10 Amazing Draft Classes in NFL History

The NFL Draft is a pivotal moment in the league’s calendar, as it gives teams the opportunity to select the top college football players and construct their rosters for the upcoming season. As the 2023 NFL Draft approaches on April 27th in Kansas City, Missouri, fans and analysts alike wonder if this class will go down in history as one of the best.

In any case, it will have to contend with some of the most remarkable draft classes in NFL history. Below, we will be taking a look at 10 of the most amazing draft classes to date and the players that have shaped the league.

10. The 2010 Draft Class

The 2010 Draft had its fair share of busts, with the most notable being Sam Bradford, who was selected first overall. Despite his lack of success, the class as a whole was packed with talent. 

Ndamukong Suh, who was selected second overall by the Detroit Lions, was a dominant force on the defensive line and a six-time Pro Bowler. Earl Thomas, who was taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round, was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a key part of the team’s Legion of Boom defense.

Jason Pierre-Paul, who was selected by the New York Giants, was a two-time Pro Bowler and a vital player on the team’s Super Bowl XLVI winning defense. The 2010 Draft class also included several other accomplished players, including Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, and Rob Gronkowski.

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9. The 1965 Draft Class

The 1965 class was a historic one, as it featured several players who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. The class included Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Fred Biletnikoff, who are considered to be among the greatest players in NFL history. The Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs respectively, made a wise decision by picking Butkus and Sayers, with Butkus being a fierce middle linebacker and Sayers a versatile running back.

Biletnikoff, who was selected by the Oakland Raiders, was a wide receiver who played a significant role in the team’s success in the 1970s. The class also featured several other players who had successful careers in the league.

8. The 1989 Draft Class

The 1989 Draft featured four of the top five picks who went on to have Hall of Fame careers, Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Derrick Thomas. Steve Atwater, who was selected later in the first round, also became one of the best safeties in NFL history.

The class also produced countless other players who became solid starters in the league, with at least one player from each of the first seven rounds being selected to a Pro Bowl.

It’s important to analyze the young prospects entering the league each year, and at NFL Draft Diamonds, we provide coverage of small school football players and upcoming prospects for fans and analysts alike.

7. The 1985 Draft Class

The 1985 Draft class is widely considered to be one of the greatest in NFL history. It produced several future Hall of Famers including Reggie White, Bruce Smith, and Jerry Rice. The class also featured some players who exceeded their draft positions, such as Jerome Bettis, who became one of the best running backs in the league and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The class was incredibly deep and produced several players who had a significant impact on the league.

6. The 1978 Draft Class

The 1978 Draft featured several Hall of Famers, including Ozzie Newsome, James Lofton, and Kellen Winslow. Recency bias aside, the class was incredibly deep and produced several players who had long-lasting success in the league. Several teams found steals in this draft, including the Cleveland Browns, who picked Newsome and he became one of the best tight ends and an instrumental part of the team’s success in the 80s.

5. The 1971 Draft Class

The 1971 Draft class had a significant impact on the NFL for the next decade, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Players such as Lawrence Taylor, Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, and Mike Singletary were headliners of one of the best defensive draft classes in football history. The class was so talented that several undrafted players reached the Pro Bowl, including Sam Mills, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. ​​​​​​​

4. The 2001 Draft Class

The 2001 Draft had a high number of high-impact players, with 17 players selected in the first round becoming Pro Bowlers during their careers. Players such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Richard Seymour, and Steve Hutchinson were some of the best in their positions and have a Hall of Fame bust. Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne, and Steve Smith are also likely to join them in the Hall of Fame due to their sustained dominance.

3. The 2004 Draft Class

The 2004 Draft class was notable for producing its three greatest quarterbacks, including Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger. The class also included several other players who had long-lasting success in the league, such as Larry Fitzgerald, Jared Allen, and Vince Wilfork.

2. The 1996 Draft Class

This class was one of the most talented, despite not having a quarterback selected in the first round. The Baltimore Ravens drafted future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden, laying the foundation for their Super Bowl-winning squad in 2000. Nearly half of the first-round selections were selected to at least one Pro Bowl, and the class was incredibly deep across the board.

The class featured one of the most prolific receiving classes of all time, with Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Joe Horn, Eric Moulds, and first-overall selection Keyshawn Johnson leading the way.

1. The 1983 Draft Class

Finally, the 1983 Draft had one of the best groups of quarterbacks in the league. Seven players became Hall of Famers, including John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino. It also featured Eric Dickerson, one of the best running backs in the league and Bruce Matthews, one of the best offensive linemen. The class had unprecedented depth, with Pro Bowlers selected in every round, including Hall of Famer Richard Dent who was selected in the 8th round.

Without any doubt, all these draft classes have had a significant impact on the league. Their contributions to the NFL will be remembered for years to come.