Ranking the 10 best players drafted with traded NFL Draft picks
NFL trades can see star players move from one franchise to another, while they can also see teams move NFL Draft picks around.
Throughout the modern history of the NFL, we’ve seen teams look to bolster their roster by moving future draft picks in exchange for established players, but just what becomes of those as yet nameless picks?
It’s rare that draft selections get a lot of attention when a future trade is made; however, history has taught us that they can turn into invaluable assets for a team who has the right scouting department.
In all the years of traded NFL Draft picks, just who are the 10 best players to ever be selected with traded picks?
10. Ryan Kalil: 2007 Pick #59 Traded by New York Jets to Carolina Panthers
Darrelle Revis was one of the darlings of the 2007 NFL Draft, and the New York Jets were desperate to select him and move toward the Revis Island era at The Meadowlands.
They did just that with a trade involving the Carolina Panthers, who gained the Jets’ 25th overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, as well as their 59th overall selection and their 164th pick.
With the 59th overall pick, which came in the second-round, the Panthers used the selection the Jets had given them to secure Revis and turned it into Ryan Kalil.
Kalil became a cornerstone of the Panthers’ offensive line over the course of his career. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and became the highest-paid center in NFL history in 2011. He was an integral part of the Carolina team that reached the Super Bowl in 2016.
9. Steven Jackson: 2004 Pick #24 Traded by Denver Broncos to Cincinnati Bengals to St. Louis Rams
The Denver Broncos traded away Deltha O’Neal in April of 2004 with the Cincinnati Bengals happy to pick up the cornerback.
In addition to O’Neal, the Bengals received a first-round selection in the 2004 NFL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the same draft.
The first-round pick was the 26th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft, yet this was then traded away by the Bengals to the St. Louis Rams, who moved up two places to Pick #24 and drafted Steven Jackson.
While not strictly selected with the same pick that was traded, the Rams could never have gotten to this pick had the initial O’Neal deal not occurred, and the Oregon State running back developed into their best player for the better part of a decade.
Between 2005 and 2012, Jackson would rush for, at least, 1,000 yards in eight successive NFL seasons for the Rams, and he holds the franchise record for most career rushing yards with 10,138 yards.
2006 was a vintage year for Jackson, who became a true double-threat on the Rams offense, becoming the only player to ever record 1,400 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in a single season.