# What is the best NFL Draft class of all time?

> Some draft years produce Hall of Famers by the dozen; others deliver one generational talent who justifies everything. Which NFL Draft class produced the deepest and most impactful collection of talent ever assembled?

*By YPB Team · Published April 16, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-nfl-draft-class-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **1983 NFL Draft Class**
   The undisputed greatest draft class ever, producing six Hall of Famers including John Elway, Dan Marino, Eric Dickerson, Jim Kelly, and Roger Craig.
2. **2004 NFL Draft Class**
   A historic quarterback class featuring Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers, alongside wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
3. **1996 NFL Draft Class**
   A deep and talented class headlined by Ray Lewis, Marvin Harrison, and Jonathan Ogden, producing multiple Hall of Famers across multiple positions.
4. **1999 NFL Draft Class**
   Produced Donovan McNabb, Edgerrin James, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey, and Daunte Culpepper, one of the richest classes of the late 1990s.
5. **2000 NFL Draft Class**
   Featured Brian Urlacher, Tom Brady, Shaun Alexander, and Chad Pennington, highlighted by Brady's legendary sixth-round selection that changed NFL history.
6. **2011 NFL Draft Class**
   A standout defensive class headlined by J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, with A.J. Green and Julio Jones anchoring the receiving corps.
7. **2014 NFL Draft Class**
   One of the deepest modern classes, featuring Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Zack Martin, and Aaron Donald across multiple elite positions.
8. **2017 NFL Draft Class**
   Produced Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Kareem Hunt, and Alvin Kamara, with Mahomes alone making it one of the most impactful classes in recent memory.
9. **2003 NFL Draft Class**
   Featured Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich, Andre Johnson, Anquan Boldin, and Dallas Clark, a quietly stacked class that shaped a generation of NFL receivers.
10. **1985 NFL Draft Class**
   A deep class anchored by Jerry Rice, Chris Doleman, Boomer Esiason, and Gary Zimmerman, with Rice alone justifying its legendary status.
11. **1987 NFL Draft Class**
   Produced Rod Woodson, Dana Stubblefield, and other impact players that had lasting influence on both sides of the ball.
12. **1993 NFL Draft Class**
   Featured Drew Bledsoe, Jerome Bettis, Garrison Hearst, Dana Stubblefield, and a well-rounded group of long-tenured starters.
13. **2006 NFL Draft Class**
   A quietly elite class headlined by Vernon Davis, Santonio Holmes, and Haloti Ngata, with strong depth across offensive and defensive lines.
14. **2009 NFL Draft Class**
   Produced Matthew Stafford, Clay Matthews, Percy Harvin, and Brian Cushing, a solid class with several franchise-defining selections.
15. **2013 NFL Draft Class**
   Underrated but deep, producing Travis Kelce, Eric Berry, Zac Stacy, and Le'Veon Bell among others.
16. **2018 NFL Draft Class**
   A generational quarterback class featuring Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson all selected in the first round.
17. **2020 NFL Draft Class**
   Held virtually due to COVID-19, the class still produced Joe Burrow, Chase Young, Justin Herbert, CeeDee Lamb, and Tua Tagovailoa.

Tags: sports, football, players, nfl