Every NFC team's best and worst draft pick of last decade

With the 2024 NFL Draft just around the corner, we're looking at every team's best and worst picks over the last decade, which covers the drafts between 2014-23.

AFC | NFC

Arizona Cardinals

Best pick: Budda Baker. Arizona had four top-10 picks in the last decade, but none have accomplished more than Baker, a major steal at No. 36 overall in 2017. In seven NFL seasons, the Washington product has claimed six Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro berths. He's one of football's premier and hardest-hitting safeties.

Worst pick: Josh Rosen. Once a star in a talented 2018 quarterback draft class, Rosen is one of the league's biggest busts. The Cardinals traded up and used the 10th pick on the former UCLA passer that year. It didn't pay off, as Rosen posted a 3-10 record with 11 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his first - and only - season with the team. Arizona traded him to the Miami Dolphins during the 2019 offseason after drafting Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall. The Cardinals at least received a second-round choice as part of the Rosen deal.

Atlanta Falcons

Best pick: Grady Jarrett. The Falcons struck gold when they drafted Jarrett 137th overall in 2015. Not only did the Clemson product establish himself as a cornerstone of Atlanta's defense, but he became one of the NFL's most respected tackles. Jarrett is the only DT of his draft class who's earned a Pro Bowl berth. He's also earned a second-team All-Pro selection while playing 135 games. Not bad for a former fifth-round pick.

Worst pick: Takk McKinley. McKinley's best moment with the Falcons occurred ... when he walked on stage carrying a framed photograph of his late grandmother during the draft. The UCLA product lacked consistency on the field, never producing more than seven sacks in a single season. Atlanta waived the 2017 No. 26 pick midway through his fourth campaign after 49 appearances and 17.5 sacks.

Carolina Panthers

Best pick: Christian McCaffrey. Most of Carolina's recent draft standouts aren't with the team anymore, including McCaffrey. But the 2017 No. 8 pick was already an established star before the Panthers traded him to the 49ers midway through the 2022 season. McCaffrey earned a first-team All-Pro berth after leading the league in scrimmage yards and total touchdowns in 2019. The Stanford product holds the Panthers' single-season record for catches (116) and ranks fifth in franchise history with 50 scrimmage TDs despite playing just 64 games.

Worst pick: Vernon Butler. It's too early to go with 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, so Butler gets the nod. The 2016 No. 30 overall pick played 52 games and had just one good season for the Panthers, amassing six sacks and three forced fumbles in 2019. Butler wasn't a complete disaster as a member of Carolina's D-line rotation for four years, but things are made worse for the Louisiana Tech product considering the Chiefs drafted All-Pro lineman Chris Jones seven picks later as the next DT off the board that year.

Chicago Bears

Best pick: Eddie Jackson. Talent-wise, Roquan Smith was the top player drafted by the Bears over the last decade. But the star linebacker played just four-plus seasons with the team before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson made 100 appearances across seven seasons in Chicago, with the club selecting him in the fourth round in 2017 as only the 12th safety off the board. With 15 career interceptions, he was one of football's most dangerous defensive backs in his prime. The Alabama product, who's currently unsigned, has earned two Pro Bowl berths and a first-team All-Pro nod.

Worst pick: Mitchell Trubisky. The Trubisky selection alone was far from great (to put it nicely). The former North Carolina quarterback had moments in Chicago and even started two playoff games. But he was never the franchise QB the Bears expected after trading up from third to second overall to select him in 2017. In addition to Trubisky's struggles, he'll always be linked to three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, the next QB taken in that class at No. 10 by Kansas City.

Dallas Cowboys

Best pick: Dak Prescott. This pick was easy given where Prescott was drafted and what he's become. Granted, former first-rounders like Zack Martin and Micah Parsons are also great Dallas selections, but Prescott is an established franchise QB who entered the league as a fourth-round compensatory pick in 2016 (135th overall). The former Offensive Rookie of the Year led the NFL in touchdown passes in 2023 and finished second for MVP. Though the 30-year-old hasn't gotten the Cowboys over the hump in the playoffs, he ranks third in franchise history in passing yards and second in TDs.

Worst pick: Taco Charlton. The Michigan product, drafted 28th overall in 2017, is one of few Cowboys first-rounders who didn't have an impact in the last decade. Charlton didn't even make it through his rookie contract, released by Dallas in 2019 after only 27 appearances and four sacks. The Cowboys had considered selecting T.J. Watt in 2017 but instead took Charlton because they thought he'd be a better fit in then-defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme. Dallas couldn't have been more wrong. Watt went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 30.

Detroit Lions

Best pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown. Not often a Day 3 pick becomes an All-Pro, but that's the case with St. Brown, who made the list despite having only played three NFL seasons. The USC product has significantly improved each year since being selected 112th overall in 2021. Sixteen (!) wide receivers were drafted before him, and St. Brown can name all of them. Already one of the sport's most reliable pass-catchers, the 24-year-old recorded 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 to earn his second Pro Bowl berth and first first-team All-Pro nod.

Worst pick: Jeff Okudah. Drafting Okudah third overall in 2020 seemed right, but the talented corner didn't work out in Detroit. The Ohio State product battled multiple injuries, missed 25 games, and recorded only two interceptions before being traded to Atlanta for a fifth-round pick in 2023. He recently signed with the Houston Texans.

Green Bay Packers

Best pick: Davante Adams. A receiver rarely enters the league as a second-round pick and builds a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Adams, taken 53rd overall as the ninth wideout off the board in 2014, earned five Pro Bowl berths with Green Bay and caught 669 passes for 8,121 yards and 73 touchdowns before being traded to the Raiders in 2022. As part of the deal, the Packers received a first- and second-round pick, which they later turned into linebacker Quay Walker and promising receiver Christian Watson.

Worst pick: Josh Jackson. There were high expectations surrounding Green Bay's secondary after it selected Jaire Alexander (18th overall) and Jackson (45th) with its first picks in 2018. While Alexander became an elite corner, Jackson couldn't make a big impact in the pros. The Iowa product recorded eight interceptions in his final college year but didn't register any picks in 42 appearances with the Packers before being traded to the Giants after just three seasons.

Los Angeles Rams

Best pick: Aaron Donald. With Cooper Kupp and, most recently, Puka Nacua, the Rams have succeeded at finding mid- and late-round draft studs. That said, landing Donald - arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history - at No. 13 in 2014 changed the franchise. The Pitt product, who retired this offseason, earned 10 Pro Bowl berths, eight first-team All-Pro nods, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards in 10 seasons. Donald also helped L.A. make two Super Bowl appearances, winning one.

Worst pick: Greg Robinson. The Rams landed a future Hall of Famer in Donald in 2014, but they had a big miss that year 11 picks earlier by taking Robinson second overall. The then-highly touted offensive tackle out of Auburn started three seasons for L.A. before being traded for a sixth-round pick. Robinson didn't come close to living up to the hype in a class that produced several superstars.

Minnesota Vikings

Best pick: Justin Jefferson. This reaction from the Vikings when the Eagles took Jalen Reagor over Jefferson says it all. Minnesota entered the 2020 draft looking for a top receiver after trading Stefon Diggs, and landing Jefferson 22nd overall is proving to be a franchise-changing move for the Vikings. In four NFL seasons, the LSU product has topped 1,000 yards each year while claiming three All-Pro nods. Jefferson also led the league in catches and receiving yards in 2022 to claim Offensive Player of the Year. Arguably the NFL's most valuable non-quarterback, Jefferson has averaged 98.3 yards per game, a league record among receivers with 200-plus career catches.

Worst pick: Laquon Treadwell. Minnesota made a splash with Jefferson in 2020, but the team missed big on another wide receiver four years earlier. There were high expectations around Treadwell - the 23rd selection in 2016 - but the Ole Miss product left the Vikings with 65 receptions for 701 yards and two touchdowns in 53 appearances across four seasons.

New Orleans Saints

Best pick: Alvin Kamara. The Tennessee product leads all players selected by the Saints since 2014 with five Pro Bowl nods. He's also claimed two All-Pro berths and the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. An explosive dual-threat running back, Kamara has amassed at least 1,100 scrimmage yards each year since entering the NFL, and his 78 total touchdowns rank fourth in the league since 2017. Kamara hasn't been as productive in recent years, but landing him at No. 67 overall was a major steal for a great 2017 New Orleans draft class.

Worst pick: Stanley Jean-Baptiste. Yes, the Saints have former first-rounders who can be considered busts. Although Jean-Baptiste was only a second-round pick in 2014 (58th overall), the 6-foot-3 defensive back didn't do anything for New Orleans. The Nebraska product - who drew pre-draft comparisons with Richard Sherman - spent one season with the Saints and played only eight defensive snaps, a horrendous return from a Day 2 selection.

New York Giants

Best pick: Odell Beckham Jr. OBJ spent only five years with the Giants after being drafted 12th overall in 2014, but his impact on the team was absurd. The former OROY quickly became a household name by earning a Pro Bowl selection and breaking multiple records in his first three seasons. Beckham also posted one of the most iconic NFL moments ever with his one-handed touchdown catch against Dallas. New York ultimately traded Beckham to the Cleveland Browns for a huge package. As disappointing as that deal was for Giants fans, it resulted in a first-round pick that would later become All-Pro defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, arguably N.Y.'s second-best pick over the last decade.

Worst pick: Kadarius Toney. This one still haunts Giants fans. New York has been looking for a dynamic receiver for years and thought it had one in Toney. However, the 2021 No. 20 overall pick played just 12 games before being traded to Kansas City. The Florida product was a distraction, and there were even questions about his commitment to the Giants. Receiver and pass-rusher were two of N.Y.'s main needs in 2021, and the club decided to trade from No. 11 to No. 20 before taking Toney and passed on the opportunity to draft All-Pro Micah Parsons, who went to Dallas at No. 12.

Philadelphia Eagles

Best pick: Jalen Hurts. Nobody really understood why the Eagles took Hurts 53rd overall in 2020, as they were looking to compete for a Super Bowl with Wentz and fresh off signing him to a four-year extension. Fast-forward four years, and Hurts has compiled a 34-17 record as a starter, claimed two Pro Bowl berths, and finished second for MVP in 2022. Hurts and his standout rushing ability have made Philadelphia contenders in the NFC and helped the team make a Super Bowl LVII appearance.

Worst pick: Jalen Reagor. With 64 catches, 695 yards, and three TDs in two seasons, Reagor's time in Philly was a major disappointment after he joined as the 2020 No. 21 selection. But this pick gets worse considering how much wide receiver talent the Eagles missed by taking Reagor. The Vikings drafted Justin Jefferson with the next pick, and the likes of Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman Jr. were selected in the next 13 slots that year. Fans in Philly won't forget about this one anytime soon.

San Francisco 49ers

Best pick: Brock Purdy. San Francisco's recent history includes a franchise cornerstone who was a can't-miss prospect (Nick Bosa) and huge steals from later rounds (Fred Warner, George Kittle). But as good as those guys are, Purdy has to be the choice here. Finding a reliable starting QB with the last pick of the draft is absurd. The 2022 "Mr. Irrelevant" helped expand the team's Super Bowl window while becoming an extremely efficient passer. The 24-year-old was an MVP finalist last year and led San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance. Some still think Purdy's success is purely a product of Kyle Shanahan's system, but the Niners finding a capable starting passer with the 262nd overall pick could go down as one of the biggest steals in NFL history.

Worst pick: Trey Lance. Not only did the 49ers select Lance third overall in 2021, but they traded three first-round picks to move up for the quarterback that year in arguably the worst deal in franchise history. Lance spent most of his rookie campaign on the bench and started only two games in 2022 before suffering a season-ending injury. He never played for San Francisco again, with the club sending him to Dallas for a fourth-round pick in 2023.

Seattle Seahawks

Best pick: DK Metcalf. It came down to 2015 third-round receiver Tyler Lockett and Metcalf, who's on track to become the Seahawks' most accomplished wideout since Hall of Famer Steve Largent. A former second-round choice, Metcalf is one of several Pro Bowl wideouts from the 2019 class. The Ole Miss product - who's earned a second-team All-Pro berth - has amassed 5,332 yards and 43 touchdowns on 372 career catches in just five years. He set a Seattle single-season record with 1,303 yards in 2020.

Worst pick: Malik McDowell. The Seahawks traded out of Round 1 and selected McDowell with their first pick in 2017 at No. 35 despite pre-draft concerns about the defensive lineman's work ethic and attitude. McDowell was supposed to be a key member in the club's rebuilding of their defensive line, but he didn't play a single snap for them. An offseason ATV accident sidelined the Michigan State product in Year 1, and Seattle released him in 2018 after multiple arrests.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best pick: Mike Evans. The Texas A&M product entered the NFL surrounded by high expectations as the No. 7 pick in 2014 but lived up to that hype and became the greatest receiver in Buccaneers history. Evans helped the team win Super Bowl LV and holds every major Tampa Bay receiving record. Most notably, the five-time Pro Bowler has posted a record 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. Evans also earned an All-Pro nod in 2023, showing he still has something left in the tank ahead of his age-31 season.

Worst pick: Roberto Aguayo. The Bucs have missed on a few early draft picks in recent years, but none worse than taking a kicker (!) in the second round (59th overall) in 2016. At the time, Aguayo was the first kicker taken in the first two rounds since 2005. The Florida State product converted only 71% of his field-goal attempts as a rookie - the lowest rate in the NFL that year - before being released in 2017 after just one season.

Washington Commanders

Best pick: Terry McLaurin. It's crazy that 11 wide receivers were called in the 2019 draft before Washington took McLaurin 76th overall. The Ohio State product - who signed a three-year, $68-million extension in 2022 - is one of the sport's best weapons in contested catches and the only Washington player ever to post four straight seasons with 1,000-plus yards. Not even the team's inconsistency at quarterback seems to be an issue for "Scary Terry."

Worst pick: Derrius Guice. Washington selected Guice in the second round in 2018 (59th overall), but knee injuries and off-field issues marred the LSU product's NFL stint. Guice missed his rookie season due to a torn ACL and played just five games for the Commanders before being released in 2020.