Every NFL Draft delivers a shocking moment, whether that's a blockbuster trade or a shocking reach for a quarterback.
Every team's goal is to get the best player for the best value. They want look back and say they landed the biggest steal, rather than the biggest bust. Tom Brady, taken by the New England Patriots at No. 199 in 2000, Joe Montana, selected at No. 82 in 1979 and Johnny Unitas, No. 102 in 1955, are some of the all-timer steals.
Here are my picks for best and worst draft picks over the last five years of the NFL Draft, sifting through 32 teams and just short of 1,300 selections.
Best: TE Trey McBride, 2022 NFL Draft, No. 55 overall pick, Colorado State
McBride was a great-value selection for the Cardinals, who picked the Colorado State product in the second round. He is a two-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro and led Arizona in receiving yards the last three seasons.
Worst: DE Darius Robinson, 2024 No. 27 overall pick, Missouri
I am often hesitant to label a player, good or bad, too early. With just two years in the league, Robinson could certainly change my mind. He was limited to just six games his rookie year due to injury and finished with 10 combined tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss.
Best: RB Bijan Robinson, 2023 NFL Draft, No. 8 overall, Texas
Robinson had high expectations coming in as an early first-round pick and immediately made an impact. His rookie year he led the team in rushing yards (976) and followed up a successful first year with over 500 more yards on the ground his sophomore season (1,456) and another 1,000-plus yard year in 2025 (1,478). He is a two-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro as a running back and second-team All-Pro all purpose in 2025.
Worst: QB Michael Penix Jr., 2024 No. 8 overall pick, Washington
Penix Jr. is off to a rough start. Despite his status as a top-10 pick, he is 4-8 as a starter with a 59.6% completion rate and a pedestrian 12-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio through two seasons. There are visible growing pains along the way, pulled in Week 3 during a blowout loss and also sidelined in November with a torn ACL. Kirk Cousins is off to Las Vegas, and Tua Tagovailoa now joins the Atlanta quarterback room.
Best: WR Zay Flowers, 2023 NFL Draft, No. 22 overall pick, Boston College
The Ravens have numerous players in the running, from Rashod Bateman, to Kyle Hamilton, but Zay Flowers made the most significant impact. The two-time Pro Bowler has 3,128 receiving yards on 237 receptions, with 14 touchdowns in the air. He's led the team in receiving yards each season and has improved on his stats year by year.
Worst: LB David Ojabo, 2022 No. 45 overall pick, Michigan
Ojabo has struggled with injuries, but even when he was on the field, his play didn't meet expectations. His production did not match what he did in Ann Arbor, and eventually, Ojabo left to sign with Miami.
Best: RB James Cook, 2022 No. 63 overall pick, Georgia
Cook led the league in rushing yards last season with 1,621 yards. Cook elevates an exciting offense by creating other options for quarterback Josh Allen. A three-time Pro Bowler, Cook simply makes his offense better.
Worst: CB Kaiir Elam, 2022 No. 23 overall pick, Florida
Elam has just two interceptions since joining the NFL, and as a former first-rounder, the expectation was much higher. He has bounced around the league, joining the Cowboys, Titans and Chiefs since ending his time with the Bills in 2024.
Best: CB Jaycee Horn, 2021 No. 8 overall pick, South Carolina