowl selections. Starks finished his 2025 rookie campaign strong, and Wiggins has also become a key starter. The only minor blemishes so far are Bateman and Oweh. Even so, the former earned a second contract, while the latter posted a 10-sack season before being traded in 2025. Baltimore's bar is so high that any number of other teams would likely classify the Ravens' disappointments as successes.

Grade: A

Buffalo Bills

Rousseau and Kincaid have been more than serviceable starters: The former racked up 15 sacks over the last two seasons, and the latter is coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign. Hairston needs to have a productive sophomore year after an injury-hampered rookie season or that project risks going south. Speaking of failed first-round picks, Elam spent three years with the Bills before they admitted he was a bust. They arguably should have given up on him sooner. Brandon Beane gets some leeway considering the Bills have been picking in the 20-30 range, but he's 2-for-4 at the moment.

Grade: C+

Carolina Panthers

It's hard not to immediately focus on Legette. Already 23 when he was drafted, his production hasn't lived up to the billing - he's totaled 860 receiving yards in two seasons. Meanwhile, it took one year for McMillan to become the face of the Panthers' receiving corps; his 1,014 yards were 620 clear of the closest player. Ekwonu and Horn have been stellar picks. It's fair to expect more high-end play from a No. 1 overall selection than the Panthers have gotten from Young, but he may still prove to be be the best passer from the 2023 draft if C.J. Stroud keeps regressing.

Grade: B-

Chicago Bears

Fields didn't work out, but the Bears have made splash after splash since then. Williams appears to be on his way to realizing his full potential under head coach Ben Johnson, who's transformed the offense. Loveland and Odunze have been key pass-catchers for Williams. Wright might not have been the flashiest pick, but the Tennessee product has solidified himself at right tackle and could secure a long-term extension. Chicago found the nucleus of its electric offense over this five-year span.

Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals

This is the equivalent of owning a Lamborghini while renting your home. Chase is arguably the top offensive player from his draft class. He and Micah Parsons are the only 2021 selections to earn five Pro Bowl invites. The rest of Cincinnati's haul is unspectacular at best. Murphy has 8.5 sacks after three years, while Stewart appears to be a major work in progress. Mims is coming off a strong showing, creating optimism about his 2026 campaign, while the versatile Hill seemed to start figuring things out at outside corner last season.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Browns

There's not much to evaluate here, and that's because the Browns traded their 2022, 2023, and 2024 first-round picks for Deshaun Watson. The process has to factor into the overall grade - especially since this exercise judges the decision-making of the front office - and for that reason, Cleveland fares poorly, even if Graham had a strong rookie year and Newsome started four-plus seasons for the Browns.

Grade: D

Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys often deserve flak for their roster management, but to be fair, the franchise's recent draft decisions include more hits than misses. Although Dallas' relationship with Parsons went wrong, he has more than double the number of sacks (65) than the closest edge rusher from the 2021 draft. Booker was a force in the run game in his rookie year while surrendering only three sacks, per PFF. Tyler Smith has strung together three consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns. While Guyton is on the brink of bust status due to injury problems, only Maki Smith - who recorded two sacks over two-plus years before being shipped to the New York Jets - can be considered to have earned the label.

Grade: A-

Denver Broncos

Barron was reduced to a rotational role in his rookie year. While his NFL journey isn't off to a promising start, it's too early to reach a verdict on him. There are no complaints about Denver's two other first-rounders, though. Unlocked by Sean Payton, Nix has provided the most competent quarterback play the Broncos have seen since Payton Manning. Surtain is a former Defensive Player of the Year whose resume speaks for itself. However, Denver loses some marks for parting with its 2022 and 2023 first-round picks for a past-his-prime Russell Wilson.

Grade: B-

Detroit Lions

Since 2021, the floor of Detroit's first-round selections is a quality starter, while the ceiling is a first-team All-Pro. These incredible results offer proof that the Lions are one of the NFL's top drafting clubs in recent years. Hutchinson, Sewell, Gibbs, and Campbell have all become franchise cornerstones. Other teams aspire to this kind of first-round track record.

Grade: A+

Green Bay Packers

This Packers group doesn't lack promise or tools, but for whatever reason, the franchise hasn't been able to unleash the high potential of most of its prospects. Golden didn't match the hype in Year 1 with 361 yards and no touchdowns. Van Ness has yet to exceed four sacks in a season. Wyatt's managed 16 sacks over four years and has yet to show he can be effective over an entire campaign. Stokes never established himself as a trustworthy NFL starter. Only Walker has repaid the Packers' investment. Morgan's fate will be determined as he presumably moves to full-time left tackle in 2026.

Grade: C

Houston Texans

This was a shopping spree to remember for the Texans, who bagged the 2025 runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-Pro cornerback, and a potential franchise quarterback. The latter depends on Stroud recovering from the dreadful run of form he displayed at the end of last season - but it would be silly to write him off now. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and owns a 28-18 record through three seasons. The Texans did miss on Green, however, which might be especially painful considering Zion Johnson was picked two selections later.

Grade: A-

Indianapolis Colts

The Richardson selection is hard to overlook. The Colts aren't the first team to whiff on a quarterback, but using such a high pick on a passer who didn't even have much college success reeked of desperation. Since then, the franchise has gotten back in the win column with Warren and Latu. Warren had a monstrous rookie year with 817 yards and four touchdowns, while Latu's production jumped from four sacks as a rookie to 8.5 in Year 2. Paye also provided the Colts with 74 starts and 30.5 sacks over five seasons.

Grade: B-

Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2021, the Jaguars got their franchise quarterback and a dynamic running back they utilized for four seasons. That's the only concrete takeaway from this sample so far. It took Lloyd until his contract year to ball out, while Walker has two seasons of 10-plus sacks sandwiched between 3.5-sack campaigns in his rookie year and 2025. Thomas looked like a future stud as a rookie but regressed last season. The picks the Jaguars gave up to acquire Hunter will be questioned heavily if he doesn't wind up being a full two-way player, which is reportedly a possibility. To end on a positive note, last year was Harrison's best season to date. The Jaguars have done a good job of identifying talent, even if it hasn't translated to consistent results.

Grade: B+

Kansas City Chiefs

The best player from this period is no longer on the team after the Chiefs traded McDuffie this offseason. While Kansas City gets credit for selecting the All-Pro cornerback, that's not enough to save this group. Simmons seemed decent as a rookie but only started eight games. Worthy has electric speed but hasn't proved he's more than a one-trick pony. Anudike-Uzomah is also fast approaching bust territory: He missed the entire 2025 season and produced three total sacks in the two seasons prior.

Grade: C

Los Angeles Chargers

When it comes to the offensive line, the Chargers don't miss. Slater has been one of the best in the business, and Alt has been great so far, even though both have struggled to stay healthy at times. Johnson provided quality play and 65 starts in four years before departing in free agency. Los Angeles managed to turn Johnston into a productive receiver after a tough rookie year. Meanwhile, Hampton appears destined to be a rotational back again in 2026. That's not what you want from a first-round running back, but it's too early to pass judgment on his NFL career.

Grade: A-

Los Angeles Rams

Verse is the team's only first-rounder since 2017 - and he's a pretty darn good one, having won Defensive Rookie of the Year and made two Pro Bowls. So why is this table so short? The Rams traded some of their first-round selections from this span to acquire Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford, pillars of their Super Bowl LVI roster. Not much to complain about here.

Grade: A

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders' draft decisions are a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde situation. Bowers is already one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL, and while Jeanty didn't repeat his historic college numbers, he still produced over 1,300 yards behind a poor offensive line. On the flip side, Wilson hasn't shown enough to warrant playing more than 50% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in a season, and Leatherwood - the final first-round pick of the Jon Gruden era - was a colossal bust who lasted one year in Las Vegas.

Grade: C+

Miami Dolphins

Waddle was the perfect complement to Tyreek Hill in Mike McDaniel's system, while injuries prevented Phillips from revisiting the heights of his first and second seasons. Those two are the highlights from this group, but unfortunately for Miami, they're playing elsewhere as the team heads toward another rebuild. There are still questions about the Dolphins' two most recent first-rounders. Grant capped his rookie year with seven pressures in the final two games, per PFF, and needs to carry that momentum into Year 2. Robinson's production declined in his sophomore season, dropping from 56 pressures in 17 games as a rookie to 19 in 15 games.

Grade: C+

Minnesota Vikings

It's not all bad. Darrisaw has been a quality starter, though he's yet to play a full season, and Jackson might be a long-term asset on the offensive line. However, Jackson might also be the best first-round pick by ex-GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who took the job in 2022. The Vikings let Sam Darnold walk for McCarthy, who was always considered a project but has been unconvincing so far. Cine was out in Minnesota after two seasons. Addison has been the Robin to Justin Jefferson's Batman, but he's has also had his fair share of off-field issues. While Turner posted eight sacks last season, Minnesota seems reluctant to use him as more than a situational edge rusher.

Grade: C-

New England Patriots

If you're trying to figure out why the Patriots are the reigning AFC champions, look no further than their last three first-round picks. Maye and Gonzalez are the heartbeat of the offense and defense, respectively, and Campbell's had more highs than lows - even if some of his lows occurred on the sport's biggest stage. As for New England's misses, Strange was puzzling from Day 1, and Jones was increasingly frustrating to watch. However, both went on to find roles elsewhere in the league.

Grade: A-

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans collected a lot of studs and a few duds. Turner is the biggest disappointment, with Penning a distant second. The rest of this haul looks pretty good. The Saints landed two quality young tackles in Banks and Fuaga. Bresee has flashed as an interior pass-rusher, and while the rest of his game still needs some polish, the Saints picked up his fifth-year option. Last but not least, Olave is the engine of the Saints' receiving core, with three 1,000-yard campaigns in four seasons.

Grade: A-

New York Giants

Hey, at least the Giants drafted Nabers. Dart has been exciting, but new head coach John Harbaugh will have to find a way to reel in his sometimes unorthodox play. The same goes for Carter. The former No. 3 pick appears to be as advertised, but his disciplinary issues as a rookie are concerning. As for the rest, Toney was a huge bust, and Neal didn't live up to expectations either. Banks has been plagued by inconsistency. Thibodeaux had 11.5 sacks in 2023, but that looks more and more like an outlier.

Grade: B-

New York Jets

As bad as the Jets have been in recent times, their drafting has been more than adequate. Unfortunately, their biggest whiff - Zach Wilson - came at the most consequential position on the roster. Their last two picks are major bright spots, with Membou and Fashanu holding down each tackle position. Gardner was one of the league's marquee cornerbacks before the Jets traded him for more draft picks, and Garrett Wilson is one of the few stars left on the team. McDonald has also been an asset, recording 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles

Howie Roseman's name has become synonymous with draft-day success. Every player listed became at minimum a significant contributor in Philadelphia. Campbell established himself as the Eagles' latest first-round gem in his first season. These six players have provided 225 starts and appeared in three Pro Bowls, although that still feels like it undersells their value. More simply: The Eagles made two Super Bowl appearances (with one win) and five straight playoff appearances in this time frame because they're this good at drafting in the first round.

Grade: A+

Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a weird group to break down. The Steelers hoped Pickett would be a worthy successor to Ben Roethlisberger, but the Pitt product got run out of town after two seasons. While Harris was a durable back who soaked up a lot of volume, he was never efficient enough to warrant a first-round slot. Investing in the trenches with Harmon, Fautanu, and Jones has been worthwhile, though all three have battled injuries at some point in their young careers. Harmon and Fautanu remain promising, but Pittsburgh probably expected more from Jones, who's been inconsistent and is now sidelined with a neck injury.

Grade: C-

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks' path to a Super Bowl-winning roster was paved by this group of first-rounders. Smith-Njigba, one of the NFL's scariest receivers, was named Offensive Player of the Year for his 1,793-yard 2025 campaign. Witherspoon was PFF's No. 1 graded cornerback last season. Murphy had a breakout campaign in Year 2, with his seven sacks tied for a team high. Cross has been an underrated blind-side protector, and Zabel punched well above his weight in the trenches as a rookie. Draft hauls like this should allow Seattle to try running it back year after year.

Grade: A+

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are lucky they hit the jackpot by finding Brock Purdy in the seventh round, because their trade to pick Lance third overall was bad enough to set most franchises back years. Their other two first-round picks in this span have the same issue that's plagued the rest of San Francisco's roster: They can't stay on the field. Williams provided some pop in the trenches as a run defender before a torn ACL ended his rookie year, while Pearsall's missed 14 games over two seasons as a pro.

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Egbuka elevates the Bucs' grade here. The Ohio State product led the team in receiving as a rookie and is poised for an even bigger breakout in 2026. Barton's been extremely durable and versatile, playing center and even left tackle in 2025 due to an injury to Tristan Wirfs; that's also partly why his development's hit some rough patches. Kancey's had a tough go of things, playing in 29 games and missing 22 over three seasons. And then there's Tryon-Shoyinka, who spent four years in Tampa Bay but never registered more than five sacks.

Grade: C+

Tennessee Titans

For a while there, the Titans were absolutely dreadful at drafting in the first round. Some of that bleeds into this exercise: Burks and Farley were devastating misses that signaled the beginning of the end for ex-general manager Jon Robinson. Things have improved since - Skoronski was the fifth-highest graded guard by PFF in 2025, although Latham hasn't come close to making that kind of impact. Ward had eight touchdowns to one interception over his last five starts. The Titans' biggest priority is making sure he has all the tools he needs to unlock his full potential.

Grade: C

Washington Commanders

It's a good thing the Commanders have Daniels to distract you from the rest of this bunch, although even the signal-caller had a disappointing sophomore year after an outstanding rookie season. The team declined Davis' fifth-year option and didn't offer him a second contract. Dotson was traded after two years and has been nothing more than a complementary piece, while Forbes found more success with the Rams than he ever did in Washington. The saving grace here is Conerly, who could join Daniels as another quality Commanders first-rounder.

Grade: B