Ranking the WORST to BEST NFL #1 Overall Picks From 2010s
The WORST #1 overall pick of the decade, Sam Bradford showed great potential before injuries would derail his career. Although he was the Rookie of the Year, back-to-back ACLs tears in 2013 and 2014 did him in, turning him into a bridge quarterback at best as teams would not be able to trust if Bradford would be able to hold up long-term. Bradford played for four teams in nine seasons.
Winston could never really get it going in Tampa Bay. A career filled with many ups and downs, Winston holds numerous Buccaneer passing records. However, Winston has the dubious distinction of logging the most turnovers in the league since 2015. His turnover issues peaked in his infamous 30 touchdown - 30 interception season in 2019, the first and only season of that stature in NFL history.
Part of perhaps the worst first rounds in history, Fisher was the top tackle prospect in his draft class. Seen as mediocre for a large majority of his career, he didn’t start gaining attention until the arrival of Patrick Mahomes. Playing with an MVP quarterback like Mahomes definitely hid a lot of Fisher’s flaws as a player and allowed Fisher to be one of 17 first overall picks to win a Super Bowl.
The hometown kid out of Cal, Goff was seen as a possible savior of the Rams franchise - particularly in their return to Los Angeles. Goff’s career started off on a promising note being led by an offensive mastermind in head coach Sean McVay. His climb would cool after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 53. Seen by many as a serviceable game manager, Goff was given an extension early in his career only to traded five years later. A decent starter, we’ll have to see if Goff can uncover that potential he once had in the Motor City.
The consensus top pick in his class, it’s safe to say Clowney’s career has been good but not great. While he has made 3 Pro Bowls, his inability to stay healthy has hampered him. He’s only started a full NFL season ONCE. He’s also only managed to log 32 sacks over the course of his seven-year career. While these numbers aren’t terrible, they’re not the numbers people were expecting back in 2014.
Seen as a major surprise on draft day, very few had Baker Mayfield being taken at the top spot. Mayfield would bring a new attitude to Cleveland as he would throw for a rookie record 27 touchdowns in 2018. For a franchise that has notoriously been in search of a quality QB since coming back in the league in 1999, Mayfield’s inconsistency had many Browns fans torn as to whether Mayfield could be ‘the guy’ moving forward or not. The 2020 season proved pivotal for Mayfield as he would throw 30 touchdowns and lead the team to a playoff berth - in a make-or-break campaign with his job on the line. Mayfield would then lead the Browns to a 48-37 victory over their hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving the Browns their first playoff victory since 1994. Mayfield’s fifth-year option was picked up, yet questions may still linger coming into the 2021-22 season.
A two-sport phenom, many eyes were on Kyler Murray during the 2019 NFL Draft. The Cardinals selected Murray, while controversially parting with their top-10 pick from the year prior, Josh Rosen. The Offensive Rookie of the Year in his class, his star continued to rise after the Cardinals struck a deal to nab superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans. At 5’10“, Murray is one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch in the NFL as an electrifying dual-threat QB. He’s thrown 20 or more touchdowns in each of his first two seasons and with the acquisition of AJ Green this offseason, his potential is through the roof.
The ultimate prize of the pathetic 0-16 Browns: Myles Garrett - the consensus #1 in 2017. The former Texas A&M defensive end made an immediate impact when he came into the NFL. In Garrett’s 49 career starts, he has tallied a ridiculous 42.5 career sacks. He’s gotten double-digit sacks in every year except his rookie season. An argument can be made for Garrett being the best edge rusher in the NFL. The face of a now dominant Browns defense, he’s everything the Dawg Pound faithful wanted him to be and more.
With the Peyton Manning era over, the Colts needed a new face of the franchise. The Stanford Cardinal product went to the Colts with the top pick and made an immediate impact. Taking the 2-14 Colts to 11-5, he would keep that 11-5 record for his first three seasons - even leading the Colts to a 2014 AFC Championship appearance. In 2014, he would lead the NFL in touchdown passes with 40. After 2015, injuries would get the better of Andrew Luck. Despite throwing for 39 touchdowns and winning Comeback Player of the Year in 2018; Luck opted to go out on his own terms, retiring from football at 29 years old. A 4-time Pro Bowler, Luck holds multiple Colts rookie passing records.
What more can be said about Superman? Newton took the NFL by storm and hasn’t looked back. He set a then-NFL record for both passing and rushing yards by a rookie on the way to being named Rookie of the Year. The league MVP in 2015, Cam is a 3-time Pro Bowler and by far the best quarterback in Carolina Panthers history. Newton also holds the all-time record for most rushing touchdowns as a quarterback with 70. One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of all-time, Cam Newton is the best first overall draft pick of the 2010s.