The All 2010’s First Round Draft Pick Team

By: NFL Heads

Wow, that was a long title, let me explain. This article will basically wrap up each spot (1-32) on the draft board, giving the best pick at each spot. This will turn into a team that will be outlined at the end of the article. This will encompass the draft era of 2010-2020. And without further ado, let’s get going.

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (2012)

Andrew Luck worked out very well for the short time he was with the Colts, and I believe if he had stayed for longer he would have been one of the great quarterbacks of our generation. Luck certainly is better than Sam Bradford or Jared Goff, also picked at the first overall spot.

2. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos (2011)

Miller has become a defensive centerpiece for Denver, including the incredible, record setting defense of 2015 that carried the Broncos to Super Bowl 50. Miller has been an awesome pick for the Broncos for years, and if his injury problems decrease he could be there for several more years.

3. Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers (2016)

Despite Bosa’s injury issues, he has been a top 5 defensive player when healthy, and he has been unquestionably the best defensive player on the Chargers for the past three years. Gerald McCoy could be another good pick here, but I believe that Bosa might be good enough to win a defensive player of the year award which moves him up on the pecking order.

4. Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins (2010)

Trent Williams has been one of the best offensive lineman in the whole NFL and is undoubtedly the best option at fourth overall. Williams has also struggled with injury, but you have to be willing to take a chance on talent.

5. Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders (2014)

Khalil Mack has consistently been one of the two best defensive players in the NFL, and even though his last couple of seasons have been downers he has been an unstoppable force on the defensive line. The only defensive player of the 2010’s that I would take over Mack (besides Bosa possibly) is Aaron Donald.

6. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (2011)

The best pick has to be the one that features arguably the best receiver of the 2010’s, and unarguably the best receiver in Atlanta Falcons history. So yeah, i’d say he’s definitely the premium pick out of all the sixth picks, certainly better than Barkevious Mingo.

7. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (2018)

Let’s be careful here, there are two Josh Allen’s who were picked with the seventh pick, we are specifically talking about Josh Allen the quarterback (although the linebacker is a really solid player). Allen has progressed better than any other player I have ever seen. I think he is certainly the best of the 2018 quarterback class.

8. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers (2017)

McCaffrey has to prove his consistency before he can be truly established elite running back, but he is the best option at eighth pick. Unless of course you consider Justin Gilbert an elite talent that would take any team by storm.

9. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers (2012)

As much as the Falcons fan in me finds it disgusting to put two members of a Panthers’ team in a row. Kuechly was a massive presence on the Panthers’ defense for multiple seasons and is the best option at the number nine spot.

10. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (2017)

Mahomes is the best overall sportsman in professional sports history, and he is definitely the best pick at ten overall. Mahomes cannot be understated, his talent is like nothing this league has ever seen.

11. JJ Watt, DE, Houston Texans (2011)

Watt has an argument to be made to be seen as the best defensive player of the 2010’s, if not for the inconvenient existence of Aaron Donald, Watt would far and away be the best pick at defense at any of the 32 spots.

12. Odell Beckham, WR, New York Giants (2014)

People forget within all the recent Odell drama that when Odell came into the league he was considered by some to be the best receiver in the NFL after under a year, and even that was a season where he started the year injured. Odell’s ceiling is higher than almost any other receiver of the past 20 years, and he is the premium pick at 12.

13. Aaron Donald, DT, St Louis Rams (2014)

Donald has made himself somewhat of a legend within the NFL, and it looks as though we are just going to be handing the defensive player of the year award to him about every other year or so, and it is well deserved.

14. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (2010)

Thomas is a bit of a wild card given his history in the locker room i.e. getting in fights with teammates and flipping off his head coach, but I think it is safe to say he was one of the best defensive backs to play in the 2010’s era, which qualifies him for this list.

15. Mike Pouncey, C, Pittsburgh Steelers (2011)

It’s about time we featured another good offensive lineman on this list, and Pouncey is the perfect man for the job. Between his years of consistent star play and his, uh, flamboyant personality, Pouncey has a lot to be proud of in his NFL career, and has enough good play to qualify him for this list. 

16. Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys (2014)

Martin is the next offensive lineman to be featured on our list, and he is the best guard of the 2010’s. Between him, Pouncey, and Trent Williams, this would have the potential to be the best offensive line the NFL has ever seen.

17. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers (2018)

We are finally shifting away from offensive line talk (thank God). James is quickly becoming one of the best defensive backs in the NFL, and if he were on a team that was not as dysfunctional as the Chargers, only the imagination can really give you a glimpse of just how good he could be.

18. Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (2015)

Peters has done a lot of moving around in his short career, and he has had his moments where he does not look like all that strong of a threat in the secondary, but I believe he is a gigantic asset when he hits his ceiling. Peters beats out Maurkice Pouncey for the 18th spot on this list.

19. OJ Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017)

OJ Howard is another player whose success I feel is determined by whether he is really capable of reaching his ceiling as a player, but Howard at his peak is a top 5 tight end so I will take it.

20. Kyle Long, G, Chicago Bears (2013)

Kyle Long ended his career far earlier than expected, but he is remembered amongst Chicago fans as a great offensive lineman, and I personally remember him for shoving Jay Cutler in the middle of an NFL game.

21. Chandler Jones, DE, New England Patriots (2012)

Jones’s name has been floated out in discreet circles as a sneaky defensive player of the year candidate for about five years now. My theory is that now that Justin Houston is officially old, Chandler Jones will take his place as the top 3 defensive lineman that everyone refuses to acknowledge.

22.  Bud Dupree, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (2015)

The number 22 pick saw the likes of Johnny Manziel and Brandon Weeden, so it is good that we can at least find one positive to take out of the number 22 overall pick in the draft. Dupree is even more than a stud pass rusher for Pittsburgh, if it were not for TJ Watt he would be the centerpiece of their defense, which by the way many consider to be the best in the league.

23. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants (2017)

Engram is turning into one of the top tight ends in the league in his career, even if he did get a ridiculous, undeserving, and absurd Pro Bowl vote this year. He is still a great tight end however, who puts stock in the Pro Bowl anyway.

24. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders (2019)

Jacobs’ strong start is going to earn him the nod above David DeCastro and Cameron Jordan at the number 24 spot, and what it mostly comes down to is that other than Alvin Kamara and Patrick Mahomes, I find him the most fun player to watch in the entire NFL.

25. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Minnesota Vikings (2013)

Anybody who reads my articles should know that whenever the Pro Bowl is mentioned, I cite Xavier Rhodes being allowed in despite having what is one of the worst seasons at corner I have ever seen from someone who is supposedly a bona fide starter. So because of this, I will put some respect on his name by telling you that Rhodes has had multiple years of elite play, and his spot on this list is well deserved.

26. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons (2018)

Ridley is head and shoulders above anyone else who was picked at 26, seriously take a look it’s a grim lot. Ridley has made his mark early in his career, and just seems to get better and better each year, sort of like Josh Allen.

27. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans (2013)

There were actually multiple good options at 27, but when DHop is amongst the clan you really have no choice but to pick him. DHop is the only receiver in my book who even comes close to catching Julio as the best WR of the 2010’s, and think of the quarterbacks he had to tough it out with early in his career. Matt Schaub, TJ Yates, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, and Brock Osweiler to be precise.

28. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints (2011)

Now that Frank Gore is seemingly fading into the ether of retirement, it now falls on me to find another aged running back to be irrationally attached to. That man is none other than Mark Ingram, who played an underrated role in New Orleans for years and now does the same thing in Baltimore.

29. Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings (2012)

If Earl Thomas is the best safety of the 2010’s, then Harrison Smith is undoubtedly second. Smith is a shutdown safety who gives opposing quarterbacks nightmares, even deep in his career.

30. TJ Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (2017)

JJ’s little brother has been so damn good in his short career that he has already been floated as a defensive player of the year candidate for some of his time in Pittsburgh. I am ready to start touting Watt and Dupree as the single best tandem in the entire league, and I have no problems doing it.

31. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys (2013)

Frederick is considered to be one of the best centers the game has ever seen, and as boring as offensive line talk always is, I have to say I am so disappointed that injuries cut Fredericks young career so short. He looked very promising.

32. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (2018)

Winning the most important award in the NFL often gets you high consideration and praise, but in this case the equally important factor is that there was nobody even close to Lamar Jackson’s skill level.

The Team:

QB: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Andrew Luck, Lamar Jackson

RB: Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram

WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Calvin Ridley

TE: Evan Engram, OJ Howard

OT: Trent Williams

G: Zack Martin, Kyle Long

C: Travis Frederick, Mike Pouncey

DT: Aaron Donald

DE: JJ Watt, Chandler Jones, Joey Bosa

OLB: Khalil Mack, Von Miller, TJ Watt, Bud Dupree

ILB: Luke Kuechly

CB: Marcus Peters, Xavier Rhodes

S: Earl Thomas, Harrison Smith, Derwin James