Best Prospects of the Decade

WMD · 12-09-2009, 09:27 PM

We're nearing the end of the 00's, so I figured you guys could come up with lists for the best Prospects of the Decade. I know these guys will be drafted in 2010 but.. we'll ignore that. Best Prospects from the 2000 Draft thru the 2010 Draft. Offensive, Defensive, Overall, by Position.. Top 5, Top 10, Top 20.. however you guys wanna do it. Obviously, ignore how they did in the Pros.

I didn't start following the draft closely until 2004 so I can't speak on the Drafts prior to that. Let's get some lists going!

SenorGato · 12-09-2009, 09:33 PM

QB - Carson Palmer/Phillip Rivers
RB - Adrian Peterson/LT
FB - Care
TE - KW2/Davis
WR - Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald/Calvin Johnson

LT - D'Brick/Joe Thomas
LG - Hutchinson
C - Mangold
RG - Andrews (nice call)
RT - Oher since thats where he is now.

Thats offense...

TACKLE · 12-09-2009, 09:37 PM

If I had to pick one guy at each position this is who I'd pick.

QB - Michael Vick
RB - Reggie Bush
WR - Calvin Johnson
TE - Kellen Winslow
OT - Robert Gallery
G - Shawn Andrews
C - Nick Mangold

DE - Mario Williams
DT - Ndamukong Suh
LB - LaVar Arrington
CB - Terrance Newman
S - Sean Taylor

WMD · 12-09-2009, 09:38 PM

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/ful...0&round=round1

There's 2000, you can go up to 2008.

WMD · 12-09-2009, 09:42 PM

Leonard Davis was drafted #2 Overall. Was he looked at as a LT and the Cardinals just played him at Guard, or was he strictly a Guard? That's pretty crazy, if he was drafted as a Guard he must've been an absolutely insane prospect at the position.

TACKLE · 12-09-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lions WMD

Leonard Davis was drafted #2 Overall. Was he looked at as a LT and the Cardinals just played him at Guard, or was he strictly a Guard? That's pretty crazy, if he was drafted as a Guard he must've been an absolutely insane prospect at the position.

I actually just looked through that draft history before my first post. Davis played LT at Texas. The Cardinals thought Davis was going to be their LT but he lacked the feet. He played his first few years as a guard with the thought that he'd develop into a LT but it never really worked out.

murdamal86 · 12-09-2009, 09:49 PM

This should be a good thread

Thumper · 12-09-2009, 09:49 PM

QB- Michael Vick
RB- Adrian Peterson
WR- Calvin Johnson/Andre Johnson
TE- Vernon Davis
OT- Joe Thomas
OG- Davin Joseph/Shawn Andrews
C- Nick Mangold

DE- Mario Williams/Julius Peppers
DT- Haloti Ngata/Albert Haynesworth (HM- John Henderson)
LB- Dan Morgan/Aaron Curry/Patrick Willis (HM- AJ Hawk/Keith Rivers)
CB- Antonio Cromartie/ Terrence Newman
S- Laron Landry/Sean Taylor

You will be able to add Ndamukong Suh and Eric Berry to that list soon.

DeepThreat · 12-09-2009, 09:49 PM

He was drafted as a tackle and busted so they moved him to guard, like the Raiders would later do with Gallery.

Sean Taylor and Kellen Winslow Jr. might be the most insane prospects I've ever seen.

DeepThreat · 12-09-2009, 09:53 PM

My list:

QB: Mike Vick
RB: AP
WR: Andre Johnson/Megatron
TE: K2
LT: Joe Thomas
LG: Steve Hutchinson
C: Jeff Faine
RG: Shawn Andrews
RT: Jordan Gross (spent a lot of his career there)

DE: Mario Williams/Courtney Brown
DT: Gerrard Warren/Ndamukong Suh
OLB: LaVarr Arrington/A.J. Hawk
ILB: Dan Morgan
CB: Antrell Rolle/Pacman Jones
S: Sean Taylor/Roy Williams

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 09:56 PM

QB: Carson Palmer
HB: Reggie Bush
HB: Adrian Peterson
FB: Brian Leonard
WR: Calvin Johnson
WR: Charles Rogers
TE: Kellen Winslow Jr.
OT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson
OT: Robert Gallery
OG: Leonard Davis
OG: Steve Hutchinson
C: Nick Mangold
DE: Julius Peppers
DE: Mario Williams
DT: John Henderson
DT: Ndamukong Suh
OLB: A.J. Hawk
MLB: Patrick Willis
OLB: LaVar Arrington
S: Sean Taylor
S: Eric Berry
CB: Terrence Newman
CB: Deangelo Hall

K: Sebastian Janikowski
P: Dustin Colquitt

TACKLE · 12-09-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

QB- Michael Vick
RB- Adrian Peterson
WR- Calvin Johnson/Andre Johnson
TE- Vernon Davis
OT- Joe Thomas
OG- Davin Joseph/Shawn Andrews
C- Nick Mangold

DE- Mario Williams/Julius Peppers
DT- Haloti Ngata/Albert Haynesworth (HM- John Henderson)
LB- Dan Morgan/Aaron Curry/Patrick Willis (HM- AJ Hawk/Keith Rivers)
CB- Antonio Cromartie/ Terrence Newman
S- Laron Landry/Sean Taylor

You will be able to add Ndamukong Suh and Eric Berry to that list soon.

I know your looking back on the guys who had the best physical tools but there are some problems.

First of all, Cromartie missed his entire junior season with a torn ACL and still declared. Although everybody knew he had physical ability, there were a lot of questions surrounding him. He ended up going #19 which is where most people thought he would end up.

Adrian Peterson was obviuosly a hell of a player and prospect but there were some serious concerns on whether he could stay healthy. He only played about half a season in both his sophomore and junior seasons. By the time the draft rolled around there were even talks that Marshawn might be taken before AD because people were speculating AD would fall.

Ngata was always physically a beast but I don't think anyone predicted him going any higher than Buffalo at #8.

Though good call on Shawn Andrews. I forgot all about him.

FloridaSkinzFan · 12-09-2009, 10:00 PM

Gotta give some love to Sean Taylor, best saftey prospect ever.

Lets not forget back to 2000, Lavar Arrington was a MONSTER.

ElectricEye · 12-09-2009, 10:00 PM

Without getting too deep;

QB: Carson Palmer
RB: Adrian Peterson/Reggie Bush
TE: Kellen Winslow
WR: Charles Rogers/ Calvin Johnson
T: Joe Thomas, D'Brickashaw Ferguson
G: Steve Hutchinson(I guess, but nobody really pays much attention to guards and they aren't super projetable measurable players anyway.)
C: Nick Mangold

DE: Julius Peppers, Mario Williams
DT: Ndamukong Suh, Gerrard Warren
OLB: Aaron Curry, Lavar Arrington
ILB: Patrick Willis, AJ Hawk(although he could play either spot)
CB: Antonio Cromartie, DeAngelo Hall
S: Sean Taylor, Michael Huff

Mr.Regular · 12-09-2009, 10:01 PM

I've been watching and studying the draft for a while now, but hardcore since 2005 so I'll only do my team from then until now.

2005-2010

QB: JaMarcus Russell
RB: Reggie Bush
WR: Calvin Johnson
TE: Vernon Davis
OT: Joe Thomas
OG: Brandon Albert
OC: Nick Mangold

DE: Mario Williams
DT: Suh
OLB: AJ Hawk
ILB: Patrick Willis
CB: Antrel Rolle* (toughest one for me to do... If I remember I had Revis and Hall ranked about the same, and I'm still getting a read on Haden. Jenkins last year was up there too.. I remember I liked Rolle better than Pacman)
S: Eric Berry*(assuming he comes out, if not definitely Landry)

ElectricEye · 12-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACKLE

I know your looking back on the guys who had the best physical tools but there are some problems.

First of all, Cromartie missed his entire junior season with a torn ACL and still declared. Although everybody knew he had physical ability, there were a lot of questions surrounding him. He ended up going #19 which is where most people thought he would end up.

Adrian Peterson was obviuosly a hell of a player and prospect but there were some serious concerns on whether he could stay healthy. He only played about half a season in both his sophomore and junior seasons. By the time the draft rolled around there were even talks that Marshawn might be taken before AD because people were speculating AD would fall.

I actually don't have problems at all with these. Cromartie was a really, really, really good prospect just because of how physically rare he was. There were questions about him actually translating to the field, but you don't see 6'3 4.3 corners around very often. In terms of viewing him as a prospect and throwing out draft position, he belongs. Especially given that he's established himself a bit.

The Adrian Peterson/Marshawn Lynch thing looks completely batshit in hindsight, but you're right to bring that up. Still, that was only one side of that. There were people who thought Adrian Peterson was one of the best runningback prospects EVER. After the combine was over, most of the Marshawn Lynch crap died down anyway.

Shiver · 12-09-2009, 10:10 PM

QB - Michael Vick
RB - Reggie Bush
WR - Calvin Johnson
TE - Kellen Winslow II
OT - Robert Gallery
OG - Leonard Davis
OC - Nick Mangold

DE - Mario Williams
DT - Haloti Ngata
OLB - LaVar Arrington
MLB - Patrick Willis
CB - DeAngelo Hall
S - Sean Taylor

ElectricEye · 12-09-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lions WMD

Leonard Davis was drafted #2 Overall. Was he looked at as a LT and the Cardinals just played him at Guard, or was he strictly a Guard? That's pretty crazy, if he was drafted as a Guard he must've been an absolutely insane prospect at the position.

Leonard Davis was a left tackle prospect. People need to stop sliding him into guard. That kind of undermines things a bit.

CashmoneyDrew · 12-09-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricEye

Leonard Davis was a left tackle prospect. People need to stop sliding him into guard. That kind of undermines things a bit.

The only reason I put Davis at OG is because that's what NFL.com had him listed as when he was drafted.

ElectricEye · 12-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

The only reason I put Davis at OG is because that's what NFL.com had him listed as when he was drafted.

He was brought into be the left tackle of the future if I remember correctly. He played guard initially, but I'm pretty sure they imagined him playing left tackle.

It's foggier than I thought though, but in principal, I don't think the Cardinals drafted him with the intention of getting a full time guard.

phlysac · 12-09-2009, 10:24 PM

QB - Michael Vick
RB - Reggie Bush
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson
WR - Larry Fitzgerald
WR - Calvin Johnson
TE - Kellen Winslow, Jr.
OT - Mike Williams
OG - Shawn Andrews
C - Jeff Faine
OG - Steve Hutchinson
OT - Robert Gallery

DE - Courtney Brown
DT - Ndamukong Suh
DT - Glenn Dorsey
DE - Julius Peppers
OLB - LaVar Arrington
ILB - Jonathan Vilma
OLB - Terrell Suggs
CB - Terence Newman
CB - DeAngelo Hall
S - Roy Williams
S - Sean Taylor

K - Sebastian Janikowski
P - B.J. Sander

energizerbunny · 12-09-2009, 10:25 PM

I'll extend this question to past 15 years.

QB - Jamarcus, Leaf, Vick
RB - Adrian Peterson/Ricky Williams
FB - Rob Konrad/ Mike Alstott
WR - Charles Rogers/Fitzgerald/Calvin Johnson
TE - Vernon Davis, Jeremy Shockey, Winslow
LT - Boselli/Ogden/Pace/Gallery
G - Chris Naeole, Hutchinson, Grubbs, Faneca
C - Jeff Faine/Mangold
RT - Willie Anderson, Kyle Turley, Jamal Brown (played RT @ OU)

DE - Peppers, Williams , Courtney Brown (He was insane, go look at his college TFL #'s), Terrell Suggs (if it wasnt for that slow 40 he would of gone top 3),

DT - Darryl Russell, Ngata, Suh, BJ Raji, Sapp, Tommie Harris

OLBs - Hawk, Arrington, Aaron Curry,
MLBs - Dan Morgan, Patrick Willis, Chris Claiborne, Urlacher

CBs - Shawn Springs, Charles Woodson, Newman, Jammer

S - Sean Taylor, Troy Palumalu, Huff, Landry

K - Janikowski/ Mike Nugent
P - Lechler

KR - Hester

Thumper · 12-09-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACKLE

I know your looking back on the guys who had the best physical tools but there are some problems.

First of all, Cromartie missed his entire junior season with a torn ACL and still declared. Although everybody knew he had physical ability, there were a lot of questions surrounding him. He ended up going #19 which is where most people thought he would end up.

Adrian Peterson was obviuosly a hell of a player and prospect but there were some serious concerns on whether he could stay healthy. He only played about half a season in both his sophomore and junior seasons. By the time the draft rolled around there were even talks that Marshawn might be taken before AD because people were speculating AD would fall.

Ngata was always physically a beast but I don't think anyone predicted him going any higher than Buffalo at #8.

Though good call on Shawn Andrews. I forgot all about him.

I understand your point, but the topic was best prospect and prospect to me equates to potential and at 6'2" with 4.3 speed and crazy athleticism Cromartie was physically the ideal corner.

Also Ngata was a physical monster at 6'4" and 338 pounds running a 5.13 and benching 225 37 times.

And IMO AD was the best prospect, the only reason he wasn't picked higher was because of injury concerns but everyone knew that he was the best running back prospect of the decade, people have been saying he would be the best ever since his freshman year and saying he would go to the hall of fame. IMO Adrian Peterson was a better pure RB prospect than Reggie Bush and Darren McFadden.

Saints-Tigers · 12-09-2009, 10:59 PM

I had it:

QB: Vick
HB: Bush
WR: Calvin Johnson( Andre Johnson isn't that close either)
TE: Vernon Davis
LT:D'Brick
G: Shawn Andrews
C: LeCharles Bentley

DE: Julius Peppers, Mario Williams
DT: Suh, Glen Dorsey, Ngata
LB: Lavar Arrington, Derrick Johnson
CB: DeAngelo Hall, Terrence Newman
S: Sean Taylor, Eric Berry

Suffice to say, I thought the Mario Williams draft was one of the strongest ever, I had all 3 QBs rated really high, Ngata really high, Ferguson really high, and Vernon Davis really high... only one of the top 10 I wasn't really high on like everyone else was AJ Hawk.

Mr.Regular · 12-09-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saints-Tigers

I had it:

QB: Vick
HB: Bush
WR: Calvin Johnson( Andre Johnson isn't that close either)
TE: Vernon Davis
LT:D'Brick
G: Shawn Andrews
C: LeCharles Bentley

DE: Julius Peppers, Mario Williams
DT: Suh, Glen Dorsey, Ngata
LB: Lavar Arrington, Derrick Johnson
CB: DeAngelo Hall, Terrence Newman
S: Sean Taylor, Eric Berry

Suffice to say, I thought the Mario Williams draft was one of the strongest ever, I had all 3 QBs rated really high, Ngata really high, Ferguson really high, and Vernon Davis really high... only one of the top 10 I wasn't really high on like everyone else was AJ Hawk.

How awesome was 2006?! 2007 was pretty damn good too. 09 was alright, 08 was pretty bad, and 05 was God awful. Im thinking 2010 will be a notch below 2007 quality, but above 2009, 08, and 05.