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Welcome to FanSided’s NFL Draft Retrospective: A look back at the 2016 Class

By Fansided

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Jared Goff of the California Golden Bears holds up a jersey after being picked #1 overall by the Los Angeles Rams during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Jared Goff of the California Golden Bears holds up a jersey after being picked #1 overall by the Los Angeles Rams during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Some may fondly remember the 2016 NFL Draft, others not so much — let’s check in on how things are going three years after the fact.

With the NFL season approaching and rookies trying to make the cut in training camp, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at how this story has gone in the past.

Specifically, where is the 2016 NFL Draft Class three years into their careers? Welcome to the FanSided Draft Retrospective, an annual look back at drafts of yesteryear and how they aged over time.

NFC: Cowboys | Eagles | Giants | Redskins | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks | 49ers | Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings | Bucs | Falcons | Panthers | Saints 

AFC: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots | Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders | Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers | Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

Here’s how it worked.

Each of the FanSided NFL site experts took a look back at their team’s draft class from 2016. Everything from how the picks were graded in real-time to how the prospects developed over time was all taken into account. Some fans will be happy to look back and see how much progress has been made over the last three years. Others will cringe wondering what could have been if only their team had made one pick differently.

An then there’s the Browns.

Seriously, the Browns drafted so terribly in 2016 that only two players remain as impact players on the roster — none of whom were taken in the first three rounds.

This is bigger than Cleveland’s mistakes though; everyone has swings and misses that the prisim of time make us reflect on differently. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and asses where the draftees are now and how much of an impact they’ve had on both the league and the teams who selected them.

This is the NFL Draft Retrospective.