Ranking all 191 first-round NFL Draft picks since 2020: Best, worst selections of the decade
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- The ranking evaluates all 191 first-round picks from 2020-2025 from each team's perspective using draft capital and available alternatives, not talent alone — for example, ranking Kyle Pitts as a poor No. 4 pick in 2021 because Ja'Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Patrick Surtain II and others were still available.
- Baltimore Ravens had 8 first-round selections without a single one in the bottom third — the most of any team — with GM Eric DeCosta continuing the franchise's strong drafting tradition after Ozzie Newsome's 2018 retirement.
- Las Vegas Raiders had the highest rate of bottom-third picks on the list, including three of the bottom 15 — Tyree Wilson, Alex Leatherwood and Damon Arnette — none of whom made it to Year 4 with the team.
- Dallas Cowboys were the only team with two of the top 10 decisions on the list (CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons), credited for frequently targeting interior offensive linemen early in drafts.
- Atlanta Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. ranked No. 154 out of 191 picks, illustrating the team's continued quarterback instability — a different leading passer every year since Matt Ryan's departure after the 2021 season.
- Carolina Panthers made an NFL-leading five top-eight picks this decade, yet their only non-premium selection, Xavier Legette, has already been relegated to backup status.
- Kansas City Chiefs found elite talent like Trent McDuffie despite having zero first-round picks inside the top 20 from 2020-25, with GM Brett Veach consistently finding value.
Why it matters: The decade-long draft audit puts numbers behind the league's haves and have-nots: the Ravens had zero bottom-third picks across eight selections, while the Raiders placed three in the bottom 15 — none surviving past Year 3. It quantifies how Baltimore's Eric DeCosta and Dallas's front office have built roster sustainability while Las Vegas and Carolina squandered premium capital at an alarming rate.
